Another topic I'm very passionate about & one that I completely believe in 100%. Make no mistake, I have fallen victim to this many, many times. It is so easy to get sucked into peer pressure with a bad crowd. I'm obviously talking about back in the day when I was young & foolish. Now I'm just foolish. Ha, kidding.

If I look at my life currently and the people I have allowed to be called close friends, I can say without a doubt that I'll rather have a finite amount of quality friends than an abundance of fools that know me. I was told once, "Surround yourself with people whom you can learn from". So true.

Let's take a look at the above image.

Stay away from people who are still broke.

Well, I will associate myself with someone who is broke. If that person is trying to get himself out of that situation. If that person is still broke because they cannot work with money & don't want to take advice, then no. How can I learn from you if you cannot teach me? It sounds harsh yes but c'mon, it's the truth.

Points 2 - 7

This is just evidence that someone has no vision, in my opinion. For me, as I'm older now, my priorities have changed. I want to accomplish something in this life. I want to move forward even if it's 3 steps forward and 1 step back. I do not want to stay in the same place and waste years of my life in a comfort zone.

Now how do I step out of my comfort zone? I look for people whom I can learn from. I associate myself with people that have accomplished goals in life. Want financial wisdom? Hang out with people who know how to handle & manage money. Do you want to be a positive glass half full type of person? Then hang out with positive people. People who have a zest for life!

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If you surround yourself with people who have no vision, who have no positivity, guess what, YOU will eventually become that person. Yes I know what you're going to say. "But I have a very strong character and strong will power". That's awesome, I'm happy for you. But you hang out with negative people and in the long run, you'll become them. It will not be immediate, but give it a few months or years, and you'll be a shell of your former self.

I for one believe that if you cannot teach me anything or if I cannot learn anything from you, then you'll be an acquaintance at best. I am in NO way better than you, it's just where I headed you cannot follow, unless you have the same vision as me. I know people, grown adults in their late 30's that hang out with 18 year old's. Please tell me, what can a 18-year old teach you about life?

Sure there are some that have strong goals and are working towards those goals no matter what, but I'm talking about your average 18-year old. Where their only goal in life is getting through the day, idling through the week until weekend. How could you possibly learn from such a person? Hang out with them on a regular basis, and you'll become like that. Oh and here's the kicker, YOU are not 18 anymore. You're on the clock of life. Do you want to have the mentality of a 20 year old when you're 45?

C'mon, really now.

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Make no mistake I am in no way ragging on teenagers. All I'm saying is surround yourself with intelligent people. People who know where they're going in life. Feed off their energy man. Soak up all their knowledge like a sponge. Be hungry for knowledge! Choose wisely the people you associate yourself with. Or do you want to be known as that guy/girl that's hanging out with age inappropriate individuals who's next goal in life is deciding what they're going to have for lunch.

Am I ranting? Yes
Have I fallen victim to this before? Haven't you been paying attention?
Will my life improve if I hang out with quality instead of quantity? Don't ask me stupid questions please.

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The above quote says it all. As I said I'm very passionate about this topic. So if I've stepped on a few toes then so be it.

Look inside yourself and ask, "Who are the 5 closest people I hang out with". I've had to ask myself that question too, you're not the only one. & I've had to make some tough choices regarding where I want to be in life.

Nobody said this would be easy, and nobody said you have to do it. But seriously, do you want to be known as a wise man or do you want to be known as the jester? The fool. & yes, the village idiot.

Why did you stop reading? I asked you a question.