It all started with the entire group answering correctly — but at some point, the pseudo-participants began giving wrong answers. At that moment, something remarkable happened with the real participants: 30% of people followed the group and answered incorrectly on all subsequent questions. It also turned out that the more people gave the wrong answer, the higher the chance a new real participant would follow them.
The folk wisdom that has circulated for generations says: 'Show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are.'
Jim Rohn, the American speaker and business coach, wrote in one of his books: 'You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.'
This is exactly why so many people, as they grow and develop, ask: how do I build the right environment without resorting to extreme measures? My experience shows: you don't have to abandon your current circle. As soon as you start moving forward and developing, it sorts itself out naturally. Some people will follow you. Others will stay behind. And new people — your level — will appear in your life.
Did you go to school? Remember your class. It divides roughly into three groups. The majority — and two outliers at the top and bottom: 2–3 leaders, the coolest guys and girls whose attention the whole class 'fought' for — and 2–3 'suckers.' In my class, there were 5. And I was one of them. But that didn't define who I became.
So everything can change. You can stop being the easy target. The main thing is to want it.
A similar hierarchy exists in every social group — whether it's a work team, a friend group, or any other community. In fact, you're probably among the top in your current level. But if you step to the next level — what position will you hold there?
Is it hard to go from 'sucker' to average? No. It'll probably take about 1 unit of energy. How much energy to become the top of your level? About 10 units. And what's it like at the top? Great — it's the comfort zone. And it's where we hit the ceiling.
The 'Sucker' technique (also known as the growth technique) comes down to this: instead of climbing 'sucker → average → top' — climb 'sucker → average → sucker at the next level.' This is how you make breakthroughs much faster and more impressively. Every morning we force ourselves to do something — an activity that's already been mastered. And we get a hit of dopamine from it. But that's a fake win. A real win is at the edge of your discomfort.
We've forgotten how to meet new people — most often acquaintances happen by circumstance. You went to school together, worked together, partied together… To reach the next level, you need to understand where to meet people as ambitious and crazy as you — people who like to grow, dream, and act.
Important point. Since there are many people around us trying to drain our energy, we subconsciously gravitate toward those who can give us something. Like motivation. That's why, when entering a new environment, think about what you can GIVE — not what you can take. Start by adding value. The right people will stay.
Conclusion: grab every opportunity to become better, to learn from the best, to communicate with the best. Then you'll notice, almost without realizing it, that you've started thinking differently. And what once seemed like fantasy will become your reality.
