One of the most important decisions we make in life is who we choose to be around.
In fact, there is an old proverb that reads, “Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are.”
One of my early mentors, the late Jim Rohn said it well: ‘You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Based on that, we must be cautious about whom we surround ourselves with because of the short- and long-term implications.
Of course, we need people – whether they be mentors, family or friends – people who will challenge us and make us better, thereby raising our average or helping us reach the heights we deserve.
Yet I know many entrepreneurs, business people and investors who strive to be the smartest person in the room.
But if you’re always the smartest person in the room, you’re in trouble.
You need to surround yourself with people who can run circles around you in as many areas as possible, people who are exponentially better in a variety of ways.
They’ll help you grow to the next level
But at the same time, you’ll need to learn to avoid certain types of people
Think of the people with whom you work or interact on a regular basis.
Have you ever met Mr Negative, The Critic or The Victim?
I bet you’re picturing one of these folks right now.
I know I am.
You’ll find them everywhere, some of them are permanent property pessimists, and others torpedo your business ideas or your business or your career goals.
By the way…
I hope you will never see one in the mirror.
You see… pessimists spread negativity like the flu, and you must limit your exposure to them.
The risk in listening to these naysayers is that your own thoughts might begin to echo what they’re saying because they have the power to adversely affect not only your outlook but how high you aim to achieve.
So let’s take a closer look at these 3 types of people so you’ll be able to sidestep them whenever possible.
1. Mr Negative
Mr Negative seems to have a problem with every solution and loves to drain the enthusiasm from any new idea.
He’ll say things like That can’t be done”, “that won’t happen” or maybe “You can’t get rich through property investing.”
He’s stuck in his negative world and when a window of opportunity opens, he’ll pull down the blinds.
Worse than that, he will zap your energy and slow down your momentum.
Tip: You can’t expect to lead a positive life if you surround yourself with negative people.
2. The Critic
Critics are known for finding something derogatory to say about everyone, and they are especially famous for trading confidential or negative information about others.
Critics use gossip to bond with and control small-minded people.
Make sure you’re never tempted to engage in their shenanigans, for everyone is fair game, including you.
Think about it…If they talk about other people behind their backs, why wouldn’t they do the same about you when you’re not around?
Critics are threatened by talented successful people, and the greater the success, the louder the criticism, which they hope will draw the spotlight away from their own unimpressive results.
Tip: Never let anyone who has done nothing tell you how to do anything.
3. The Victim
You know the type – they never accept personal responsibility for the things that happen to them.
Life is chronically unfair to Victims.
It’s not their fault – it’s their boss’ fault, or the government or the “system.”
The deck is always stacked against Victims, and they have nothing but bad luck.
They haven’t figured out yet that hard work puts you in a place where good luck can find you, and they are famous for putting in little effort.
The bottom line
If you’re around someone with a cold, there’s a good chance you’ll catch a cold.
What are you catching from the people around you?
Do everything in your power to surround yourself with the right people because their character traits and habits are also contagious, but in a good way.
Look for the encouragers and believers, the high-energy movers and shakers who don’t have “can’t” in their vocabulary.
Surround yourself with people who dream bigger than you do.
People who’ll believe anything is possible, and they’ll believe in you.
Of course, it’s also critical to watch your own attitude.
We can’t always change the people or circumstances in our lives, but we can always change our responses.
Excellence is not a skill; it is an attitude, and positive thinking breeds rich habits.
I’ve heard it said that success is never owned.
It’s rented, and the rent is due every day.
Build the right team around you and they’ll help you pay the rent.
