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No fluff. Just firepower.

Everyone talks about the “long game.” The five-year plan. The dream life. But most of what people call planning is actually just daydreaming in disguise—no real traction, no pressure-testing, no power moves. So let’s cut the fluff. If you’re serious about building your dream life in the next 5 years, you need to understand this simple but game-changing equation:

5 + 5 = Your Dream.

Let me break it down for you—the Sterling way.

The First 5: Who’s in Your Circle?

You don’t rise alone. Ever.

The first “5” in this equation is your five closest people—your circle, your crew, your influence ecosystem. Pull out your phone, scroll through your recent calls and messages. Those top 5? That’s your future staring back at you.

Ask yourself:

  • Are they builders or complainers?
  • Are they pushing boundaries or playing small?
  • Are they in the arena or shouting from the sidelines?

If your dream is to be fit, financially free, and doing meaningful work—and your circle’s default mode is negativity, distraction, and victimhood? You’re not building—you’re babysitting.

This isn’t about judgment. It’s about alignment. Your environment beats your willpower every time.

Audit. Adjust. Protect your vision.

The Second 5: What’s Feeding Your Mind?

Your brain is a high-performance engine—but only if you fuel it right.

The second “5” is the last five books you’ve read or podcasts you’ve listened to.

Now be honest:

  • Are you feeding your mind Netflix recaps and endless scrolls?
  • Or are you studying people who’ve already done what you dream of doing?

The truth? Most people stop learning after school. And that’s exactly why most people stay stuck. The average adult reads one book a year. You think that’s going to get you to financial freedom, deep relationships, mental clarity, and impact? No shot.

Look at your inputs. They shape your beliefs. And your beliefs shape everything else.

Upgrade your inputs. Build a mind that matches the life you’re trying to build.

Predicting the Future? Easy.

You don’t need a crystal ball. If you show me your five closest people and your five most recent sources of learning, I can tell you exactly where you’re headed.

It’s not magic. It’s math.

5 People + 5 Inputs = Your Trajectory.

Will you need grit? Yes. Will you have to outgrow old patterns, let go of comfort, say no more often, and think bigger than your current situation? Absolutely.

But the blueprint is simple:

  • Get in rooms with people who sharpen you.
  • Consume content that stretches you.
  • Get radically clear on where you’re going.
  • And audit the hell out of everything else.

Final Word: Your Dream Isn’t Random. It’s Designed.

Five years from now, you’re going to be someone. The question is—will it be by design or by default?

If you want clarity, momentum, and real traction toward that five-year vision, start with your 5 + 5. Get strategic. Get bold. Get building.

You already know what to do. Time to go do it.