In our Social Circle Mastery seminar Mr. M and I call this the “Golden Rule” for starting a new tree. Go for respect first and popularity second. It’s easy to gain popularity. It’s brutal to earn back the respect that you gave away up front. This applies with guys and girls.

Sometimes you may try to appease an asshole of the group or try to ‘go along to get along’ by doing what you think is popular, but the truth is you are only digging a deeper hole. This goes back to the old ...