The current level that you are is a product of the people who you soround your self with because associations matters a lot, in our biology we where taught about different associations that exist in nature which includes symbiosis, mutuality and parasitism etc are different types of associations that organisms in nature undergo for them to survive
It's also true for we as humans being because we should be always be careful of the association that we find ourselves self because any association that is not impacting into you should be stopped because I am of the view that in this year that we have found ourselves if we are to make serious progress economically and others wise then take a careful evaluation of those around you and make changes if necessary
It is very true that the association you keep have impact into your life, there are lots of persons in our society that have secured good job opportunities basically because of the people they've associated themselves with, so most times they jobs and other opportunities through recommendations, that's the power of association. Even the Holy Bible recorded somewhere in Mathew when jesus said, " if the blind leads another blind, both of them will fall into a ditch" and that's what association can do. If as a human being there is something your lacking, it better you associate yourself with those who have what your lacking, it can be idea, it can be finances, it can be in terms of academics etc.