Famous Places around the World

When we look at animals, we know that they are not humans. But how do our closest friends dogs see us? Do they know that we are humans? Or do they actually think that we are just strange-looking dogs?

You may be surprised to know that many kinds of animals do not notice such differences very much at all. For example, the cuckoo (布谷鸟) lays its eggs in the nest of another bird. These birds will feed the baby cuckoos, even though they look nothing like their real babies. This is because the birds feed in an instinctive ways.

Other animals, it seems, will simply separate the world into animals they eat, and animals that eat them. When it comes to dogs, though, there is no simple answer to this question.

Sheepdogs leave their mothers when they are born. They grow up with sheep, and come to see them as their family. For this reason, they never attack the sheep, and help protect them, they probably think the sheep are dogs too, but we can’t be certain.

Similarly, if you keep a dog from birth, the way it sees the world will be different to a dog that grows up with other dogs. It will probably think it is the same kind of animal as you. This can even be true of humans. A Russian boy called Ivan Mishukov, born in 1998, was raised by dogs for two years and came to believe that he was a dog himself.

Some researchers explain how most people form their social groups with people of their age. Especially, as children and teenagers, even adults, people make their friends based on proximity (邻近) more than anything else. Even in a college classroom, the students may not make friends with those who have similar personalities and interests. It’s the people they really sit next to. Clearly, who stands nearest to you has the greatest influence on you. As Jim Rohn has widely said. “You are average (平均) of five people you spend the most time with.”

Over the past ten months, I’ve paid Ryan, a famous writer of several bestselling books, to help with the book I’m writing. Working with him has shown me just how low my standards for my work are. For example, every time I send him a drab (草稿), he shows me how it could be 10 times better, and he holds me to that standard.

___▲___ It’s because that I don’t know what I don’t know. Working with Ryan has made me realize what is possible and what it takes to create something powerful.

Like Ryan, my business partner Richard has wonderful ideas and far different experience than I have. He has written 36 New York Times Bestsellers. He’s been speaking and doing events for 20 years. Richard always performs at high levels, and he is also very strict with me because my performance is a reflection (反映) on him. It’s not a bad thing because it creates high pressure (压力) to help me make great progress in organizing author training.

In a word, you need to stay with those people who can help you realize your level and potential. Staying with people who have higher standards is the fastest way for you to change. If you don’t change your environment, your progress will be very slow. Who you stay with has huge importance. You can’t ignore this.