Stronger Together

There's something transformative about doing hard things. Struggles challenge us and make us uncomfortable, but they also define us. Oftentimes, struggle can reveal our hidden strength and our passion to persevere. But it can be isolating, discouraging, and defeating. The truth is that doing hard things with others is more essential than most people think. Whether you're training for a marathon, building a business, or just trying to get through your day, we're all stronger together.

Building Connections

Shared struggle creates deep bonds. Think about the people that you're closest to. For most of them, you've been through something hard together or they've seen you at your lowest; there's a sense of vulnerability, trust, and intimacy. There's a certain rawness in having others see you sweat, falter, and struggle. And it often leads to the strongest connections.

Better Together

There's an African proverb that says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Hard things take time and they take resilience. A lone effort may get you to the top of the hill, but working together can get you over the next mountain. A weight is easier to carry with others. Perspective is richer when there's more eyes on the map. Others see what we miss, they pick us up when we fall, and they remind us why we started when we forget.

Accountability = Consistency

Let's talk about a real-life example. I've found that when I have practice, I can't make an excuse to miss it because my coach and teammates hold me accountable. They're all doing it, so I can do it. And this accountability leads to greater consistency. On the other hand, when I go on vacation, I often find myself missing days because I have the ability to make an excuse. Work with others and you'll do better.

Shared Lessons

It's a well-known concept that failure leads to growth. If something doesn't work, you learn to avoid it and try something different. And you keep trying things until you find something that works for you. But these failures don't have to all be your own. If you're working with others, their failures can teach you as well. For example, if your partner's old business plan didn't work, you know not to use that business plan in your new start-up. You didn't have to fail. But you learned anyway. That's the power of the collective.

Conclusion

Doing hard things is where we grow and improve. But doing hard things with others? That's where we come alive. Some of life's greatest beauty isn't just in overcoming- but in overcoming together.