In a recent TMAP group follow-up session, Teach Me About Property CEO and Founder Massey Archibald shared an exercise that hit home for many students: auditing your money circle.

“In our Money module, we get you to audit your circle — the people around you,” Massey explained.

“You pick four people and answer ten simple yes-or-no questions about each. Then you add up the scores to see what kind of relationships you’re really dealing with.”

The results often surprise people — and reveal just how much influence their circle has over their financial growth, mindset, and energy.

🧠 The Audit Framework

At TMAP, Massey teaches that every relationship falls into one of three categories:

  • Toxic (0–4/10) – relationships that drain your energy and limit growth.
  • Fun (5–8/10) – social or casual relationships that add enjoyment but not depth.
  • High-Value (9–10/10) – connections that challenge, uplift, and hold you accountable.

“Once you see it on paper, it’s hard to ignore,” he said. “You start to notice who’s actually contributing to your growth — and who’s just taking from it.”

💬 What Students Discovered

The group session produced some fascinating insights.

1️⃣ The Same Person, Two Different Views
One husband and wife chose the same person to evaluate — her brother.
She scored him a 5 (fun relationship), while her husband scored him a 9 (high-value).
“It’s a great reminder that we experience people differently. The same relationship can mean completely different things depending on how you engage with it.”

2️⃣ The Sport Parent Surprise
Another student scored a mum from their kids’ sports team — she got a 2.
When asked if he was surprised, he said yes.
His wife immediately jumped in: “I’m not. I always knew she was a 2.”
Massey laughed and noted, “Sometimes the people closest to you can clearly see toxicity you’re blinded to. Maybe listen when they say, ‘That energy’s not for you.’”

3️⃣ The Toxic Ex
One student decided to score her ex-partner.
She laughed and said, “Massey, he’s so toxic — I can’t believe I wasted that much time!”
Massey reflected, “Imagine if you had the tools to identify that early. How much time and energy could you save by evaluating your relationships before you invest too deeply?”

4️⃣ The Full Audit
A long-time student shared that she’d redone the exercise since her first year in the program.
Her result? “Only 10s left in my circle.”
She’d intentionally replaced low-value connections with high-value ones.
“That’s growth,” Massey said. “When you start curating your circle on purpose, your results accelerate.”

🛑 What To Do About Toxic Relationships

So what happens if your audit reveals toxicity? Massey’s advice is simple but powerful:

1️⃣ Limit your time.
There should be no deliberate time spent in toxic relationships. If you bump into them at an event, that’s fine. But stop scheduling time for people who drain you.

2️⃣ Stop having high-value conversations in low-value relationships.
Don’t share your dreams, your goals, your progress with people who throw shade. You’ll find yourself trying to justify your growth to people who aren’t even trying to grow. That’s wasted energy.

Instead, keep those conversations surface-level. Talk about the weather, talk about sport, talk about whatever. Just don’t give your energy to people who don’t value it.

🔑 The TMAP Takeaway

Your relationships either pull you up or hold you down — there’s no neutral ground.
If you want to grow wealth, stay motivated, and protect your mindset, your circle must reflect your goals.

Massey summed it up perfectly: “Have low-value conversations in low-value relationships — and high-value conversations in high-value ones. That’s how you protect your peace and stay focused on your purpose.”

Audit your circle. Protect your energy. And you’ll see who’s meant to climb with you — all the way to the top of the mountain.