The Power of Partnership

Right now, life is one big party for the solo entrepreneurs: the visionaries who have done it all on their own. They’re the stars of LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, our social media charismatic superheroes celebrated for single-handedly creating companies rocketing through the financial stratosphere. 

It’s time to take a step back and turn our attention to the implementers, the people whose ability to connect with others power the partnerships of success. Behind Microsoft: Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Behind Twitter: Evan Williams and Biz Stone. Behind Oprah: Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King. Lewis and Clark rocked their expedition across the U.S. in the early 1800s with help from Sacagawea. But Christopher Columbus, the solo visionary of the 1500s? He failed to see the New World right before his eyes, believing it was Asia.

Introverts and extroverts, implementers and visionaries—whatever terminology you apply, my point remains the same: When you take an idea to becoming something real, bring in a partner. Other people complement weaknesses with strength, take on responsibility, and provide instant accountability.

 

Our human instinct can lead to isolation. But I’ve learned that in moments of questioning myself or not feeling confident, I need to turn to my inner circle. And I always leave feeling better. 

I’ve mentioned before the statistic that only 11 percent of people are in jobs that match their personality profile. Part of changing this statistic is by championing your people, putting the light on them, and giving them the confidence to reach within themselves to find the track best suited for them. The beautiful thing is that for every job, there’s someone who is naturally suited for it. That’s freedom—when work doesn’t feel like work. 

So let’s connect in more authentic ways. If we looked at partnering up earlier in our journeys, I think we’d see not only more fulfillment, but also more successful companies.