#4 The Power of Your Bubble

Where we live and work shapes who we meet and spend time with. Sometimes, only one of these factors truly matters. As we age, studies show we spend less time with friends, often due to shifts in careers, relationships, and family life.

Work, in particular, tends to dictate who we spend most of our time with (outside of our spouse or children). On a typical weekday, I often think: Who did I see and interact with today? If I’m at the office, it’s usually the same small group of people. It starts to feel like a bubble. When I’m not traveling or visiting customers, my interactions are limited to those inside that bubble.

One place that naturally breaks this pattern is the gym. During COVID, many people craved the community gyms provided, and that sense of belonging helped gyms survive. For gym owners, this is key—you get to meet a variety of people. From experience, you likely know early on if a new member will connect with others, make friends, and stay for the long term.

Breaking the bubble can be even harder when you work remotely. If you have family responsibilities, staying in the home bubble makes sense. Otherwise, you need to put in effort to find social activities. It’s easy to see why books have always been important—they allow us to explore new perspectives on our own, almost like stepping into someone else’s mind. These days, many turn to movies, shows, and social media for that same experience.

I’m not here to measure how social we are. My point is simple: the people we spend the most time with greatly influence how we think and act. The 80/20 rule applies—most of our time is spent with a small group. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing if those people help you grow.

So, it’s worth asking yourself: Who’s in your bubble, and are they helping you become better?

By: Isaac Lewis, November 2024