At face value this is going to sound terrible but hopefully in the end it makes a bit more sense.

Everyday you wake up – this is your reality:

• There are only so many hours in the day.
• Each day there’s a million things that you consider doing. You know you need to prioritize the critical needs, but also want to work on the hopeful aspirations.
• Everyone has a different level of ethos & productivity thus allowing them to get their sh*t done and push forward with life.

This Personal Bandwidth has the following factors of consideration:

• Preferences
• Resources / Money
• Logistics
  • Capabilities
  • Schedule & Dayparting

The concept of making friends is easy but all the factors listed above, at some point in time, come into play. The timing of who you are and where you are in life, corresponding with the other person, needs to be in sync for things happen.

How you choose to use your personal bandwidth sets you on the path of life where you meet others.

Making it sound a bit inhumane – it’s all a big game of Chess
Actions – Reactions – Strategy

Or maybe this…

On this journey you will meet a lot of people.

No need to sugarcoat stuff – there will be a mix of good and bad out there and without exception everyone has a degree of bias.

Hopefully you make the right decisions of who you let in.

Let’s get into the breakdown

Best Friends

I’ve learned, over time, you can have more than one; but don’t go overboard tossing this term out loosely.

These ride or die peeps will be there for you no matter what. They are the only people you can be 95-100% honest with as you’re picking up what the other person is putting down.

What usually separates the best friend apart from other is a situation like this:
In any friendship it’s inevitable – you will piss each other off – at some point.
Best friends deal with this, put it to bed, and re-confirm balance in the friendship.

Then from that point forward you both understand there is a time to say sh*t to them, and a time to just shut up and listen.
You adjust and finetune this with them overtime.
An ex-GF asked me once what I do with my best friends, I thought about it for a sec then said the following:
 “Everything and nothing. Sometimes we plan fun things but a lot of times it’s just hanging out. Talking about stuff we thought was interesting, what we are trying to do, or sharing stories about random stuff. There’s really no agenda and that’s why it’s comfortable.”

Tier 1 Friends

Not that you ever want to say to these people they’re not your best friend, but these are go-to peeps you want to invite out, ask what they are up to, or ask situational favors from.
<sometimes the BF spots are already taken, and you can’t bump your existing BFs>

These people, much like your BFs, you either share a lot in common with or have been through some sort of life bonding experience. That allows you two pop in and out of each other’s day to day while maintaining the same comfort level.

Tier 2 Friends

The rotation of priorities in life changes over time, so you keep these people in the fold. A lot of times these were higher tier friends that fell off, so you check in with one another to keep the memories of the past alive, while sharing some things about what’s been going on since.
Examples: the friend that moved away, the dude who started dating the chick that sucked at life, peeps from high school / college, people you got close with during a phase in you life

Tier 3 Friends

This category is made up of Co-Works, Sport Buddies, and Situational homeboys. You likely found each other through some degree of forced indoctrination and there are unspoken boundaries to your friendship. In the right time and place it’s all good but these are the type of people you go out of your way for so it’s a marriage of convenience that requires balance.
Examples: water cooler friends, softball buddy, the couple your GF makes you double date with

Acquaintances

Sounding like a$$hole these are situational people in your life. It’s typically for one or the others (hopefully both or you) benefit. You both know each other, and you’re cool with one another but there are underlying issues, threats, or fears that keep things at a state of status quo. ‘Friendly with’ describes this label best.
Examples: the people you know but wish you didn’t, you recognize who they are – spoke a few times but forgot their name, the waiter/bartender/barber at your local spot

Why do I classify people like this?

Going back to the chess analogy and concept of bandwidth: It really comes down to managed expectations with organization of priorities. Having the right mix of people in your life to love and support you is critical. It allows you to be happy while pursuing goals you set for yourself. This then recirculates with the other person allowing both of you to ‘experience anew’, ‘learn from’, and ‘grow’ as an individual in ways you are yet to even conceive.