Verizon wireless has a delightful and prophetic commercial featuring NBA Legend Charles Barkley and Super Star Dewayne Wade. In this commercial series young Wade makes several unsuccessful attempts to get into Barkley's Fave 5. Surprisingly, one day Barkley allows him into his Fave 5. Wade is ecstatic!
Soon Dwayne Wade discovers that being one of Barkley's Fave 5 is not all that he thought it would be. Barkley begins to become a nuisance and a distraction. He calls at inopportune times with unfruitful and wasteful conversation. Wow! That may ring a bell or two. Do you happen to have some people in your life that are unfruitful? Are there people with whom the only thing you have in common is that you make one another feel good?
Wasteful characters may provide you an escape from reality to laugh and joke. There is, however, no accountability or productivity. They are fun to go shopping with, drinking with or talking on the phone, but they add no real quantitative value to your life. This illustrates one of the most powerful Universal Success Principles. It is called, "The Law Of Associations." The law of Associations states that you become the top 5 people that you surround yourself with.
My friend George Fraser says it best, "Your network determines your net worth." That is Bananas!!! Stop right now and do four things in your life: Add, Multiply, Subtract or Divide.
Anyone that does not add or multiply to your dreams, your connection with God, your goals, your family or your future is a distraction. You must delete or subtract that person from your life immediately. We must understand that all distractions all equal. Now I can almost hear you saying, "But Ken, no! My friend listens to me, understands me and my friend allows me to be me without judging me." That may be the case, but I have a question for you. Does your friend stretch you?
You must examine the influence that any particular friend or relationship is ultimately having on your life. How are you becoming a better person as a result of the relationship? Are they drawing you closer to God or moving you further from Him? Do they hold you accountable for being honest, upright and a person of integrity? Is everything fair game with them? In this key association are there simply no rules and no boundaries? Listen to what Paul says about associations, "Don't be misled. Bad company corrupts good character."
I challenge you to look at the people that you spend most of you time with and ask yourself if they are actually a positive addition or a negative distraction in your life. I have provided some key questions for you to use to help you with this task. If your answer is No to one, some or all of the following questions, you know what you have to do. Here are the questions that you must ask:
1. Do they draw me closer to God? Keep in mind what God said "For I am a jealous God, who will not share your affections with any other god. Wow!!!
2. Do they hold you accountable for doing what is right verses what feels good? (Integrity)?
3. Is the relationship fruitful? What are some tangible results of the time that you spend with this person? (A Good time does not count) OK, it is time. Wherever the answer is "No," that associate must go! Go ahead push the delete button and when it says are you sure you want to delete? push, "Yes!" Do not read one more word of this message until after you answer all of the questions above concerning your top 5 associates and friends. Anyone who is not close family, your spouse or your dependent son or daughter is up for consideration. Wait are you still reading? Have you done your deleting?
Just do it!
Congratulations! You did it. Your life will change in very positive and powerful ways as a direct result of your actions. Now you have made room for the people who will add and multiply fellowship, goodness, productivity and prosperity in your life. They will force you to hold yourself accountable and they will be the wind beneath your wings. Often times we miss opportunities because we have the wrong people in our lives. Remember, you become the top 5 people that you surround yourself. Now you have room for winners in your life.
If you did the exercise above in good faith you will likely have at least one or more spaces to fill in your 5 Fave. Don't despair. It's time to start looking to network with positive, productive and passionate individuals. I can help you there. Contact me right now! Don't hesitate. I want to help you build a circle of positive associates before any negative individuals take up space around you ever again. E-mail me
