eliminate your bum friends

this is going to sound harsh

because it is. but someone needs to say it: some of the people in your life are holding you back, and your loyalty to them is costing you your potential. that doesn't make you a bad person for recognizing it. it makes you honest.

the uncomfortable math

you've heard the quote about being the average of the five people you spend the most time with. it's not just motivational poster nonsense — it's backed by social psychology research on behavioral contagion. you unconsciously adopt the habits, attitudes, and ambitions of the people around you. if your closest friends have no goals, no drive, and no interest in growth, that apathy is seeping into you whether you notice it or not.

this isn't about being elitist

this isn't about ditching friends because they don't make enough money or have impressive job titles. it's about energy and direction. do your friends support your goals? do they challenge you to think bigger? when you share an ambition, do they get excited or do they find reasons it won't work?

the people who matter most in your life should be the ones who make you want to be better. not through pressure or judgment, but through their own example and genuine encouragement.

the actual exercise

write down the ten people you spend the most time with. next to each name, write whether the time you spend with them leaves you energized or drained. be brutally honest. you don't need to ghost anyone or burn bridges. but you do need to intentionally spend more time with the people who lift you up and less time with the people who don't. this is your life. protect your energy like it matters, because it does.

if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.