Conjugating, moving from a consideration about what’s best for me to what is best for us, is very countercultural. And positive. Because that “us” can grow. From centering the partnership to centering the family, or team, to centering the community.

So much of the content I see about work focuses on the “me”. Self-improvement, life hacks, assessments to better understand me and how I tick. I'm not suggesting that we don’t attend to our needs or set appropriate boundaries. Self-awareness and building skills are always helpful, and they will help us be better friends and partners at work and outside of work.

I just think that a career that’s focused on what’s best for me alone is going to be sterile and, ultimately, less successful. Certainly, less joyful.

I’ve always been interested in partnerships at work. I’ve coached and consulted for a few partners who own creative businesses. Some of them are successful, others were not. What makes for strong partnerships at work?

Without exception, the people I’ve coached who are good at work partnerships are also very good at life partnerships, with long term marriages and long friendships. No judgement to people who, like me, are divorced. But my observation has been that people who are good at marriage tend to be good at work partnerships.

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