The Friends We Can't Afford To Live Without

Last week we explored our Personal Board of Directors. This week, let's think about the people we can't afford to live without.

Tom Rath discovered something surprising that goes against common thinking about the workplace. He discovered that a person having a "best friend at work" is seven times more likely to be engaged in his or her job. 

Rath is the best-selling author of How Full Is Your Bucket? and StrengthsFinder 2.0. In his book titled, Vital Friends: The People you Can't Afford to Live Without, Rath identifies eight types of friends. He says these are the friends we can't afford to live without: 

The Builder: a person who motivates you to accomplish things you would not otherwise accomplish.

The Champion: a person who sings your praises to others.

The Collaborator: a person who has similar interests, and shares those interests with you.

The Companion: a person who is always there for you.

The Connector: a person who introduces you to others.

The Energizer: a person who gives you a boost.

The Mind Opener: a person who challenges you to think outside the box.

The Navigator: a person who provides guidance for you.

Reading this book made me aware that I not only need other people, but others need me as much as I need them.

Who are the friends you can't live without? Can you name them? What kind of a friend are you to them?

The context of Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 is the workplace. It says:

Two are better than one, 
because they have a good return for their labor; 
If either of them falls down, 
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls 
and has no one to help them up. 

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. 
But how can one keep warm alone? 
Though one may be overpowered, 
two can defend themselves. 
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.