Who do you spend the most time with as an entrepreneur? Have you ever stopped to think about the influence they have on you – the good, the bad and the ugly?

One thing I know for sure, especially in these past 5 years, is that your ‘circle of 5’ is the key to your success, or failure.

“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with!” – Jim Rohn

In the past 5 years, as I re-launched my coaching and speaking business, I have become keenly aware of who I spend time with. It is critical to me that I am surrounded by knowledge, positive influence, happiness, wealth, inspiration, fun and health.

We not only become like the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with, but we also end up earning the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with! So, how’s that working for you?

Here are some of the things I look for and what makes a huge difference in my world.

1) KNOWLEDGE

I love to learn. I have been like this since I started elementary school and I continue to have an appetite for learning and growth.  As an entrepreneur, it is critical to feed your mind each and every day. Right now, I am reading ‘The Way You Do Anything is the Way You Do Everything’ by Suzanne Evans, my coach and mentor. I not only read the book, I choose 3 action steps from what I’ve learned and then……implement.

“It’s not a matter of intellectually knowing anything – it’s a matter of personally applying it!” – Lou Tice

2) POSITIVE INFLUENCE

I achieve this in a few different ways in my business life. I ensure that I surround myself with motivational books, quotes, movies, music and people. I also get this each and every Sunday when I go to church – the sermons are up-lifting, the people are welcoming, the music speaks to my soul. Positive influence can come from many different sources. One thing I STOPPED doing – watching or reading the news before bed time. Nothing good comes from that! That is just feeding your mind with a bunch of negativity before going to bed. Stop that!

3) HAPPINESS

One of the decisions I made when I left my marriage a few years back was to ensure I am living a happy life, each and every day. I consciously make decisions about what will make me happy – from what I am going to wear that day, to what I am going to eat, what people I will be meeting with – through to my moments of meditation. All of this, and more, bring me daily happiness. What makes you happy? Do more of THAT.

4) FUN

When was the last time you did something that was really fun? For me, it was being in Las Vegas last week at a conference hosted by my business coach – and being surrounded by my favorite colleagues. We had fun over dinner breaks, enjoying a drink together in our rooms, chatting in the hallways – at lots of different times throughout the week. When I am home, I actually schedule ‘Fun’ into my calendar – to ensure I keep my commitment to doing something that makes me smile. For the month of May, I have ‘fun times’ scheduled for biking with my friends, a weekend at the beach in Myrtle Beach, going to the movies – it doesn’t have to be something big or complicated – but it is important to be aware of the level of fun in your life.

I keep moving forward – succeeding – laughing – growing – all because of the circle of 5 who surround me. They are successful, happy, smart entrepreneurs – and they are all running profitable business. We also earn the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with.

My question to you is – who is in YOUR circle of 5? Who must go? Who can you add? It makes all the difference in the world – and it will make all the difference in YOUR world! Take charge.

We’d love to hear! Please share your thoughts!