If you want to change your life, then change your environment!
Returning home to Dubai last week, after a summer in Europe and the UK, reinforced to me the impact of the environment on your success.
A Refreshing Shift Back to Dubai
3 months in Spain and France haven’t been great for maximum productivity at work or maintaining fitness and nutrition disciplines. Do you know how many carbs and how much alcohol they feed you on a yacht? (OK, don’t hate me; I am just trying to make a point!)
The last few weeks, I really haven’t been feeling great. I have been angsty about work, I have put on a few pounds, and I wake up with a headache most mornings.
But 48 hours back in Dubai life, and I feel like a new man already!
I am settled in the static and calm base of my apartment, in close proximity to countless 24-hour gyms, easy access to healthy foods, saunas, and ice baths, and, most importantly, surrounded by awesome people with a similar mindset.
The Role of Your Environment on Productivity
Output is based on input. And the right inputs come from the right environment.
A successful pub needs a highly trafficked location, easily accessible by most methods of transport, and surrounded by a demographic of people who have both the means and desire to visit it to consume alcohol.
A successful office skyscraper needs to be in a location that major national and international businesses want to base themselves in, with access to transport links for both the people who are going to build it and also the tenants and their visitors once it is open.
A successful farm needs the right combination of temperature, light, humidity, water supply, nutrient content, and atmosphere.
Your Environment Shapes You
The environment is everything. And it is exactly the same with humans.
Your environment is made up of the people you spend the most time with, the town you live in, the books you read, the people you follow on social media, the place you work, and so much more.
Are You in the Right Place for Your Goals?
What are you surrounded by? Are they the right ingredients to achieve your idea of success?
If you want incredible career opportunities, then you need to be where the jobs are: in major cities like London, New York, Singapore, Los Angeles, etc.
If you want a high chance of marrying a smoking hot girl, then you need to be in a major city, probably in a hot country, where there are plenty of them.
If you want to network with millionaire and billionaire investors, you need to meet them where they are: in Monaco, Dubai, the Cayman Islands, the Pit Lane at the Grand Prix, etc.
The Comfort Trap of Familiarity
I guess for most of you reading this, the place you currently are in is not the best place for you.
Over 65% of people in the UK live their whole lives in the town they were born in. 60% of Americans stay in the state they were born in. I would assume a similar statistic for the rest of the world.
Family ties, comfort, and familiarity. These are usually the reasons people don’t venture far afield.
Are You Being Held Back?
But what is tying you down is holding you back.
If the place you live isn’t full of people you can learn from and aspire to be like, then the chances are it isn’t the best place for you.
I wrote a blog a while back about 21 reasons to move to Dubai, which you can go back and read here. Factors like sunshine, no tax, and the world’s best restaurants are just a small part of what is great here. The real benefits for me come from the 10’s of thousands of entrepreneurs, multi-millionaires, billionaires, and hungry individuals on a mission to change the world.
It is impossible not to feel inspired when you wake up surrounded by people like this. Lifted. Mentored. And on the doorstep of amazing opportunities.
Change is Within Reach
But I get it. A move to the other side of the world isn’t practical or possible for everyone right now. It may not even be necessary.
Many people could benefit from just moving to the other side of town, and that really is within reach.
Because achieving greatness isn’t just about the ingredients you add and the incredible people you surround yourself with. It is also about what you remove.
Temptation, negative people, and draining family members.
You undoubtedly will have heard it said, ‘We are the sum of the five people we spend the most time with’. So if you are on your journey to find those 5 international superstars that will propel and inspire you to the top, your first step should just be as simple as removing the 5 worst ones from your circle.
Recognising Detrimental Influences
The family members that think mediocrity is acceptable.
The friends that devote their lives to drinking, fighting, and getting into trouble.
The boyfriend that is a fat slob who hasn’t worked in months.
We all have our own versions of these people. You know who they are in your life.
I remember hearing Tai Lopez say once, ‘If you want to get abs, then go live with someone for 6 months who has got abs’.
Success leaves clues, and history repeats itself.
If you spend your time eating, training, sleeping, and living like the person you want to be, you can’t help but become them.
Over to You
So what are you going to take from this? Are you going to make the move to be surrounded by people who elevate your game? Or are you just going to start by cutting out one negative force, influence, or person in your life?
No matter how small, do it NOW, because it is one step closer to achieving your dreams.
Reply to this email and tell me about it too. I want to hear about your success!
Matt x
Want more insights from me? Subscribe to my newsletter to stay up to date and get the latest
