Are You In the Right Crowds?

Years ago, March of 2009, I was invited to speak in Istanbul. I had been speaking for a while, solely because of my first book, but this was the first time out of the U.S.

Funny tangent: About three weeks before I got on the plane I reached out to my hostess, I think her name was Meltem, and asked her who else was speaking. I wanted to know what they were talking about and when, and how I'd fit into the day-long program. Her reply? "Jason, YOU are the entire program! You are speaking from 8am to 5pm!"

Ahem.... it was time to get all of my presentations together!

Anyway, a few different stories from that trip but I want to focus on one that shocked me. After I was done I was approached by a couple of guys from the conference who asked if I wanted to join them, and other entrepreneurs, for a strategic breakfast meeting the next morning. It felt safe enough so I said, sure.

The next morning I found myself in the back of a closed cafe with about six Turkish guys. The breakfast, I remember, was different. Sliced cucumber, chocolate pudding... and other things I wouldn't have associated with breakfast.

We spent the next couple of hours chatting (well, I was listening) about their businesses, business opportunities, business ideas, etc. And I was... shocked. I couldn't believe their laser-like focus. I was thinking about how people I knew back at home were so focused on sports and what was on TV, what the latest sitcom episode was about or the latest best movie. These guys didn't care.

They also didn't have excuses like, "I didn't get funding." They just needed a laptop, an internet connection, and a phone, and they were IN BUSINESS.

I'm not saying you need to have a laser-like focus only on business or work. Nor am I saying that being passionate about sports or games or shows or whatever is bad. What I am saying is that if you want to be successful (in whatever), you might need hang out with the right people.

Want to be more successful in the gym? Find the people who take nutrition and working out seriously.

Want to be more successful in your career? Are you hanging out with people who are excelling in the right direction, and maybe people who have the role you want to have?

I'm not saying you need to leave your friends. Maybe, all you need to do is make a little bit of room for more of the right people.