The Unspoken Path to Success : Avoiding Silly People, Dangerous Places, and Risky Things.

Success is often attributed to a blend of ambition, persistence, virtues, hard work, intelligence, and sometimes, sheer luck. However, an often overlooked but equally vital component of success is the simple act of avoiding the obvious insanity that exists in the world. This principle can be distilled into three essential behaviors: avoiding stupid places, steering away from stupid things, and staying away from dangerously ignorant and risky people. By consciously steering clear of these pitfalls, individuals can significantly boost ?their chances of achieving health, happiness, and success while living a fulfilling life.

Avoiding Dangerous Places

The environment in which we choose to spend our time has a profound impact on our well-being and prospects. Stupid places are those locations where danger, crime, or negative influences are prevalent. These can range from dangerous places notorious for drug use or violence.

For instance, the opioid crisis in the United States has highlighted the dangers of being in areas or homes where drug addiction is rampant. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, has caused countless overdoses and deaths. By avoiding places or situations where such drugs are prevalent, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to addiction or drug-related violence.

Moreover, choosing safer environments can provide better opportunities for education, employment, and social interactions. Becoming determined to live in a place ?with good education, low crime rates, and a supportive community can create a stable foundation for personal and professional growth.

Avoiding Overly Risky Things

Engaging in reckless or dangerous behaviors can derail even the most promising paths to success. Stupid things include activities that pose unnecessary risks to one's health, safety, or reputation. These can range from experimenting with drugs and alcohol to engaging in illegal activities or risky financial ventures.

Consider the example of alcohol or marijuana addiction. Experimenting with drugs, especially highly addictive substances, can quickly spiral into a life of dependency and despair. Addiction not only harms one's health but also destroys relationships, careers, and futures. If you are making friends who only want to live a life of being high or engaging crime, you may want to find new friends that are not constantly doing stupid things.

Similarly, engaging in illegal activities, such as theft or violence, may offer short-term gains but inevitably leads to legal or health troubles and loss of credibility. Upholding ethical standards and making responsible choices ensures that one's success is built on a solid, respectable foundation.

Avoiding Stupid People

The company we keep profoundly influences our behavior, attitudes, and life choices. Stupid people are those who engage in risky, unethical, or destructive behaviors and who can lead others down similar paths. These individuals may live dangerously, have a propensity for trouble, or consistently make poor decisions.

One example is associating with people who are determined to struggle, or involved in criminal activities. Being around individuals who engage in debilitating or illegal behaviors increases the likelihood of being caught in legal troubles or dangerous situations. Additionally, these associations can tarnish one's reputation and limit future opportunities.

Avoiding people who bring negativity, drama, or danger into one's life is crucial. Instead, surrounding oneself with positive, motivated, and supportive individuals can provide the encouragement and inspiration needed to stay focused on goals and aspirations. Successful families often pass down the wisdom of avoiding unlucky or problematic individuals, emphasizing the importance of choosing friends and partners who contribute positively to one's life.

The Success Motto: Avoiding Unlucky People

Some success authors and famous families have adopted the motto of avoiding unlucky people as a key to success. ?[i]? While the term "unlucky" may seem subjective, it often refers to individuals who consistently find themselves in unfortunate situations due to poor choices or negative behaviors. The 48 Laws of Power book talks about the unlucky and is one of the most successful books while even “inner city”gangs buy it for their members. ?These "unlucky"and ?people determined to be miserable may have a pattern of financial troubles, legal issues, or tumultuous relationships which continually impacts those who sincerely try to help. [ii]

By distancing themselves from such individuals, successful families aim to minimize the risk of being dragged into similar problems. This practice is not about being unsympathetic but rather about protecting one's own path to success. It recognizes that our associations profoundly shape our lives and that maintaining positive, stable relationships is crucial for achieving long-term goals.

Conclusion

Success is not solely the result of extraordinary talent or hard work; it is also a product of avoiding pitfalls that can derail progress. By consciously avoiding dangerous places, overly risky things, and insolent people who do not want to better themselves, individuals can create a safer, more supportive environment for themselves and their families. This strategy, while seemingly simple, is a powerful tool for building a successful and fulfilling life. It emphasizes the importance of making wise choices and surrounding oneself with positive influences, ultimately paving the way for enduring success.

• Aristotle: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
• John C. Maxwell: "You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine."
• Warren Buffett: "The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken."
• Benjamin Franklin: "Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones."
• Stephen Covey: "Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character."
• Tony Robbins: "If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten."
• James Clear: "Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement."
• Mahatma Gandhi: "Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny."
• Dale Carnegie: "The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way."
• Mark Twain: "The secret of getting ahead is getting started."
• George Bernard Shaw: "Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it."
• Anonymous: "Arguing with a fool proves there are two."
• ?Mark Twain: "Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
• Robert Heinlein: "Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig."
• Bill Murray: "Don’t argue with idiots because they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
• Lao Tzu: "Do not answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are."

[i] 48 Laws of Power | Law 10: Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and the Unlucky | Shortform Books

[ii] (41) Infection: Avoid the Unhappy & the Unlucky | LinkedIn