It has become increasingly apparent to me these past two years that my purpose in life is to teach people how to have healthy partnerships, an area in which I had completely and utterly failed.

My failure was a gift, as are all failures. In it I found what I feel is an absolute—nothing can be created in a vacuum. Nothing can be created alone. We need each other as much as we need air, water and spirit. Even writing books, which I am doing now, might seem like a solitary process. But everything I write is based on an experience with someone else, and I have chosen to collaborate with a writing partner.

Partners are not just people in business together. Partners are marriages, families, politics, countries, voices, thoughts. I am a work in progress, and I learn more and let go of more every day. And when I see something like this video, I become humbled at what is possible.

Take 14 minutes of your day and watch this incredible TED talk by Eric Whitacre. It is the very essence of people partnering for greatness.

Partnership. It’s the basis of humanity. I fully believe if we can excel as partners, we can excel as human beings.