Everyone needs confidants for their professional work. People who care about your success and will not let you fail. Most people have them for their personal life, but need to find them for their professional lives.
Success is not just about money. Envision the life you want to live. Attaining that is success.
Study: People who have a best friend at work are 7 times more likely to be more engaged at work.
Mentors vs Lifelines
Mentors, in some way, are higher than you. The relationship is that of authority. A lifeline is a peer. Mentors may become lifelines.
Aim for at least 3 lifelines.
Intimacy
Intimacy in public speaking: Expose your weaknesses and faults. Do not hide them. People warm up to candor.
Every relationship should have some intimacy.
The Four Mindsets To Building a Lifeline Relationship
- Generosity
- Vulnerability
- Candor
- Accountability
In the context of lifelines, being a peer is about the trust and openness. Not about the same rank or authority. The advice and criticism can go both ways equally.
Everyone needs some safe space. Think of the child who ventures out a little but keeps checking that his parents are watching.
Having an emotional safe space is critical.
When you are close to developing a lifeline, say to him/her: “A year from now I want you to be able to look back and say it was a great thing to know me. What do I need to do to get to that level?”