--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You must be strong and make sure you…" description: "\"“You must be strong and make sure you spend less time with people who don't encourage and challenge you to become the best you can be. Seek out people ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/hal-elrod-2116_relationships_you-must-be-strong-and-make-sure-you-spe_747047.jpg" --- # You must be strong and make sure you spend less time with… ![“You must be strong and make sure you spend less time with people who don't encourage and challenge you to become the best you can be. Seek out people who believe in you, admire you, and can help you get where you want to go in life. You must actively seek out such people to improve your circle of…” quote by Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/hal-elrod-2116_relationships_you-must-be-strong-and-make-sure-you-spe_747047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/hal-elrod-2116_relationships_you-must-be-strong-and-make-sure-you-spe_747047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/hal-elrod-2116_relationships_you-must-be-strong-and-make-sure-you-spe_747047.jpg) > ““You must be strong and make sure you spend less time with people who don't encourage and challenge you to become the best you can be. Seek out people who believe in you, admire you, and can help you get where you want to go in life. You must actively seek out such people to improve your circle of influence- they rarely just show up by chance.”” [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Surround yourself with supportive, challenging people who push you toward growth, rather than those who hold you back. **In simple terms:** Choose uplifting, motivating companions. Key Takeaway Seek and nurture empowering relationships. Themes growth relationships influence motivation support Mood inspired determined optimistic Type advice motivational self‑help When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - personal health - education - creative projects Key Concepts social capital networking personal development Questions to Reflect On - Who in your life truly encourages your best? - How can you expand your circle responsibly? A Different Perspective Not everyone will be willing to challenge you; some may become dependent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [A real woman will not only encourage but challenge u. She sees the best in u & believes youcan achieve it…because its what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus/a-real-woman-will-not-only-encourage-but-challenge-u-she-sees-the/) [Theophilus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus/) > [Every answer you seek is already somewhere in your circle of influence!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-answer-you-seek-is-already-somewhere-in-your-circle-of-influence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sadat was able to use his self-awareness, his imagination and his conscience to exercise personal leadership, to change an essential paradigm, to change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/sadat-was-able-to-use-his-self-awareness-his-imagination-and-his/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [Righteous women in their circle of influence, beginning in the home, can turn the world around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/righteous-women-in-their-circle-of-influence-beginning-in-the-home/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Wherever you are, that’s your stage, your circle of influence. That’s your talk show, that’s where your power lies. ... You have the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/wherever-you-are-that-s-your-stage-your-circle-of-influence-that-s/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There is so much we can do to render service, to make a difference in the world - no matter how large or small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/there-is-so-much-we-can-do-to-render-service-to-make-a-difference-in/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Objects moving in a circle are under the influence of changing force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-mayer/objects-moving-in-a-circle-are-under-the-influence-of-changing-force/) Melody Mayer > [“Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/proactive-people-focus-their-efforts-in-the-circle-of-influence-they-2/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Become skilled in the process of selecting whom you allow into your circle of influence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/become-skilled-in-the-process-of-selecting-whom-you-allow-into-your/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [“Select your travel companions carefully. Your life companions create your circle of influence. Invest in the ones that will help you drive forward. http://journeycharms.com/charms-store...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-digeronimo/select-your-travel-companions-carefully-your-life-companions-create/) [J.J. DiGeronimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-digeronimo/) > [“Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about. The nature of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/proactive-people-focus-their-efforts-in-the-circle-of-influence-they/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Select carefully and continuously review your circle of influence, and be unapologetic about who you exclude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/select-carefully-and-continuously-review-your-circle-of-influence-and/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [“Be a solution provider to challenges or issues; the more you proffer solution, the more your circle of influence grows and the more your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/be-a-solution-provider-to-challenges-or-issues-the-more-you-proffer/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [The place to begin building any relationship is inside ourselves, inside our circle of influence, our own character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-place-to-begin-building-any-relationship-is-inside-ourselves/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If politicians did care about their constituents, they would work harder to seek out people like me. They don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/if-politicians-did-care-about-their-constituents-they-would-work/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) ## More by Hal Elrod > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Forever be happy, never be content, and always know the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/forever-be-happy-never-be-content-and-always-know-the-difference/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [As a leader, parent, or friend - don't let someone's poor attitude and poor performance hinder your commitment to holding them to higher standards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/as-a-leader-parent-or-friend-don-t-let-someone-s-poor-attitude-and/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Problems tend to be put into their proper perspective the moment we get off SELF, and on PURPOSE. By choosing your purpose in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/problems-tend-to-be-put-into-their-proper-perspective-the-moment-we/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Who you're becoming is far more important than what you're doing, and yet, it is what you're doing that is determining who you're becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/who-you-re-becoming-is-far-more-important-than-what-you-re-doing-and/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [The one thing we can count on is that time will pass; day will become night, and the sunrise will bring with it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/the-one-thing-we-can-count-on-is-that-time-will-pass-day-will-become/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [We must embrace the fact that if we don't commit to thinking and living differently than most people now, we are setting ourselves up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/we-must-embrace-the-fact-that-if-we-don-t-commit-to-thinking-and/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [There is too much life to be lived for you to hit the snooze button. In fact, I believe it is 'seize the day',…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/there-is-too-much-life-to-be-lived-for-you-to-hit-the-snooze-button/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Experience G.R.A.T.I.T.U.D.E. at a deeper level... Give it... Receive it... Affirm it... Think it... Inspire it in others... Talk about it... Understand it... Dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/experience-g-r-a-t-i-t-u-d-e-at-a-deeper-level-give-it-receive-it/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [When in doubt, always choose love & gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/when-in-doubt-always-choose-love-gratitude/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Unfortunately the ppl who would do the most good w/ a large sum of $ are often the same ppl who have the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/unfortunately-the-ppl-who-would-do-the-most-good-w-a-large-sum-of-are/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [You must establish and maintain the beliefs that you are... capable, committed and destined to achieve your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/you-must-establish-and-maintain-the-beliefs-that-you-are-capable/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Each morning when you wake, and everyday for the rest of your life... Expect the best of yourself, and accept the rest from yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/each-morning-when-you-wake-and-everyday-for-the-rest-of-your-life/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [“Remember this truth: now matters more than any other time in your life, because it’s what you are doing today that is determining who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/remember-this-truth-now-matters-more-than-any-other-time-in-your-life/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [“Never forget that who you are becoming is the single most important determining factor in your quality of life, now and for your future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/never-forget-that-who-you-are-becoming-is-the-single-most-important/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) [Explore all 181 Hal Elrod quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) ## More Influence quotes > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [Life is not about how much you have but how much you have affect others life positively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-about-how-much-you-have-but-how-much-you-have-affect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [... a fellow can't predict what he will pick up in the form of influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-fellow-can-t-predict-what-he-will-pick-up-in-the-form-of-influence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [We believe a scientist because he can substantiate his remarks, not because he is eloquent and forcible in his enunciation. In fact, we distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-a-richards/we-believe-a-scientist-because-he-can-substantiate-his-remarks-not/) [I. A. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-a-richards/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Influences come from everywhere. I don't really feel like I had too many influences for the first record because I grew up listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/influences-come-from-everywhere-i-don-t-really-feel-like-i-had-too/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 7,121 Influence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You must be strong and make sure you spend less time with people who don't encourage and challenge you to become the best you can be. 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