Tuesday, February 10, 2009

AGREE or DISAGREE?

I was reading a book last night called "The Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson. It's a pretty good read actually and in there is a quote which I find interesting so I thought I'd share and ask whether you agree or disagree with his assertion.

He was talking about the fact that if you want to raise the quality of your life, you should hang out with people who have been there and done that.

So he writes something he calls The Law of Association and he says: "You are the combined average of the five people you associate with most."

I thought about it and perhaps he just might have a point.

What do you think?

6 comments:

Eternal Lizdom said...

My mom warned me in my first marriage... my husband had become good friends with a divorced guy and we were becoming entrenched in a social group of mostly divorced people. She warned me that spending time with so many people who saw divorce as the way out meant that we would soon feel the same way if a problem arose.

Since she had no clue that he and I were already having very serious problems, I just blew off her statement.

But it does make sense.

I'd have to ponder more on the idea that you can improve your life by improving your social group.

I know I look at the friends my 16 year old brother chooses to keep and I agree.

I look at my own social group and I disagree. But maybe that's because I'm not actively looking to better myself because I'm perfectly content as I am? Because I feel like the social circle I have encourages and supports the goals that I have and that my closest friends have similar interests and values.

Interesting...

anonymousnupe said...

I definitely think there's some truth to this bromide. And I think there's a track application: My daughter whom you "met" who runs is the best, most consistent female on her high school team. Has been for 3 years. Yet she's not a top-tier contender in the county or state. I contend that it is due in large part to the lack of competition on her own squad and the complacency that comes when she dominates all her teammates...even many of the boys. But outside that little mediocre circle she's just that, a little above mediocre. We're looking at ways to combat this syndrome, of course, but it's difficult when the coaches she's stuck with are young and just so-so themselves.

Gotta run. Indoor regionals!!!

Anonymous said...

I applied this quote to my life, and believe that it holds true to me. I would use almost the same words to describe the people I associate myself with to describe myself, at times.

Anonymous said...

I agree!

The bible says that "bad associations spoils useful habits". Then there could be the opposite, whereas people that you associate with that are good, honest, and successful are those that will enrich your life positively.

Robyn.K.Y said...

there is truth behind that dictum

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

i would be not as well read or accomplished if that law of association was true for me