In business, just as in any competitive social endeavor, we often feel driven to rise to the top by working tirelessly until we have beaten out the others and left them behind. Although this is a standard view of how to get ahead, what successful people know is that this is not how it's really done. To achieve lasting success and make a difference in the world, we need to learn how to work with, not against, the people around us. But here's the trick--this only works if we cultivate a network of people at every level who can help us become our best selves, and avoid the ones who are not bringing value to our lives. In Swim! , Walter Bond proves the principle that being a "big fish" requires complex collaboration with all the creatures in the ocean around us. In this modern parable, we learn that, in nature, sharks actually work together with smaller fish to deal with the parasites that plague them. By providing protection for suckerfish, which eat the parasites, sharks are able to dominate the seas alongside their small-scale friends. Sharks also respect their environments, taking care to investigate their options before moving forward.

To rise to new heights as business leaders and mentors, we can apply the same principle. By carefully choosing our associates and providing assistance and guidance, we can cultivate relationships that enable us to achieve the level of success we dream of. This book provides a fresh yet timeless perspective on the power of human connection, showing how we can achieve next-level results if we stop focusing on facts and figures and instead pour our energy into managing relationships. Readers of Swim! will enjoy an engaging tale that's appropriate for people at all career stages--from students to top executives. One of the book's key themes is that mistakes happen. Real "sharks" learn that admitting to their mistakes and accepting second chances is one of the most powerful actions leaders can take. Our past does not define us; instead, we are the actions we take today to cultivate teams and networks that can help us thrive.