Deep down, we all want two things in life—the freedom to shape our existence and to create meaningful bonds with other people. In a world with endless possibilities, that’s a short list. But everything we want, including money, relationships and a satisfying lifestyle, stems from those two things. Intentional or not, it’s the picture we’re trying to paint as we design our lives. The art of shaping one’s existence takes many forms. It could include building an eight-figure company, then selling it to create long-term wealth and security. Or perhaps it looks like a year of side-hustling to make extra money. Even the task of choosing the right friends is a crucial step toward defining our experience here on Earth.