You're Invited

Have you ever desperately wanted to change your behavior . . . but just couldn’t get yourself to do it? That’s what happened to Jean Nidetech, a woman desperate to lose weight. She knew she should change her diet and exercise habits. But she didn’t know how to make herself commit. 

Whenever she went to the doctor, he’d just give her a new diet plan. Full of motivation, she’d stick to the diet religiously for a few weeks or months. But eventually she’d get tired, revert to her old eating patterns, and gain back all the weight she’d lost. Jean’s breakthrough came when she realized that thousands of women around her were having the same problems – they just weren’t talking about it. 

The key message here is: Human connection is the key ingredient in any successful business or social movement. 

Jean decided to break the silence. She invited a group of women to her home to discuss their experiences with weight loss and dieting. The women were thrilled to finally have the chance to talk openly and get support. In fact, the event was so successful that more and more people started coming each week. And people who had struggled for years were finally able to lose weight. That group became a little multimillion-dollar business called Weight Watchers. 

Why was it so successful? Because it tapped into our deep need for connection. Humans evolved in tribes; we’ve always needed each other for survival. But today many people feel isolated and alienated, which has terrible effects on their well-being. In fact, research by social psychologist Matt Lieberman and his team has shown that social isolation lights up the same areas of the brain that react to physical pain. What’s more, loneliness has serious consequences for our physical health – being socially isolated has the same health risks as smoking a pack of cigarettes every day. 

Successful companies, community movements, and activist protests all have something in common: they give people the chance to connect with others. They also give them the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves. By creating these engaged, trust-filled communities, people and organizations can have real and lasting influence.