Put People First

In Change Your Thinking Change Your Life, Brian Tracy writes of a study Dr. David McClelland performed.  He interviewed graduates of Harvard University and the attendees of his Achievement in  American Life seminars, tracking these people for years.  He discovered that many of the people failed to build successful businesses or careers because the graduates returned to the same group of people they associated with before.  As a result they went back to the same old ways, old habits, and same manner of living. 

No one achieves anything of consequence by himself.  The people we know, help determine our success, happiness and level of achievement.  Our "reference group" is defined as the people we consider ourself similar to.  Over time, through a process of absorption, we will adopt other's attitudes, mannerisms, ways of speaking, levels of aspiration and even their style of dress.  Our reference group will exert an inordinate influence on the kind of person we become.

I have told my children to be careful of who they hang out with.  To look for the smart kids in the class and become their friend.  They may not be the most popular but they will help them stay focused on school and why they are there and what they are trying to accomplish.

If we want to change our thinking so to change our life, we may need a new reference group.  Associate with people we enjoy but with whom we can learn from. 

Build a network.  Brian Tracy has a very good suggestion in the book.  He suggests we write down 100 important people's names that we should get to know.  Then begin to get to know them.  He suggests writing them a letter complementing them on something they are involved in or express congraduations on an achievement they recently experienced.  Brian writes that we should not expect the person to respond but that we are sowing seeds and we need to continue to look for opportunities to meet the person.  Join groups, clubs and associations that contain members who can assist you in a particular way.  Join associates that relate to your profession or occupation.  Get involved.  Donate your time.  Look for ways to put in... to contribute.

Keep a small group of people close to you.  Tracy calls this group your "Mastermind network".  Just four to five people who you meet with and talk to regularly.  You can have multiple mastermind networks but the most important is your spouse.  Tracy states when two people are attuned to each other and completely supportive of each others hopes and dreams, they form a powerful combination that enables each of them to accomplish far more than they could achieve alone.

Watch your time.  Be selective.  Keep away from negative or "toxic" people.  See a Mentor.  The best mentors are successful people who are already very busy.  Be respectful of their time.  Approach them with a short list of key questions.

Remember relationships are everything!  We need to become a relationship creating individual.  I'm starting my list today!  Let me know if you do too.