I recently posted a video on my YouTube channel titled Be Careful Who You Run With. I referenced a clip from famous movie director Quinten Tarantino where he spoke with a group of film students and used an analogy about running the 100M dash.
He stated; if you were to run against a group you knew you were faster than, you would win. However, if you ran against people you knew were better than you, you’d lose… and probably come in last place, but you’d have a better time.
This analogy was intended to force the film students to pay closer attention to how they were spending their free time. Were they hanging out with people that challenged them or individuals that would keep them stagnant?
This same principle can be applied all our lives… regardless of profession. It’s easy to get caught up in spending too much time with people that aren’t helping us move forward. In many instances, they’re fun to be around. The people that cause us to stay stagnant are usually funnier and know how to have a good time.
Think about your current roster of friends. Do you have anyone in your circle that fits this mold?
I often ask myself, what is the correct way to deal with these people and still move forward? If you are like me, you care about these people and don’t want to come off as egotistic or like you have a superiority complex. However, you have probably reached the point where something has to give.
An easy solution is to use the word no more often. Start declining weekend hangout sessions for something more productive. Say no to basketball game runs and hours of playing video games. Say no to lounging around drinking and talking crap when you know you could be doing something more productive.
This does not mean you should never hang out with these people; however, you must be more selective when you choose to do so. Instead, go out, network, and hang around in places where you see and meet people that can help you learn more, go further, and run faster.