Friend Resents Me

I simply don’t have that much capital to throw around, unlike Jimmy. In addition, I want to plan the business strategy before putting up capital, and this upsets Jimmy, as he believes I move to slowly. Both times we have discussed businesses, he tells me shortly after that he has started the business without me.

Here’s the scary part. I learned from a mutual friend – one of Jimmy’s employees – that he has not started any new businesses. A few days ago, I nonchalantly ask Jimmy how the two businesses were doing, and he responded with lies. I know they are lies both because of what the mutual friend had told me and because of the impossibility of what Jimmy had told me (i.e., He had bought a hotel and was renting it out at $2k per night, with every night booked; the online business we had discussed was already up and running, but he couldn’t show me the website because it was private and password-encoded).

I need advice. Should I continue being friends with him? Should I tell him I know he’s lying? Why can’t he accept that I’m successful?

>>18673290
Sounds like those business "deals" are a way for him to get quick cash. He has an underlying problem he's not addressing. He was misrible in his marriage right? Well he still is. He uses shows to blanket the real issue. That's why he's a passive aggressive asshole. You should tell him that straight up. Be real with him because no one else is.

>>18673298
Be straight with him. Realize this. People strive to overcome and go over the next obstacle. It goes on forever. This jimmy made it, he hasn't set new goals and he's miserable for it. When that happens many people spread there misery like a disease. It's a cry for help. Doesn't mean you have to help him, it's not your problem. But you said it yourself he's miserable. How do miserable people feel good? By bringing others down. Tell him how it is. Don't tip toe around bullshit other people throw at you.

>>18673306
I think you're right, and I've had similar thoughts about him before. I've tried to have discussions about it with him, but he gets extremely defensive and even makes awful excuses to physically remove himself to avoid the conversation. For example, the last time I brought up his conversation style (always turning a topic to himself), he said, "Wait, I want to be fully focused on this conversation, and I cannot pay attention because I have other things on my mind. Let's talk about this after I get a coffee."

He then got up, made a coffee, and hid in his room the entire day. I was in the living room waiting for him to come back and finish the conversation for an hour before I realized that he wasn't coming back. This happened a few times. I've sent emails about some of his issues, but he ignores them, and if I ask him if he got my email in person, he feigns ignorance.

>>18673338
It's apparent he doesn't want to face his demons. Not much you can do but move on.