Entrepreneur and prosperity coach Randy Gage is warning about the hidden dangers of toxic environments — both people and information — when it comes to personal success and resilience.

“You’re only as successful as your environment allows you to be,” Gage wrote in a blog post on his website. “And that means both the people you surround yourself with and the programming you allow into your mind.”

Gage emphasized that toxic relationships, negative media consumption, and cynical cultural programming act as “mind viruses” that sabotage personal growth and prosperity. He argues that consciously curating your social and informational environment is just as important as developing skills or setting goals. According to Gage, the path to resilience and abundance begins with actively seeking out empowering influences and avoiding the silent drain of toxic inputs.

Randy Gage is a New York Times bestselling author and thought leader in the fields of prosperity, success, and personal development. He has written numerous books, including Risky Is the New Safe and Radical Rebirth, and speaks globally on how individuals can reprogram limiting beliefs and achieve greater freedom.