“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.  Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” Mark Twain

When I first decided to share the power of gratitude with organizations around the world, I shared my goal with a woman who owned a successful business.  She looked at me with pity, patted my arm gently and said, “You know no one is going to pay you for that, right?” Although I was taken aback by her overt doubt in my mission, I knew it was the right path for me to follow.

It’s important that we are careful with whom we choose to share our dreams and goals. Share them with the wrong person, and the dis-belief, dis-encouragement, and lack of support may cause you to give up.  Don’t do that.

Look for the people that are already doing what you dream of doing.  Either figure out how they are accomplishing their level or success, or better yet, connect with them in a spirit of service and see how you can help them, and in turn, learn their methods for yourself.

As we give, we receive.  As we look ahead with positive expectations of reaching our goals, we succeed.  As we associate with the people who are where we want to be, we eventually get there (or at least closer than we are today.)

PS – By carefully choosing your associates, you set yourself up for success.