No New Friends Rule

Sam Parr shares his perspective on relationships with highly successful people, explaining why he's become more selective about new friendships, especially with accomplished individuals. His experiences meeting successful people have led him to create boundaries and be more discerning about who he spends time with.

Key Points:

• Experience with Successful People:

  • Has met many previously admired figures through business success
  • Found hanging out with some extremely successful people to be "miserable"
  • Realized being around certain successful people isn't enjoyable due to constant competition

• The "No New Friends" Rule:

  • Default position is to not let new people in
  • Must prove themselves over time before crossing friendship threshold
  • Reversed previous approach of being open to anyone who wanted to connect

• Reasoning Behind the Rule:

  • Many successful people aren't fun to be around
  • Often feels like a "pissing match" when hanging out
  • Found interactions can be unenjoyable despite their status

• Observations about Ultra-Successful People:

  • Being in the 99th percentile of success often means lacking in other traits
  • Success often comes at the cost of normal social relationships
  • Many lack traits that make someone enjoyable to be around

• Implementation:

  • Default answer is "no" to new friendship opportunities
  • Takes time to evaluate before allowing closer relationships
  • Protects against draining relationships with competitive personalities

This perspective emerged from direct experience with highly successful individuals, leading to a more protective approach to personal relationships and time.