According to motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Humans are social creatures. We’re easily influenced by the attitudes, thoughts and feelings of the people who are closest to us. Now, before you say “I’m my own person. I’m not affected by anyone around me,” think of a time when you were lifted out of a bad mood by hanging out with your spouse or best friend. Or perhaps it was the other way around—maybe a good friend’s sour mood rubbed off on you.
Like it or not, we’re likely to mimic the attitudes, thoughts and feelings of our circle of friends, and this can influence our careers. If your friends and associates are successful and embody the traits of determination, focus and ambition, chances are you will, too. Conversely, if your friends and associates are lazy and unfocused, that’s going to rub off on you.
The good news is you have the power to create your inner circle. That’s not to say you should cut off contact with your former friends and associates; instead, try to hang out with successful people more.
Assess your network. Who do you spend most of your time with? Of these people, which embody successful traits that you admire, such as focus or positivity? How do you feel when you’re around them? How do they view your success—are they encouraging or do they try to ‘cut you down to size?’ The people who uplift, inspire and motivate you to do better are the people you want to spend your time with.
But what if these unsuccessful or negative people are family or your spouse? We’re not saying to eliminate them from your life. You can still enjoy their company while you spend more time with your new crew of positive friends.
Seek out the people who you want to be like. If you want to be more successful, it only makes sense to spend time with people who are as successful, if not more, than you. But, sometimes the people who embody your best self aren’t currently in your social network. If that’s the case, get out and network. Go to networking events for overachievers, check out industry events that successful people flock to or get to know the successful friends of your current connections. The key is to seek out people who will encourage you to raise the bar for yourself.
Stay in touch. Communication is an essential component of building a relationship. When you meet a successful person at an event, party or other outing, be sure to exchange contact information and maintain communication. Call them and invite them to coffee, share an article that made you think of them on social media or write them a personal note—all of these gestures help to build the relationship.
Tap into their connections. Successful people tend to stick together. If you have successful friends, ask if they’ll introduce you to their network. Then begin to build a friendship with them.
Establishing and developing new friendships and connections takes time. However, the benefits are immeasurable. Spend time with positive and successful people and you’ll be amazed by the impact it has on your business and personal life. Want to network with other high-producing real estate professionals? Check out MarTech Trends ™. This one-day event will give you the tips and strategies you need to thrive in today’s changing real estate market, while giving you plenty of opportunities to meet and network with other successful pros. Click here to learn more.
