Choose whom you associate with wisely

Tim Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company‘s “Most Innovative Business People” and one of Fortune‘s “40 under 40.” He is an early-stage technology investor/advisor (Uber, Facebook, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ others) and the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, including The 4-Hour Workweek and Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers. The Observer and other media have called Tim “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast, which is the first business/interview podcast to exceed 100 million downloads.

Getting into the weeds, Tim is the author of the following books, listed from oldest to newest:

• The 4-Hour Workweek – Translated into 35+ languages; #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and BusinessWeek bestseller.
• The 4-Hour Body – #1 New York Times bestseller.
• The 4-Hour Chef – #1 Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestseller; winner of a Gourmand “Best in the World” Award at the 18th Annual Paris Cookbook Awards.
• Tools of Titans – #1 New York Times bestseller.
• Tribe of Mentors – #1 New York Times Advice/How-To, #1 New York Times Business, #1 Wall Street Journal

In the 4-Hour Workweek, Ferriss drops this truth bomb:

You are the average of the five people you associate with most, so do not underestimate the effects of your pessimistic, unambitious, or disorganized friends. If someone isn’t making you stronger, they’re making you weaker. Remove the splinters and you’ll thank yourself for it.

For more hacks, truths, advice and mind expanding interviews, check out The Tim Ferriss Podcast and subscribe to Tim’s Blog.