It’s been said that you’re an average of the five people you spend most time with. You can even become like the people you admire. Psychologists call this “emotional contagion”, a phenomenon in which your emotions reflect those of your peers.
If you’re spending time with people who are unhappy, pessimistic, or simply put, unsuccessful, you will likely become the same way. But just as you can absorb the bad habits of being around the wrong company, you can also pick up the good traits of those who are happy, self-confident, and optimistic.
If you want to accomplish great things, you must choose your heroes wisely.
They Inspire You To Become Your Best
People often believe change comes from within. It’s true — to an extent. Achieving goals is less about changing ourselves and what we think; it’s really about optimizing your environment so you can make better choices.
A goal is great for setting a direction, but the systems you create help you get there. To set yourself up for success you need to upgrade your environment. And the best way to do it, personally and professionally, is to surround yourself with people who have been there and done that, those who have achieved similar goals.
Once you surround yourself with people who inspire you to be better, there are no limits to what you can do.
Why Mentorship is Important
A mentor can elevate your mind and career that school or a business trip will never do. They can be an asset for young, aspiring professionals who are starting out.
Mentors give you an insider’s perspective on your chosen field and they can introduce you to key industry contacts.
You can think of mentors in four categories: the ones you know personally, the ones you don’t know personally, mentors you work for, and the ones you pay.
Mentors you know personally are typical mentors. They are someone you can meet for coffee or call on the phone. But you don’t need to know your mentors. You can still learn a lot from people you haven’t met.
Reading biographies can give you the most valuable lessons in life. Since every life has a beginning, middle, and end, those at the beginning could benefit by studying how people have lived their lives. Authors, bloggers, and podcasters can also shape how you see the world.
You can even find mentors at work. When you spend 40 hours a week with someone, you can learn a lot from them. If you have a good boss, you’ll learn about management and business operations.
Follow your curiosity and figure out how to work for someone who’s doing something you find interesting.
Then there are mentors you pay. In fact, it’s recommended if you’re trying to do something at a high level. It’s okay to pay for the guidance you need. Top athletes pay their coaches, and businesses pay their board of directors.
You can do this at different stages in your career. All you need to do is go online and search for whatever it is you’re trying to do.
Find a Mentor You Admire
Choosing someone you admire is a good start. At the most basic level, your mentor should have more experience than you and a track record of success. A bad mentor is worse than not having one at all so spend some time on this.
A sign of a great mentor is someone you want to become; it’s you but the best version of who you are, so look for someone with similar values as your own. If it’s a good fit, they will appreciate providing information. Thank them, acknowledge them, and don’t squander their time.
Finding a mentor starts with working hard and developing a reputation for success. Be teachable, motivated, curious, and reliable. As Sheryl Sandberg said, “It’s not find a mentor, and you will do well; it’s do well, and a mentor will find you.” Influential people are always looking for talented young people.
There are great mentors you want to emulate and others that help you learn what not to be like — the successful person struggling with their personal life.
Both experiences will give you better insight into what kind of life you want for yourself.
And always remember that the mentor/mentee relationship is a two-way street, so be sure to bring something of value to the mentor as well!
They Help You See the Hope Inside Yourself
Your circle of friends can make a big difference in your quality of life. Great friendships don’t just help you prosper; they push you forward and inspire you to be your best. They add value to your life and make you a better person.
If you become like those around you, would you be happy trading lives with your friends?
