The most crucial networking skill is not the ability to surround yourself with the right people, but to correctly identify those who are not necessary and avoid dealing with them.

Such connections impede your development, waste your time, and drain your mental energy.

But how do you determine that these people are not the ones you need?

Define your goals: Clearly know what you want to achieve. It’s not easy, but it's fundamentally important. Spend as much time on this as needed - a day, a week, a month. But you must clearly understand what you want in this life.

Assess your current contacts: Do they support your goals? Do they help or obstruct your plan's achievement? If not, consider whether they are needed.

Set boundaries: Learn to say "no" to those who squander your time. I believe that the second biggest waste of time in life, after sleep, is idle chatter and pointless interactions with people. Your time is priceless, even if you think you have plenty of it ahead.

Recognize toxicity: Avoid people who constantly criticize or complain. You don’t need them on your journey. They don’t care what happens in your life; they constantly talk about their problems and try to draw you into this whirlpool, forcing you to worry and offer support. Avoid "dreamers" and "chatterboxes" who never implement what they talk about. Avoid manipulators, gossipers, and pessimists... And do not fear solitude, as it is the only healthy position for a mentally healthy person.

Invest in beneficial connections: Surround yourself with those who inspire and support you. Let there be fewer such people, but the quality of such interactions will be much higher.

Regularly review your social circle: Life priorities change, and your social circle should change with them. You don’t need to maintain relationships out of a sense of duty or guilt. You owe no one your time.

Simply acknowledge that some connections no longer bring benefits and allow them to fade away.