"It's not what you know, it's WHO you know..."

You've probably heard the phrase, "It's not what you know, it's WHO you know..." Some of you may disagree with the adage, and some of you may have experienced the truth of this in your daily life.

Now, this article isn't about making connections and building networks for going up the career ladder. Although, if you've been around for a while, you know that the right connections make all the difference.

No, this article is about your growth - holistically. Jim Rohn once said: "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."

Review your inner circle, do they suck the life out of you, or do they support, motivate, and add value to you? Whether it be 5, 10, or 20 people, do these subconscious influences in your life help you succeed?

If we are products of the people, we most closely associate with, what is the quality of our mindset? Our goals? Our passion or drive?

The Types of People That Can Lead Us to Success

Some people hold us back, discourage us, and create roadblocks to our potential. We can't avoid them, but we can do less of them. Instead, for self-preservation and success, we need to intentionally surround ourselves with the right people. Here are some examples of positive influences we need to interact with daily.

The Doers - our world is full of people who make the best-laid plans. But without doers, those plans are simply sheets of paper. Doers are people who plan well and put their plans into action. This is one type of person that will help you overcome procrastination and laziness.

The People Who Move Forward - have you ever realized that people who succeed and people who fail can end up in the same place? That is if they both sit and stay where they are. Be wary of people who wallow in their miseries but do not try to learn from them. In the same way, avoid people who rest on their laurels. Surround yourself with people who always seek to move forward. These individuals will inspire and encourage you to keep evolving and growing.

The Coach - more than being a mentor, a coach is someone who sees you for your fullest potential. They can inspire you to work harder to bring out the best in you. This is someone you can openly share your thoughts and feelings with knowing that you won't be judged.

To other people, you can always bring your best foot forward, but to the coach, you can be honest and real. These are the people who can provide genuine feedback and point out blind spots to you.

The Role Model - imagine working hard to succeed on a certain path in life without someone aspirational to look up to. There are just days when it's hard to lift our own spirits. But if you're surrounded by role models, you have someone who can give you that needed boost of confidence. Role models are people that can impact you through your mindset and actions. They can guide especially in steps that they've already made.

Those Who Choose Joy - we all know how difficult life can be. Hardships and challenges are part of the seasons of life. Though we can't control the calamities, we can control how we react to them. This is the mindset of people who choose joy above all else. They aren't just forcing positivity and denying the pain. Joyful people embrace the ups and downs but remain untroubled. Their infectious energy will keep your spirits up.

Have you identified some of these people in your life? Or are you noticing the opposite types of people around you? Surround yourself with the right people if you want to grow.