New Release — April 2026
It's time to Fire YourFriends.
How choosing the correct five people elevates your life. A bold, practical guide to auditing your circle and building relationships that match your ambition.
About the Book
Your circle defines your ceiling.
You've heard it said that you are the culmination of the five people you spend the most time with. What you probably haven't heard as often is that those five people should change throughout your life.
Think about it this way: If you were going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, you are not going to reach the summit in one uninterrupted effort. You will have a group of experts take you to "Base Camp" where you need to stay for a period of time to acclimate. Once your body assimilates, there is a different group of "sherpas" that take you to the next plateau — because they have a different skill set. They know where the hidden dangers are and can elevate you to new heights.
Fire Your Friends takes you on a journey of examining your life and provides a roadmap for finding your five to change your life.
Book Trailer
Watch the Trailer
What You'll Learn
01
Audit Your Circle Without Apology
Learn the framework for honestly evaluating who belongs in your life — and who has quietly been holding you back.
02
Find Your Sherpas at Every Level
Discover how the right people for one stage of your journey may not be the right people for the next — and how to find those who can take you higher.
03
Build the Circle You Deserve
Replace energy-draining relationships with connections that challenge, inspire, and accelerate your growth toward your personal summit.
About the Author
Michael Valdes
Michael Valdes is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur, and thought leader with decades of experience building high-performance teams and scaling businesses across the real estate and financial services industries.
Throughout his career, Michael has led organizations through transformation, navigated complex relationships at the highest levels of business, and developed a clear-eyed philosophy about the power of your personal and professional circle.
Fire Your Friends is the culmination of those hard-won lessons — a candid, actionable guide for anyone ready to stop settling and start building the life they actually want.
Reader Reviews
"Upgrade Your Circle, Upgrade Your Altitude"
Fire Your Friends turns a familiar cliché into a sharp wake-up call: your circle isn't just shaping your life—it should be evolving with it. It's witty, a little ruthless, and surprisingly practical, offering a roadmap for curating relationships that match your growth.
— Toneita Donaldson
Ready to transform
your circle?
The decision to take control of who you surround yourself with is the most powerful move you can make. Start today.
Get the Book on Amazon — $14.99"The people who get you to base camp aren't always the ones who can guide you to the summit."