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.

"Some People Need to Move to Think"

In a 2006 TED Talk, author, speaker, and educational adviser Sir Ken Robinson said, "Many talented, brilliant, creative people think they're not because the thing they were good at in school wasn't valued or was actually stigmatized. And I think we can't afford to go on that way."

A few weeks ago, I taught an acting workshop. During a break I spoke with a gentlemen in standing in the back of the room who was patiently waiting for his teenage son. "My son texted me several times during the class to thank me for taking him here." I told him how great I thought that was. "No," he said. "You don't understand. He's being bullied at school for wanting to be an actor so this really meant a lot."

It's important to understand that intelligence and creativity is diverse. We need to move toward embracing those remarkable differences rather than denouncing them. 

What's more, we must also protect our own sense of being despite pressure to conform.

The Year Ahead

Long after the ball has dropped and the confetti has been swept up, we take time to ponder the past year's wins and setbacks. Most importantly, we look to the year ahead.

If you're at all like me, you've already taken time to write out your ambitious goals for 2017; disciplines you hope to cement, habits you need to break, and achievements personal and professional you'd very much like to see come to fruition. 

Author, speaker, and former editor of Success Magazine, Darren Hardy once said, "The definition of commitment is doing the thing you said you were going to do, long after the mood you said it in has left you."

As you embark on the year ahead consider these two simple thoughts:

1. You can have high standards for yourself and hold yourself accountable without beating yourself up.

2. What will separate the people who achieve their goals versus those who don't will be consistency. Continue to put in the work on a regular basis long after the shininess of a new year has worn off.

Happy New Year and Best of Luck in 2017.