For years, I have enjoyed the meditative practice of building stacks of rocks into captivating, ephemeral cairns. This process is a clear and direct analogy for how I build partnerships. 

When starting to put together a stack, you must first get to know each rock; hold it, feel its weight and center of gravity, and inspect the texture and shape.  Then in making the connection between two rocks, you have to focus closely on where they come together, and especially the friction points, for that is where the best enduring grip forms once you get the balance right between the two.  Adding another rock will inevitably shift the center of gravity of the whole stack, with adjustments needed between those already balanced.

The best, most rewarding stacks are the precarious ones that end up in unexpected shapes that only emerge out of the process of fitting them together.  To build those stacks can sometimes take multiple attempts, patience, and dropping down into a flow state.  It’s a beautiful thing to do, and whether I’m creating with rocks or partners in a business relationship, it is my passion.