How Valuable is Your Social Capital?

From an early age, most of us are taught that money will be our most important asset. Not only is it the lifeboat that will keep us afloat, it’s the key to success. We’re faithful to the idea, starting with the wisdom to invest in a college degree even if we can’t afford it. We may even pursue higher levels of education to secure a loftier financial future. If we’re smart, we’ll invest in properties and any number of mutual funds to evolve our capital and secure it for retirement. But what’s missing in this recipe for success is the one thing that may matter more: social capital.

Social capital can be defined as the worth you accumulate through worthwhile interpersonal connections and relationships. Much like financial assets, social capital also provides a sense of security and well-being. But while financial capital can put you onto the elevator of success, social capital provides the dynamic pulley action that will keep taking you upward. If you’ve heard the phrase, “It takes a village,” you’ll understand what social capital is all about. Largely, it’s about securing your own social safety net that keeps you afloat during good times and bad, and at the same time, it’s the legacy you generate and leave behind.

Developing your worth as a social capitalist is a two-way street. As a member of Youtropolis, you build it whenever you take a liberation action. Each action builds your social safety net, allowing you to form new alliances, collaborate, and share your goodness which may be expressed through an encouraging comment, an enlightening post, or a tangible gift. Each action is your opportunity to add to the growing legacy you’ll leave behind for generations to come.

We all know that far too many people have invested their social capital destructively, deliberately negating the greater good. That will be their legacy. But you can counter their efforts by sharing your own social good, thus joining others in elevating the values that have come to dominate current social trends and conversations.

If you’re interested in discovering how much social capital you already have, take the quiz.