Evaluating Your Associations (Part One)

If you were to evaluate the major influences in your life that have shaped the kind of person you are, this has to be high on the list: the people and thoughts you choose to allow into your life. Mr. Shoaff gave me a very important warning in those early days that I would like to share with you. He said, "Never underestimate the power of influence." Indeed, the influence of those around us is so powerful! Many times we don't even realize we're being strongly affected because influences generally develop over an extended period of time.

Peer pressure is an especially powerful force because it is so subtle. If you're around people who spend all they make, chances are excellent that you'll spend all you make. If you are around people who go to more ball games than concerts, chances are excellent that you'll do the same thing. If you are around people who don't read, chances are excellent that you won't read.

People can keep nudging us off course a little at a time until finally, we find ourselves asking, "How did I get here?" Those subtle influences need to be studied carefully if we really want our lives to turn out the way we've planned.

With regard to this important point, let me give you three key questions to ask yourself. They may help you to make better analysis of your current associations.

Here is the first question: "Who am I around?" Make a mental note of the people with whom you most often associate. You've got to evaluate everybody who is able to influence you in any way.

The second question is: "What are these associations doing to me?" That's a major question to ask. What have they got me doing? What have they got me listening to? What have they got me reading? Where have they got me going? What do they have me thinking? How have they got me talking? How have they got me feeling? What have they got me saying? You've got to make a serious study of how others are influencing you, both negatively and positively.

Here's a final question: "Is that okay?" Maybe everyone you associate with has been a positive, energizing influence. Then again, maybe there are some bad apples in the bunch. All I'm suggesting here is that you take a close and objective look. Everything is worth a second look, especially the power of influence. Both will take you somewhere, but only one will take you in the direction you need to go.

It's easy to just dismiss the things that influence our lives. One man say's, "I live here, but I don't think it matters. I'm around these people, but I don't think it hurts." I would take another look at that. Remember, everything matters! Sure, some things matter more than others, but everything amounts to something. You've got to keep checking to find out whether your associations are tipping the scales toward the positive or toward the negative. Ignorance is never the best policy. Finding out is the best policy.

Perhaps you've heard the story of the little bird. He had his wing over his eye and he was crying. The owl said to the bird, "You are crying." "Yes," said the little bird, and he pulled his wing away from his eye. "Oh, I see," said the owl. "You're crying because the big bird pecked out your eye." And the little bird said, "No, I'm not crying because the big bird pecked out my eye. I'm crying because I let him."

It's easy to let influence shape our lives, to let associations determine our direction, to let pressures overwhelm us, and to let tides take us. The big question is, are we letting ourselves become what we wish to become?

Next week we'll take a look at the three forms of disassociating from negative influences. Until then,

To Your Success,

Jim Rohn

Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine. Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine, go to http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com

---

The Formula For Failure and Success

(Excepted from the book The Five Major Pieces to the... Read More

Success: The Slight-Edge Formula

Self-improvement; A great deal has been written on the subject,... Read More

What Are the Nine Bodyparts of a Better Life?

Your Head, think about what you want and move towards... Read More

How To Acheive Your Full Potential

If you want to make more of your talents -... Read More

Personal Development Legend Jim Rohn Turns 70 and Still Going Strong

Jim Rohn, noted leader and speaker in the personal development... Read More

Are You Looking For Success With A KISS?

I am sure that you're familiar with the old formula... Read More

Decisions Can Change Your Life

To realize that you determine the outcome of your own... Read More

An Honest Commitment To Action Is Key To Your Success

With topics in personal development ranging from goal setting to... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Measure Twice, Cut Once

Measure twice, cut once Just as in carpentry, making sure... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Using Eastern Wisdom

Take a page from Eastern wisdom Meditation, martial arts that... Read More

Who Makes You Better?

Commit yourself to spending time only with people who are... Read More

What is Success?

A company entitled "Made for Success" begs the question: Just... Read More

Defining Success

I'll be the first to admit that everyone has his... Read More

Have You Given Away Your Power?

Does your life feel less than fulfilling? Are you waiting... Read More

Success Showdowns

I confess, I love westerns. There is nothing like those... Read More

The One-Two Punch for Success: Authenticity and Alignment

Have you ever felt as if you are beating your... Read More

Insinct Is Your Life-blood - Says Author

Fourteen thousand civilised people died when the tsunami hit Andaman... Read More

Dont Just Read About It; Be About It!

Far too many of us struggle through life despite more... Read More

Enroll in Car College - Learn Whilst Youre On The Move

One of the most overlooked opportunities for learning and personal... Read More

Lifetime Success Key: Get a Life...

I was talking about my business to a stranger the... Read More

Mind is the Forerunner of All States

Our lives and the circumstances we live in are largely... Read More

Learning From Failure--What To Do When You Blow It!

Becoming successful is not easy. We all get tossed around... Read More

Reading For Success

We live in the information age, dominated by the development... Read More

How Top Performers Use Built-In Technology To Stay On Top

Do you ever wonder how some people consistently get what... Read More

Change Your Results by Changing Your Expectations

Our expectations get us into a lot of trouble and... Read More

My Top 10 Quotes for Living Well!

Over the years many people have offered their models of... Read More

Back-Planning For Success

Coming up with new dreams and passions can be fun,... Read More

Will You Be Successful?

We all want success. You do. So do I. Some... Read More

Self Growth - How to Overcome Your Critics

They all know it's part of the success journey.They know... Read More

10 Tips for Sensible Living

Here are a few suggestions that I try to put... Read More

Ingredients For Success

Management by Objectives, strategic planning, quality, teams, re-engineering. Passing management... Read More

Fear of Success? Fear of Failure?

What's holding you back?One of my clients came to me... Read More

Five Principals for Prosperity

Many years ago, forty to be exact, I started my... Read More