BY ANTONY WHITAKER OF GROWMYSALONBUSINESS.COM
It’s often said that you're the by-product of the people you spend most time with. Those people are referred to as ‘your circle of influence.' Whether it’s face-to-face interaction, conversations on social media, characters in the books you read or the shows you watch, moderators in the podcasts you listen to—you are constantly being influenced by those around you.
Many times, people fall short in their ambitions because of who they choose to keep in their circle of influence. It’s important to take stock of who you hang out with, who you listen to, who you watch, who you read, and who you follow because they are ultimately influencing the person you become.
Who are the five people that you hang out with most, both literally and figuratively? And, more importantly, do they represent who you aspire to be? These people, whether you know them in the flesh or not, become your circle of influence. And, you become the average of what they represent.
You need to have positive mentors in your life. You need to align yourself with supportive people—people who will hold you to a higher standard. Plus, you need to read—yes, read—about inspiring people and listen to inspiring speakers, watch inspiring documentaries and movies, and follow and communicate with inspiring people on social media.
Inevitably there will be people in your life who are currently holding you back from achieving what you want to achieve and becoming who you want to become. So, you need to decide whether you are prepared to accept that, or whether it’s time to finish that relationship. And, although it may not be possible to stop physically being around them, it is always possible to decide that you will no longer be influenced by their thoughts and actions.
I can’t say it any better than Matthew Kelly in his book, “The Rhythm of life."
“The people we surround ourselves with either raise or lower our standards. They either help us become the best version of ourselves or encourage us to become lesser versions of ourselves. We become like our friends. No man becomes great on his own. No woman becomes great on her own. The people around them help to make them great. We all need people in our lives who raise our standards, remind us of our essential purpose, and challenge us to become the best version of ourselves.”