Too many people confuse loyal people with people who only give 100% positive feedback.
The problem with sycophants is that as soon as popular opinion changes, so does their "loyalty."
The people who are there for you when others would rather gossip, who push you to be better without turning themselves into a doormat, who speak the truth with kindness even if it's not what you want to hear — those are the people worth listening to.
Originally published August 2013
