Guess What? Who You Surround Yourself With Matters
We often underestimate just how much the people around us influence our mindset, our habits, and even our future. Yet, if you’ve ever left a conversation feeling drained, doubted yourself because of someone else’s words, or noticed your own standards slipping because “everyone else is doing it,” you’ve experienced the power of your circle.
There’s a simple, unforgettable visual that drives this home — and you’ve probably seen it in your own kitchen: one moldy piece of fruit in a bowl will eventually spoil the rest.
The mold spreads silently at first, barely noticeable. Then, before you know it, what was once fresh and healthy starts to soften, discolor, and decay.
That’s exactly how the wrong influences work in our lives and in our organizations.
The People Closest to You Set the Tone
Whether you realize it or not, the people you spend the most time with shape:
Your mindset: Positive, forward-thinking people help you see possibilities. Negative, cynical people train you to spot problems first.
Your habits: Surround yourself with disciplined, action-oriented individuals, and you’re more likely to follow suit. Hang around with those who avoid responsibility, and your own standards can quietly drop.
Your vision of what’s possible: People who dream big and pursue growth normalize ambition. People who settle normalize complacency.
It’s not about perfection — we all have flaws and bad days — but about patterns. When someone’s consistent energy, attitude, or behavior leans negative, it affects everyone in the room.
In Life: The Power of Your Personal Circle
Think about the people you spend the most time with. They could be friends, family members, coworkers, or mentors. Ask yourself:
Do they celebrate my wins without jealousy?
Do they encourage me to grow?
Do they hold me accountable when I’m drifting off course?
Do I feel safe to share my dreams and challenges with them?
If the answer is “no” more than “yes,” you may be spending too much time with the wrong people.
Toxic or misaligned relationships rarely start out as obviously harmful. Sometimes it’s subtle — a dismissive comment here, a sarcastic remark there, a pattern of doubting your ideas or always steering conversations toward their problems and away from solutions. But like mold, these attitudes spread. Over time, they can influence how you think, speak, and act.
The healthiest relationships are those that challenge you, inspire you, and help you stay true to your best self. They push you to dream bigger while also keeping you grounded in your values.
In Business and Organizations: Culture Is Contagious
This principle doesn’t just apply to our personal lives — it’s just as important in business.
Every workplace has a culture, whether intentional or accidental. That culture is shaped by the behaviors, attitudes, and values of the people within it. And just like with fruit in a bowl, it only takes one “moldy” presence to start affecting the rest.
Consider these scenarios:
One negative employee constantly complains about leadership decisions. At first, others roll their eyes. But over time, their words start to influence perceptions, and soon, more employees are questioning leadership — not constructively, but destructively.
A team member consistently misses deadlines but faces no accountability. Others notice, and before long, deadlines across the team begin to slip.
Gossip spreads unchecked in break rooms or private chats, creating division instead of collaboration.
On the flip side, a single positive influence can also be contagious. A team member who celebrates wins, offers solutions instead of just pointing out problems, and models accountability can inspire others to raise their standards.
Leadership’s Role in Protecting the Culture
For leaders, “who you surround yourself with” also means “who you allow to shape your environment.” Strong leaders:
Hire for both skill and attitude: Technical skills can be taught; toxic attitudes are much harder to change.
Address negative behaviors quickly: Hoping they’ll resolve themselves often means they’ll spread instead.
Model the culture they want to see: Leaders set the tone for what’s acceptable, celebrated, and corrected.
Recognize and reward positive influence: When you publicly value those who build others up, you reinforce the behaviors you want to spread.
A healthy organizational culture isn’t created by chance — it’s the result of intentional hiring, clear expectations, and consistent reinforcement.
How to Evaluate Your Circle (Personally and Professionally)
Whether you’re looking at your personal life or your business team, here are a few questions to help you assess the health of your environment:
Does this person consistently bring positive energy, ideas, and encouragement?
Do they challenge me (or the team) to grow while also offering support?
Do they take ownership of their actions and model accountability?
Do they contribute to solutions rather than just pointing out problems?
Do I feel energized and motivated after interacting with them?
If the answer is “no” to most of these, it may be time to create some distance, set clearer boundaries, or address the behavior directly.
The Hard Truth About Letting Go
Sometimes, protecting your environment means making the difficult decision to step away from certain relationships — or even certain team members.
This isn’t about writing people off because they’re struggling. Everyone has seasons where they need support. It’s about recognizing patterns: if someone consistently pulls you (or your team) down and refuses to change, the cost of keeping them close may be greater than the discomfort of letting them go.
The Bottom Line
Who you surround yourself with matters — in life, in business, and in leadership.
The right people will lift you higher, help you grow, and push you toward your best self. The wrong people will slowly chip away at your energy, your confidence, and your vision.
You can’t always control every environment you step into, but you can control who gets your time, your trust, and your influence.
So take a look at your “bowl.” Is it full of fresh, healthy, inspiring people who challenge you in the best ways? Or is it time to remove the mold before it spreads?
Because just like fruit, you can’t stay fresh if you’re surrounded by decay.