Contagious Proximity

It's hard to argue with parents and teachers who once told me to be very mindful of who I hang around. This was a common thread that ran through my childhood; little did I know how impactful those lessons would be until I delved deeper into human behavior during my coaching journey.

It really makes sense once you think about it. If you are around really good people, you will start to rise to their level; conversely, the opposite is also true, with a complete 180-degree turn for the better.

Having been fortunate to be on this earth for a few years now, I have learned some tough lessons along the way. I wish I had learned from others' experiences instead of having to learn many lessons the hard way. Contagious proximity is just one of those many lessons. What you do or don't do in life ultimately determines who might be around you. This brings up another saying that I have often heard. Life is not about what you know, but more about who you know and who is around you.

I have been heavily influenced in many ways, and realizing how impactful this is helps me define who is in my inner circle today. I could not even imagine being able to do what I do with the number of hours I work in a day and the number of sacrifices I make if I did not have a supportive wife. My life would look significantly different if she had not been bought in. Knowing full well on her end, she understands today that a win for me is a win for her, and when I improve, our whole family benefits.

Imagine what an entire team looks like when they are all in and surrounded by peers with similar goals and visions; that team could be on the playing field, at school, or in a business. No matter where it is, the sight of it is something to see and watch. I've been fortunate to experience my first two seasons coaching college teams in that way, and I will continue striving to improve so that others around me will feel the contagious energy.