It has been said that you become like the five people you hang out with the most. When I first heard that statement I was hanging out with myself (solopreneur), my wife, and my two-year old daughter. Most of my casual conversation revolved around one word answers, books about sheep and the moon, and the consistency of diaper content. I knew then I needed to expand my relational network.
Who are you hanging out with? Not casual relationship. The inner-circle kind. What kind of character are they? We all influence each other for good and not-so-good.
If you want to be a person known for honoring their word, hang out with other people who display that character trait. They will rub off on you. They will challenge you in not-so-many-words to raise your game. You will find over time, you will be becoming the kind of person you want to be. If you are finding yourself consistently not being the kind of individual you thought you would be, take a look at who you are spending the most time with. Is this challenging? Yes. But it is worth the struggle through the process.
- What kind of person do you want to become?
- Are the five people you hang out with the most representative of the kind of person you are striving to become?
- Is there someone you would like to add to your mix of inner-circle people? Who is it? What is stopping you from regularly meeting with them?
We all have more influence on each other that we tend to think. If you hang out with negative, complaining people, you will find your outlook on your life to be more on the critical side. If you are hanging out with innovative, forward-thinking people, you will find yourself starting to think that way too. Choose your inner-circle wisely.