The world is a scary place, but it becomes far less scary when we have support from people around us, when we have a strong network of friends and collaborators. This Monday, we invite you into three perspectives on connecting with the people around you. These are real-life examples of how genuine bonds have the potential to benefit everyone involved whether those bonds are platonic, romantic, or professional. Assemble Your Tribe.
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Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg – Unconditional Support
There is no duo in hip hop more iconic than Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. They have been representing the West Coast culture for decades. From before Dre produced his world-shifting debut album The Chronic, to Snoop’s induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018, all the way until this very moment.
Can you imagine either of these legends hustling like someone who’s still in production school? Maybe not, but when they met they were both at very low points, struggling to put food on the table. Together, they changed their situation. Together they became who they are today based on one simple idea:
- “We’ve never told each other ‘No’. We always show up for each other. No matter what it is. Imagine having a person like in your life for almost 30 years. ” – Dr. Dre
When Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg met each other, they had no idea where their relationship would end up. All they did was show genuine respect and care for each other. That is the foundation of true networking. How can someone know where a relationship will go when it’s just beginning? No one has control over that. Everyone has control over the amount of care and respect they show to others. With that foundation, a relationship can change the world.
“People could see themselves in me.” – Oprah Winfrey.
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most well-known personalities in history. Her level of influence extends to every facet of the modern era, and she herself is worth over $2 billion. With such illustrious credentials to her name, how can ordinary people “see themselves in her?”
- “Everything is fueled from me wanting to be a better person on Earth.”
Oprah said this during a seminar at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, but it applies universally. The innate desire to improve unites humanity. From the moment a human is born what do they do? They improve. They learn to walk. They learn to speak. When people get older things become more complicated, but the foundation is still there.
- “Everyone wants to fulfill the highest, truest, expression of yourself as a human being.”
Means of expression make human beings unique. The desire to express unites humanity. Oprah’s means of expression are sharing her words on television and other media. What are your means of expression? Whatever the answer is, those are your means of uniting.
Duality – Our Differences Unite Us
Duality touches our universe on every level. Up and down. Good and bad. Life and death. On a macro level: mountains and valleys. On a micro level: protons and neutrons. Duality creates differences between human beings as well. Tall people and short people. If everyone were tall, then no one would be tall and vice versa.
- So the question becomes: What unites humanity?
According to renowned thinker Alan Watts, the answer is duality. The fact that we are all different unites us, and two things can not be different unless they are the same in some way.
- Humans aren’t trees, but they are both living things on Earth that need oxygen, sunlight, and water.
- Humans aren’t staplers, but they are both solid enough for gravity to bind them to the Earth.
- Humans aren’t music, but both require air molecules in order to exist.
The Role of the Artist – What is the common thread among these similarities?
These similarities touch upon the fundamental aspects of life and the universe. They lie beneath the surface. Emotions lie under the surface of every human, and music can reach those emotions unlike any other force. As artists, you hold the power to unite humanity. What will you do with that power?
Featured image by Michael Buckner/Getty Images