Want To Become Successful? Avoid These 9 Toxic Personalities

Since Spring has finally sprung, it’s time to do a little spring cleaning. And, what better place to start than the people that are in your life?

This has been something that I try to do each and every year. While it’s not always an easy task to do, I find it’s very needed in order for me to become more successful at the many tasks that I have to complete in my life.

Whether if it’s a family member, friend, or colleague, there are certain people in your life that you need to avoid, or at the very least limit the amount of time that you spend with them. I’m not at all saying that you have to become a loner. But, you should reevaluate your relationships if you want to become successful. Remember, emotions – both good and bad – are Remember, emotions – both good and bad – are contagious. You are a mix of your 5 closest friends.

Keep in mind isn’t meant to be heartless (though it may feel that way at times) but meant to build you personally up in the long term.

What kinds of people should you avoid? Here 9 of the most toxic personalities to be weary of.

1. The Perpetual Victim

This is the person why blames others for their failures or shortcomings and believes that they weren’t afforded the same opportunities as others. Even worse? They never hold themselves accountable for their lack of success and always have excuses.

Being around this type of negative energy will only drag you down with them.

2. The Downer

You know who this individual is. It’s a beautiful sunny day, they just got paid, and they still have something to complain about – they’re getting sunburn or they pay too much in taxes. These types of people are emotionally draining. And, like perpetual victims, their negative energy will only bring you down and stress you out.

3. The Timesucker

Have you been stuck in a conversation with someone that keeps talking and talking? At first, this may not seem like a bad deal, but these people are known as time suckers.

The problem with these people, even if they’re positive and upbeat, is that they’re taking up too much of your time. Instead of letting you get back to work, they keep you trapped in a conversation to which you don’t want to be in. While I don’t cut these people out of my life, I tend to try and spend much less time with them.

4. The Entitled

Here are the people that think that they’re entitled to everything. They don’t believe in hard work and sacrifices because their success should be given to them on a silver platter. This can be detrimental to your own motivation because why should you hustle when they don’t? Additionally, entitled individuals have a knack for talking you out of your dreams and ambitions.

This can be detrimental to your own motivation because why should you hustle when they don’t? Additionally, entitled individuals have a knack for talking you out of your dreams and ambitions. I personally can’t stand these people and tend to run in the opposite direction from them.

5. The Control Freak

While there are times when you need to take the reigns of a project or situation, successful people realize that they need the assistance of others to achieve their goals. That’s when a control freak becomes a problem.

They’re set in their ways and aren’t willing to bend – even if that means missing a deadline or staying several hours after work to meet their demands. They’re bossy, manipulative, perfectionists, are obsessed with details, and target those who won’t stand up for themselves.

6. The Critic

There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of criticism. But only if it’s constructive. After all, when done correctly, this type of feedback can help you correct a weakness. Constant criticism, on the other hand, is not healthy or helpful. As Florence Isaacs, author of Toxic Friends/True Friends, explains, “Toxic friends stress you out, use you, are unreliable, are overly demanding, and don’t give anything back.”

7. The Chronic Liar

“Lying is part and parcel of everyday life,” says Robert Feldman, Ph.D., professor of psychological and brain sciences and deputy chancellor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. But, when the lying gets out of control, that can become a problem.

Successful people surround themselves with people who are honest and provide truthful feedback. Even if that’s something that you don’t want to hear, that honest feedback is more valuable then the lie since it can help you correct a problem or negative habits that you’ve never noticed before.

8. The Party Animal

Sure. Spending a Saturday night with a party animal can be fun – occasionally. But, party animals like to, well, party. They want to go out every night of the week, which means you wake-up in the morning exhausted and hung over. How long do you think that you can maintain that lifestyle?

If you want to remain productive and save a ton of money, limit your exposure to party animals. It’s cool to blow off some steam or celebrate once in awhile, but not every night.

9. The Loser

Brian Tracy one said, “Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, ‘What’s in it for me?'”

As a rule, successful people don’t associate themselves with losers. The reason? They can hold you back from reaching your full potential, damage your reputation, and can bring out the worst in you. Instead, they surround themselves with people are positive, hard-working, and push you to be your best.

At the same time, don’t confuse failing and being a failure. Those who fail to move forward after learning from their mistake while being a failure means that you’re permanently in the same position.