American history credits Thomas Edison with inventing everything from the phonograph to the lightbulb. But what he really invented was an innovation factory. His Menlo Park lab brought the best engineers together in the best possible environment, and his “inventions” are more likely the product of their collaborative work.

And what about the awestruck wonder of the Sistine Chapel? We’ve credited Michelangelo with painting the masterpiece, day after day, from images in his genius mind.  Instead, as biographer William E. Wallace discovered, 13 people contributed to the painting. Michelangelo’s genius might instead be that of organization and marketing.

We all know the legendary stories of heroes that accomplished
something great all by themselves. Forget them. They all had a team.

And if you want to be successful, you need one too. I’ll admit I’m slow to arriving on this bandwagon. At an early age, I learned that I only had myself to depend on. Looking back, that probably wasn’t entirely true. But those habits and thinking have been difficult to break.

One book that’s been instrumental to my journey is Who’s Got Your Back by Keith Ferrazzi. He opens with his own personal journey to discovering the power and benefits of the right kind of friends. (No, not rich and powerful ones.) Lifeline relationships, as he calls them, serve four critical roles. They help us define what success really means to us, outline a plan to get there, identify what we need to stop doing, and hold us accountable in sustaining our efforts to change.

Deep inside – we know this works. It’s why groups such as Weight Watchers achieve more success than an individual dieter. It’s why employees with friends at work are 50 percent happier (according to Gallup research).  So why don’t we all put the power of these relationships to work in every aspect of our lives?

“I don’t trust people.”

“I don’t have time.”

“That’s not allowed where I work.”

It is scary, and it does take time. But each of us can and should get serious about forming lifeline relationships. Ferrazzi walks through each of the challenges step by step, showing us how to get started. Whether you’re looking for a personal board of directors, a stronger team at work, or a mastermind group, Who’s Got Your Back outlines exactly how you can get started.

If you’re ready to take your life to the next level, get the book and start your journey.

If you’re already enjoying the benefits of lifeline relationships, please comment and let us know your thoughts and advice.