The Company You Keep

Why are your friends your friends? Have you just known each other for a while and decided they were ok to consider a close companion? Do you have a lot of things in common or think the same way? Usually the reason why you hang out with the people you hang out with is because you have the same interests and agree on the same things. You do, say, and watch similar things, and you may even have the same philosophy, but eventually you will probably make around the same amount of money. I hope you and your besties have the same goals in life because you could end up exactly like them. 

Picture your friends lives 5-10 years from now. Are they successful and living a life you wouldn't mind living? If they aren't making goals now and working towards having a successful future, odds are they never will. In order for you to get to where you want to be in life, you will need to surround all aspects of your life with things or people you can look up to. If your friends aren't supporting you and your goals and they don't have anything that you can admire about them, then you should probably remove yourself from the situation. I'm not saying dump your best friend of 15 years. I strongly believe that you should have two sets of friends, personal and business. Hang around people who have a better drive than you, make more money than you, and people who are essentially more successful. You will then push yourself to be more like them as opposed to the blind leading the blind in a group of friends with lower ambitions. In order the be all that you can be, you will need to be mentored by someone who has already been down the road you are currently traveling on. These people should not try to hold you back or make you feel bad about wanting more out of life.

Your environment will change you before you change it. Make sure that you are doing all that you can to reach your goals. If that means befriending more successful people and taking their advice more than you taking the advice of a good friend that isn't necessarily going the same places you are, then so be it! Look for someone who won't mind taking you under their wings by motivating you and teaching you new things.