Five People to Fuel Your Personal Evolution

Climbing Up and Lifting Others

The Ladder of Life

We all strive for growth, for becoming better versions of ourselves. But how often do we consider the role our relationships play in this journey? The path to self-improvement isn’t a solitary one; it’s a shared experience, a continuous exchange of inspiration and support. This isn’t a new concept, and perhaps one of the most compelling frameworks comes from the ancient wisdom of the Stoics, particularly Seneca.

Imagine your life as a ladder, and your position on that ladder is constantly shifting. To climb higher, you need to reach up, and to ensure stability, you must also extend a hand down. This idea translates into a profound philosophy for building your personal network: cultivate relationships that both elevate you and allow you to elevate others.

Let’s break this down into a practical approach:

The Three Guides: Reaching Up

Identify three individuals in your life who, in one or more significant ways, are “better” than you. This isn’t about fostering inadequacy, but rather about recognizing excellence. These are the mentors, the role models, the friends who inspire you through their actions, their wisdom, or their achievements. They could be further along in their careers, possess a deeper understanding of a subject you’re passionate about, exhibit greater emotional resilience, or simply embody a quality you deeply admire.

The purpose of these relationships is two-fold:

1. Reflection and Aspiration:
   By observing their lives and engaging with them, you gain a mirror to your own aspirations. Their successes and their approaches to challenges can illuminate your own path forward. They help you reflect on the “good things you have done” by showing you what further good is possible. Their presence reminds you of the higher standards you can strive for.
2. Guidance and Wisdom:
   These individuals offer a wellspring of wisdom. They’ve navigated challenges you might face, and their insights can be invaluable. Actively seek their advice, observe their decision-making processes, and learn from their experiences. Their guidance can be the invisible hand that helps you climb.

As Seneca wisely wrote in his Letters from a Stoic: “

Choose a master whose life, conversation, and soul-expression you admire; let him be one whom you often bring to mind, so that you may mould yourself in his likeness.

“While Seneca was referring to philosophical mentors, the principle applies broadly to anyone who inspires you to be better.

The Two Mentees: Reaching Down

Equally important are the two individuals you can help. These are people who might be earlier in their journey, perhaps struggling with challenges you’ve overcome, or simply seeking guidance in areas where you possess experience and insight.

Your role in these relationships is to be a source of encouragement, a guide, and a mirror that reflects their own potential. Help them see the “good things they have done” and the strengths they possess, even if they can’t yet fully recognize them.

This act of mentoring is transformative for both parties:

1. Empowerment and Growth:
   By offering your support, you empower others to grow. You share your knowledge, your strategies, and your belief in their capabilities. This can be the catalyst they need to overcome obstacles and move forward.
2. Reinforced Learning:
   Teaching others is one of the most effective ways to solidify your own understanding. Explaining concepts, offering advice, and seeing others benefit from your experience reinforces your own learning and strengthens your expertise. It also helps you reflect on your own journey and appreciate how far you’ve come.
3. Cultivating Empathy and Purpose:
   Helping others fosters a sense of purpose and deepens your empathy. It reminds you that your growth is interconnected with the growth of those around you, creating a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.

The Interconnectedness of Growth

This “five-person” philosophy isn’t a rigid rule, but a conceptual framework. The numbers are less important than the underlying principle: actively shape your relationships to create a dynamic ecosystem of mutual growth.

Think of it as a continuous cycle. As you are pulled upwards by your guides, you gain new perspectives and skills. As you extend a hand downwards to your mentees, you solidify your own understanding and contribute to the collective good. This constant exchange fuels a sustainable cycle of personal and communal flourishing.

Ultimately, this philosophy echoes the fundamental human need for connection and shared progress. We are not meant to climb alone. By strategically cultivating relationships that both challenge us to reach higher and allow us to lift others, we build not just a better life for ourselves, but a stronger, more supportive community for everyone.

The idea and cocept from Seneca has developed widely when it translates to 20th century.

The Modern Blueprint: Tai Lopez’s “Law of 33%”

The most direct modern reference to this specific ratio comes from entrepreneur Tai Lopez In his widely shared TEDx talk and “67 Steps” program, he outlines the Law of 33% , which mirrors your idea almost perfectly:

• 33% of your time
  should be spent with people “below” you (mentees). This allows you to give back and reinforces your own knowledge through teaching.
• 33% of your time
  should be spent with peers (people on your level).
• 33% of your time
  should be spent with mentors (people 10–20 years ahead of you). These are the people who make you feel uncomfortable and push you to grow.

The Foundation: Jim Rohn’s “Rule of Five”

The general “5 people” concept is almost always attributed to the late motivational speaker Jim Rohn, who famously said:

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

While Rohn’s quote is often used to suggest you should only hang out with high-achievers to “raise your average,” many modern interpretations (including those by figures like Tim Ferriss) expand this. They argue that a “high average” isn’t just about wealth or status, but about the balance of being challenged by mentors and grounded by the responsibility of helping others.

Iconic Figures and “Lifting as You Climb”

Abby Wambach (Olympic gold medalist) and Maya Angelou, who both popularized the phrase:

“When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”

This “two-way street” of growth is also a staple in the Stoic tradition. Seneca, whom I mentioned in the article, wrote in his Letters: “Men learn while they teach” (Docendo discimus). He believed that you cannot truly ascend to wisdom unless you are simultaneously pulling a student up behind you.

The “Mentor, Peer, Mentee” Model in Tech

In Silicon Valley, this is often called the “Plus, Minus, Equal” system. It was famously promoted by Frank Shamrock (the MMA legend) but has been adopted by many high-performance coaches in the tech world.

• Plus:
  Someone better than you to learn from.
• Equal:
  Someone at your level to challenge you.
• Minus:
  Someone “below” you to teach.

Summary Table: The Hierarchy of Influence

 What are your thoughts on this ladder of life? Who are your guides, and who are you lifting up? Share your reflections in the comments below!

Professionally, I’ve worked across data analysis, reporting, and application development. One notable experience was developing a Human Resources appraisal system over two years using Visual Basic and SQL Server, where I translated business rules into reliable, user-friendly software. Projects like this deepened my appreciation for clean data, thoughtful design, and systems that support people—not just processes.

Over time, my work expanded into Python, SQL databases, analytics, and automation, with a growing focus on data integrity and insight-driven solutions. I enjoy building tools that reduce manual effort, surface meaningful patterns, and enable better decisions.

Outside of work, I value balance and mindfulness. I enjoy hiking, traveling, kayaking, and spending time in nature—activities that keep me grounded and curious.

Today, I’m focused on contributing within data science and analytics–driven environments, continuing to learn, mentor, and build solutions that are practical, ethical, and impactful.