Research has shown that if you hang around with smokers, you’re more likely to smoke. And if your friends are obese, you’re 45% more likely to be obese. But, does spending time with successful people make you more likely to have career success? Yes it does. The people you spend the most time with have the greatest influence on how you think and act… often without you realising. So, if you’ve got big plans for your career this year, it’s time to do a social audit. These are the 4 types of people you MUST have in your social circle for career success.
Are you friends helping or harming your career success?
It’s easy to overlook the positive influence those in your life have on you, so take a closer look at your current friendship (and family) circle to identify if you already have some superstars close to home.
Begin by writing down the five people with whom you spend the majority of your time. They are often those you live, work or socialise heavily with. For each person, think about if they are a positive or negative influence on your career (and life) goals. To decide this, consider if:
- they have similar goals, drive or ambition as you
- they support your decisions
- they call you out when you’re sabotaging yourself
- they lend a hand or ear when you need help or advice
Give each person +1 point for each of the above factors they satisfy and -1 for every point they miss. The maximum score for each person will be +4 and the minimum score will be -4.
Begin by writing down the five people with whom you spend the majority of your time. They are often those you live, work or socialise heavily with. For each person, think about if they are a positive or negative influence on your career (and life) goals.
You should take a closer look at any friends, colleagues or family members who achieved a score of 0 or less. Of course, we’re not saying you should cut out those who aren’t helping your career success – sometimes, this is impossible (you can’t always pick your colleagues). What we are saying is that if any of the five people you spend most of your time with seems to be a negative influence on your career goals, it may be time to seek out people who are better aligned with the person you want to be. Begin to make an effort to spend more of your time with those kind of people.
So, who are the 4 types of people you need to spend time with for career success?
Thinking about how to achieve the career success you want? Start by looking at your social circle
The career success story
The first type of person you need to spend more time with is someone who embodies the person you’re striving to be. They should be at least two steps ahead of you. You can learn a lot just by watching how they act on a daily basis and how they respond to challenging situations.
So, do you want to run your own start-up? Spend time with at least one person who successfully runs a start up. Do you want to start a freelance career? You guessed it… hang around with some successful freelancers and pay attention to them.
The first type of person you need to spend more time with is someone who embodies the person you’re striving to be.
The grateful
Whether you’re trying to climb to the top of the career ladder, start a new business or move to your dream city, you’re likely to face setbacks that require resilience, persistence and unwavering self-belief along the way. Few of us have all of these things in huge quantities and that’s why it’s easy to fall into the habit of wallowing and quitting when things get too hard.
However, cultivating an attitude of gratitude can transform your mindset, and in turn, your results. Did you know that research shows that being grateful can increase your levels of happiness, satisfaction with life, and physical and mental health?
But moaning is contagious – ever noticed how easy it is to join in with a group moan about something you weren’t previously thinking about? The easiest way to become a more grateful person is to stay away from complainers and spend time with people who exude gratitude instead. They’ll teach you to focus on the joys of life instead of problems.
Want to be a boss? Spend time with women who are top bosses and emulate them
The opportunist
There’s a well known saying: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” It’s a saying that can work wonders in your life if you put it to practice. The difference between those who succeed in life and those who settle is a willingness to take risks and embrace opportunities. We’re all presented with many opportunities each day, but those whose default setting is ‘it’ll never work, so why bother’ are those who struggle to achieve their ambitions.
A key reason for closing your eyes to opportunities is past experience. Perhaps you previously tried something new, put yourself out there and fell flat on your face. That disappointing experience probably led you to believe that it’s safer to not try new things because it rarely works out well.
We’re all presented with many opportunities each day, but those whose default setting is ‘it’ll never work, so why bother’ are those who struggle to achieve their ambitions.
This is where an opportunist friend can teach you a thing or two. Success is often a numbers game. You’ve got to try many times and hear multiple no’s before you catch a break. But that’s easier said than done, which is why it’s vital to spend more time with people who know how to spot opportunities and take risks. As you see their risks pay off, you’re likely to become more inspired to put yourself out there too. They’ll also teach you a lot about how to gauge which risks are worth pursuing and which aren’t.
You’ve got to stay open to opportunities and grab them when they arise
The straight-talker
Self-sabotage is a sneaky thing. It strikes with little warning and disguises itself as reasonable thoughts or behaviours. However, if you let it, self-sabotage will keep you stuck in a situation you hate for years… or forever. This is where a straight-talking friend comes into play. Share your goals and aspirations with this person and ask them to keep you accountable. If they’re the straight-talker you think they are, they will be able to spot your BS and call you out before you sabotage yourself.
So, how does your current circle measure up? Which type of person do you need to spend more time with? Let us know in the comments below.
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