There’s an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately.

We live in a world that celebrates independence. We admire the self-made success story. The person who did it all on their own. The one who never asked for help. But the older I get, the more I realize that very few meaningful things happen in isolation. Most opportunities I’ve received came through a conversation, a recommendation, a partnership, a mentor, a friend, or someone who believed in me enough to open a door. Every challenge I’ve survived was made lighter because someone walked through it with me.

There’s another African philosophy called Ubuntu. Simply put, it means, “I am because we are.”

I love that, and it reminds us that our lives are connected. Our successes are connected. Even our healing is connected, and when one woman finds her voice, she often inspires another to find hers. Or think about it this way: when we choose kindness, an entire room can feel different. Or better yet, when one leader pours into others instead of competing with them, everyone grows.

That’s Ubuntu! And honestly, I think we’ve forgotten some of that.

At times, we become so focused on getting ahead that we forget the value of bringing others with us. We chase productivity but neglect relationships. We build networks but don’t always build community.

And yet, some of the richest parts of life can’t be measured by titles, income, followers, or accomplishments; they’re measured by connection. By the people who celebrate your wins as if they were their own, and by the people who tell you the truth when you need to hear it, also, the ones who sit with you when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Those relationships matter.

As we talk about maximizing our lives, I don’t think it’s just about doing more, earning more, or achieving more. It’s about becoming more intentional about how we live and who we become along the way. It’s about investing in people, being willing to ask for help, and offering help when we can. Additionally, it involves understanding that our growth isn’t meant to happen in a vacuum. Maybe that’s why the proverb has endured for generations. Because speed isn’t always the goal, sometimes it’s endurance, impact, or building something that lasts. And those things almost always require other people.

So as you move through this season of your life, here’s a question worth considering:

Who are you bringing with you? Because a life well lived isn’t only about how far we go. It’s also about the people whose lives are better because we were here.
That’s Ubuntu!
And perhaps that’s one of the most powerful ways to maximize the life we’ve been given.

Podcast Spotlight

This month on TheBeyondWoman Podcast, I sit down with Financial Advisor Bridgette Prendergast-Francis. After experiencing a life-threatening health scare, Bridgette gained a deeply personal understanding of why financial protection matters. As a mother of a son with special needs, she shares how preparation brought peace during one of the most challenging moments of her life. It’s a conversation every woman needs to hear.

Listen Here