Stronger Together: The Transformative Power of Community
What Phyl Terry Taught Us at our Sidebar Summit
Hi, everyone!
Self-made success is one of the biggest myths of our time.
We live in a culture that glorifies the Lone Wolf—the gritty individual who climbs every mountain alone, triumphs without help, and somehow has all the answers. But here’s the truth: no one gets there by themselves. I certainly didn’t.
Through every major turning point in my career—leaving the comfort of product leadership to become a VC, rebuilding after a toxic work experience, and venturing out to start my own business—I didn’t do it alone. Each of those leaps was only possible because I had a circle of trusted peers walking beside me. Their wisdom, encouragement, and perspective helped me find my footing when the path ahead felt unclear.
That same spirit was alive and well at our very first Sidebar Summit this April. One of the most powerful moments came from our opening keynote speaker, Phyl Terry, founder and CEO of Collaborative Gain. Phyl shared the story of his mother, who in 1960 invited a few fellow teachers to form a peer support group. They met regularly for 50 years and became a powerful source of strength and support for each other. That legacy inspired Phyl to dedicate his life to helping leaders grow through the power of peers.
Phyl reminded us of something so simple, yet so profound: we’re not meant to figure things out alone. There’s a quiet but powerful transformation that happens when we’re surrounded by people we trust. We might enter a conversation feeling stuck, unsure, or overwhelmed—and leave it feeling seen, supported, and ready to take action.
He also shared something striking: humanity’s average IQs have surged since the 1800s. Why? Because we’ve gained exponentially more access to each other’s knowledge. The more we learn from one another, the sharper, wiser, and more capable we all become.
And the benefits go far beyond intelligence. Research shows that peer conversations reduce cortisol, the stress hormone that contributes to burnout, anxiety, and brain fog. They also spark creativity, build resilience, and deepen our sense of purpose.
It can be tempting to treat community as a nice-to-have, but in our increasingly isolated digital age, we need to start seeing it for what it really is: a pillar of mental and physical health, and the key to accomplishing our goals.
So if you’ve been feeling stuck, burnt out, or alone lately, let this be your nudge. Reach out to your circle to bring a challenge that’s keeping you up at night. Be brave enough to ask for help. Try our Talk to an Expert feature to benefit from the expertise of someone within the Sidebar community. Attend a Sidebar event in your area. And if Sidebar has been a source of growth for you, consider paying it forward. There’s someone in this community who needs exactly what you have to offer.
Sidebar is a remarkable community of go-givers — don't ever hesitate to tap into the wisdom of this crowd. Your next breakthrough might just be one conversation away.
With gratitude,
Ha Nguyen
Head of Community, Sidebar
P.S. If you weren’t able to attend the Sidebar Summit, you can watch Phyl’s powerful keynote here. It’s a story—and a reminder—you won’t want to miss.
Phyl Terry keynote at our Sidebar Summit
Relive the magic through our Summit photo gallery
Sidebar Seattle community gathered this week. A huge thanks to Gaurav Doshi for bringing us together!