Our interactions with others greatly influence our thoughts and actions. When we surround ourselves with individuals who embody qualities, values, and behaviors that we admire, we are more likely to emulate those traits.

One of the best business and life tips I have ever received is finding the right inner circle to push you toward career growth or business success. The advice I got comes down to one simple sentence:

Choose to surround yourself with people who are smarter and better than you.

The Lesson

As the saying goes, "Birds of a feather flock together." We tend to adopt the habits and mindset of those with whom we spend the most time. 

If you associate with people further down the path, smarter than you, more skilled than you, and with life experiences different than yours, you'll drift in an upward, positive direction. I took this strategy to heart in my young career while moving up the ladder, but not without first learning some tough lessons. 

A few years into my corporate journey, it became painfully obvious that the network of friends I inherited in college and into my 20s was holding me back; my priorities shifted and I became more serious about making my mark in the business world while they still wanted to treat life as one big fraternity party.

The people you choose to be around truly matter for your career progression. When you choose to surround yourself with better and smarter individuals and learn from their success habits, you absorb their knowledge and become better and smarter yourself. 

That's the choice I had to make, and it has since paid off tenfold. The first step is to decide which people to surround yourself with and learn from. 

Here are three types I recommend:

1. Choose people with character

People operating with character and integrity can be trusted; you never have to worry about their actions or whether they're hiding anything from anyone. 

A person with character brings more truth and truth-tellers to the business or workplace, which makes it very attractive for others – partners, customers, suppliers, employees – seeking the same. 

Hiring and promoting people with character is a great way to build a superpower culture of high performers and high achievers – which is at the core of any great company.

2. Choose people who have experienced life to the full

By consciously seeking out individuals who possess qualities and behaviors that we aspire to have, we expose ourselves to new perspectives, rich life experiences, stories of excruciating failures and incredible resilience to beat the odds, and knowledge we can absorb and attain. 

Their experiences and journey inspire us, their optimism rubs off on us, and their success becomes a benchmark for our own aspirations. We begin to believe in our own potential and strive to achieve our own goals and aspirations.

3. Choose mentors

Associating with people who are better than us not only fosters personal development – when we surround ourselves with mentors, we gain access to their networks, resources, and opportunities. 

We are more likely to engage in constructive conversations, learn from their experiences, and receive valuable guidance and honest feedback. Through these associations, we expand our horizons and push ourselves to new heights.

In closing, it's essential to note that seeking out individuals who are better than us does not imply feelings of inadequacy or competition. Rather, it is about cultivating a mindset of growth and continuous improvement. 

It is about being inspired by the achievements of others and using them as motivation to push beyond our limits. When we surround ourselves with exceptional individuals, it encourages us to strive for excellence without fear of judgment or comparison.

Inc