Success and Your Associations

The people you choose to be around and do business with have a profound effect on how successful you will be.

Now you may be saying to yourself, “C’mon John, you are always writing about how we are the master of our own destiny. How we are responsible for our own happiness. How can you say that?”

Well let me start by saying that I agree with everything in your question. And it does seem a little hypocritical on my part.

BUT…

We all become creatures of our environment at some point in time. And your environment includes the people you associate with. They have messages for you everyday. Just like the TV, Radio and Internet news sites.

The difference is you can turn the TV, Radio and Internet off very easily but it’s a little more difficult to turn off your mother, brother, co-worker or boss.

Everyday you are bombarded by messages from these people and most of the time they mean well. But the message they give is based on their own limitations and fears.

Let me ask you this… Have you ever went to your mother with an idea that you thought was absolutely the end all be all of what you are looking to accomplish. It was a little risky. You were excited and you told your mother about it.

And then you seen that scowl come across her face. And she breathed in a little heavy and then she laid out about ten reasons why she thought it might not be a good idea. I mean she found every reason why it wouldn’t work.

And you left deflated.

Now this is not uncommon and you can replace your mother with any person that you have a consultive relationship with.

Now let me get this straight, chances are your mother meant you no harm and she was legitimately looking out for your best interest.

BUT… Her reaction was based on how she would handle that situation.

And again, I go back to the point that in the final analysis, you are responsible for your own happiness not your mother.

My mentor, Jim Rohn, had some sound questions when it came to relationships with your associations and here they are:

1. Who am I around? Who has influence on you?

2. What are these associations doing to me? What have they got you listening to? What have they got you reading? Where have they got you going?

3. Is that OK? Maybe you have nothing but positive people in your life. But my guess is that you have a few negative people in your life and they may close family or friends you have known all your life.

Once you have honestly answered these questions, what do you do?

Well, Jim Rohn suggests:

1. Disassociate – This is certainly the hardest of the three choices but you may have someone in your life so negative that you have to let go cold turkey. It may the only thing you can do that will help you maintain a positive lifestyle. This is a decision only you can make.

2. Limited Association – Jim Rohn says, “Spend major time with major influence, spend minor time with minor influence.” I would change that to “Spend major time with major “positive” influence, spend minor time with minor “neutral” influence.”

3. Expanding your associations – Expand the time you spend around successful people. People who cause you to stretch yourself. People who positively effect your life. People who cause you to learn who be more effective in profitably serving others.

People you choose to have in your life do end up having a profound effect on your life. Your ability to get yourself around people who will make you stretch and grow is an absolute must for your ultimate success.

Here’s to Your LifetoSuccess,

John Clark

P.S. Make sure to pass this on to anyone you know who can use this information and make sure to visit http://www.habitbustingsystem.com and start to make this a habitual way of acting today!