What’s a Peer Network?
The Power of Peer Groups
I have experienced the tremendous power of peer groups – from my days as a grad student to participating in formalized peer networks like The Forum (previously FWE), EO, and TIGER 21. Having a curated group of successful peers who show up as a personal board of advisors with only one goal in mind – to help each other – is incredibly powerful. Along the way, these colleagues, who became friends, helped me grow my business, become a better leader, sell my business, make tough choices with confidence, transition with grace, and celebrate the personal and professional wins throughout my life.
Since the idea of peer groups may be foreign to many of you, I asked my new buddy ChatGPT to give me a quick summary of the benefits of peer network to share with you. Here’s what he/she/it (?) offered - and I agree. “Peer networks like EO, YPO, Chief, Round, Hampton, and TIGER 21 offer members numerous benefits, including networking opportunities, learning and development, peer support, mentorship, access to exclusive resources, personal growth, confidentiality, social events, philanthropy, and accountability. These advantages help members improve their businesses, personal skills, and overall well-being while fostering connections with like-minded individuals.”
I want you to have those same opportunities. But I want to do it a little differently than the other business-oriented peer networks. I want you to make a ton of money, and then figure out how to spend all that money so it’s aligned with your core values. I want you to make lifelong friends, and then figure out how to harness the power among yourselves to do something that matters in this world. And I want to provide an abundance of learning and development opportunities across a variety of topics, and then celebrate you overcoming whatever challenges come up as you pursue your true purpose.
I want to do all of this together with all of you and I want to do it with a very clear foundation of shared values that I believe will make this community feel even more connected, provide more opportunity for discovery and growth, and enable greater contribution to each other, those we lead, and the world.
And I want to have fun doing all that! So, let’s PLAY! This acronym reflects the values of Purpose, Listening, Abundance, and a "Yes, and" attitude. It reminds us to pursue our purpose because growth and success will follow, to engage in compassionate and curious listening, to embody a spirit of generosity and abundance in all we do, and to build on each other's ideas and contributions to foster innovation and collaboration.
I believe this community will be life-changing for each and every one of you if you are open to it. I know it’s possible because I’ve lived it. And I know it’s possible because I am dedicated to making it true for all of us at Vitality Collective.