Answer: Having an open network

The more open your network the higher your relative performance. 

• Describe the networks that you are currently part of.
• Do you think of yourself as open or closed when it comes to your various networks? Explain. 
• The writer describes Steve Jobs (founder of Apple) as an example of how an open network can lead to incredible success. How is the iPhone an example of a product that benefited from Job's open network and his ability to draw from different fields? 
• How can you create your own "open network" at your high school? How might you benefit from expanding your circle? 

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom. 

Behind the numbers (Forbes):

People in open networks have unique challenges and opportunities. Because they’re part of multiple groups, they have unique relationships, experiences, and knowledge that other people in their groups don’t...

Why does it lead to success?

• More accurate view of the world
• Ability to control timing of information sharing
• Ability to serve as translator/connector between groups
• More breakthrough ideas 

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Here's an NGPF lesson to provide your students with these essential networking skills. 

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.