Third Circle Theory

1. Life progresses through Three Circles of awareness.

Everyone goes through the First Circle, some will evolve to the Second Circle, and very few progress to the Third Circle, which is the stage that allows the definition of your existence.

A systematic journey. The Third Circle Theory outlines human evolution through three distinct stages or "Circles," each representing a different world, perspective, vision, and cycle of the mind. This progression isn't linear or guaranteed, but everyone begins in the First Circle.

Beyond self-help. Unlike traditional self-help focused on making money, this theory aims to elevate understanding of purpose and self-discovery through observation and helping others. It defines the difference between those who merely accumulate wealth and those who become innovators and icons.

Finding your purpose. The ultimate goal is to reach the Third Circle, the stage where individuals define their existence and experience boundless energy fueled by purpose. This journey requires navigating the attributes within each circle and consciously choosing to evolve.

2. The First Circle is shaped by environment and self-focus.

As a child, the world revolves around you, which is the significance of the diagram’s center dot.

Born into circumstance. The First Circle is the foundation, determined by the environment you are born into. Early values, beliefs, and behaviors are absorbed from parents and surroundings, limiting your initial perspective and aspirations to what you are exposed to.

Stages of the First Circle:

• The Birth: Product of environment, limited perspective.
• The Settler: Complacent, satisfied with minimal achievement, routine-bound.
• The Dreamer: Mid-life crisis stage, seeking quick answers and instant gratification, easily manipulated.

Self-centered world. In this circle, life revolves around "you" – your work, relationships, money, and feelings. Most people never graduate from this stage, remaining followers who lack self-confidence and a clear sense of what they want to do.

3. Overcoming fear and building confidence are crucial First Circle steps.

Confidence ultimately comes from experience, exposure, and your ability to look beyond your fears of the unknown.

Fear's paralyzing grip. Fear is the strongest emotion, often contributing to others and preventing action. Observed from a young age, fear of rejection and fear of failure keep people from taking risks, pursuing opportunities, or starting businesses.

Information conquers fear. The unknown drives fear. Gaining information about a situation or topic eliminates the unknown, building confidence. Like a doctor knowing a rash isn't deadly, knowledge removes panic and enables action.

Practice builds confidence. Confidence is built through experience and practice. Repeatedly facing fears, like public speaking or interacting with others, turns the unknown into routine. This practice strengthens self-belief and reduces the power of fear over your actions.

4. Your entourage and perception of time shape your potential.

Your entourage presents the solution for leveraging yourself out of your fears.

Entourage influence. As you set goals and evolve, your current friends may no longer align with your aspirations, leading you to seek a new entourage. Surrounding yourself with successful, like-minded individuals with a "can do" attitude helps redefine your beliefs and possibilities.

Time's true value. Time is often taken for granted, unlike money. How you value money, often learned from your environment, dictates your understanding of time's worth. Trading time for immediate income (First Circle) differs from leveraging time for long-term growth and value creation (Second/Third Circle).

Investing your time. Time is a precious resource that runs out. Choosing how to invest your time, aligning it with long-term goals, is crucial. Wasting time on unproductive activities, even leisure, has a cost. Recognizing this investment mindset is key to progression.

5. The Second Circle is about awakening, achievement, and leadership.

The Second Circle reflects The Awakening, The Leader, and The Achiever.

Increased awareness. About 20% of people reach the Second Circle, marked by an awakening to alternative realities and broadened perspectives. Curiosity drives a need for answers, leading to questioning previous beliefs and seeking new information.

Stages of the Second Circle:

• The Awakening: Mind opens to heightened awareness, curiosity, and skepticism.
• The Leader: Emerging desire to lead others, building a following based on perceived success.
• The Achiever: Opportunity meets hard work, focused on monetary rewards and societal acceptance.

Achieving but not fulfilled. Individuals in this circle are often successful professionals (lawyers, doctors, businessmen) who achieve greatly but may still lack purpose. They are more aware and capable than those in the First Circle but remain largely self-centered.

6. Education and understanding money are key Second Circle attributes.

"Education = Information" and this equation is important for growing towards the Third Circle.

Information fuels growth. Education, broadly defined as information gained, is crucial in the Second Circle. Curiosity drives the search for answers, eliminating doubt and fear. Accepting information without emotional bias, even if it challenges existing beliefs, is key to expanding perspective.

Money as leverage. Money is a constant influence, often seen as the primary measure of success. In the Second Circle, you learn to make money and understand its relevance to time and value creation. Money becomes leverage, a tool to attain more, but the emotional attachment to it remains strong for many.

