Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Connect summary
David Bradford and Carole Robin
Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends and Colleagues
24 mins
Brief summary
Connect by David Bradford and Carole Robin is a guide to building strong relationships by fostering genuine human connections. The book gives actionable insights and tools to navigate conflict, build trust, and create meaningful relationships both in one's personal and professional life.
Table of Contents
Connect
Summary of 7 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 7
Exceptional relationships require a growth mindset – and hard work.
Think about the relationships in your life – your bonds with friends and colleagues, family members, and romantic partners. Maybe you’re not sure if they’re “exceptional” material, but you’d like them to go from casual to personal, from competitive to collaborative, or simply from dysfunctional to functional.
The authors have spent their careers teaching thousands of students and clients how to build and maintain robust relationships in a variety of settings. The role of interpersonal know-how can range from increasing well-being in your personal life to being fundamental to professional success.
You won’t, don’t need to, and can’t develop an exceptional relationship with everybody; these deepest, most authentic connections demand time and effort. That’s not to discount less-intense relationships, which provide other things we need and crave – things like intellectual stimulation, social interaction, and fun. But, as the authors point out, not every dessert can be a chocolate soufflé.
The key message here is: Exceptional relationships require a growth mindset – and hard work.
The following blinks highlight the six hallmarks of exceptional relationships, as well as the competencies and behaviors required to achieve them. Keep in mind that exceptional relationships aren’t an end state. Just like living, breathing organisms, they constantly change and develop – and, as such, they need a lot of TLC.
The key in building and keeping up your relationships lies in learning how to learn – or adopting a growth mindset. This involves honing several behavioral characteristics. The first is letting go of the idea that you know best. Second, be willing to try new things and risk making mistakes. Third, embrace mistakes as learning opportunities rather than a reason to be embarrassed or give up.
Keep in mind that your efforts might not always yield your desired goal. It takes two to tango, and if the other person isn’t ready – or doesn’t want – to meet you on your level, the relationship won’t progress. That said, your efforts are bound to fail if you don’t put in the work. You need to take an active stance and put what you learn into practice; doing will help you personalize the lessons and reap their full benefit.
So before we begin, choose four to five relationships that you’d like to deepen. As we go along, ask yourself how the content of each blink relates to those relationships. Keep a journal to document your thoughts and process – experiences pay off the most when you reflect on and try to understand them.
Good luck!
Want to see all full key ideas from Connect?
Key ideas in Connect
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Connect about?
Connect (2021) lays the groundwork for exceptional relationships. Drawing on social science research and the authors’ personal experience, it shares core behaviors and actionable advice to cultivate meaningful connections – leading to personal fulfillment and professional success.
Connect Review
Connect (2021) by David Bradford and Carole Robin is a thought-provoking book that explores the power of human connection and its impact on our personal and professional lives. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offering practical strategies and actionable advice, it empowers readers to cultivate meaningful relationships that drive success and fulfillment.
- Through a blend of research-backed insights and personal stories, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of the importance of connection in all aspects of life.
- Its engaging narrative and relatable examples make it a captivating read, ensuring that readers stay hooked throughout the entire book.
Best quote from Connect
Were so accustomed to disguising ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves. -François de la Rochefoucauld
—David Bradford and Carole Robin
Who should read Connect?
- People who want to communicate better with friends, family, or romantic partners
- Professionals looking to improve their soft skills to level up in their careers
- Those seeking advice on how to become their best selves
Categories with Connect
Book summaries like Connect
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
32 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Connect FAQs
What is the main message of Connect?
The main message of Connect is the power of building meaningful relationships.
How long does it take to read Connect?
The reading time for Connect varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Connect a good book? Is it worth reading?
Connect is worth reading for its insights on how to foster authentic connections in both personal and professional life.
Who is the author of Connect?
The authors of Connect are David Bradford and Carole Robin.
What to read after Connect?
If you're wondering what to read next after Connect, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Leading Brain by Friederike Fabritius & Hans W. Hagemann
- The Relationship Cure by John M. Gottman and Joan DeClaire
- Platonic by Marisa G. Franco
- Find Your People by Jennie Allen
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver
- Peak Performance by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness
- Social Empathy by Elizabeth Segal
- Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg
- Sizing People Up by Robin Dreeke and Cameron Stauth
- How to Stop Procrastinating by Steve Scott