For the last few decades I’ve written books, in my own name and with/for others that addressed a simple problem in how we live our lives or run our businesses. This book is different. First of all its not about “a problem” but something I believe many would agree is “THE problem” of this time in all of our lives. The problem of “disconnection”, “dissent”, finding fault rather than finding goodness and being more invested in who we’re against than who we’re for.
Character demands that we take a stand on the important things in life – family, community, career, the unfortunate, the members in our neighborhoods that are not getting a fair shake. But humanity demands that we spend time and resources finding reasons to connect with each other – no matter how different we are – as much as we find reasons to challenge each other to live and be better.
This is a book about the healing power of connecting to others. It draws from my experience meeting profoundly good, hard-working and deeply caring people all over the globe. I’ve found differences, often profound. But mostly I’ve found people who will reach out to strangers, offer what they have to others and do everything they can to connect, build friendships and be kind.
Mark Twain wrote that travel is the best antidote to disconnection and unfair judgement of others. Whether you travel a lot or not at all this book will take you on a journey to all seven continents and introduce you to the four connection behaviors – THE WITH SPACES – that personal experience has shown me can reduce conflict, encourage kindness and CURE CONTENTION. These principles work at home, at work, within families and neighborhoods and – as the stories will show – all around the world.
Please join me in a wonderful, very human journey to find connection in a world consumed by contention.
