I believe we can accelerate our acumen, performance and success

When Robin S. Sharma declared, “I believe we can accelerate our acumen, performance and success by leveraging our associations and spending time with people better than us,” he gave voice to an ancient truth that has guided the wise for centuries. His words reveal the power of associations—the company we keep, the circles we walk within, the mentors and companions whose strength shapes our own. He reminds us that greatness is not pursued in solitude alone, but cultivated in the presence of those who are greater, wiser, braver, and more disciplined than ourselves.

The ancients taught this same principle. In Athens, young men sought out Socrates, not because they were already wise, but because his questions stirred their souls to seek truth. By walking with him, they sharpened their acumen, strengthened their reasoning, and grew in virtue. Likewise, Alexander was not born great, but was trained under Aristotle, whose guidance cultivated his vision and strategy. The lesson is clear: when one stands among giants, one learns to stretch higher; when one sits with the wise, one begins to speak with wisdom.

Sharma’s insight is not mere philosophy, but a call to action: if you desire performance beyond your current measure, place yourself where excellence is the norm. A soldier among the disciplined becomes disciplined himself. A craftsman among the skillful learns to raise his craft. Even the flame of one candle, if held among brighter torches, glows more strongly. Thus, success is not only the fruit of effort, but of deliberate association with those who awaken your better self.

History offers vivid examples. Consider Thomas Edison, who surrounded himself with thinkers, assistants, and innovators of great talent. He did not work in isolation but drew energy from the brilliance of others, creating an atmosphere where invention multiplied. Or consider the Renaissance, when Florence thrived because artists, philosophers, and patrons gathered together, each pushing the other to heights they might not have reached alone. In both cases, associations were the accelerators of genius.

Yet Sharma’s words also demand humility. To spend time with those “better than us” is to admit our own lack, to confess that we do not yet stand at the summit. Pride resists this. The arrogant man seeks only companions he surpasses, so that he may feel superior; but in doing so, he condemns himself to stagnation. The humble man seeks out those who outshine him, not to be diminished, but to be lifted. True growth begins with the courage to say: “I am not yet what I could be—let me learn from those who are greater.”

The lesson for us is clear: choose your companions with care. If you would be wise, walk with the wise. If you would be strong, train with the strong. If you would be noble, sit among the noble. Seek mentors who challenge you, peers who inspire you, and communities that demand your best. Your destiny will rise—or fall—to the level of those you allow into your daily life.

Practically, this means examining your circle. Ask yourself: do those around me pull me upward, or drag me downward? Seek opportunities to learn from those who excel, whether through friendship, apprenticeship, or study. Read the works of great minds. Listen to the voices of leaders past and present. Place yourself, again and again, in the company of excellence, until excellence becomes your own habit.

Thus, Sharma’s words shine with timeless urgency: acumen, performance, and success are not accidents, but consequences of deliberate association. Stand among those better than you, and you will grow. Remain among those who chain you to mediocrity, and you will wither. The path to greatness is not walked alone—it is walked in the company of giants. Seek them, learn from them, and one day, others will look to you as the one who lifts them higher.