Our Accomplishments: A Byproduct of the Community We Build Around Us

You may be familiar with the expression, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." But have you ever stopped to think about the implications of that statement? Is it possible that much of our success and accomplishments are a byproduct of who we surround ourselves with more than our own carefully honed skills?

Jon Levy is a behavioral scientist who studies human activity and seeks to understand the power of influence in today's connected world. Levy might very well be the most powerful influencer you've never heard of. Or, if you live in New York, you may have been invited to one of his private, invitation only, influencer events. These events have been covered in New York Times, Forbes, and Business Insider. Levy personally connects some of the world's most influential people by inviting them to a dinner party which he hosts.

Understanding What Makes Us Influential

Recently, Levy delivered a TED talk on What makes us influential? I personally loved how he began with an exchange he had with a self-described influencer. With so much attention given to influencer marketing, Levy wanted to be sure that his audience knew that this was not the essence of his TED talk. Instead, he focuses on the power of networks.

"A community's diversity of knowledge, experience and talent allows for problems to be solved in a fraction of the time," says Levy. "And for results to have a multiplier effect. This also suggests that our accomplishments may be more a byproduct of the community we build around us than our innate talent."

Tony Robbins likes to say, "Proximity is Power." The key difference, however, is that with Levy, he's working diligently to bring a diverse group of individuals together who are not allowed to give their last names or talk about their career in the first hour of networking. Imagine going to a networking event and not being able to deliver you finely honed elevator pitch. Instead, participants focus on all the other aspects of their lives which Levy believes helps break down barriers and focus on individuals as people.

This Is Something You Can Easily Do

The power of your network are the people you are connected to. These are the trusted relationships in your life; the people who care about you and your outcomes. "When you bring people together, not only does your life get better, but so does theirs," Levy explains in his TED talk. The more you connect the people you admire and respect to the other people you admire and respect, really great things happen for all involved.

So host your own dinner party. Introduce your friends and colleagues to each other. Have fun and ensure you're taking advantage of a powerful tool you've already cultivated right here on LinkedIn. Posting articles and sharing videos are great, but never miss an opportunity to connect with your community in real life. You'd be amazed at how much can be accomplished when people with diverse backgrounds come together to solve problems and collaborate together with a purpose.

And if you need some inspiration to get going, a great place to start is Levy's TED talk on What makes us influential?