7 Types of People Every Startup Founder Should Know

It was October when I stood alongside almost 10,000 people at the LA Convention Center. We all stared at the same person, hanging on to every word he spoke.“Of all the things I have talked about, I am about to share the single most valuable piece of information that I can give you. Are you ready?” he asked.10,000 excited voices in unison belted, “YES!”The silence following was filled with anticipation.With a smile that could cripple Gargamelle, Tony Robbins exclaimed, “Power is in Proximity!”And there you have it, from one of the most sought after coaches in all of the world. With a cost of $1,000,000 for coaching and a year long waiting list to give him your money. This man has traveled the world, spreading words of encouragement, motivation, and wisdom to tens of millions of people!“Power of proximity?” That’s the earth-shattering, best advice ever?As it turns out, it really is the best advice ever. Research and common sense shows it to be true.Explained many ways over time, the “power of proximity” means that those you surround yourself with will have a massive impact on your life.Don’t just take Tony Robbins’s word for it: here are 7 other fantastic influencers with their opinions on the kind of people you should surround yourself with, and why.1. People who ride the highs and lows:“Everyone is your best friend when you are successful. Make sure that the people that you surround yourself with are also the people that you are not afraid of failing with.” -Paula Abdul2. People with healthy habits:“The people you surround yourself with influence your behaviors, so choose friends who have healthy habits.” -Dan Buettner3. People who help you achieve more:“When I was a kid, there was no collaboration; it's you with a camera bossing your friends around. But as an adult, filmmaking is all about appreciating the talents of the people you surround yourself with and knowing you could never have made any of these films by yourself.” -Steven Spielberg4. People who are smarter than you:“It's very important to surround yourself with people you can learn from.” -Reba McEntire5. People who believe in your vision:“Surround yourself with smart, dedicated people - to build something isn't a one-man show. It's more important to have smart people who really believe in what you're doing than really experienced people who may not share your dream.” -Niklas Zennstrom6. People to keep you accountable:“People are impatient. They want things to happen overnight, and have no idea of the circumstances and situations that can surround an individual at times.” -Rohit Sharma7. People who enjoy life:“Life is hard. It is not too short, it is too long. But you have to learn how to live; you have to have a sense of humour.” -Carolina HerreraAdditionally, I had a chance to sit down with an entrepreneur who is taking this concept of proximity and bringing people from all over the world, closer than ever before. His name is Miguel Dias, and he’s the founder of CEO WORLD.With CEO World, Dias is solving the problem of finding the right people to spend time with. He proves that the right people are closer than you may think through the power of peer groups.Peer groups have been around for decades, but Dias has taken this concept digital and worldwide. He has created the first international peer group, with members from all continents to create a truly worldly perspective.Each peer group is formed by 8 members from all continents who meet once a month, for 2 hours, through videoconference to solve their monthly pains about customer acquisition, go global, market access, fundraising, go to market, cultural differences, team management and so on. These groups act as bouncing boards to help each other gain advice and insight to everything from personal to professional pain points.And while CEO World is a great example of the power of international proximity, they say that the best way to determine your success is to look at your 5 closest friends.Who are you spending your time with?The sooner you realize the power that proximity has on your life (for better or worse), the sooner you can achieve your dreams and find both personal and professional success.Do you believe that power is proximity? Share your thoughts as comments.