The Flounder of Association
One of my first book writing ideas is on the subject of floundering - something we all do from time to time.
Days after coming up with this idea, I was having lunch with an Executive Director of a local non-profit. As soon as we were seated he said, “Dave, I could have used your help at a meeting I recently attended - I felt like a fish out of water!”
Since that time I’ve captured dozens of my thoughts on how we flounder. I will present those here under the category Stop Floundering, and will illustrate the ways in which we flounder, and strategies to improve.
Here’s the first installment.
The Flounder of Association
When I was a kid, I ran around with some unsavory characters. My mother didn’t like that and would always tell me – “You’re judged by the company you keep!” But like most kids, I wasn’t concerned about what people thought. And I didn’t know then what I know now, that there are other consequences from associating with the “wrong” people.
Fortunately, I don’t hang out with juvenile delinquents anymore. But I have associated with people who are negative, self-absorbed and unwilling to grow. These people impeded my progress, drained my energy and didn’t feel good to be around. As a result, I’ve made every effort to disassociate from them.
If you look at the people in your life, you’ll likely observe some who are not good for you. I recommend that you “fish” these people out of your pond and replace them with those who are positive, nurturing and add value to your life. When you do this you’ll experience less stress, more balance and greater self-respect.
