Some of the most successful people on the planet credit their success to a small group of like-minded peers.
a.k.a. their Personal Board of Directors.
Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone would meet every couple of weeks to exchange ideas and help each other grow their businesses.
CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, and Charles Williams were part of The Inklings — an informal literary discussion group that we can probably thank for books like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.
In high school, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck had “business lunches” where they would nerd out on acting.
Mr. Beast was on Skype every day from 7 am - 10 pm with 4 other Youtubers studying videos, exchanging notes, and trying to master things like — What makes a great thumbnail?
What did they all have in common? They each had a Personal Board of Directors.
So what exactly is a Personal Board of Directors?
Just as most companies look to a board for guidance, your personal board is that same support network for YOU.
5-10 people you assemble for the purpose of developing and navigating your career. A trusted peer group you can turn to for diverse perspectives and experience, tactical discussions, and brutally honest feedback.
I personally credit so much of my growth and success to my own network of peers who help me level-up way faster than I ever could on my own.
So, what characteristics should your board have?
- Trust - a close group you can rely on.
- Diversity - people with different perspectives, experience, and backgrounds.
- Honesty - people willing to hold you accountable and shoot you straight.
- Accessibility - people who you can reach easily when you need them.
- Empathy - people who always listen and seek to understand you.
Where do you find these people? Luckily there are plenty of places where product marketers can build their board over time, like:
- Meetups and events
- Communities
- Coaching programs
- Courses
- Past companies
But no question, it takes time. Which is why I love what Sidebar is doing.
Lexy _ and team created a highly-vetted, private community where they match you with a small group of brilliant peers to accelerate your learning. Helping you build your Personal Board of Directors.
If you’re interested in learning more, I dropped a link in the comments.
I’ll leave you with this quote from Dan Peña - “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”
#productmarketing #career #personalgrowth