I recently came across a study published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology about social proof and how the people around us influence us.
It was a fascinating insight, and I think it could apply to all of us…
In this particular study, researchers gathered together a group of children, ages 3 to 5. These children were terrified of dogs.
The researchers wanted to see what would happen if the group was exposed to seeing a child play with a dog. Would the group become less afraid of dogs over time? Or would their level of fear stay the same?
Here’s what happened:
Over 4 days for 20 minutes a day, the researchers showed the group videos of a child playing with a dog.
After those 4 days of watching the videos, 67% of the (previously) terrified children were willing to enter a doggy playpen and get closer to the animals.
One month later, those same kids were actually willing to play with the dogs. Their fear went away.
What can we learn from this study?
We’re all influenced by the people around us, whether we realize it or not.
Whatever you want to become — more courageous, more wealthy, more knowledgeable — your most important first step is to surround yourself with the people you want to be more like.
If you want to find the courage to…
Quit your corporate job
Go ‘all in’ on running your business
Double your prices
Pitch yourself to an investor or major client
Step onstage and tell your story
Ask your mentor to introduce you to a potential employer
Hire that first employee
Finally hit ‘send’ on that important email you’ve been avoiding
Be more confident and put yourself out there more often
Invest in the stock market
Find your personal style and overhaul your wardrobe
Start hiring for your business
… then it’s time to surround yourself with people who are doing these exact things.
You could spend extra time and effort trying to figure those things out on your own. But chances are you won’t be as successful, nor will it be easy. On the other hand, when you’re surrounded by people who inspire you, becoming like them isn’t a difficult change to make.
When you’re surrounded by people who believe it’s difficult to make money, are reluctant to take action, or approach their career with mediocrity, then you’re likely to behave in a similar way.
You stay stuck.
Happily, the opposite is also true.
When you’re surrounded by hope, passion, and courage, you become more hopeful, passionate, and courageous, too.
When you spend time with people who are earning seven figures per year, writing big checks to philanthropic causes, buying real estate, negotiating book deals, and building wealth “like it’s normal,” then these actions become normalized for you, too.
The fastest way to change your financial situation (and your life) is to go meet new people. If you’ve made virtual connections throughout the pandemic, that’s amazing. But now’s the time to make an effort to meet them in-person.
Because, frankly, breakthroughs rarely happen on Zoom.
Expose yourself to new ideas, new business strategies, new ways of navigating the world, and a new level of bravery. A helpful way to do this is to think of yourself as a joiner.
Be a joiner and get yourself into a book club, association, network, or get yourself a ticket to an exceptional event like my upcoming Million Dollar Idea event.
Go surround yourself with people who are making big moves, not just hanging on the sidelines.
Just like the kids who gained the courage to play with the puppies…
To become ten times more courageous and successful, sometimes all it takes is one new friend to show you what’s possible.
xo,
R
P.S. You want to meet remarkable people—people who inspire you to become the highest and best version of yourself? And, you want to spend one full day, in-person, learning from me?
Come join me and my team at Million Dollar Idea on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, in Greensboro NC. Get your ticket and get ready to unleash your inner millionaire.
