I’ve always thought you can learn a lot about people by the company they keep–who they “hang around” with, who they’re associated with, how those people think and act.
That’s why it’s so important to NOT associate with people who tend to be negative or aren’t operating at the right level of professionalism, ethics, or etiquette, and why it’s important to find the right role models and exemplars to follow.
A colleague of mine recently decided to no longer be associated with a business publication that took a tone she found to be inappropriate and unprofessional. Good for her! It was absolutely the right decision, even if she takes a short-term hit in audience reached. Over the long term, it’s more important for her brand, and for her own integrity, to be associated with people who project the right image.
On the other side of the coin, I have the great privilege to be associated with a consummate team of consulting professionals through Alan Weiss’s Master Mentor Community. Seth Kahan, an expert on change management and leadership in his own right, has interviewed many of these individuals for his Freelance Fortune Blog. Check out these fascinating conversations, including one with me.
