A young Los Angeles actor in need of a second job to pay his bills has come up with a brilliant way to add his income — people walking.

Chuck McCarthy originally considered becoming a dog walker to earn some extra cash, but soon realized that the job required more than walking dogs on a leash (皮带). “I didn’t want to pick up dog poop (粪便), and that’s kind of what you are really being paid for, for dog walking,” he said. But people don’t usually poop when they take a walk, so Chuck realized there was money to be made walking people around Los Angeles instead.

It might sound like a joke, but the People Walker, as he calls himself, is very serious about his new job. For $7 per mile, he offers to walk with customers around L.A., listening to their problems or simply making conversation and offering them a sense of safety.

His services are aimed at people who need motivational help to go walking, those who don’t feel safe walking alone in some areas, and those who are afraid that people might see them walking by themselves and think that they have no friends.

“I wear my The People Walker shirt upon request and on the first walk with a new customer, so they can be 100% sure it’s me,” McCarthy says. However, he admits that some people don’t agree to this policy, as they don’t necessarily want everyone to know that they are being walked.

Believe it or not, McCarthy’s business has been very successful. He already has another five people walkers employed, covering various areas, like downtown L.A., Hollywood, Eagle Rock, Las Feliz or Fairefax. Once he posted signs around the city, his phone started ringing and customers began rolling in. And with all the free publicity he has been getting in the press lately, he has been overwhelmed (不堪重负的) with requests.

Mary Krupa became friends with the grey squirrels during her first week at Penn State University, after spotting them running around and idly(漫不经心地) wondering what they would look like with tiny hats on their heads. Today, everyone at the university knows her as the “Squirrel Girl”.

Mary started bringing them food and gradually they began to trust her. She managed to put a hat on a squirrel and take a picture. Thinking that she could do something to lift up people’s spirits, she started posting similar photos on Facebook. The response was greatly positive, and before long Mary and her squirrels became an Internet sensation.

Growing up in a neighborhood outside the state college, Mary was always fond of birds and animals around her home, but she didn’t interact with people very much. She was later diagnosed with Asperger syndrome(阿斯伯格综合征), but the squirrels changed that. “The squirrels are actually a good way to break the ice, because I’ll be sitting here patting a squirrel and other people will come over and we just start feeding the squirrels together and chatting about them,” she said. “I am a lot more outgoing.”

And in case you’re wondering how Mary is able to get the squirrels to do what she wants for her photos, it has a lot to do with food. For example, whenever she wants them to hold or play with something, she puts peanut butter on the prop(道具), and they’ll grab it. But getting to that part took a while. In the beginning, she would throw peanuts up the trees on campus and invite the squirrels to come down and get them, but they hesitated to approach her. She had the patience to earn their trust, though.

This year, Mary is graduating with degrees in English and Widlife Sciences. She wants to be a science writer and educate people on how to preserve the environment. As for her furry friends, Mary plans to stay in the area and visit them as often as she can.

We need to be aware of the fact that people around us influence us in subtle ways that may encourage us, or stop us.

The circle of five

Famous speaker Jim Rohn said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.” 【小题1】 If this “circle” of people is goal-driven, and encouraging, we can experience a positive impact on our actions. On the other hand, if the people around us are negative, we may be affected by these qualities and prevent our own personal growth in the process.

Know your circle

【小题2】 Be mindful of the conversations you have with people and the activities you engage in with them. What are the opinions that control in your social group? What are the similarities between you and the five people you are constantly close to? If there is a conflict between what you are and where you want to be, look at your circle of five and you will see how they are influencing your path. Identify and avoid wasting time and energy on the worthless people in your circle of five.

【小题3】

Once you identify the people who belong to your reference group, it is important to develop these relationships. 【小题4】 Different individuals evolve at a different pace. The important part is to be aware of this living and changing “circle of five”. Let this circle of five motivate you, help you gain courage, and take the right actions.

Remember, just like others influence you, you also make an influence on others. 【小题5】