Dear Amina,

If you are a creator, you know that building anything of value is lonely. Whether you are building a business, changing career paths, or getting your life together.

Over the years, as my responsibilities and businesses grew, I had to make some silent, tough choices about who gets access to my time. I realized that everyone around you falls into one of two categories:

The people who keep you tied to who they know you to be. They are comfortable, familiar, and safe. But they resist your growth because your progress amiplify their stagnation. They talk about other people and past glory days.

Then, we another set of persons. These people push you forward. They challenge your ideas, hold you accountable, and demand that you operate at your highest possible level. They talk about ideas, the future, and new opportunities.

You cannot expect to build a visionary life if you are negotiating with people who only see your limitations.

Now here is my assignment for you today: Audit your circle.

Look at the five people you interact with the most. They can be in your business, church, office, or even romance.

Are they draining your energy or fueling it? Are they celebrating your ambition, or telling you to be “realistic”?

At any point you realise you are the most driven, ambitious person around, you are in the wrong circle.

It’s not a crime if you outgrow people. Overtaking is allowed. Go find a room where you are the small fish, where the standard is so high it makes you a little uncomfortable. That discomfort is the exact environment where real growth happens.

Protect your energy. Protect your circle.

Keep building. See you tomorrow if God wills.

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm (Proverbs 13:20).

– Oluboba