I love relationships – deep connections rather. Connections are vital to your success. The right connections can change the trajectory of your life. I become so excited when I have the opportunity to connect and build meaningful relationships.

I met someone whom I greatly respected and admired from afar. This person appeared to be at the pinnacle of his career and oozed prosperity. This was definitely a person whom I believed we could add significant value to each other’s life. Initially, it appeared that everything was great. We laughed together, conversed on a variety of topics, and we were both enlightened in the process. It seemed we could discuss anything together and agreeably disagree if needed.

We were well on our way to building a partnership, which would allow us to do amazing things together. Together, we could change communities and future generations. As we continued cultivating our friendship, I began to notice this person had a skewed viewpoint of people whom he deemed to be less than him. I found this person to be extremely negative and was disenchanted with life. I found the person was extremely critical of myself and everyone else. A sense of entitlement and negativity are enemies of success. No one was on the level of him and his friends/associates.

Instead of engaging in dialogue, my new friend began to turn everything into a debate. I certainly didn’t have the time or energy for this type of relationship. I finally got to a point where I had to make up my mind that I couldn’t sacrifice me and what I was working to build for the friendship. Walking away was emotional and it was hard, but it was necessary if I wanted to stay focused on my goals.

Kenny Rogers said it best, You’ve got to know when to hold’em. Know when to fold’em. Know when to walk away. And know when to run. It can be oh so very painful, but who do you need to let go to grow?