Whom do you associate with?

“Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.”
W. Clement Stone
1902-2002, Author and Businessman

Whilst I rode home on the train yesterday afternoon, I turned the page of the local freebie paper I was reading to see an interview and a photo of a friend of mine, Nik Halik.

Nik is an Adventurer, entrepreneur (he was a millionaire before he turned 30!) and recently became an author.

The article was written to promote his new book, The Thrillionaire, which was recently released. I rushed out to purchase his book today, and read a chapter on my way home. So far so good! I’ll post a review when I finish!

Now, this article isn’t about his book, but more about a question he was asked in the article I was reading.

He was asked what the best advice his parents had given him.

He responded with “You are whom you associate with”. Interesting.

Now, look around you. What is your partner like? What are your friends like? Observe them like you’ve never met them before. Do you want to be like them? Or do you want something else?

If this is the case, then look at changing who you associate with. Build a new circle of friends, network with people who are interested in the same things you are.

Very few of us ever look at our families or friends like I have suggested, and it’s not until they really look at them from an outsider’s perspective that they realise that perhaps they should associate with other “types” and that their current associations are not what’s best for them.

Of course, you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family – you’re stuck with them no matter what! So if your family aren’t helping you to grow and be a better person, what do you do?

For me it has been difficult because I come from a very close family. The problem is that I really have nothing in common with two of my siblings. AT ALL! Once upon a time we had a lot in common. But not now. Over time we have grown apart.

Don’t get me wrong – we still love each other. I even work with one of them! And we get on fine, but only in small doses. What this means is that I rarely see them unless I run into one in the hallway at work, or we have a family celebration. Spend too much time together, and it’s like we’re from different planets. My sister talks about what happened on TV last night and I tune out. I talk about my business and she tunes out.

It’s just the way things are. It doesn’t mean we hate each other, but I much prefer to associate with people who have interests similar to mine!

Things get a LOT harder when it’s your partner or significant other. You hear so many stories of marriages ending because they have “grown apart”. Unfortunately I have no solution to offer here. I think it’s just that sometimes people head in different directions in life. Maybe being more involved or taking an interest in what your partner is doing, and asking them to do the same will help?

For me, I have found that associating with people who are successful, inspirational and positive has changed my life for the better. I realise that these people are so “normal” and have always been that way! They’re no different to you and me, except that in Nik Halik’s case in particular, there is a burning desire to achieve their goals. I admire their passion and commitment and courage. They have a “never say die” attitude and it pays off for them. I want to be more like them and take action every day to be like them!

I will be forever grateful for the day that I made the decision to make my life better, because I now have some wonderful friends that include Nik Halik the Thrillionaire.

And as proof that we do actually know each other, here we are at a Money Masters event in Brisbane! I have had the pleasure of working with Nik, his wonderful sister Victoria and the FFI team on several occasions now and I look forward to working with them again in the future.

I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen Pierce at a seminar in 2006. Stephen also had a bit of a tragic beginning, but again he is proof that it doesn’t matter where you come from – success can be yours!