ITL211: How to Respecfully Distance Yourself from Negative People in Your Life

In the Loop with Andy Andrews

On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question on how parenting principles translate to respectfully dealing with the negative people in your business or personal life.

I don’t think distancing yourself from negative people is disrespectful.

• You can remain respectful and honoring of people by telling them the truth.
• People react negatively to us when we put them off or try to get away from them.
• I think it’s much more respectful to say, “Thank you so much for the opportunity, but I’m not going to be able to do it.”

Here is a great example that I’ve thought about for years:

• A friend of mine and I were standing outside of a hotel in Orlando and my friend had on a very cool hat.
• A kid about 12 years old walks up and says, “Hey, that’s a great hat. Can I have it?”
• My friend, cool as a cucumber says, “No, but thanks for asking. I appreciate it.”
• He said no, but I thought that was very respectful.

The things that you have on your priority list are the things that are making you who you are.

• If you spent all your time in situations that you shouldn’t be in, you would not be the kind of person these people want to be with in the first place.
• I think your very first responsibility is to God.
• Your second responsibility is to your family.
• You cannot allow somebody else’s crazy thinking to infect yours.

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Tune in to hear about the piano prodigy we had visit our office this week who’s played on SIXTY Number One hit songs!

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