LThe Life Starter
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Lesson 2 of 6
Life · Guided lesson

Inventory the network you already have

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

About 29 minutes Finish with a concrete deliverable
TEDHow to Ask for Help — and Get a YesYouTube
Course primer

How to Ask for Help — and Get a Yes

From TED. Watch here or open it on YouTube .

During the course primer, listen for ideas that change how you approach “Inventory the network you already have.” Pause once to capture a useful point, then apply it while producing a private network map with support roles, strength, boundaries, access, gaps, and five realistic reconnection options.
Before you begin

What this lesson is really solving.

Map strong, developing, professional, community, and emergency connections while identifying concentration and access gaps. This is lesson 2 because later decisions depend on a private network map with support roles, strength, boundaries, access, gaps, and five realistic reconnection options. A network is a portfolio; reliability improves when roles and access are diverse. Use your own numbers, files, environment, and constraints so the result survives outside the course.

Why this works

Understand the idea before touching the steps.

A network is a portfolio; reliability improves when roles and access are diverse.

Do this

Follow these steps in order.

Take the action in each step; then use the deliverable below to prove the lesson is finished.

  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.

Worked example

See the standard in context.

Drew realizes career advice, emergency transport, and social belonging need different contacts and stops putting all three on one friend. The learner saves a private network map with support roles, strength, boundaries, access, gaps, and five realistic reconnection options and notes the evidence or assumption behind the choice so it can be reviewed and improved later.

Quality check

Inspect before you move on.

  • The finished work visibly includes a private network map with support roles, strength, boundaries, access, gaps, and five realistic reconnection options.
  • You tested the work against this common failure: Measuring support by follower count or expecting the closest relationship to cover every emotional and practical need.
  • Another person could verify this mastery standard: The map shows multiple support types and gives a realistic next action for the two most important gaps.
Make it real

Your deliverable

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.

You’re ready when

Prove it—don’t just recognize it.

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

Objective evidence · 3 questions

Quick knowledge check

Answer from the lesson—not from confidence alone. Score at least 2 of 3 to unlock completion.

Not yet passed

This curriculum-aligned check is scored automatically and stored with your account when signed in. It is an objective learning signal, but it has not yet been independently validated as a standardized assessment.

1Which action belongs in the recommended process for “Inventory the network you already have”?
2Which result is the clearest evidence that this lesson’s work is complete?
3Which choice matches the failure this lesson specifically warns against?
0 of 3 answeredEach question measures the action, evidence, or failure condition taught above.
Useful for this course

Tools, templates, and references

The Life Starter toolkitReusable planners and trackers for practical projects.
Check current detailsReferences reviewed September 9, 2026. Lesson exercises are editorial synthesis; official rules come from the linked sources.
CDC — About social connectednessCDC — Improving social connectednessSAMHSA — Find support
2
One check remains

Pass the knowledge check above first.

Completion unlocks after a score of 2 out of 3. Then confirm that you produced the lesson deliverable.

Go to the knowledge check