365QOD- Day1077

You are the Average of Five People

"The best advice I ever got is: You’re the average of the five people you associate with the most," Ferriss, author of the best-selling book "The 4-Hour Workweek  the advice from a wrestling coach when he was in high school

I have heard this advice before but today I was reading a Business Insider story on best advice 12 successful entrepreneurs received and for some reason this one stopped me.  My first thought was, "The advice is truthful but is it actionable? "

If I take the time and think about the 5 people, or most meaningful several people, in my life and ask myself, “What do these people average out to?”   I can consider their income.  Is my estimate of their income higher or lower than mine?

Another dimension I can consider is their overall happiness.  Are their lives more fulfilling and happier than mine?  Do they seem to exude happiness?

Overall balance is another dimension I should evaluate.  Do they tend to spend their time working or living?  Are they tied at the hip to their smart phone while spending time with the people in their lives?  Do they take vacations to recharge?

I am sure there are other dimensions that you can come up with that might be more meaningful to you.  The idea is powerful and very true.  In the end you might decide that one or more of the people in your life are no longer aligned with what is important to you.

Today’s question is:

“What are you and average of?”