“A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people” – Will Rogers
What is a master mind? Napoleon Hill defines “Mastermind as
the coordination of knowledge and effort in the spirit of harmony between two
or more people for the attainment of a definite purpose.”
” It is a well-known fact that Henry Ford began his business career under the handicap of poverty, illiteracy, and ignorance. It is equally well-known fact that, within the inconceivably short period of ten years, Mr. Ford mastered these three handicaps and that within twenty-five years he made himself one of the richest men in America. Connect with this fact, the additional knowledge that Mr. Ford’s most rapid strides with this noticeable from the time he became a friend of Thomas A. Edison, and you will begin to understand what the influence of one mind upon another can accomplish.
Go a step farther and consider the fact that Mr. Ford’s most outstanding achievements began from the time that he formed the acquaintances of Harvey Firestone, John Burroughs, and Luther Burbank, (each a man of great brain capacity), and you will have further evidence that power may be produced friendly alliance of minds……. Henry Ford whipped poverty, illiteracy and ignorance by allying himself with great minds, whose vibrations of thought he absorbed into his own mind. Through his association with Edison, Burbank, Burroughs, and Firestone, Mr. Ford added to his own brain power the sum and substance of the intelligence, experience, knowledge and spiritual forces of these four men.” Excerpt from the Think and grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
The above excerpt is good example of the power of association which is available to all of us. We can form associations from family levels to corporate levels. Of the successes in history we will see power of association in play. When a group of people come together, they focus on one item and through that focus they are able to succeed on their goal.
The association you keep in life will determine your accomplishment. Most of the time, what makes our children to succeed in their education; is not just the school they went to neither the teachings, but the friendship they keep. As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on; they will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don’t help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don’t increase you will eventually decrease you. Remember, a big part of who you are is determined by the people you hang with. No man is an island.
The journey to success is a team effort. Finally, the outcome of who you are, the goals you achieve, the dreams you accomplish, the destiny you fulfill, they all have its root either as a result of the associations you keep or maybe you personally. If you want to change yourself or your lifestyle, then it may be time to change the people you associate with. Lastly I share this text I received recently “I am currently making some changes in my life. If you don’t hear from me, you’re one of them.” Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships, be wise.