Okay, But How Do I Actually Do It?

There is no single way to start firing EPs from your life, but this one technique has been very helpful for many people, and I’m 100% confident it will work for you too. Instead of making it obvious you do not want to spend time with these EPs anymore (because that can be very socially awkward), simply choose to fill your time with activities that involve the people you want to be around and the activities that move you forward.

Here’s an example. You are ready to begin your journey to success, and you identify that building your leadership skills will help you in your endeavors. So you join a club that does community service on weekends. When your EPs invite you to do something wrong like drinking or smoking, you can easily say, “I’d love to, but I have to be up in the morning to go volunteer at the soup kitchen. Hey, do you want to come with me?”

One of two things will happen.

The EPs will change their attitude and want to be part of all of the new things you are doing. Or they will stop hanging around you, and you will be free. By the way, another reason you ask them to come with you is due to something called the law of reciprocity. Because you said no to them, by giving them a chance to recipro- cate and say no to you, it allows you to turn someone down with no one’s feelings getting hurt.

Deciding to fire people who are sucking the life out of you is defi- nitely not the easiest choice to make, especially when the EP in your life might be a family member or a loved one (yeah, I know that one is rough). But remember, what’s hard is often what’s the most fulfilling.

So if you find your EPs are family members, be there to support them and love them as best you can. Just share your goals and dreams with someone else.

Arel Moodie is widely known as America's Top Young Speaker. He has spoken to over 65,000 students in 39 states and 2 countries on the topics of student success, student leadership and student entrepreneurship. He is a leading authority on helping students of this generation succeed in school and in life. He is also the best selling author of the book Your Starting Point For Student Success. To find out more about Arel's book, go to www.startingpointbook.com. To find out more about Arel's speaking please go to www.arelmoodie.com.