Craft Your Troop with Intent to Gain Lasting Support

Alex, founder of a small tech startup, was burning out. He thought late nights and solo problem-solving were a badge of honor. But each setback—buggy code, a failed pitch—he faced alone, spiraling into doubt. His Chimp felt under siege, and his Human was exhausted.

On a sleepless Friday, he sketched a new plan: define his troop. He listed five allies: a college friend who’d debugged every hack, a former manager who gave leadership tips, a partner who cheered wins big or small, a mentor who asked tough questions, and a weekend jog buddy who cleared his head. He noted what each offered and scheduled Monday morning check-ins to share progress or vent.

Within days, Alex noticed a shift. When a critical bug crashed his demo, instead of panicking alone, he rang his debug friend who guided him through a fix. His mentor helped him reframe the pitch. Even the jogs became a time to laugh at setbacks rather than stew. Alex’s Chimp felt secure in its troop, so his Human could focus on solutions rather than survival.

Studies of high-performing teams show that defined peer support, regular accountability and energy-boosting connections dramatically improve resilience and productivity. Don’t leave your troop to chance—craft it with intent.

Now, block out time to list your five strongest allies and note how each boosts you. Then carve out brief weekly check-ins—calls, coffee dates, or group chats—so you can swap wins, vent frustrations, and refine your path. You’ll find your stress eases and your problem-solving sharpens as you lean on the right troop, not soldier on alone. Give it a try this week.