I've decided to make Thursdays my "Question of the Week" day because I always have questions and am always interested in people's answers.
This Week's Question: Do you think one's success has anything to do with the people they associate with?
Take aside individuals born into royalty or wealth, do you think the average person is more successful because of the individuals they surround themselves with?
Is it the belief in oneself or the energy from successful people that drive you to strive for success?
I have no opinion on this and am just curious to read what other people think.
20 comments:
i think your success opens doors that are unavilable to everyone, the trick is not forgetting where you came from when you walk through them...
I think the positive effect is small compared to the converse: is anyone prevented from attaining success due to the people they associate with?
I think the associating with the wrong people is more a determinant of failure to achieve than associating with the right people is indicative of achieving.
Interesting question! I think both because the people you associate with so often affect how you feel about yourself. If they're having a bad day and they basically poo poo something you're excited about, they just might make you feel bad. Likewise if you're feeling discouraged and those around you are really positive, it makes a big difference.
I think it's the chicken or the egg phenom. Successful people tend to hang around other successful, together people. And vice versa. And the networking amongst successful people is obviously more productive than a bunch of unsuccessful folks trying to help each other. Success and positive-energy attract the like, and so on.
I agree with the other commenters. I do think people who hang out with successful people tend to be successful themselves. I think a large part of that is similar people being attracted to one another and a smaller part is those people being encouraged to be successful by seeing the successes of those around them.
why is it that you go throw your whole life doing one thing and when that one thing is taken from you you feel lost even though people tell everything is going to be ok its really not like a job you work there 10 to 15 years your doing your job and then its gone you lost like you have no purpose in life like someone took your soul.i guess this is why they call this a about nothing
It is partly that, networking, connections, relationships, who you know.
Secretia
Absolutely.
How many times have you heard "It's all in who you know!"
At the end of the day, it is (at least when it comes to work-related stuff).
For personal stuff, it's all in who you are (not who you know).
steven - your comment is interesting, but doesn't apply to me.
I've been fortunate to change careers several times throughout my life and the reason my blog is entitled A Little Blog About Nothing is because I've never had the desire to give expert advice in anything AND it is truly a blog about observations.
The reason for today's question has to do with a conversation I had with friends last night and why he thinks his daughter will have more doors open for her going to the ivy league school she's going to.
Your question is: Do you think one's success has anything to do with the people they associate with?
I know we each have to have the desire and willingness; however, I most certainly believe if one knows the right people their life can very different from someone else.
Hmm. I think when you are younger, if you hang around with "the wrong crowd" you are probably more tempted to follow the crowd and get into trouble. I think when most of the people you know are ambitious, go getting, high energy people, that helps to reinforce those qualities in yourself.
But I think in the end you are the only person that is truly responsible for your actions, your success, your failures, and your decisions. Being in the right place at the right time helps but if you don't make the most of it, it doesn't really matter.
I think that if you believe in yourself, you will attract people that believe in you too.
I think this is not something that is universally true or applicable to everyone. The fact remains that if one is mature and focused enough, nothing can deter you from reaching one’s goals. Though, I agree that hanging out with the wrong crowd when one is at an impressionable age can lead some of us to go astray.
I think it's a combination of the two.
Interesting question! and even more so with your additional explanation in your comment.
I think in many ways, the people you know--and most importantly, what those people think of you--makes a whole lot of difference. So if you do a good job in front of people who are respected/powerful, you'll end up with lots of doors opening. Of course if you're mediocre, but know the same people, the opposite is true.
I too am encouraging my son to go to a "good" college. Not Ivy league, but a respected place he would be proud to tell people about, and even more importantly, will give him the "glow" of a good school as he starts out. He has the ability and we have the means, so I don't want him at a community college (where I started, so I know) or some place that has no admission standards and whose graduates are poorly thought of.
And in another way, if you're a loser and try to hang around with successful, motivated people, they won't tolerate it for long, and it's similar for a person who becomes motivated after hanging around with losers...they end up finding new, supportive friends with similar values.
Your questions always make me think--I like that.
I think positivity and ambition attracts the same. Just as negativity and underminers attract the same. I can appreciate your friends thoughts/concerns bc these types of discussions were common in my family when I was looking at/applying to law schools.
I think it can work both ways but hard work is usually at the core of true success. And I think what Brian Miller said too :-)
Happy weekend,
jj
I guess that depends on what you mean by successful
Oh gosh. A combination. I just watched Precious and she certainly didn't start out with any belief in herself. She was guided to her ultimate destiny of success.
oh absolutely. i strongly believe in the benchmark.
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