Stand Alone! It is Better Than Being With A Worthless Crowd.

The saying that, “Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are” can never be more true. The Book of Proverbs concurs that, "A mirror reflects a man’s face but what he is really is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.”

Many experts have said and I personally have come to agree that, two things (the books you read and the friends you keep) determines to a great extent more than all other factors put together, the direction of a person’s life.

It is common knowledge from experience that you become more and more like the person you are closely associated with. I often tell people when I speak or during one- on- one coaching that many do not exercise fully their right to the choice of who becomes their friend. I would normally go on to point that when you don’t choose the type of friends you want, then just anybody will choose you as a friend.

Without mincing words, I had often told people to dissociate themselves from certain categories of people they related with if they wanted to see an improvement in their situation or life. Of course, it is not always that easy for them but the truth remains that good things don’t come easily. There would always be a sacrifice to make.

Another fact is that the more you associate and tolerate mediocrity around you, the greater the mediocrity in you. I have come across people who from their statements truly (?) desire to be like certain successful individuals but the kind of company they keep does not say anything positive to that effect. I saw an advert once which said, "those that pay peanuts end up with monkeys." See, mediocrity will always give birth to mediocrity, period!

The saying that If you want to fly with the eagle, then you must stop scratching with the ducks completely describe the attitude of one who is striving for excellence. Choose your company carefully: “He who lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.”

Good company will always want to increase you in the right direction while a wrong one on the other hand will not want you to go on. They will always want you to remain where you are or even reduce you.

One way to know the right or wrong type of friends is by what they say or think about your vision or dream no matter how outrageous or insensible they may be. Good friends, no matter what will advice you on how better to go about it but not so with bad friends. They are always ever critical of ideas you come up with even when they seem very good. They are dream killers. Always keep your dreams away from them. Not everyone is entitled to give you advice.

One last thing though: before you start looking out for good friends, consider if you are a great one yourself because the best way to make a true friend is to be one. Those friends will surely be on the look out for what you too can offer them.