So, you want to be successful? Of course, who doesn’t? Here is a tip. Hang around smart people. People with goals. People who are high achievers. People with a vision. People who have a standard of excellence. 

Remember when we were kids, your parents would tell you, “Don’t hang around that Bobby and Steve, they trouble makers. Why don’t you play with Kevin and his friends? He is a good kid.” Of course, Bobby and Steve were cooler than Kevin was. So, you should have listened. Sure enough, you soon sat in the principal’s office or spent time in in-school suspension. Then, where I came from, depending on how old you were, it was the belt, grounded for a few weeks, or it was no car for a month. You soon figured it out – or not.   

Jim Rohn, personal development guru, author, and motivational speaker, said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”  I will never forget to use this quote with my teams or any group I may have a chance to speak to. After graduating, one of my former players told me, “The five friends’ average story was probably the one statement he remembered that proved true. Spot on,” he said. 

Well, there is even more proof.  Researchers at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University studied how sitting and working within 25 feet of high performers increases production by 15%.  Conversely, sitting next to toxic performers reduced output by 30%. That is twice as much. To me, this is significant. 

This is a simple concept that proves true. If you want to be great, surround yourself with those who aspire to be great, and stay away from those who don’t aspire. 

And always remember URtheCulture! 

Dr. Barry Davis

_______________________________________________________________________

Insight blog from the Head Baseball Coach at Rider University, Dr. Barry Davis

Visit his website at https://drbarrydavis.com/