I have always hated the idea that we should all be the same, think the same, and act the same.
There are over 7 billion people on Earth and we are all different in our own ways.
The human body has trillions of cells, each with its own unique function.
We are all cells in the great body that is life and each of us also has our own unique function.
If you are to live your best life, you need to live your function i.e. your purpose.
But you cannot prosper alone.
To successfully live your purpose, you must work with like-minded people who believe what you believe and want to work with you to make a positive difference.
While each person will have their own unique goal, it is the shared vision that unites you.
Not everybody can be part of your team because not everyone shares your vision.
Clarify your purpose
Clarify and define your purpose so that you can use it to guide your most critical decisions; eliminating the 80% which does not matter so that you can focus on the 20% that does.
To clarify and define your purpose, check out 'Living Purposefully'.
The potential problem with attracting the right people
One of the most annoying things in life is the approval seeker – the person who tries to be all things to all people, in the hope of being popular.
They are often the loudest people who attract the most attention.
They will gladly claim to be knowledgeable and present themselves as someone who can be of great help to you.
However, they never add any value because they are never authentic.
They pretend to be someone they are not so they have very little passion, motivation, skill, or knowledge to add to any team.
They see an opportunity to serve their own selfish interests and will always look for the easy way to get ahead which usually involves lies, being fake, taking advantage and manipulation.
They may be good company and you might enjoy socialising with them but when you are trying to get something important done, they are not likely to be of any assistance.
Some people think that approval seekers are great for opening doors and making connections but they rarely are because they don’t want to introduce you to someone who is more valuable to you than they are.
Also, genuine people don't take their recommendations seriously.
The best people to open doors for you are those who are passionate about what you do and why you do it.
They are likely to have the best connections and once they see that you are passionate about what you do, and why you do it; they are going to be more interested in helping you.
But beware, they can spot a bluffer so be genuine.
Example
I regularly get emails from people looking to write an article for my site in exchange for a link back to their site.
They believe that my readers will want what they have to offer so they want to get them to visit their site – hence the link back to their site.
I enjoy helping those who are genuinely passionate about what I do but their approach is so insincere it is incredibly obvious.
They pick an article on my site and say that they thought it was wonderful but it is clear as day that they never read the article and don’t know anything about what I do or, why I do it.
I don’t even reply to these emails as I would never let someone write for my site unless I know them and am confident that they share my values.
How to attract the right people
Unless you are fortunate enough to have been born with the right connections, making the right connections takes time and effort.
The best way to start is to get clear on your purpose and start living your purpose.
When you live your purpose, you communicate loud and clear what you do and why you do it.
Your actions speak much louder than your words and soon people will start to see what you are all about.
The right people start to notice you and you start to notice them.
Opportunities for connection start to present themselves and you can start to build your network.
If you doubt this, think about why you are friends with the people you are friends with.
Your best friendships were formed through 2 things – common interests and proximity.
Living your purpose communicates your passions and interests and when you engage in activities related to your purpose, you will find yourself in the proximity of people with the same passions and interests.
Clarify your purpose
Clarify and define your purpose so that you can use it to guide your most critical decisions; eliminating the 80% which does not matter so that you can focus on the 20% that does.
To clarify and define your purpose, check out 'Living Purposefully'.