"Greatness is contagious-you'll catch it if you're around it!"

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Did your parent ever tell you when you were growing up, "I don't really like you spending so much time with so and so (fill in the name)? Mine sure did, and it wasn't until I had kids of my own, that I really understood my parent's concern. It is a proven fact that we become more like those we hang out with, than we'd like to admit. And that can apply to becoming more than, or less than...if you know what I mean.

For example, in my past life, I found through managing sales departments for newspapers, you always had your core group of sales people who hung around together, had coffee or lunch together. And as a group they tended to gripe and grouse together, complain together and liked to be generally miserable together. But there were always one or two salespeople, the outliers I liked to call them, who didn't socialize with the bigger group, didn't go to coffee, didn't engage in the "griping and grousing" and stuck to there selves. They were pleasant and would certainly converse with the salespeople in the larger group, but they never engaged in some of the negative talk that seemed to drive the group. I would always ask these salespeople why they didn't engage with the others and the answer was always the same. "It takes a lot of energy to stay positive in this job and in this environment and I want to be a successful salesperson. It won't happen if I'm hanging out with people who will try and pull me down."

So what is it that you ultimately want in life and how does the company you keep help you reach those goals or vision? If you want to be a great photographer in the world-are you hanging out with really great photographers? If you are hoping to have a successful coaching or consulting practice, are you hanging out with the successful coaches and consultants? Or are you spending time with those coaches and consultants who are complaining about the soft economy, or their lack of clients, or they don't like the clients they have?

You need to be with those that will help "pull" you forward, those who are already where you want to be-because when you hang out with those who have achieved greatness, it's going to rub off on you and will help you achieve the greatness you are looking for in your life and business.

Here are a couple of things I'd like for you to consider:

1-Take a good look at your calendar or schedule and consider this:

Are you spending time with the people who have achieved greatness, those who are already playing a bigger game? If not, make some changes. Start looking for individuals and groups who are where you'd like to be, and begin spending more time with them. As challenging as it might be, drop those in your life who are the nay-sayers, the depressed ones, the 100-excuses people.

2-Join a Mastermind Group.

A mastermind group is a small group that meets with the purpose of reinforcing growth and success while offering support to one another... History has shown that many successful entrepreneurs were members of a mastermind group. Today, there are mastermind groups available in many of our communities, in fact there are virtual mastermind groups available as well. Many coaches and consultants, now facilitate mastermind groups as part of their business or practice.

3-Really take action on this topic-it DOES matter!

Do you want to be a more successful entrepreneur, writer, painter, financial planner, coach, real estate broker, mother, singer, or basketball or tennis player? Whatever it is you want to be great at, make sure you are spending time with those that are ahead of you, those that are more successful, or talented, or are already where you'd like to be. Develop relationships with them, pick their brains, and observe what they do and HOW they do it. Become inspired by them and let them help "pull you forward".

Because greatness is contagious and you can't help but catch it!