It’s amazing how your circle of influence changes as you move forward in life. A statement that comes up routinely at REIN meetings is “Your net-worth equals your network” which simply means you have the average income of the 5 people you hang out with. For most people, this is very true. Does this mean if you make 50,000 a year you should go hang out with wealthier people to increase your wealth? It doesn’t work that way.
My question to you is this: how are you contributing to the people who choose to hang out with you? Would you say you propel them forward or do you make people feel uncomfortable? Are you constantly complaining about money? Do you covet other peoples posessions? What about inspiration, do you actually DO what you SAY you want to do? Can you honestly tell them how you feel, what your fears are and do you admit your mistakes?
This week I had the chance to present to 10 specifically ‘interested’ people looking for ways to use a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit). The event was held by my TD branch here in Oakville and besides myself providing sophisticated real estate investment techniques, a landscaping and pool company were present. Of the three companys, obviously I am the only one offering ways to MAKE money so it was interesting to see how many chose to come to my table primarily as opposed to the others – those are the ‘inspiring’ ones. They inspire me to lend knowledge, encourage and support their dream.
This in my mind is one key difference in people. The ones who went directly to ‘spend’ their money don’t yet get it IMO. They are stuck in the material world – with access to an LOC, they immediately see it as an ATM to buy the lifestyle they want today. It is a subtle observation, but a powerful one to me. During the intro presentation I listened intently to the questions people asked the bank representatives while spotting those keenly interested and those who wanted ‘the magic formula’.
This is my own perception after talking with so many different types of ‘interested’ people. I can tell who will be inspiring and which are exhausting because they don’t move forward at all. So the challenge for you is two-fold. Find people who inspire you to move forward and watch your net-worth grow within that circle. At the same time avoid those who exhaust you because it only barracades the inspiration others bring you in which you truly deserve.
I will never grab someone and yank them over to this side – that is up to them when and if they are ready to change thier future. However, I sometimes feel I should because I’m so frustrated knowing I was worse than they are and how much better I am in a very short time period. In fact the ONE PERSON I actually ‘strongly encouraged’ to come over thanks me every few months or so and do you have any idea how that makes me feel? It brings a tear to my eye as I write this.
Great speed forward!!!
In my opinion it all comes down to habits.
As Benjamin Franklin once said: “Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good”
I can see your point, when you change your 'bad' habits and in my case, priorities…everything else changes with it including net worth personally AND MOST importatnly to the world!