You're Only As Good As The Company You Keep: Why Billionaires Stick With Billionaires

Ever notice how any group of friends features the same types of people in slightly different shades? Friends seem to have similar likes and dislikes, similar tastes in music and literature, similar hobbies and habits. Their schedules somewhat synchronize and, assuming they are all long-time friends and plan to stay that way, their goals and dreams for the future usually correlate.

You cannot assume that these friends entered the friendship with such dispositions already established; on the contrary, the relationship between each of them has developed over time — each individual influencing the next even if only subtly. This is what happens when human beings socialize and/or cohabitate for an extended period of time; they begin to mimic each other’s personalities, activities and preferences. In large, we are not much more than the sum of those we associate ourselves with — it’s involuntary, but entirely factual. I’d go as far to say that it is even necessary, designed by Mother Nature herself. With this knowledge you can do one of two things: either use it to your advantage or allow it to use you.

Assuming that you are a member of the Elite, then you undoubtedly want nothing more for yourself than success and happiness. What exactly this entails will differ for each individual; either way, the most effective and efficient method of achieving success and turning your dreams into reality is by finding those with similar goals — preferably people that you admire and can learn from. Think of it as strategic placement. You want to be in the middle of all the action; a ledge from which you can perch yourself and get the best view of all that is going on about you.

This ledge you ideally want situated in the perfect neighborhood, where the people going about their work around you are doing so in a manner from which you can take note. The truth is that staying focused on your lonesome can be difficult. The world provides endless distractions and if that isn’t enough, we have a knack for drifting away into the clouds now and again. By surrounding ourselves with a group of individuals that we can descry regularly, we are increasing the likelihood of staying on task.

Think of it this way: if you surround yourself with people that do nothing but talk about sports, then you are likely to begin investing in football, baseball… just to feel that you are part of the group and so that you can be part of the conversation. If you surround yourself with a group of gang-bangers talking about glocks and drug money, then you are likely to become more infused in that lifestyle. Likewise, if you interact with people that are happy, diligent and open-minded, then you yourself are likely to begin adapting such traits.

There is a reason why billionaires seem to congregate in close quarters. Sure, they tend to have an extravagant lifestyle that can only be shared with those that have a similar amount of zeros in their bank accounts; however, there is more to it. Billionaires hang out with other billionaires because they think alike and see the world from similar perspectives.

Becoming a billionaire takes a whole other level of madness. You simply see the world differently. You interact with it differently. You see your place in the world more vividly and you understand your purpose more clearly. Sure, the same can be said about individuals with fewer than 10 figures — but when you add the stressed importance of wealth into the equation, you get a whole different beast. Most billionaires don’t become billionaires overnight because of one good idea or a fluke. Most devote their lives to making money.

Nowadays, we have more billionaires walking the earth’s surface than ever before and many of them are rather young. With stressed importance on equality, economic stability, ecological beneficence and moral/ethical appropriateness, today’s billionaires are more than moneymaking machines; they are visionaries. They are the future.

There is more to having wealthy influential friends than simply staying focused and living a certain lifestyle. One man alone can be rich and respected, but a group of such people is the birth of real power. When you have a powerful group of socially responsible individuals with the world’s best interest at heart, miracles can happen.

This — for me — is what is most important about surrounding yourself with good people. Good people have a tendency to make good things happen. When you surround yourself with good people, you are not only opening yourself to the thoughts and views of intelligent and kind people, you are giving yourself the opportunity to have your thoughts heard by people that matter. Billionaires kick it with billionaires because not only do they understand each other and are able to live a certain lifestyle, but because they have the power to make a real difference in the world and for the human race. A genius scientist may find a cure for cancer — but only if there is a billionaire somewhere bankrolling him.

The sad truth is that the world revolves around money and those with it can make the biggest difference. If you plan on becoming a billionaire in order to better the lives of the people in the world — as I myself am planning on doing — then you should only surround yourself with like minds. Everyone else will only be a distraction hindering you from your goal. It’s better to have no friends at all than to have friends that prevent you from reaching your maximum potential.

Photos courtesy Flickr, Via Wiki Commons