There are people in this life who are elbows.
They don’t build with you. They push you out.
Quietly. Strategically. Intentionally.
They withhold information. They keep “tips” to themselves. They close doors they know you could walk through. Not because they can’t help, but because they don’t want you to rise.
You’ll find them at work. They know what needs to be done but won’t tell you. They’ve figured out systems but won’t share them. They’ve made mistakes but won’t guide you past them. Because your growth feels like their threat.
You’ll find them in business too. In family setups where knowledge is guarded like a secret code. Where teaching someone else feels like losing power. Where they would rather see stagnation than shared success.
And the most painful part is this.
They will watch you struggle. They will watch you make avoidable mistakes. They will watch your progress slow down while knowing they could have helped.
That is what an elbow does.
It creates space for itself by pushing others out.
But real growth does not come from exclusion. It comes from expansion. From building people. From sharing knowledge. From understanding that your value does not reduce when others grow.
Because if your position is only secure when others are kept in the dark, then it was never strong to begin with.
So be mindful.
Not everyone around you is for your growth. Some are elbows. And their strength lies in how well they can keep others down.