I’m a billionaire

Recent science shows that our brain size limits the number of acquaintances and friendships we can handle at one time.

We can have a loose network of about 130 to 150 acquaintances–coworkers, Facebook friends, folks we see at church, professional contacts, schoolmates, etc.

When it comes to close family and friends, we can handle about five very close relationships and up to 15 fairly close relationships.

This applies whether you’re a billionaire or a panhandler, a beauty or butt-ugly, famous or obscure.

You can be famous, powerful, and rich, but that does not give you greater access to loving relationships with close family and friends. The quality and quantity of those relationships has nothing to do with fame or money or power. When it comes to relationships, every one of us has equal access and equal capacity.

Yet we often work so hard for fame, money, or power as if those things will make more friends and win more love.

In fact, the opposite may be true.

A few years ago, I gave up the pursuit of pay raises and promotions to give the best of my energy and time to my family and friends. I have less money now, but I can tell you: I’ve never felt richer.

In family and friends, I’m as rich as Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet, or Bill Gates.

So, keep your money and your social media celebrity and your titles. I don’t need them. I’m important to my family and friends. I’m popular with my family and friends. I’m rich in family and friends.

I’m a billionaire.