There is this proverb in Africa that says ‘show me your friend and I will tell you who you are.’ Bob Proctor, one of my teachers once told m...
There is this proverb in Africa that says ‘show me your friend and I will tell you who you are.’ Bob Proctor, one of my teachers once told me that “the people you associate with will either make or break you.”
Recently, I was cleaning up my office. I came across a copy of an article that referred to some research by Dr David McClelland of Harvard University who spent twenty five years researching success and achievement and his conclusion was this: your reference group, the people with whom you associate with on a regular basis, largely determines your success or failure in life. His conclusion was that the people you associate with on a daily basis would determine 90% of everything that happens to you in life. You begin to think; walk, act, dress and talk like them, and you share the opinions of people you are around with most of the time. So associating with like-minded people is vital to making successful changes. Select your associations with care, he said.
Charles “Tremendous” Jones said that the only difference between who you are today and the person you will be in five years will come from the books you read and the people you associate with. May I also add that the motivational tapes and CDs you listen to are also important.
Who do you spend most of your quality time with? The old adage is true: Birds of the same feather do flock together.
The people around us always influence us. Their actions, beliefs, their attitudes and their words rub off on us! It’s automatic, it’s inevitable, and it has tremendous predictive values – the person we associate with does predict the kind of person we will become in the future.
When I was a child my mother was concerned about the kids I hung out with. Then I used to say that she never sees anything good in anybody, that she is always suspicious of my friends even my female friends. Now I know that mother was right.
Think about the people you spend your time with. Although you are born into a family, and you may not be able to choose the people you work with, you can choose your closest friends. If you choose negative friends, you are choosing to have a negative attitude. But when you spend time with positive people, you help yourself to see things in a better light. Henry Ford maintained, “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” Think about what your friends bring out in you, and if it’s not your best, it might be time for you to make changes.
People who rise to the top surround themselves with people whose lives reflect the values, the priorities, the behaviours and the successes they desire for their own lives. And they are very intentional about it.
America foremost business philosopher, Jim Rohn once said that his mentor Mr Shoaff gave him a very important warning in those early days that I would like to share with you. He said, "Never underestimate the power of influence." Indeed, the influence of those around us is so powerful! Many times we don't even realise we're being strongly affected because influences generally develop over an extended period of time.
Three ways to handle associations or relationships that are holding you back according to Jim Rohn are:1) Disassociate. This is not an easy decision, nor something you should take lightly, but in some cases it may be essential. You may just have to make the hard choice not to let certain negative influences affect you any more. It could be a choice that preserves the quality of your life.2) Limited association. Spend major time with major influence and minor time with minor influences. 3) Expanding your associations. This is the one I suggest you focus on the most. Find other successful people that you can spend more time with. Invite them to lunch (pick up the tab) and ask them how they have achieved so much or what makes them successful. Now, this is not just about financial success, it can be someone that you want to learn from about having a better marriage, being a better parent, having better health or a stronger spiritual life.It is called association on purpose - getting around the right people by expanding your circle of influence. And when you do that, you will naturally limit the relationships that are holding you back. Give it a try and see for yourself.
This is what I read on the wall of Richie Dayo Johnson, one of my mentor’s office, “Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you, be careful of the friends you choose for you will become like them” Whoever, you surround yourself with will determine the outcome of your life. Make the choices VERY carefully.
"Dayo Olomu is a UK-based motivational Speaker, Human Potential Developer, Business/Life Coach, Writer, Trainer, Infopreneur, a Competent Leader and an Advance Toastmaster. His core belief is that we are all endowed with seeds of greatness, and his mission is to inspire and empower individuals and organisations to higher levels of achievement and peak performance. He is the author of best selling “4 Indispensable Strategies for Success” and the charter President of Croydon Communicators Toastmasters. Visit his website at www.dayoolomu.com or send an e-mail to info@dayoolomu.com"
Recently, I was cleaning up my office. I came across a copy of an article that referred to some research by Dr David McClelland of Harvard University who spent twenty five years researching success and achievement and his conclusion was this: your reference group, the people with whom you associate with on a regular basis, largely determines your success or failure in life. His conclusion was that the people you associate with on a daily basis would determine 90% of everything that happens to you in life. You begin to think; walk, act, dress and talk like them, and you share the opinions of people you are around with most of the time. So associating with like-minded people is vital to making successful changes. Select your associations with care, he said.
Charles “Tremendous” Jones said that the only difference between who you are today and the person you will be in five years will come from the books you read and the people you associate with. May I also add that the motivational tapes and CDs you listen to are also important.
Who do you spend most of your quality time with? The old adage is true: Birds of the same feather do flock together.
The people around us always influence us. Their actions, beliefs, their attitudes and their words rub off on us! It’s automatic, it’s inevitable, and it has tremendous predictive values – the person we associate with does predict the kind of person we will become in the future.
When I was a child my mother was concerned about the kids I hung out with. Then I used to say that she never sees anything good in anybody, that she is always suspicious of my friends even my female friends. Now I know that mother was right.
Think about the people you spend your time with. Although you are born into a family, and you may not be able to choose the people you work with, you can choose your closest friends. If you choose negative friends, you are choosing to have a negative attitude. But when you spend time with positive people, you help yourself to see things in a better light. Henry Ford maintained, “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” Think about what your friends bring out in you, and if it’s not your best, it might be time for you to make changes.
People who rise to the top surround themselves with people whose lives reflect the values, the priorities, the behaviours and the successes they desire for their own lives. And they are very intentional about it.
America foremost business philosopher, Jim Rohn once said that his mentor Mr Shoaff gave him a very important warning in those early days that I would like to share with you. He said, "Never underestimate the power of influence." Indeed, the influence of those around us is so powerful! Many times we don't even realise we're being strongly affected because influences generally develop over an extended period of time.
Three ways to handle associations or relationships that are holding you back according to Jim Rohn are:1) Disassociate. This is not an easy decision, nor something you should take lightly, but in some cases it may be essential. You may just have to make the hard choice not to let certain negative influences affect you any more. It could be a choice that preserves the quality of your life.2) Limited association. Spend major time with major influence and minor time with minor influences. 3) Expanding your associations. This is the one I suggest you focus on the most. Find other successful people that you can spend more time with. Invite them to lunch (pick up the tab) and ask them how they have achieved so much or what makes them successful. Now, this is not just about financial success, it can be someone that you want to learn from about having a better marriage, being a better parent, having better health or a stronger spiritual life.It is called association on purpose - getting around the right people by expanding your circle of influence. And when you do that, you will naturally limit the relationships that are holding you back. Give it a try and see for yourself.
This is what I read on the wall of Richie Dayo Johnson, one of my mentor’s office, “Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you, be careful of the friends you choose for you will become like them” Whoever, you surround yourself with will determine the outcome of your life. Make the choices VERY carefully.
"Dayo Olomu is a UK-based motivational Speaker, Human Potential Developer, Business/Life Coach, Writer, Trainer, Infopreneur, a Competent Leader and an Advance Toastmaster. His core belief is that we are all endowed with seeds of greatness, and his mission is to inspire and empower individuals and organisations to higher levels of achievement and peak performance. He is the author of best selling “4 Indispensable Strategies for Success” and the charter President of Croydon Communicators Toastmasters. Visit his website at www.dayoolomu.com or send an e-mail to info@dayoolomu.com"
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