When I discovered this image of the hitchhiker, I saw it as a metaphor for my new venture to take peer advantage on the road. It’s a twist on the African proverb, I guess: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, you’ll get there faster if someone gives you a ride.” None of us does it alone, and unless we all give each other a lift from time to time, we’re not likely to get very far and we certainly won’t get there fast.
Peer advantage is what CEOs and business leaders experience when they are more selective, strategic, and structured about how they engage their peers. It works because who you surround yourself with matters and, because of this, CEOs and business leaders can help each other in ways they just won’t find anywhere else. Despite how well it works though, not nearly enough of them engage their peers effectively. In a 2013 study at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, the data revealed that nearly two-thirds of CEOs don’t receive outside leadership advice. It also says that nearly all want it. So let’s show them how to get it!
On August 7th, I announced the expansion of the thought leadership initiative I started during my six-year tenure at Vistage Worldwide. My plan is to share “the boundless benefits of peer advantage” with business leaders across the globe. Why? Because of the difference I’ve seen it make in the lives of countless CEOs and business owners and, in turn, how they have helped their employees, families, and communities in the process. I simply want to call attention to what is undeniably effective and share it with the millions of leaders who are currently going it alone.
To do that, I’m going to need lots of rides along the way, and I’ll need you to give others a lift as well so we can spread the word together and reap the rewards peer advantage affords our society. Thanks to all of you who have hired me as a speaker, read my blog posts, listened to my podcasts, and shared the power of peer advantage on social media. There’s much more work to do. If you get a moment, have a look at the complete announcement and let me know what you think! As always, thanks for reading. Ideas welcome!
*Image from Huffingtonpost.com