Exercise 1: Who Are Your Five?
Instructions: Identify the five people you'll become indispensable to.
Step 1: List 20 Candidates Consider: - Current strong relationships - Geographic proximity - Complementary skills/needs - Shared values - Reciprocity potential
Step 2: Evaluate Each Rate 1-10: - Trust level currently - Value you could provide - Value they could provide - Proximity convenience - Growth potential
Step 3: Select Your Five Choose based on: - Highest combined scores - Diverse skill sets - Geographic cluster - Values alignment - Mutual benefit potential
Step 4: Create Integration Plan For each person: - Identify their biggest pain point - Design your unique solution - Plan relationship deepening - Set 90-day milestones - Track progress weekly
Exercise 2: What Can You Offer Today?
The Immediate Value Inventory:
Skills I Could Teach This Week: 1. ______________________ 2. ______________________ 3. ______________________
Problems I Could Solve Today: 1. ______________________ 2. ______________________ 3. ______________________
Resources I Could Share Now: 1. ______________________ 2. ______________________ 3. ______________________
Connections I Could Make: 1. ______________________ 2. ______________________ 3. ______________________
Time I Could Offer: - This week: _____ hours - This month: _____ hours - Sustainable ongoing: _____ hours/week
Exercise 3: The 30-Day Trust Sprint
Week 1: Foundation - [ ] Identify 10 trust-building targets - [ ] Make initial contact with all 10 - [ ] Offer specific help to each - [ ] Follow through immediately - [ ] Document responses
Week 2: Deepening - [ ] Follow up with 5 most responsive - [ ] Provide additional value - [ ] Share appropriate vulnerability - [ ] Make strategic introductions - [ ] Establish regular contact pattern
Week 3: Integration - [ ] Propose collaboration to top 3 - [ ] Create mutual benefit project - [ ] Involve in existing activities - [ ] Request reciprocal help - [ ] Build network connections
Week 4: Acceleration - [ ] Formalize ongoing relationship - [ ] Establish communication rhythm - [ ] Plan future collaborations - [ ] Introduce to your network - [ ] Celebrate joint accomplishments
Success Metrics: - Number moving from stranger to ally - Depth of trust established - Reciprocal value exchanged - Network connections created - Sustainable relationships built
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# BONUS CHAPTER: Rebuilding at the Edge