Are you the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with?

Dear Friend,

Are you the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with?

Many motivational speakers would definitely have you believe so, including Jim Rohn, to whom this idea was first credited.

Then, there are also other variations of the same theme, such as:
“Show me your friends and I will show you your future.”

Except, it’s not true, at least not entirely.

Yes, your close friends, family and colleagues do have a lot of influence over you.

But that level of influence can actually extend beyond your immediate circle of influence.

When I look at 3 big decisions I’ve made in my life, none of them were influenced by the people in my immediate circle –

 One, my decision to leave my Corporate Career: Happened for a variety of reasons, but one big tipping point was reading Tim Ferriss’s bestselling book, ‘The 4-Hour Workweek’ where he talks about designing a career and lifestyle that gives you greater autonomy and freedom.

 Two, my decision to become a Mindfulness Practitioner: Happened after someone I met just once talked about the transformation he underwent by attending a 10-day Vipassana Retreat.

 Three, my decision to go on a multi-year Clothing Fast: I’ve been on a clothing fast for the last 4+ years, and I first heard of this idea when an acquaintance on Facebook talked about how she stopped shopping for one whole year.

Did you know, according to research by Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler:
 If a friend becomes obese, you are 45% more likely to gain weight as well.
 If a friend of a friend becomes obese, you are 20% more likely to gain weight.
 If a friend of a friend of a friend becomes obese, you are still 10% more likely to gain weight.

In other words, you never know from whom and from where your next source of influence could come from, so
 Be mindful of expanding your circle of influence
 Be mindful of learning from anyone and everyone
 Be mindful of the impact you yourself could have on many people that you may not even be aware of.