06/26/25 - Wakie Wakie 4:44

Mark Evans DM
June 26, 2025

Where clarity, boundaries, and protecting your power collide.

Today’s topic?
The people who drain you without ever raising their voice or asking for a thing.

They show up with smiles. Praise. Even help.

But they’re not building with you.
They’re feeding off you.

Takers don’t steal. They slowly subtract.
And the longer you let them, the more expensive it gets.

Let’s unpack it.

Not all loyalty is real.
Some people are loyal to your access, not your vision. As soon as the benefits stop, so does their support.
Takers rarely show up obvious.
They look helpful. Friendly. Harmless. That’s the trap. They are slowly replacing your growth with their needs.
Every yes you give them is a no to yourself.
Time, energy, favors, calls, intros. It all adds up. And none of it builds your business.
You are not selfish for protecting your time.
You are strategic. Your energy is an asset. You don’t owe it to everyone who shows up asking for a piece of it.

Watch how people react when you say no.
That’s when their true intentions come out. Loyalty stays even when boundaries are clear.
The most dangerous people are the ones who “mean well.”
They don’t take responsibility. They just take your time, and make you feel bad for noticing.
Just because they were there in the past doesn’t mean they deserve a spot in the future.
Some connections are seasonal. Don’t make them permanent out of guilt.
Your circle is your leverage.
Let the wrong people in and they dilute your decisions, your energy, and your momentum.

Audit your circle.
Who drains you every time they show up? Write their name down. Be honest.
Set one hard boundary.
Say no without the guilt. See what happens. That reaction tells you everything.
Protect your time like your money.
You would never let someone waste 10K. Don’t let them waste 10 hours either.
Start operating like the Magician, not the Mule.
If you have not read the book yet, this is a great place to see what that shift really looks like.

"You don’t need a bigger to-do list. You need stronger boundaries.”
— Mark Cuban

You can’t scale a business while dragging anchors.

The sooner you make that shift, the faster everything moves.

To sharper circles and smarter moves,

Mark Evans DM