We’ve all heard the statement, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

I generally hate this idea, nobody likes the social climber whose eyes are always looking past you to find the "more important" person they could speak to next.

That said, your current environment (who and where you spend your time) has an outsized impact on your future.

This shows up everywhere in life, especially in the conflicting worlds of entrepreneurship and fitness.

I am writing this on the way home from a resort where the gym was packed every morning with people working out, stretching, and then grabbing a healthy plate at the breakfast buffet. Was this the healthiest resort in the world? Of course not. But that morning gym crowd was a perfect example of survivorship bias.

If you only looked at the people lifting, stretching, and filling their plates with eggs, fruit, and coffee, you might think, “Wow, everyone here is locked in.”

But, had you walked over to the buffet at the exact same time, you would see a very different group of guests. Just as consistent, just as committed, but to a totally different pattern. Plates piled high with pastries, sugary drinks, and processed food. Day after day.

This is not about shaming anyone for enjoying their vacation. You should enjoy it.

Here's the hard truth: if you can't find a healthy balance in the PERFECT environment (no work commute, no grocery shopping, unlimited healthy options, no household chores) how are you going to find balance in your chaotic reality?

Your environment is not neutral. It is either quietly pushing you toward your goals or poisoning your progress.

James Clear talks about this in Atomic Habits. We keep trying to overpower our biology with more willpower and more motivation, when the better move is to change the environment that our habits live in. If you accept that parts of human nature are not going to change, the smartest thing you can do is design your surroundings so the right choice is the easy one.

The same pattern shows up in your social and professional circles.

I was once at a party where someone casually said, "I would love to start my own business, but all the good ideas have already been taken." That line genuinely shocked me. Not because it's wrong (there is much opportunity), but because it was so far removed from my own worldview.

I have the privilege of spending time with entrepreneurs who are constantly trading ideas and starting new businesses. In those rooms, their biggest struggle is not a lack of ideas but the distraction from the abundance of them.

This same principle explains the two types of travellers:

Note: that perfect day doesn't need to be some productivity bro maximalist mindset. You can find balance to both relax AND focus on your wellness.

We can't guarantee success in life, but we can stack the odds in our favor by controlling our environment and putting ourselves in the best position to win.

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try these workouts this weekend:

Perfect if you are traveling, staying in a hotel, or just do not want to commute to the gym.

Complete 5 rounds:

Goal: Move continuously. Rest only 30–45 seconds between rounds.

Perform 4 sets of each:

Guidelines:

For time:

I get this question all the time: “Should I sell my company to my employees?”

If you run a $2M–$20M revenue business, there’s a good chance the people who know it best already work for you. This article breaks down when it actually makes sense to sell to your team instead of an outside buyer, how those deals are funded (bank debt, seller notes, earn-outs, minority rollovers), and the tradeoffs on culture, risk, and cash at close.

If you have a real leadership bench and care about legacy as much as headline price, this is a must‑read before you decide who gets to own your business next.

Read the full blog here: https://www.breakwaterma.com/blog/should-i-sell-my-company-to-my-employees

every second counts