The Friend Audit: Who Do You Want to Be in 5 Years?
Take a moment and make a list of all your friends—the people you spend the most time with, the ones who influence your thoughts, habits, and mindset.
Now, ask yourself:
- If I became like them in five years, would I be happy with that?
- Do they inspire me, push me, and challenge me to be better?
- Are they living the kind of life I want—professionally, personally, emotionally?
- Do they align with my values, goals, and aspirations?
- Who, among them, do I truly admire?
💡 No judgment—just awareness. The goal isn’t to label people as “good” or “bad,” but to recognize their impact on your future.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” — Jim Rohn
If you look at your list and realize you wouldn’t want to trade places with most of them in five years, it’s time to reconsider your circle.
Think carefully—because this one decision might determine the rest of your life.
Again, who do you want to be like?
The people you surround yourself with today will shape your opportunities, your mindset, and ultimately, your definition of success. This goes beyond just friendships—it extends to the schools you attend, the classmates you study with, and the professional circles you build along the way.
“Your network is your net worth.” — Porter Gale
Your School and University: The Foundation of Your Future
Where you go to school isn’t just about education—it’s about connections. The classmates you sit next to in lectures, collaborate with on projects, and socialize with after class could one day be your business partners, investors, colleagues, or even clients. Many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, CEOs, and industry leaders built their empires alongside people they met in school.
- Harvard’s dorm rooms gave birth to Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg’s roommates, including Dustin Moskovitz and Eduardo Saverin, helped turn a college project into a billion-dollar empire.
- Stanford connections built Google. Larry Page and Sergey Brin met as Ph.D. students and went on to revolutionize the internet.
- The PayPal Mafia (which includes Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Reid Hoffman) met through their educational and early career networks, later going on to shape companies like Tesla, LinkedIn, and SpaceX.
This isn’t just about elite universities—strong connections in any educational environment can lead to lifelong business opportunities. Whether you attend a top-tier university or a local college, the friendships and collaborations you form there will influence your career trajectory.
“The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work.” — Robert Kiyosaki
The Power of Your University Network
Your university friends aren’t just people you hang out with; they are potential collaborators, mentors, and business allies. The connections you build in school can:
- Help You Land Jobs: Alumni networks are often the strongest resource for job opportunities. Many professionals get their first (or best) jobs through former classmates.
- Become Business Partners: Many startups begin with a conversation among friends who met in college.
- Provide Investment Opportunities: As you grow in your career, your university network will be full of successful individuals who may become your business investors, clients, or partners.
- Expand Your Influence: Your classmates will go into different industries, giving you access to diverse opportunities. The more you nurture these relationships, the more doors they will open in the future.
“It’s not what you know, but who you know that matters.” — Harvey Mackay
Choose Your Circle Wisely—It Shapes Your Future
It’s easy to think friendships are just about fun, but the truth is, they shape your life’s direction. If you surround yourself with driven, ambitious, and intelligent people in school, you will be pushed to achieve more. If you fall into a crowd that lacks vision, you may find yourself stuck in mediocrity.
Many people don’t realize until years later that the friends they made in school directly impacted their financial success, career trajectory, and overall happiness. Be intentional about who you spend time with—because the network you build today will determine where you stand in the future.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African Proverb
Choose your circle wisely—your future depends on it. So is this a passive thing?
No, let’s make it happen. Here is how.
Friend Hacking: How to Attract and Cultivate the Right People in Your Life
Your friends shape your mindset, habits, and opportunities more than you realize. If you want to level up in life, you need to be intentional about who you surround yourself with. The good news? You don’t have to leave this to chance—you can hack your way into a better social circle by creating the right conditions to meet and attract high-quality people.
Step 1: Define What “Better Friends” Means to You
Before you can attract the right people, you need clarity. Ask yourself:
- What kind of people do I want in my life? (Ambitious, kind, adventurous, disciplined?)
- What qualities do I admire in others?
- Do I want friends who challenge me, inspire me, or share common goals?
“Surround yourself only with people who are going to take you higher.” — Oprah Winfrey
Once you define what you’re looking for, you can start engineering situations to meet those people.
Step 2: Go Where High-Quality People Gather
The easiest way to upgrade your social circle? Change your environment.
Your current friends are largely a result of convenience—where you work, live, or grew up. If you want to meet better people, go where they are.
Where to Find Ambitious, Positive, and Driven Friends:
✅ Networking Events & Conferences – Meet professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives.
✅ Co-Working Spaces & Business Meetups – Surround yourself with driven individuals.
✅ High-Level Hobby Groups – Join mastermind groups, sailing clubs, hiking communities, or investment meetups.
✅ Volunteering & Philanthropy – People who give back tend to have strong values and leadership qualities.
✅ Personal Development & Workshops – Attend seminars, fitness retreats, or leadership boot camps.
“The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.” — Reid Hoffman
Step 3: Become the Type of Friend You Want to Attract
People don’t want to be around negativity, excuses, or laziness. If you want to attract high-quality friends, you need to embody those qualities first.
- Be interesting: Read, explore, and develop unique perspectives.
- Be supportive: The best friendships are built on mutual encouragement.
- Be reliable: Follow through on plans and commitments.
- Be fun: People love being around those who bring good energy.
You don’t attract what you want—you attract what you are.
“Make friends with people who want the best for you.” — Jordan Peterson
Step 4: Cut Out Toxic Relationships
Not everyone deserves a seat at your table. If someone is consistently negative, draining, or discouraging, it’s time to create distance.
Signs of toxic friendships:
❌ They belittle your ambitions.
❌ They bring drama, negativity, or gossip.
❌ They don’t celebrate your wins.
❌ They take more than they give.
You don’t have to make a dramatic exit—just spend more time with people who uplift you.
“You can’t change the people around you, but you can change the people you’re around.” — Unknown
Step 5: Maintain & Deepen the Friendships That Matter
Meeting great people is just the start—you have to nurture those relationships for them to last.
🔥 Stay in touch – Text, call, or meet up regularly.
🔥 Add value – Offer support, ideas, and opportunities.
🔥 Be a connector – Introduce people to each other and expand your network.
🔥 Make memories – Plan trips, game nights, or meaningful experiences.
“The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.” — Tony Robbins
Final Thought: You Are One Friend Away From a Better Life
Your circle will determine your mindset, opportunities, and success. You don’t have to wait for the right people to come into your life—you can create the conditions to meet them.
So take control, friend hack your way into a better network, and watch your life transform.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Friendship Illusion
Alliances, Allies, Allies and more damn Allies – the Illusion of Loyalty
The Relationships Ledger
CREATE YOUR OWN DESTINY
