The people you choose to be around and do business with have a profound effect on how successful you will be.<\/p>\n
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?”<\/p>\n
Well let me start by saying that I agree with everything in your question. And it does seem a little hypocritical on my part.<\/p>\n
BUT…<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
And you left deflated.<\/p>\n
Now this is not uncommon and you can replace your mother with any person that you have a consultive relationship with.<\/p>\n
Now let me get this straight, chances are your mother meant you no harm and she was\u00a0legitimately\u00a0looking out for your best interest.<\/p>\n
BUT… Her reaction was based on how she would handle that situation.<\/p>\n
And again, I go back to the point that in the final analysis, you are responsible for your own happiness not your mother.<\/p>\n
My mentor, Jim Rohn, had some sound questions when it came to relationships with your associations and here they are:<\/p>\n