Most of us have friends who are about like us. Same interests, same vocabulary, same habits, and same level of success.
We like people who are like us.
The problem is they keep reinforcing a life that we already know the results of when we live it. If we want more and better, we have to learn new things, talk in different ways, and take different actions. We will have to give up (some or all) of the old activities in favor of something new that yields better results.
Many of our friends won’t like that.
They don’t like it when you evolve beyond their own comfort zone. They don’t like it when you do what they are unwilling to do but know they should. They don’t like it when you are doing better than them and making them look bad.
There are exceptions. A real friend who truly cares about you will want you to do better even if you leave them behind.
If you have friends who want to hold you down for their sake, you don’t have to tell them you are right and they are wrong, or say goodbye. You don’t have to say anything at all. Just stop hanging around them (so much).
You have a life to build. Move forward.
And don’t worry, you’ll make plenty of new friends on the way up.
Totally agree. Roughly 15 years ago I heard Zig or someone say that your income is likely the same as your 3 closest friends. I looked around and I was the highest achiever of this group. So I fired them all. Found new friends and different activities. It was the hardest thing to do because you can’t tell them why you are not hanging out with them anymore. They were content with where they were or unwilling to do anything about it, always embroiled in drama. Looking back it was one of the best decision I ever made. Finding new friends to hang out with regularly as proven tough though as I am now very cautious with who gets my time.
This is most excellent advice.
I was just telling someone yesterday that those people in my past who told me I would never accomplish what I wanted or who mocked my efforts have now faded into obscurity. I left them behind and they stayed behind with few exceptions.
Larry- I am glad we are friends!