Surround Yourself With Success - Part 1

Identifying the people in your life, and the affect these relationships are having on your success.

Table of Contents:

1. Baby Steps
2. Feature Article: SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SUCCESS - Part 1
3. Quotes
4. Recommended Resources: Success
5. Self-Care
6. Final Thoughts

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1. Baby Steps

Who are you around? What effect are they having on you? Is that
okay? How you answer these questions, and the action that you take
around those answers, will dramatically affect your level of success.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we will look at the people around
us, and the affect they're having on our success. In the next issue,
Part 2 will explore specific ways to surround ourselves with success.

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2. Feature Article: SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SUCCESS - Part 1

As the story goes, Mark Victor Hansen was lamenting to Tony
Robbins about his less than desirable level of success. "I don't
understand it," said Hansen. "I just can't seem to get from where
I am to where I want to be."

"Well, who are the people around you?" asked Robbins.

"The thing is," replied Hansen. "I'm hanging out with millionaires."

"That's the problem," declared Robbins. "You need to start
hanging out with billionaires."

Mark Victor Hansen took Tony Robbins' advice, and the rest
is history.

Now, obviously, surrounding himself with billionaires wasn't the
only reason that Hansen became incredibly successful with his
Chicken Soup empire. And we can certainly argue that those two
play in a league very different from our own. But the story illustrates
one of the fundamental laws of success: If you want to be successful,
then surround yourself with successful people. The converse of that
is also true. For no matter what else you do right, if you associate
with the wrong people, you will find it virtually impossible to succeed.

In assessing the affect that our relationships have on your success,
you must ask yourself three questions: Who are the people in your
life? What effect are these people having on your life? And the big
question: Is that okay?

The first question is easy enough to answer. Examine the people
around you--your family, friends, acquaintances and the people
with whom you work. Who are you around?

Secondly, what effect are they having on you? What are you doing
when you're with these folks? What activities are you engaged in?
What do you talk about? What do you think about?

The last question is the big one. The moment of truth. The final
assessment. Is that okay?

When looking at whether or not it's okay, here's the benchmark I
use: Is this person supporting and expanding my ability to create the
desired results in my life? Is he or she helping me to realize my full
potential and live the life of my dreams? For some people in our
lives, the answer is clearly "yes". But if you're not sure, then it's
time to take a closer look at these relationships.

Your initial impression might be there are no undesirable relationships
in your life. But the fact of the matter is, for some people the only
thing standing between them and success is a new set of friends!
The world is full of "dream stealers"--people whose purpose in life
is tell you all the reasons your idea won't work, or why your goal is
unrealistic, or that your chosen path is too risky.

The sooner you eliminate these destructive relationships, the better.
If it is not possible, or too awkward, to discontinue the relationship,
then at least minimize it. Rather than going out to lunch every day
with your energy-draining, pessimistic colleague, restrict your
contact to business matters only. If you finally realize the negative
effect your friend or a relative is having on you, then reduce your
contact with him or her. Don't be mean, and don't reject them as
people. Just move away from them.

Part 2 of this article will examine specific ways to surround yourself
with success. The old adage "If you want to be successful, study
everything that successful people do, and do the same thing", though
oversimplified, is true. And surrounding yourself with winners--with
supportive, successful people--will rapidly accelerate the pace with
which you achieve your goals.

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3. Quotes

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.
Small people always do that, but the really great make you
feel that you, too, can become great.
Mark Twain

Qui cum canibus concumbunt cum pulicibus surgent.
("They who lie with dogs will rise with fleas.")

Tell me what company you keep and I'll tell you who you are.
Cervantes, Don Quixote

People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those
who are doing it.

I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn
something from him.
Galileo Galilei

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4. Recommended Resources: Success

Think and Grow Rich
by Napolean Hill

This is one of the classics of personal development literature,
and is a "must read" if you are serious about achieving your
goals.
To order tape set, click here
To order book, click here

Awaken the Giant Within
by Anthony Robbins

The creator of acclaimed personal achievement programs and
the author of the best-selling Unlimited Power reveals the
proven steps to self-mastery. Robbins shares the secrets of his
exclusive "Date with Destiny" seminars, describing how
unconscious beliefs control our behavior and how we can make
immediate changes to accomplish our goals.
To order book, click here

The Power of Focus
by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt

This book provides a practical guide for achieving desired results
in the key areas of your life. The action steps at the end of each
chapter make it easy to formulate your plan and then implement
it immediately in your life.
To order book, click here

Maximum Achievement
by Brian Tracy

A renowned motivational expert presents his powerful and
pragmatic lessons to help readers reach peak performance,
personally and professionally. Tracy's straightforward advice
is accompanied by easy-to-do exercises and enhanced with
inspiring stories of successful, highly motivated achievers in
many fields.
To order book, click here

The Psychology of Achievement
by Brian Tracy

This remarkable program reveals strategies to elevate your
income, put your career on the fast track and accomplish more
than you ever dreamed possible.
To order tape set, click here

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5. Self-Care

The National Sleep Foundation recently released their 2001 Sleep
in America poll, which looked at the relationship between Americans'
lifestyles, sleep habits and sleep problems.

Not surprisingly, the study revealed that sleep deprivation continues
to be widespread in America. According to the poll, a majority of
American adults (63%) does not get the recommended eight hours
of sleep needed for good health, safety and optimum performance.
In fact, nearly one-third (31%) report sleeping less than seven hours
each week night, though many adults say they try to sleep more on
weekends.

Although respondents indicated that they would sleep more if they
were convinced it would contribute to their quality of life, far too
many adults are still sacrificing sleep, which is unhealthy and
counterproductive.

It is easy to get lulled into the pattern of "less sleep equals more time
for work and fun." Unfortunately, our quality of life suffers as a result
of the sacrifice. Lack of sleep can adversely affect quality of work,
and also lead to ill health. While not everyone requires eight, or even
seven hours of sleep, the point is to be adequately rested at the start of
each day.

If your motto is currently "Sleep less, work more," then consider
modifying it to something like "Sleep more, work more efficiently,
have fun and enjoy a higher quality of life." Your mind and body
will thank you!

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6. Final Thoughts

TWO FROGS

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of
them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the
pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs
that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of
the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to
stop, that there was no hope. Finally, one of the frogs took heed
to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down
and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again,
the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die.

He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out,
the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained
to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him
the whole time.

This story teaches us that there is life and death in the tongue.
An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up
and help them make it through the day, while a destructive word to
someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.

Words are powerful. Speak life to those who cross your path, as
an encouraging word can go such a long way. Sometimes, it means
the difference between life and death.

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Thank you for reading the LifeExcellence Newsletter. Have a
SUCCESSFUL week!
- Brian Bartes

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