Tried and Tested

Surround yourself with people that force you to do better and the results can be very fulfilling and open up creativity, passion and growth.  But it is not always that easy to determine exactly who the people are that can make a difference to your life.  Some choose to surround themselves with as many people as possible, so that they can then gleam a little from each one, so as to assimilate as much knowledge or information.  Others try to stick close to one or 2 people who they really study and get to know well.  This enables them to mould their plans around such people.  However you chose to do so, the importance of seeking men and women of integrity, strength and success is well advised.  You need to look for a connection somewhere in a conversation with them, or make an effort to ask meaningful questions and then hopefully if they are the type of mentors that you think, they will open up and share their secrets with you.  Gender is not a factor in my opinion and we can learn from men or women equally. They key is the ability that they possess to make you strive to do better and to give fuel to your belief of change and development.  Age too should not be a factor as there is much to be learnt from older and younger business people.  However, I do think that experience and having gone through the up and down curve, can be useful because this will lead to a more balanced understanding of what life can throw at one over the years.  Be grateful for any interaction you have with people that push you and grow you because they are the ones that will have the greatest affect on your growth.  See every interaction as a chance to learn something more and use the pressure they exert on you to test your pursuit of excellence.