Hi friends,
Note: Dude is meant to be all inclusive (dudes AND dudettes are encouraged to continue reading).
What if I could determine the exact dude you have become without knowing you? And with 100% accuracy?
Spoiler: I can.
Who do I think I am? God?
No. But thank you for thinking so highly of me.
I don’t need to rule over Mount Olympus or be god of the sea. We can leave the god powers for Zeus and Poseidon.
The only “power” I would need is to see the names of the five dudes whose content you consume most often. That would tell me everything.
Impressive, eh?
Before we go any further, let me explain what inspired this.
A zoological theory called The Five Chimps Theory. It says that you can predict the mood and behavior of one chimp by observing the five chimps they hang out with the most.
But it is not limited to the animal kingdom. This theory seems to hold true for humans too. Just look around.
You can predict everything about someone by taking a peek at the five people they spend the most time around.
Successful?
Healthy?
Happy?
Wealthy?
Beliefs?
Attitude?
All of the above can be predicted with near certainty. By simply noticing who they allow into their inner circle.
Wild, right?
But The Five Chimps Theory is well-known. So no need to dwell on it.
I’m here to introduce my modern twist on this classic idea. I call it The Five Dudes Theory. I believe it will prove to be even more impactful. And I’d love to share why.
You are probably asking, “Does this Arman dude really think he can come up with his own theory?”
And he would (politely) respond with a question of his own, “If I don’t then who will?”
And you would (correctly) respond with, “Scientists.”
Then he would shake your hand and (briskly) walk away to find some solitude where he could come up with more theories.
Just remember: I am nothing more than a pure amateur fleeing the boredom of a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Fair enough?
Let’s proceed.
The Five Dudes Theory states that you can predict the personal philosophy (thoughts and beliefs) of one dude by observing which five dudes content lives rent free in their head.
Caption: Bro….is she walking this way?
Thanks to THE INTERNET (deserves to be all caps due to its importance) we now have the ability to chew on the thoughts and beliefs of anyone who has ever shared them with the world. Alive or dead. Doesn’t matter.
We are no longer limited to the dudes in close proximity. This is going to change everything. It already has in a lot of ways.
My point is that we are MORE influenced by the personal philosophy’s of people we have never met than our closest relatives and friends. I can tell more about you by asking who you follow than by asking about your family.
This is unlike any other time in human history.
Back when we were roaming the savannah we could only predict who someone was by seeing who they physically surround themselves with. They couldn’t be influenced by someone in a different tribe because if they were out of sight they were out of mind.
That all changed thanks to THE INTERNET (help me get this all caps thing going).
THE INTERNET has flipped how we interact with others on its head. And we can use this to our advantage. We are no longer constrained by the limits of our village. We can learn from the best and brightest from the global village now.
The five dudes content that I consume the most are (in no particular order):
Tim Ferriss
David Perell
Nassim Taleb
Naval Ravikant
Anthony de Mello
I have become obsessed with them (in a non-creepy way). I read their books and articles, I listen to their podcasts and interviews, I watch their YouTube videos and more. Their ideas have seeped deep into my bones. They have changed me.
There are five dudes (or dudettes) living in your head as well.
Consider the Influencers you follow, the Tiktokers you watch, the Authors you read, the Bloggers you read, the Podcast hosts you listen to, the Journalists you read and anybody else who produces content that you frequently consume.
Which ones make your top five list?
Share them with me via electronic mail (sounds way cooler than email, right?). I would love to know!
I have only met one of the dudes mentioned above but they have all had an indescribable impact on my personal philosophy which has transformed my way of thinking and my outlook on life. In fact, one of those five dudes has been dead for 30+ years! So don’t limit your inner dude circle to the living. There are thousands of dead people’s ideas out there that could prove more valuable than any of the 7.97 billion alive right now.
The Five Dudes Theory is just that, a theory (for now). But I think it will stand the test of time. Which is the only true test we can trust.
Have your five dudes changed you for the better or worse?
More importantly, are they sharing the thoughts and beliefs that you want living in your head (rent free)?
This is one of the most critical assessments you can do. It will provide enlightening insights into who you are becoming. And could be the wake up call you need to get your s*** together.
It’s a question worth asking.
PS - Send me some electronic mail or comment below with your five dudes.