Surround yourself with exceptional people
Steve Pavlina advises people to surround themselves with exceptional people. It's advice found in many self-improvement books as well, and something I firmly believe in. High-energy, successful, happy people around you will inspire you to be like that too.
It started with my family. My dad's passion for his work taught me that you could reach greater heights if you're doing something you're passionate about. My mom's books and stories taught me to appreciate the business that supports and is built around such passion. My sisters showed me what it was like to make your own paths and take those adventures. My godparents showed me how wonderful a supportive group of friends can be. My high school friends were also supportive and inspiring, and they dreamed big dreams too.
I fumbled a bit in first year college because I was more focused on fitting in, but when I went back to my roots and joined the dorm network team, I found another amazing group of geeks. And I don't really know how we all got together, but the friends I made while I was teaching totally, totally rock as well. We face different challenges and we may not face all of them successfully, but I really admire their attitude towards life. They are fundamentally happy.
I seek out groups like the Toastmasters. I want to be a professional speaker, and being surrounded by people working on their communication skills is absolutely fantastic. I love talking to people who are passionate about teaching and research; they give me an idea of what lies ahead. I am inspired by people who are making a difference or who are working on doing so, like Lawrence Hughes and Maoi Arroyo in terms of Philippine IT opportunities. I admire Mario Carreon for his passion for teaching even as he gets heartbreaking results from students. I am surrounded by excellent people, and the more I learn from them, the more people I find.
Surround yourself with exceptional people. It isn't easy. You can't just say "I want to get to know you" and leave it at that. A daily "Hi" is much less effective than the occasional "I'd like to know more about ..." or "What do you think about ..." that takes the person's interests into account. But you can do it, and you'll learn so much by doing so!
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