Most family and friends don't actually want the best version of you; they want the version of you that best se... — Alex Hormozi

Most family and friends don't actually want the best version of you; they want the version of you that best serves them.

Author: Alex Hormozi

Insight: There's something unsettling about recognizing this pattern in your own life. You know the friend who celebrates your raise but then asks to borrow money. The family member who loves your success as long as it doesn't outpace theirs. These aren't necessarily bad people—they're just human. We all unconsciously prefer the version of others that fits neatly into our world, that makes us feel comfortable or useful or secure. The tricky part is that people rarely do this consciously. They genuinely believe they want the best for you. But when you actually start changing—getting healthier, setting boundaries, pursuing something ambitious—suddenly the subtle pressure appears. Why are you being so serious? You're different now. Come back to who you were. What they're really saying is: come back to the version that made sense to me. This doesn't mean cutting everyone off or assuming the worst. It means being realistic about who genuinely celebrates your growth versus who tolerates it. The people worth keeping around are the rare ones who actually get excited when you level up, even when it means less of their preferred version. They're the ones who want you better, not convenient.