Should I drop my old friends?

While a lot of people tend to choose friends among people who are less successful than them because it boosts their self esteem, this should only be done on a limited basis. The reason why is that such individuals rarely inspire us – as a matter of fact, they might wind up stifling one’s creativity.

This is why it is always best to surround oneself with those who are slightly more successful than us – people we can readily see ourselves becoming one day. These people might be slightly older than us, or just a bit more advanced in their profession.

How many Mentors should I have?

It is always beneficial to have at least one mentor in life. Perhaps you feel uncomfortable with the idea of having a mentor. After all, you do not want to “copy” someone, right? A lot of people are afraid of the idea of having a mentor, fearing that they will somehow lose a part of themselves by consciously emulating someone else.

But the fact is, everyone in life depends on other people for guidance. When we are first born, we know nothing – we are like blank slates. We depend on those around us to guide us and teach us things. Everything that you learned in life, you learned from other people. By identifying those who we feel will have a positive impact on our growth and development, we are providing ourselves with a clear definition of what we wish to one day become.

Of course, one does not have to associate personally with one’s mentors. There are numerous ways to connect with a mentor. Reading books that the mentor has written, or reading books about them – this is one positive way of seeking guidance from mentors in life. In fact, reading books can be even more useful than having a personal association with someone, as it gives you direct insight in to their thinking process – and can thus teach you how to assimilate their thought process in to your own.

Do you already find yourself surrounded by individuals who you want to become? Then you have already begun to travel down the road of success. If your answer to that question is no, then you may want to take a long, hard look at the people you surround yourself with.

First Page: Developing Your Attitude Among Mentors