Inquisitive.me

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

This idea comes from the Theory of the Five Chimpanzees. The concept? You can predict a chimp’s behavior and mood by looking at the five chimps it spends the most time with.

Since humans are part of the same family—Hominidae, if you want the geeky term—it makes sense that our mindset and mood are shaped by the five people closest to us.

Naval Ravikant sums it up perfectly:

The people who are the most happy and optimistic choose the right five chimps.

He also has this gem:

Don’t take yourself so seriously. You’re just a monkey with a plan.

That quote is one of my favorites from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness by Eric Jorgenson.

Here’s the catch: We can’t always choose the people around us. There’s always that one colleague you’re stuck working with—even though you’d never pick them as a friend.

Naval advises:

If you can’t imagine working with someone for the rest of your life, don’t even work with them for a day.

I see it a bit differently. Sure, if someone’s toxic—bullying, draining your energy—get out fast. But I’ve definitely had colleagues I wouldn’t want to work with forever.

There’s always that one person in every workplace. You can’t like everyone, and that’s okay. The great part? You don’t have to include everyone in your Circle of Five.

And here’s a twist: Your Circle of Five isn’t limited to the people physically around you. What really matters is who you spend the most time with—the people who shape you.

For me, that includes people beyond my immediate circle—authors, fictional characters, musicians, thinkers, scientists. When I dive into their books, watch their interviews, or listen to their podcasts, I’m spending time with them too.

These are my five chimpanzees. The ones who influence me, inspire me, challenge me, and give me strength—even if I’ve never met them.

So yeah, I’m the average of those five people. And that’s a pretty awesome thought.

Knowing that who we spend time with shapes us—whether those people are right beside us or influencing us from afar—opens up a powerful opportunity: we can choose our Circle of Five more intentionally.

🧪 Let’s Experiment

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Curate your Circle of Five intentionally.

You might not always control who’s physically around you, but you absolutely control who shapes your thoughts, mood, and growth.

🎯 Try This:

Write down the five people or influences you spend the most time with—this includes in-person relationships, books, podcasts, shows, or any media you consume regularly. Reflect honestly: Do they inspire you? Challenge you? Help you grow?

If your current Circle of Five isn’t doing much for you, experiment with expanding or shifting it. Pick one new author, podcast, or mentor to spend time with this week. Swap out a passive media habit for something that sparks curiosity or positivity.

🧠 Final Thought:

Your Circle of Five isn’t fixed. You can intentionally shape it to surround yourself with positivity, challenge, and growth—no matter where you physically are. It’s one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to change your mindset and life.

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Keep it simple, stay curious, and keep learning—you’ve got this.

Take care,

Carina 🦊