The Power of Connection

I’ve been reading Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose by Jennifer Wallace, and it has met me exactly where I am.

The past 15 months have left me carrying a quiet sadness — the kind that makes me question our collective humanity, or at least wonder where it’s gone.

When the LA wildfires hit, I was forced well beyond my comfort zone – asking for, and accepting help with temporary housing and financial support. People’s generosity, their texts, calls and suggestions humbled me.

I’m back home now. Grateful. But changed.

What crisis leaves behind

There’s something about walking through a crisis — and then watching the world move on so quickly — that leaves a mark. Driving through Hollywood in the aftermath, seeing hundreds of men and women sprawled along sidewalks, moving like ghosts while pedestrians and motorists pass by shaking their heads. It’s hard not to feel that something essential is fraying.

At the same time, our culture feels increasingly focused on AI, automation, efficiency — doing everything faster, cheaper, better. But somewhere in that race, it feels like we’re forgetting the simple act of seeing one another.

And it’s not just in our personal lives.

A 2025 Gallup poll revealed that only 33% of global workers report they are “thriving.” In the U.S. and Canada, that number is 52% — down four percentage points in just one year. Stress is up. Exhaustion is up. Disconnection is up.

As an entrepreneur, what disheartens me most is something smaller — but telling. The lack of basic courtesy. The meetings requested, the detailed RFPs completed, the time invested followed by silence. No acknowledgment. No “we’ve moved in another direction.” Just moving on.

It’s not about winning or losing the business. It’s about mattering.

Small ways to matter

And I believe we can interrupt this cycle — in small, intentional ways.

Here are some simple suggestions:
– Start each day by identifying one small need you must fulfill for yourself.
– Build (and lean on) a support network. One or two people who truly know you
and can remind you of your worth when you forget.
– Practice empathy — and be willing to receive help. Asking for help isn’t
weakness. It’s an invitation for connection.
– Engage in meaningful work. Connect effort to impact. Show people how their
work ripples outward.
– Create environments where people feel seen. Especially in leadership.
Especially when it’s inconvenient.

Connection doesn’t require grand gestures. It requires presence. A response. A thank you. A moment of acknowledgment.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear what mattering looks like in your world. Where are you seeing it? Where are you missing it?