A Loneliness Pandemic

As you’re probably aware, loneliness, mental health, and toxic workplace culture has become the norm in our society. The Governments of the UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have appointed Ministers of Loneliness. Vivek Murthy, the current Surgeon General of the United States declared a Loneliness Pandemic in 2017, stating: Loneliness is a growing health epidemic in the country and can cut a person’s life span in a way that’s similar to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 

All this was before the effects of Covid-19 and the growing isolating forces of social media. I can go on with how this links to rising rates of suicide, gun violence, and the prevalence of chronic illness… but enough of the bad news. 

Here’s the bright side: there’s a proven solution available to combat loneliness and create deep connections. This solution has been used for hundreds of years and until now, has only been readily available to CEOs and addicts. 

Benjamin Franklin had one and called it a Junto. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford called theirs a Mastermind. Alcoholics and Narcotic addicts call it a Meeting. 

Today, 100,000s of the world’s CEOs and Presidents call it a Forum and participate monthly. 

A Peer Forum is a group of 7 people in similar roles and career stages who agree to meet regularly for thoughtful and confidential conversations about their work and lives, in order to learn from one another and grow (read the HBR article on Peer Forums here).

While the names of the groups may differ, what they all agree on is that gathering with peers, and tackling the same challenges in an environment of trust and confidentiality has been central to their success, happiness, and mental health.

These Peer Forums are the antidote for loneliness and a secret weapon for achieving our biggest goals in life.  

Me, along with many of my CEO peers who have had life changing experiences through Forum, have been asking ourselves, if this is so good for business leaders, innovators, and recovering addicts, then why not everyone else?

Mission: To Connect One Billion People in Forums by 2030

Until now, the opportunity to join such a group was expensive and reserved to exclusive membership clubs. We have changed that. We use technology, Hollywood scriptwriting, and AI to bring the power of Peer Forums to every professional channel - from doctors to teachers, architects to policemen, unions, associations, and beyond. 

Here’s how:

1. The Forum for Communities Platform: We are partnering with existing communities of professional peers (think: the American Dental Association, NFL players association, general managers of a big restaurant chain and Chief Technology Officers), to place them in thriving Peer Forums of their own. Here’s how.  
2. The Forums@work Platform: Next, we give those leaders the tools to train their company team members to launch and lead peer forum that are specially adapted for co-workers in the workplace to create a culture of inclusion where all team members have apride of ownership for their personal and professional growth. We have currently run these programs in 21 countries across virtually every industry to connect co-workers in an unprecedented, predictable way Here’s a 72 second look.  
3. The Forums@Home Platform: Finally, we empower all of the above forum members with tools and content to apply the skills they have learned and bring Forum-style communication and benefits to their homes and communities.

We are democratizing the opportunity to join a Peer Forum for all people, by: 

1. Introducing Peer Forums to a broader range of high-earning professionals…
2. Using the revenue generated to continually invest in technology & tools to reduce the cost of administering Peer Forums…
3. To make peer forums available to lower-paying groups. 

I have committed my entire focus and personal resources to the realization of this mission. Spending  the last five years building forums@work, has allowed us to learn, innovate, practice, and optimize our Forum solutions for the greatest possible impact. After launching hundreds of Forums in the workplace in 21 countries around the world, we’ve developed a Forum methodology that works every single time. 

We can’t reach 1 Billion people alone. Join us to transform the lives of the people you work and live with. 

Here’s what you can do to positively impact the lives of 1 billion people: 

• Schedule a Masterclass with your team to experience the power of peer Forum at work
• Refer us to at least one business leader in your network dedicated to creating more connected communities and great places to work
• Share our Masterplan with others who believe in the transformative power of peer groups (your Forum mates, YPO/EO Chapter, friends, and family)