Your environment shapes you

Our identity rarely comes from nowhere. It is formed at the age of two or three, when we begin to play with other children, learn the rules of society and sense other people's boundaries. In addition, two-year-olds actively use abstract thinking: "What would Michael say if I hit him? Probably, he will be very angry. It is abstract thinking that distinguishes humans from other animals; without it, we would be like robots or biomachines. In other words, our identity is shaped by our environment. I got this idea from Jordan Peterson's Beyond Order.

So, the practical conclusions are:
1. Raising a child. Do you want your child to grow up to be talented, competent, and happy? Simply surround him or her with the "right" peers. There is a high probability that such a circle of contacts will also form your child.
2. Business. Do not seek out associates among unmotivated people. Do not deal with clients who bring in little revenue. What "surrounds" your business in the end will be your work, your achievements. Is this the achievement you want?
Take responsibility. Almost any human interaction can be described as a game. Now, the game of champions is very different from the game of beginners. Beginners don't take responsibility, but they want to win. Pros take responsibility - and do a quality job. These are different approaches. Talk to the pros. Be a pro.

The environment modulates our behavior. If you live among athletes, it's harder for you to be non-athletic. If you socialize with panickers, you have a harder time staying calm. Your environment shapes you.