“The difference between where you are now, and where you will be in 5 years will largely be determined by the people you hang out with, and the books that you read”
I’m not sure who originally said that (original wording may not have been exactly the same), but although it certainly wasn’t me, I am a keen believer in its message.
I am a strong believer in learning constantly, so I strive to read good educational books on a regular basis. Many people don’t think they have the time to read, but in reality, everyone can find 10 minutes before they go to bed, or when they wake up in the morning. Even reading for such a short time as this will add up over time, and who knows – once you start, you may even like it and suddenly start finding more time to fit reading good books into your day. Here are a few suggestions for where you may be able to create some time:
- before bed or before you get up
- at lunch time
- on the train/bus on the way to/from work
- in the car on the way to/from work (not so easy if you are a passenger, however there are many good audio books and programs that are available)
- by watching less TV
Whilst reading is a great way to learn, it is the first part of the quote above that I really feel strongly about. I really don’t think that the importance of the people you hang out with can be overstated. When taking on a goal such as working towards financial freedom, you will often find that it is difficult to relate to people who don’t share the same goal. When this happens, it can be very easy for their thinking to impact on the positive intent that you have. This often results in a loss of motivation, or doubt creeping into your thinking, which undermines your chances of success.
So how do you prevent this?
Well you can’t really. There are always going to be people out there that think differently to you, and who are very happy to share their thoughts on what you are trying to do, without realising what a negative impact it can have on you.
What you can do is work hard to make sure that you are offsetting their negative impact with at least equal or preferably greater exposure to people who’s thinking does align with yours. This will ensure that even though your confidence may be knocked about a bit at times, it is then rebuilt by surrounding yourself with positive people who have a similar interest and beliefs.
Now you may have noticed that I said “work hard” in the paragraph above. The reality is that you may indeed have to work hard to make yourself find and hang out with like-minded people – particularly initially. After all, you have likely ended up where you are today as a result of the people you have been hanging out with over the last 5 (or more) years, so any change to this is going to mean some potentially significant changes to your social life. At the same time, it doesn’t mean you have to completely dump your current set of friends (and possibly wife/husband or partner) to find a group of new financial independence focused people to replace them.
The approach that has worked for me has involved a mix of different small changes. Firstly, within my existing friends, there are a number that do have a strong interest in wealth creation, so I try to spend more time in the company of these people. For friends that don’t share similar goals, and particularly for those that openly ridicule or put down the idea, I will avoid discussion on the topic of wealth creation and financial freedom. If I do get involved in a discussion, my input will be minimal, and I will look to change the subject at an appropriate time. I have also joined a mentoring program, which offers me the chance to discuss deals and ideas with people think in a similar way. This allows me the opportunity for both virtual conversations (through discussion forums etc) and also a number of organised events each year which I find invaluable for keeping my motivation high. I also seek out local organisations and people that exist that offer me the opportunity to discuss wealth creation in a supportive and encouraging environment.
So my suggestion for you is, take a look at where you are now, and then consider the following questions:
- Are you where you want to be?
- Are you likely to be where you want to be in 5 years?
- Are you reading good books that will move you in the right direction?
- Are you hanging out with people that provide positive support for the direction you are heading?
If the answer to any of these is “no”, it may be worth having a look at what you are reading, and looking at how you can get yourself in the company of people who are heading in the same direction as you want to go, or even better, are already there. I know this has made a significant difference in my life, and I am confident you will be astounded by the impact small changes like these can make in your life!