The One Quote that You Need to Live By to Have a Great Year

The subtle power of a few words influences your life forever

There is one quote that you need to know that can change your life forever. Motivational speaker Jim Rohn has said this time after time and many people have repeated this quote.

“You are the average of the five people you spend your most time with”.

Many people in business or entrepreneurs talk about this quote often. This quote could also be what holds you back in life.

• If you hang around a group of people who smoke, over time you may be encouraged to smoke as well.
• If you hang around a group of people who eat at McDonald’s, this restaurant could become one of your favorite restaurants.
• If you hang around a group of people who exercise three or four times a week, you may work out just as often.

The trend continues by who you decide to spend your time with. The actions of others have a powerful effect on you.

Three reasons why this happens

The people you associate with can have a big impact on your life. People influence what you do, how you act, as well as your personal interests. Some of the actions may be obvious while others may be tiny little actions.

When a baby is born, they copy what people say. Over time, they will say their first word because they may have heard the word quite often. The same holds true for people as they get older.

You may notice from time to time, you may start to copy what your friends say. Or they may start to mimic what you have said.

1. You start to mimic or copy those you spend your time with

To copy others is necessary, but to copy oneself is pathetic.

Pablo Picasso

Actions your friends do will encourage you to learn more about that area. Whether it is going to the movies, reading, writing, investing, drinking, and so on, will encourage you to take more actions in these areas.

If you want to lose weight in 2021, then you should hang around people who want to lose weight. When you hang around people who don’t want to lose weight, you’ll be tempted more often to get off your diet plan.

Who you decide to spend your time with can have a lasting effect on you. Making a change is the hardest part.

2. Law of average

The law of averages is the idea that something is sure to happen at some time, because of the number of times it generally happens or is expected to happen. Collins English dictionary

The law of average is heard often in sports. People talk about the average number of shots basketball players take or a batter’s average in baseball. In life, this law has a similar effect you should know about.

When you hang out with five people who have similar interests, you start to copy others in this area.

• If your friends like to drink, you may drink more often.
• If your friends like to save, you may learn some savings tips from them.
• If your friends invest, you may learn some new investments they are interested in.

Who you spend your time with can have a big effect on your own actions. If there is something you like to do, your circle of friends influence you the most.

The people you decide to spend your time with will influence you more than you can imagine. Making the decision to spend time with them, is your choice. Sometimes you want to spend time with others if their interests are something you want to explore.

When your friend’s interests are not what you like, then you may want to find someone else to fill that spot in your life.

3. You are affected by your environment

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.

C.S. Lewis

Where you live can have a big effect on who you know and who you’ll meet. Sometimes you may have to expand your circle and attend different networking events, meet with coworkers after work, or volunteer in different groups.

During these experiences, you will get to know people. You can find out more about what they like and don’t like. Eventually, you’ll see if this person can fill one of the five people in your life.

You will also learn more about yourself. Your interests will change and you will continue to grow. As life changes, you have to change with it.

Heading into a new year

Sometimes you have to sit back and look at yourself. Who you decide to hang around with can have a tremendous effect on your life. If you want to reach something in life, maybe someone who you choose to hang around with is holding you back.

A professor once told me, life isn’t fair. In life, who you choose to hang around with can influence you in more ways than you can imagine.

When you move into 2021, you need to find those five people who can push you, challenge you, and encourage you to reach your goals. The world around you is changing very fast these days. You don’t want to get left behind as changes will happen with or with you.

Tom Handy is a top writer on Medium, former Quora writer, and father of two kids. He retired from the Army and sits on several non-profit boards. You can find him on Twitter @tomhandy1 and his publication Life is Like a Game.