You've got it upside down. For whatever definition of X:
Like attracts like means that because you already are X, then you begin to attract other people who are also X. Conversely if you want to be X, you can't become one by merely hanging out with people who are X.
Like attracts like means that because you already are X, then you begin to attract other people who are also X. Conversely if you want to be X, you can't become one by merely hanging out with people who are X.