Many years ago, there was a popular humorous say that went 
something like, "It's hard to soar with the eagles when you hang 
out with the turkeys."  The message of course was that your 
accomplishments are limited by those that you spend most of your 
time with.

Experts on what it takes to achieve great things have long 
recognized this fact.  Look at any person's 10 closest associates 
and you can estimate that person's earning potential within a few 
thousand dollars per year.  It will be very close to the group's 
average. Part of the reason that's true is because the group 
defines what's expected of its members. Any member stepping out 
of line is somehow admonished for "rocking the boat."

To change your income, you DO have to change who you associate 
with. You don't have to drop your friends, but you do have to 
associate with those already doing what you want to do.  You do 
have to associate with those already earning what you plan on 
earning.  You need this "association" to elevate your thinking.

My friend Joel Christopher is the perfect example of this concept 
in action. Joel immigrated from the Philippines many year ago, 
and worked as a physical therapist for a while. However, he was 
attracted to the Internet marketing arena by several factors 
including the possibility of increased earning and the fact that 
an Internet business would allow him to spend more time with his 
family.

When I first met Joel in 2002, I noticed that he had surrounded 
himself with some of the best Internet marketers around.  At a 
seminar he sponsored, I saw that he had Dr. Joe Vitale, Marlon 
Sanders, Terry Dean, and Paul Myers, and many other people I 
revered speaking.  I later learned that Joe Vitale was part of 
his mastermind group. Marlon and Joel were such close friend that 
Marlon had moved to the same neighborhood that Joel was in, and 
they often went for long walks where they brainstormed.

As I saw what Joel was doing, I also decided that I would soar 
with the eagles. I had proof beyond dispute that associating with 
very successful people would eventually pull anyone closer to 
their level.  Actually, I had  had watched this concept at work 
during my many years in the U.S. Air Force. Those who aspired to 
be generals knew that they had to spend time being mentored and 
groomed by generals. It was common knowledge that without a 
"sponsor" you would never make the higher ranks no matter how 
well you did your job.

Every Second Lieutenant is advised to volunteer for all kinds of 
projects just to get noticed by the "higher ups."

Getting back to my friend Joel and the art of associating with 
"the right people"... Joel is now a partner with Ted Nicholas, 
"the 4 Billion Dollar Man." Ted is  called this because his 
copywriting and direct marketing skills have managed to sell that 
much merchandise over the years.  Most of this was through mail 
order. Ted is a direct marketing genius that can hold an audience 
captivated for hours!  My library is filled with recordings of 
his presentations.

Ted Nicholas is the best-selling author of 15 books including his 
latest masterpiece "How To Turn Words Into Money"  He's 
considered the "King of Print", the "Copywriter's Copywriter", 
the "Entrepreneur's Entrepreneur" and the "GodFather of Direct 
Marketing." Ted is the guru that many other great copywriters 
learned from and someone I'm now learning from.

Joel is also now a partner with Carl Turner.  Carl was "marketing 
legend" Jay Abraham's "right hand man" for years!  When I last 
called Joel's office number, Carl returned the call.  Call has 
also now moved to San Antonio to work closer with Joel.

What’s the point in all of this rambling. Simply that if you 
aspire to higher levels of accomplishment, you absolutely must 
associate with those who can help shape your thinking 
appropriately.  You must "hitch your wagon to a star." 

You must not only understand the art of pulling yourself up to 
the next level, you must also take action.  As an example, I 
aspired to be at the level Joel and all of those speakers were at 
when I attended Joel's seminar in 2002. On March 18th -19th of 
this year, I will be on stage at Joel Christopher's and Ted 
Nicholas' Double Birthday Bash in San Antonio, Texas.  Several 
years of associating with and allowing these marketing geniuses 
to teach me has pulled me closer to where I want to be. 

I'd like to encourage you to join us in San Antonio this month. 
You'll get to associate with all of the major players at a giant 
birthday party. You'll get to learn from, form associations with, 
and identify those who can help make your Internet marketing 
dreams a reality. These dreams could be as simple as launching 
your next software or ebook project, or they could be 7-figure 
aspirations as mine are. 

To sign up for the double birthday bash and hang out with the 
direct marketing and Internet marketing elite, visit: 
http://WillieCrawford.com/birthdaybash.html

Why do Joel and I spend so much time and energy getting to know 
and partner with people like Ted.  We understand that you have 
to:

- Allow others to expand what you believe to be possible.

- Allow others to demonstrate to you what is doable.

- Allow others to hold you accountable for what you say you're 
  going to accomplish.

Those are the real reasons you want to allow the eagles to 
teach you to soar.  And in case you're wondering, I have no 
intention of moving to San Antonio - I love the Florida beaches 
too much :-) 

Willie Crawford is a corporate president, published author,
seminar speaker and host, tele-seminar speaker and host,
retired military officer, karate black belt, Master Network
Marketing Trainer, and lifetime student of marketing. He shows
people how to actually generate substantial income on-line
using very simple, easily modeled systems. An example of
such a system that you can study and duplicate is at:
http://ProfitMagician.com