Find your people

I want to talk about working with your friends.

I think most people are afraid to take their friendships to the next level.

In many ways, true work collaboration is more intimate and vulnerable than friendship.

We are afraid to mix "business and pleasure"- worry that things will get messy.

And it totally can.

But I want to make a plug for finding your people.

Those whom you trust implicitly, who you have lived life with.

I think that your closest friends can make the best work partners.

I have experienced this over and over again (you know who you are)- best friends, life chavrusas, platonic soul mates - with whom I have built businesses. Written books. Created movements.

I don't think anyone builds anything that lasts alone.

It's the people we choose to bring into our visions and dreams who help us pull them into reality.

My bestie Tanya Prochko, is one of those people for me.

We choose each other to be there every day, thick and thin.

And when we collaborate on work, it's like magic.

We are vision and mission aligned, and we each bring our own set of skills.

We are boundaried and clear, we communicate like crazy, and we ALWAYS have each other's back, no matter what we are up against.

Find people who show up for you.

Who can pump you up when it's time to shine and who can help you chill out when it's time to wind down.

True female leadership is collaborative.

We create in tandem, offering feedback, support, and encouragement.

The Get Help Israel Mental Health Conference was an epic manifestation of our friendship.

She created the most powerful schedule of star-level speakers who offered clinical excellence, cultural competence, and information that Israeli clinicians need right now.

She brought forward frameworks and modalities, in their most current and relevant forms, so we could learn to adapt to this new world we are living in.

She envisioned it, planned it, and gave it her soul over the last year.

My job was just to be there for my friend, talk things through, talk out ideas, cheer when there was success, be there when moments needed support.

She asked me to MC the conference.

I told her, as I have many times, I'll do anything you need.

Photograph? Man the registration book? Run a panel?

Whatever you need, I'm there.

Many people came up to me over the course of the conference to thank me, for leading them through the 2 days.

I pointed every person in the right direction.

"It's all Tanya."

Tanya was the engine.

The brains.

The visionary.

The sweat, blood, and tears.

I am so proud of my friend.

Grateful for our partnership.

Humbled by the opportunities she gives me.

And the way she believes in me, too.

Find your people.

And go change the world.

Love this photo of us by Sally Katzin!!