Three Essential Dynamics for Healthy Relationships
What three dynamics are critical for life and business?
Why is a triple-braided or three-stranded rope so strong? According to the International Guild of Knot Tyers, “three strands, equally loaded, can take three times the force of one strand,” and “each accepts a greater or lesser portion of the load until all are sharing the load.”
In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon used the metaphor of a triple-braided rope to explain how relationships strengthen us, our work, and our outcomes:
“I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can.
But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.
- Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.
- If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
- Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?
- A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.
- Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 (New Living Translation 2nd Ed.)
What can we learn from Solomon’s ancient wisdom?
Over the past four decades, I’ve worked with hundreds of founders, entrepreneurs, service company owners, and CEOs. I experienced these same three observations:
- One person working by themselves will struggle.
- Two people working together can help each other succeed.
- Three people working together are strongest.
Alone, we can go fast. Together, we can go far.
An ancient rabbinical saying is, “A man without friends is like a left hand without the right.”
Like a triple-braided rope, personal and business relationships woven with trust, generosity, and reciprocity are not easily broken.
