The power of Selective Association cannot be underestimated. The kind of people you mingle with can determine how far you will go in life. It then becomes a motivation to soar and fly higher in life. Selective Association is one important lesson we must all learn from the eagle if we ever dream of a fulfilled life. By selective association, the eagle doesn’t just mingle with any other bird but with fellow eagles. An eagle can soar higher than any other bird. Eagles can fly up to an altitude of about 10,000ft, which no other bird can reach. The eagle is a bird of pride and always makes its place of abode at the summit of trees, cliffs, and mountains, where no other bird can.
Interestingly, the eagle at such a great height can only mingle with other eagles. Therefore, if you want to be successful in life, you must associate with high flyers. These are people who are ready to motivate you to soar and also soar to greater heights with you. You must work with a team of fellow eagles. In the words of Major Collin Powell, ‘If you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar’.
Prerequisite of Success
Selective Association is a prerequisite for success. Hence, I recommend it to you if you must have fulfillment in the journey of life. It means selecting those you will associate with. And your relationships with people determine whether you find fulfillment in life. The selective association is not ego, pride, or arrogance. Rather, it is all about doing the needful in the pursuit of fulfillment.
Go and check. Many great personalities who lived fulfilling lives chose people to associate with. Jesus was good at selective association. Note that out of the multitude that thronged him, he selected twelve disciples; also, among the twelve, he chose three – Peter, James, and John. Apart from his disciples, he has another group closer to him. People who understood his vision and whom he confided in. These people were closer to him and understood him better.
... When it was day, he called unto him, his disciples: and of them, he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles – Luke 6:13
And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings he took peter and john, and James, and went up into the mountain to pray – Luke 9:28
When he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in save peter, and James, and John ... Luke 8:51
Target Likeminds
By selective association, you will target like-minded people who believe in you. And also in your dreams, and will go to any length to support you in achieving your goals. This entails you working with a community or team of like-minded persons. But even though you must relate with some people, you must also work with a select few. These are people who understand your vision very well. This is a closed group or team; if you like, call it a community inside a community.
In party politics, they are called the caucus. Something like the GOP in the case of the Republican Party in the United States. They are the board of trustees in organizations. In addition, if you are a member of the working class in any organization. Understand that you and your co-workers are carefully selected through interviews to associate with one another. The aim is to achieve the company’s goals and objectives. Moreover, when you agree to work with such an organization, you believe in the vision, mission Statement, and core values. In other words, you and other staff believe in the organization’s philosophy. On the other hand, any staff member who goes against the core values is shown the exit door.
Why You Must Target Likeminds
Actually, your happiness and satisfaction in any field, to a large extent, depend on the people you associate with. So, you must be careful in selecting these people. Surround yourself with people who have your utmost fulfillment at heart, not people who will kill your dreams before you actualize them. You must be selective in choosing the people you associate with; this will help you deal with the problem of distrust.
Associate only with like-minded individuals and people with a success mentality. You must work with people who will motivate you to actualize your goals, people who believe in your dream. Discard those who lack confidence in you and in your ability to actualize your dream. Do this before they kill your dream. You must shield yourself with people who are ready to take the ‘bullet’ for you. These are people who are willing to stand by you no matter the odds. They are people who will help you unpack your life’s baggage. People who will help you live a fulfilling life.
Culled from my book “The Threshold of Life “. Get your Copy and Learn more about Selective Association.