Lifestyle

Want Success? Why You Need to Surround Yourself With Successful People

Jim Rohn once said “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”. Look around – does this ring true for you? I know it does for me. Since you likely spend the most time with people who you work with or friends who share similar interests, you are going to be very much like these people. I think this answers why you need to surround yourself with successful people.

I’m not saying to send Tony Robbins an in-depth email explaining why you would be the greatest best friend ever, but if you are serious about reaching your goals and becoming successful, now may be a good time to assess who you’re spending time with, and how they could be influencing you.

Take note of who may be bringing you down

You don’t need to cut out your best friend from elementary school who can’t seem to get their life together, but realize that hanging out with someone like this is going to bring negativity into your life. Being around someone who is always complaining, passionless and scared of pending failure may influence you to become afraid of taking chances in your life and career too. If you are spending a lot of time with people who don’t believe in hard work or who do not have real goals they are pursuing, they likely aren’t helping motivate you to better yourself. I’m not talking about being a bad friend or casting judgement, but note who you should be giving more or less time to.

Build relationships with people who have already made it

Millionaires shouldn’t be striving to hang out with other millionaires – they should be striving to hang out with billionaires. Just in the same way, you shouldn’t aim to hang out with those experiencing the same success level as you, but those who have already surpassed you. These are the people who can teach you from their mistakes and experiences, and who will be able to provide the kinds of connections that may help to shape and influence your career.

Don’t be afraid to feel challenged/intimidated. You’re in the right place

Just because you haven’t achieved the same level of success as those who you are trying to surround yourself with does not mean that you should be intimidated. If you are hungry and motivated, these people will see a piece of themselves in you and will relate to where you are coming from. Successful people know that true success means helping to build others higher.

Attend industry conferences/business events: Be sure to prepare before you arrive so that you know who will be in attendance, and network. Set aside your insecurities, break out of your comfort zone and find those who you connect with. Once you have established a connection, you can find ways that you can help them with their current projects or take them to coffee with the request to pick their brain. If they like you, they’ll want to get to know you and help.

Find a Mastermind group in your area: A mastermind group is a small group of people who regularly meet, online or offline, to talk about goals, growth and success and provide support for each other. SmartPassiveIncome did a good post on Mastermind Groups and Mentors – Why You Need Them and How to Find Them.

I recently joined the Yakezie network for exactly this purpose – to connect me with like-minded bloggers who wrote about personal finance. The forums allow me a chance to ask questions to more experienced bloggers who are selflessly offering help and support, and it has been amazing creating connections with those who have the ability to motivate me and better this site. To send a little love their way, here are some other great personal finance sites to check out:

Well Kept Wallet 4 secrets for scoring a great deal on Amazon.com 

Add-VodkaThrowing a party affordably

Making Sense of Cents Should we rent our home or sell it? 

Financial SamuraiWhy not just try harder to get ahead? The effort vs talent debate

Debt RoundupHow going green can also save you money 

Now to do you see why you need to surround yourself with successful people? Go find them, get inspired, and become one yourself.

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