Built to Belong
Discovering the Power of Community Over Competition
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5.0 • 3 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
This fresh, inspiring call to community and connection from an entrepreneur and leader is perfect for anyone feeling alone and ready to set off on a journey to true belonging.
Many of us feel more alone than ever despite living in the most connected society in human history. We need to belong in the same way that we need oxygen–our physical bodies require it. We perform better and have greater successes as individuals when we are connected to the collective.
Join author Natalie Franke as she shares her story of longing for connection in the chaos and lessons learned on her journey to true belonging. Together we’ll uncover how to:Kick scroll-induced jealousy to the curb and transform the way that social media makes you feel about yourself and othersOvercome loneliness by finding your people and cultivating true community in your personal and professional worldStrike the balance between camaraderie and competition so that you can live a deeply fulfilled and joyful lifeHuman beings are not highlight reels—we’re done fanning the flames of comparison, drowning in our insecurities, and being pitted against one another. We’re saying no to the endless rat race of getting ahead and goodbye to the narratives that leave us feeling left out and alone.
We are destined for something better. We’re made for so much more. Because knit into the fabric of our DNA, we were Built to Belong.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this insightful debut, Franke, cofounder of entrepreneur networking community Rising Tide Society, proposes a path for developing deeper personal connections by focusing on community. Drawing from her own personal and professional experiences, Franke examines the reasons people may feel isolated and lonely despite being more socially connected than ever thanks to social media. She argues modern technological, economic, and social advances have contributed to an overall competitive mindset, and warns that obsessively comparing oneself with others can become an "ugly monster that grows bigger." Acknowledging that her successful photography business "was propelled by the success of others," Franke extols the value of collaboration and emphasizes prioritizing people over opportunities. She stresses that healthy competition and collaboration can coexist, and shares examples of businesses including Airbnb and Chewy that encourage productive competition among employees while at the same time cultivating a sense of belonging and a culture of valuing others. While Franke's advice might seem fairly obvious, her enthusiastic, joyful tone makes it all go down easily. This accessible manifesto will resonate particularly with entrepreneurs looking to create a healthy working community.
Customer Reviews
Such a great read!
Natalie’s book came to me at the perfect time, as did the Rising Tide Society. I first joined RTS in 2015 and soon after became a Tuesday’s Together Leader. Taking part in the community first hand was exactly what I needed as a business owner.
First things first, entrepreneurship is tough and Natalie explains her emotions and her relatability is spot on. I feel, as a business owner and mom, it can be incredibly hard to find vulnerable people who are open enough to meet you at your level. But as Natalie explains, finding a community of like-minded individuals who experience similar ups and downs is imperative to not only our career success but our enjoyment in life as humans.
We crave connection, community and belonging and Natalie’s book shares insight to the problems we have when we lack these three things and some actionable steps to finding them. Natalie also encourages us to build our own communities and generously provides her insight and best practices.
This book will be one that remains on my shelf for years to come. It’s a cornerstone that has incredible impact on life.
YOU are built to belong
Feeling lonely? We all are. But Natalie Franke wants you to know that YOU, yes YOU, are built to belong. In an age where we all feel so isolated, this book was like a warm hug (I miss those!) from a good friend. Balancing her own research with scientific studies, Natalie takes us on a journey that nearly every small business owner can relate to... late nights, hard work, and that feeling of isolation and lonliness.
The book opens with Natalie's story of loneliness as she built and grew her business. Boy, could I relate. As I turned the page, I kept thinking back to when I was in those same shoes. Through the course of the book, Natalie teaches us how to create deep and meaningful connections with others–both online and offline–to bring joy back into our work and a sense of belonging.
With her intense love of community, Natalie gives a call to arms for us to reach out to one another and build communities of our own. She wants you to lay down mindsets that get in the way (like scarcity and competition), and lean into what could be possible if you lived and worked with a fierce community by your side.
This book is for just about anyone who desires to make meaningful connections with others–because you are built to belong