Yesterday I drove 3 hours to visit a long time friend of mine. We used to talk in person everyday when she lived in the same city as I do. But she has moved over 6 hours away and we don’t see each other much anymore.

What I like about our time together is the creativity and excitement that we share during our conversations. We always walk away from each other feeling inspired and passionate about life.

“As water lends itself to the shape of the vessel which contains it, so a man is influenced by his good or bad friends.” ~ Japanese proverb

It got me to thinking. So often many people lake enthusiasm and motivation because they are hanging around with the wrong people.

There was a time when I failed at everything that I attempted. I could not figure it our. I worked hard and I dedicated myself to improving, but I would get reprimanded at my job for substandard work. I attempted many business ventures. But I constantly failed at my attempt to make them profitable.

Many of them died on the drawing board- I never attempted to bring my idea to fruition.
Then one day I figured it out. You see, I joined a Multi-level Marketing company. And almost immediately I started experiencing success. I grew as a person. I qualified for many leadership trips and bonuses.

Here’s what I figured out…
My success improved in direct correlation to the amount of time I spent with positive and supportive people.
In life you are going to meet three different types of people:
1. People who can help you.
2. People who can hurt or hinder you.
3. People who don’t contribute to your success at all.

Once I figured this out I began surrounding myself with people who could help me. I started associating with positive upbeat and supportive people who where successful or striving to succeed.

The negative, pessimistic people in my life where always talking about what could not be done and why it would never work for me. The sad thing is I would join in and complain with them.

I stopped hanging out with them. I began building a circle of influence comprised of winners and I’ve never gone back. My life is filled with happiness and success which eluded me before.

Take a look at the people who you spend most of your time with. Do they have the things in life that you want? Are they supportive of you?

If you answer no to these types of questions then that may be a major reason why you haven’t succeeded with many of your dreams, goals and aspirations.

Your associations matter. Choose them wisely.

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