The Life Starter
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Course Library · Lesson 2 of 6
Life · Guided lesson

Inventory the network you already have

About 22 minutes
Work at your own pace. Optional videos take extra time.
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Before you begin

The idea in everyday life

Map strong, developing, professional, community, and emergency connections while identifying concentration and access gaps.

The idea

Build several kinds of support so you have other options when one person cannot help.

Try it

One step at a time.

Use the sample or information you have permission to use. Keep your work as you go. You can pause between steps.

  1. 1

    Privately list family, friends, neighbors, classmates, coworkers, former teachers, mentors, faith or cultural groups, clubs, professionals, and services.

  2. 2

    For each, mark relationship strength, support role, trust, reciprocity, availability, boundaries, location, and the last meaningful contact.

  3. 3

    Identify missing roles, overreliance on one person, relationships needing repair, and dormant ties that could be renewed respectfully.

Example

See how it works.

Drew realizes career advice, emergency transport, and social belonging need different contacts and stops putting all three on one friend.

Check your work

Did you cover these?

  • Your work includes a private network map with support roles, strength, boundaries, access, gaps, and five realistic reconnection options.
  • Check this common mistake: Measuring support by follower count or expecting the closest relationship to cover every emotional and practical need.
  • The map shows multiple support types and gives a realistic next action for the two most important gaps.
Your work

What to finish

A private network map with support roles, strength, boundaries, access, gaps, and five realistic reconnection options.

Common mistake

Watch for this

Measuring support by follower count or expecting the closest relationship to cover every emotional and practical need.

How can I tell I understand it?

The map shows multiple support types and gives a realistic next action for the two most important gaps.

Try 3 questions

Quick knowledge check

Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.

Not yet passed

You’ll get an explanation for each answer. Signed in? Your results save to your account.

1Which step is part of “Inventory the network you already have”?
2What should you have made by the end of this lesson?
3Which mistake should you watch for in this lesson?
0 of 3 answeredApply the lesson to a short question, then review the explanation.
2
Finish this lesson

Pass the check. We’ll save the progress.

Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.

Go to the knowledge check
Optional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
TEDHow to Ask for Help — and Get a YesYouTube
Optional course overview

How to Ask for Help — and Get a Yes

From TED. Watch here or open it on YouTube .

Watch for an idea you can use in the practice below. You can pause or skip this optional overview.
Tools, templates, and lesson sources

Tools and templates

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Sources and further reading

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