Only Quality People

World renown motivational speaker and author Les Brown has a term he likes to use when describing the folks he surrounds himself with -- Only Quality People or O.Q.T 

He understands the power of associations and credits much of his success to hanging around people who inspire him rather than bring him down.

There is actually data to support the value of associating with like-minded people who have your back, support your vision, challenge, inspire, and bring out your greatest potential. 

You will make within $2,000 - $3,000 of the people you're closest too. If you associate with people who don't take care of themselves and are overweight your chances of falling into the same patterns increase by 57 %.

Also, if you write down your goals you're 39% more likely to accomplish them but if you have an accountability partner who holds your feet to the fire that number jumps to nearly 75%.

Who we hang around matters. If you want to be great get around people who are at a level you want to be. Find a coach, mentor, or someone that knows something you don't. 

Simply clinging to people who are versed in different variants of skills and knowledge you already possess is not enough.

Nobody Lives Forever

I can think of no greater motivator to go out and do the things you dream of doing than being in touch with your mortality. Nobody lives forever. 

It may be a painfully obvious fact, but I'd argue one most people don't consider enough, or aren't in touch with.

To really understand life's fickle and short nature (and not in some ominous way) can positively add a bounce to your step and inspire you to begin now rather than later.

For the Better

There are only a handful of films I can more or less watch any time or any place. For reasons I don't always fully understand, the stories resonate with me on a deeply personal level. They inspire, promote thought, re-energize my desire to shape the narrative through my own interpretation of the world.

It's interesting to note while watching a film you love to see how you've changed. The movie may now affect you in different ways than it did before. The themes more or less relevant. The movie may hit harder that you've seen more, discovered more, and lived more.

It's important to take stock of how a story has influenced your life. And hopefully, in some small way, for the better. 

Perhaps this will inspire you to do the same for someone else.

Kindness to Self

Hustle. Grind. Putting in the Work. These are some of the words and phrases that have become part of our contemporary narrative. In our quest to gain riches, start flourishing businesses, and inspire the masses we sometimes loose sight on the importance of being kind to ourselves.

During my grad school days I can remember walking to the theater during a chilly February mornings, sometimes at 5:30 am, thumping my chest while mumbling various mantras under my breath. I was usually able to tease out a little more energy, some motivation, however fleeting.
But looking back,  I failed to show myself enough compassion.

Work hard. Chase your dreams. Hold yourself to a high standard.

But remember to treat yourself the way you'd expect others to. You'll end up finding the work much more fulfilling, the journey far more gratifying.