Nov. 11, 2025

171: How to Surround Yourself with Success (and Why It Matters!)

Surround yourself with success and watch your results change. Discover how your circle shapes your mindset, why energy matters, and practical ways to build relationships that lift you higher and keep your side hustle momentum strong.

Show Notes

It's available on video too!

Ever notice how one conversation can make you want to take on the world, and another can make you want a nap?

Today I share a personal story from one of my own side hustles - buying a deli that was going out of business, to illustrate how the people you surround yourself with can directly shape your mindset, energy, and success.

You’ll learn how to recognize whether your current circle is fueling your vision or quietly holding you back, what to do when that negativity comes from someone you care about, and practical ways to intentionally build an environment that keeps you inspired and moving forward.

If you’ve ever struggled to stay positive when those around you aren’t quite on the same wavelength, this episode will help you protect your energy, upgrade your circle, and attract the kind of people who help you thrive.

You’ll Learn:

How your environment and relationships directly influence your results
Why even well-meaning people can unknowingly hold you back
The story of how a struggling deli turned profitable through mindset and community
What to do when a negative friend or family member drains your energy
The five-step framework to intentionally upgrade your circle
A simple trick Joan used to stay privately focused on her goals
Why being the positive, encouraging person in someone else’s life can elevate your own

Listen to hear how surrounding yourself with success can completely change the trajectory of your side hustle — and your life.

Do you like what you're hearing? Consider giving it a caffeinated thumbs up. We'd really appreciate it!

Need a little (and sometimes big) push to start and stay focused to grow your side hustle? Dive into my online Masterclass: How To Turn Your Thoughts Into Wanted Things.

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How to Surround Yourself with Success — and Why It Matters

Your environment quietly shapes your mindset, your motivation, and your results. Whether you’re building a side hustle or scaling a business, who you spend your time with can be one of the biggest hidden factors in your success.

The Power of the People Around You

In The Way Success Works, Bud Bilanich, known as The Common Sense Guy, put it best:

“The people around you have an amazing impact on your view of life. When you surround yourself with positive, self-confident people, you become positive and self-confident.”

We become like the people we’re around most. Their language, their energy, and their habits start to rub off. Positive, success-oriented people make you think bigger and act bolder. Negative, fear-based people - even unintentionally - keep you stuck in the same place.

For anyone with a side hustle, that influence matters. It can determine whether you see obstacles as stop signs or as opportunities.

A Lesson from a Small Deli

Years ago, while still working full-time in banking, I bought a small delicatessen that was going out of business. It became my side hustle - a way to build something of my own.

The economy was struggling, and there were several competing delis nearby. Within a year and a half, every one of them had closed, except ours. And the difference wasn’t marketing or luck. It was mindset, and who I surrounded myself with.

Many local business owners spent their days talking about how terrible things were. They had plenty of data and headlines to back it up. But that line of thinking wasn’t helping anyone grow. It felt like they had a disease I didn’t want to catch.

So I stayed away from those conversations and focused instead on what could work. I attended trade shows in big cities to see what was trending, and brought those ideas home. We introduced frozen yogurt, pizza by the slice, and “we-make-you-bake” pizzas. There were simple innovations that made our deli stand out.

That deli eventually sold for multiple times what I paid for it. More importantly, it reinforced a truth I’ve seen ever since: when you Surround Yourself with Success, you start to see opportunities everywhere.

Dealing with Negativity — Realistically

Negative people aren’t bad people. Often, they just don’t realize how powerful their thoughts are, or how their words shape their outcomes. Sometimes, the negative voice comes from someone close to you, even family.

If that’s the case, you don’t have to cut them out of your life. Instead, remember this tip:

“Don’t go as often and don’t stay as long.”

You can love people and still protect your energy. As you keep your focus on a positive future, new, like-minded people will start appearing in your life — people who match where you’re headed. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s worth it.

Five Steps to Upgrade Your Circle

Once you recognize how much influence your circle has, you can start being intentional about it. Here’s a five-step framework to help you surround yourself with success:

Identify – Notice who lifts you up and who leaves you drained. Awareness is step one.
Assess – Ask yourself who challenges you to grow and who celebrates your wins.
Adjust – Spend more time with your Energizers and less with your Drainers. You don’t need to make an announcement, just quietly redirect your time.
Immerse – Join groups, masterminds, or online communities where people think big and take action. Podcasts and books count too.
Be That Person – If you want to attract positive, driven people, be one. Encourage others, share wins, and focus on what’s possible.