Beyond chasing dollars. While Second Circle individuals master making money, they often remain trapped by the pursuit itself, validating their existence through accumulation. True progression requires seeing money as a means to a greater purpose, not the purpose itself.

7. Mastering emotions is the central challenge of the Second Circle.

No one is stronger or more dangerous than a man who can harness his emotions — his past.

Emotions as weakness. Uncontrollable emotions are human weaknesses that dictate reactions and decisions. Fear, anger, jealousy, and other feelings cloud judgment and keep individuals focused on themselves ("I want," "I need").

Emotional intelligence. Controlling emotions is key to transitioning beyond the self-centered focus of the first two circles. By detaching feelings from information and reacting logically, you gain power, understand others' vulnerabilities, and make better decisions for the overall situation, not just yourself.

Detachment from money. Money, though not an emotion, is highly emotional. Fear of losing it prevents logical financial decisions and missed opportunities. Learning to see money as paper, a tool, rather than an emotional attachment, is vital for progression.

8. True leadership requires putting others first.

Effective leadership benefits the followers first, not the leader.

Helper or manipulator. Reaching the leadership stage presents a choice: use your ability to control emotions and understand others for personal gain (manipulator) or to benefit those you lead (helper). This choice is difficult to reverse.

Influence through value. Great leaders understand what matters to others and demonstrate that they have achieved it, often from a similar background. This creates belief and influence. They identify individuals with similar values to build effective teams.

Selflessness in action. True leadership, essential for graduating the Second Circle, means consistently putting the well-being or cause of others ahead of your own comfort, pleasure, or safety. This requires immense emotional control and is a significant act of selflessness.

9. The Third Circle is reached by a few seeking purpose beyond self.

They have learned their purpose and to remove themselves from the equation of life.

Validation of existence. Only about 2% of people reach the Third Circle, seeking validation of their existence beyond money or conventional achievement. This stage is about mastering selflessness and seeing the world from a detached, third-person perspective.

Beyond personal gain. Third Circle individuals question their existence and realize their purpose isn't just procreation or wealth accumulation. They choose to make their life about something greater than themselves, establishing a true vision for what the world can be.

Icons of purpose. Figures like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Walt Disney lived in this circle. Their achievements were driven by a vision to innovate and impact the world, not merely to make money. They removed themselves from the center, allowing their purpose to become the driving force.

10. Vision and entrepreneurship drive Third Circle impact.

Entrepreneurship in the context of the Third Circle is about innovation and advancement, not self-employment.

Vision as a roadmap. Vision is not a dream but a "what if" based on past experiences and heightened awareness. It's a clear roadmap of what the world could be, seen from a global perspective, identifying gaps and potential solutions.

Innovation, not just business. Third Circle entrepreneurship is about bringing something new into existence, an innovation that changes the playing field of society. It's driven by passion and vision, not just the desire for self-employment or income.

Purpose fuels execution. When vision aligns with ability, a unique idea is born. This idea becomes a driving force, reminding you that more is at stake than money – the creation of a legacy. This feeling of purpose provides the strength to overcome obstacles and bring the vision to life.

11. Legacy is defined by impact, not possessions or children.

Understand that your children hold no relevance to your legacy.

Beyond procreation. The First Circle view of legacy is often tied to having children to carry on a name. However, children create their own paths and legacies, which may not align with yours. Expecting them to fulfill your unachieved dreams is selfish.

Impact over accumulation. True legacy is about the actual accomplishments and the positive impact made on the world that will be remembered after death. It's not measured by wealth, possessions, or societal status, but by the value created for others.

A conscious choice. Questioning your legacy means examining your accomplishments and deciding how you want to be remembered. This realization fuels the desire to create something enduring, something that impacts society on a large enough scale to be remembered.

12. Finding purpose requires a selfless final act.

If you died tomorrow, what would be different for the world around you?

Removing yourself. Mastering the Third Circle means accepting that your existence, while important to those around you, is a minuscule detail in the grand scheme. True impact comes from removing yourself from the center and asking, "What can I do to serve the world?"

Seeing the fabrication. From the detached, third-person perspective of the Third Circle, you see society's systems (education, government, corporate America) as fabrications designed to keep people trapped. You identify your intended role but choose to step outside it.

Action defines worth. Your significance is justified through your actions, not your emotions or intentions. Living purposefully means constantly analyzing how your actions fit into the bigger picture and impact others. This selfless approach, driven by a vision for a better world, is the ultimate act of finding and living your purpose.

Last updated: May 6, 2025