Whom to serve and follow

This is an excerpt from an email my Siksha Guru has written to me. This is regarding whom to follow to make advancement in spiritual life.

More Important is our spiritual life is mainly based on devotees which are more close to us and whom we are seeing daily performing devotional service and with whom we are having close association. If they are good in standing then one should eager to associate with them and take inspiration as they
are our real source of inspiration for becoming more determined in spiritual life as they are more close to us.