Planting yourself in the best soil possible.
When you have a really good product, you only surround it with other really good products.
The Ferrari or Jaguar dealership does not sell its cars in the same dealership next to cheapest of budget cars – instead, it may only sell them next to Maserati’s or other expensive cars.
The best stores are only located in the best neighborhoods – and close to the other best stores. You are sadly judged by the company you keep.
This is how it is with good product placement – to surround the better products only with other good products.
You need to be very careful with whom you associate and spend your time with. No matter what you try to do- if you are constantly influenced by a person- some facets will rub off on you and change you.
A true story.
She called me on Saturday afternoon, and said one of her friends told her I was a good worker, and she had some little jobs to do, could I look at them sometime?
I said "I would love to- do you think I could come around now? .....Where-abouts are you?"
She was in the next part of town a few miles away.
"OK I can be there in about 15 minutes, is that OK?" I asked.
With some surprise she said .."yes, come now if it suits."
I arrived at the house - a large 2 story home with huge park-like grounds, tennis court, pool and pool house- the works- well compared to the tract home I was living in then.
She showed me around- and we came to the point were I was to return a few days later for half a day.
I came on the appointed day, a little early as usual, in clean clothes- ready to work.
When I had finished the mornings work- she gave me lunch, and paid me then and there.
"Can you come back next Thursday?"
"Of course", I replied.
So began 15 years of almost weekly work, and for unbeknown to me, one of the wealthiest families in the city. Being given lunches every day, paid daily, and being invited to parties, and sent to their friends places for more work.
Did I change? Of course I did. I became well spoken, I learnt better manners and consideration. I learned to take more care of my health and appearance. I learnt to keep confidences. I learned to value my money.
I always was prompt, industrious, and polite.
Why- to be acceptable - perhaps those traits were already there for me, as they are for you: - as are the nutrients locked up in different soils.
If you are around the best and most successful people, they will help you rise. (That does not mean the pseudo rich-it means genuinely successful people in their field)
Accepted behavior and therefore thought, is verbally and non verbally reinforced, You will in time change how you look, speak, what you talk about, and what you begin to think about to 'fit in.'
If you are around people who are unsuccessful and do not have big plans for themselves, they will influence you in a similar way, think of loose thinking gamblers as an example- of what you don't want to be.
If you desire success, you will surround yourself with the best people. You must always try and surround yourself with the best people. If you cannot- read books of the people who are inspirational, join a club that suits- for fun, watch only films and TV of productive and inspiring people. Go walking in a park where successful people walk- you will begin to dress like them to be accepted. Volunteer one day or night a week somewhere that you choose, for 3 months.Then another place for another 3 months. Make it enjoyable for yourself.
It need not cost much- thrift stores where people donate their semi-used goods to charity for their profit are a good start, The dollar stores will often have good products, albeit with a limited life-good enough to start with.
If you have a car, wash it every week, keep it clean and tidy no matter how old it is- genuine people respect the effort you take, as much as some would the label. Little things, like clean footwear- most people look down- will make a difference in how you feel about your progress and how others see you.
In gardening or farming, if you are stuck in a place where the soil is not the best = stiff clay, or shifting sands, you amend the soil - or add things to make it better. You have an investment here - look after it- it will pay you back many times. With care, you see the growth you desire.
pic courtesy of www.photopublicdomain.com
