Jan 3

“Who” Will Raise Your Standards in 2014

“Who you spend time with is who you become!  Change your life by consciously choosing to surround yourself with people with higher standards!”  Tony Robbins

Your ability to reach your results in 2014 will be dramatically impacted by the company you keep.  What is your criteria for the people in your life?  Most people don’t have criteria, instead they settle for companionship by unconsciously spending time with family, colleagues, neighbors, parents of their children’s friends and partners of their spouse’s friends to name a few.  Sadly most admit without the predetermined commonality they would never choose to spend time with those people.  Is there anyone like that in your life?  Is that good enough for you?

Despite it’s questionable title, “Why Successful People Leave Their Loser Friends Behind” offers good information on the subject.  You can work hard but never reach your goals or find fulfillment if you surround yourself with negative Nellys, naysayers and energy vampires.  Consider the tangible and intangible costs of those people on your mindset.  How does their negative energy impact your ability to be resourceful about your career, your family, and your health?

As you begin 2014 decide WHO you want in your life.  What will it take to surround yourself with people who raise your standards?

To get you started consider the following:

1. Attached is a “Who” Inventory which will allows you to evaluate the people currently in your life. (NOTE:  Some people find it difficult to complete the Inventory.  Please keep in mind this does not need to be shared and you are not making a judgement about the people you list, it is an evaluation of how you feel when you are with them.  Your feelings are neither right nor wrong – they are.  Also keep in mind you can adjust any situation by changing your perception or procedure.  Sometimes a 2mm shift in either area can move someone from a minus/divide to a different category on the Inventory.  The inventory allows you to see where people fall and you get to decide your action steps.)
2. The article above recommends “Three Essential People” to help you achieve your results:
   1. A person who is older and more successful than you to learn from
   2. A person who is equal to you to exchange ideas with
   3. A person who is below you to coach and keep you energize
3. Another way to surround yourself with high minded people is to create a Board of Advisors.  It could be a physical group of thought leaders you bring together for regular meetings to guide your work and hold you accountable (for information on building a Board of Advisors consider Forbes Magazine How To Build Your Board of Advisors – A 3-step Approach) or it could be an imaginary Board of Advisors such as Napolean Hill’s Group of Invisible Counselors.

  “Long before I had ever written a line for publication, or endeavored to deliver a speech in public, I followed the habit of reshaping my own character, by trying to imitate the nine men whose lives and life-works had been most impressive to me.  These nine men were Emerson, Paine, Edison, Darwin, Lincoln, Burbank, Napoleon, Ford, and Carnegie.  Every night, over a long period of years, I held an imaginary council meeting with this group whom I called my Invisible Counselors.”  “In these imaginary Council meeting I called on my Cabinet members for the knowledge I wished each to contribute, addressing myself to each member in audible words…”  Napolean Hill, Think and Grow Rich

These are just a few ideas to get you thinking.  Create the results you want in 2014 by surrounding yourself with people who raise your standards.  This is YOUR year.  Make life revolve around you!