There are 8 Billion People in the World and You Only Know 20 of Them; Why You Should Feel Overwhelmed.

The World population just hit 8 billion people, a cruel wake-up call for those of us who only know like 20 people. Out of 20 people, you probably only talk to10 of them on a regular basis. Out of those 10, you probably only trust three of them enough to put them as your emergency contact. Out of those three, chances are two of them are your biological parents. Not feeling overwhelmed yet? You should be. The time for freaking out is over, the time to network your ass off has begun.

It's time to get your numbers up. Sure, it’s hard at first, but that’s why I’m here to help. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how I was able to make 4 new friends in the last 2 years:

Step 1: Drink Water. I know this sounds super obvious, but I’m telling you, it’s worth it. Once I started drinking water, I found myself in tons of situations to meet new people. For instance, drinking lots of water in a day makes you have to go to the bathroom a lot more often, increasing your chances of meeting a new friend at the urinal. Start with “Man, I bet girls wish they could do this,” and go from there. It worked wonders for me and I’m sure it would work in the women’s restroom too.

Step 2: Workout. That’s right, get off your ass and do some squats. Some of the best personalities that I have ever met have been the meatballs at the gym. Ask one of them to spot you, someone that you have never met. Tell them that this is your first time at the gym, they love that shit. They will show you the ropes and, hopefully, they will ask you to join them the next time they are working out for 4 hours straight. That’s how I learned to do a bench press and I never looked back.

Step 3: Read. Reading used to be something that you did when you didn’t have any friends, but now it’s totally quirky and niche.! Take time every single day to read something, anything. Bring a book everywhere you go. Compile a list of books that you have read and brag about it with a post on LinkedIn. Do you know what people are going to think when they find out that you can read? That you are an intellectual, and who doesn’t want to be friends with an intellectual? I parked my ass at a coffee shop for three days straight until someone finally asked me if what I was reading was good. That’s how you meet someone.

So don’t wait! Take these helpful steps and get out there and meet some people! If you keep waiting until tomorrow, the next thing you know, there will be 9 billion people in the world and then you really are a lost cause. Good luck!