The Art of Belonging: Exclusive Pre-Release with Dov Baron

A LETTER FROM THE FOUNDERS OF NEXT JUMP

Why The Art of Belonging Matters

When we read Dov Baron’s The Art of Belonging, it felt deeply familiar.

Fitting in is not belonging. In fact, fitting in may be the greatest enemy of belonging.

For decades at Next Jump, we have been working on a simple but radical idea: people do their best work when they stop pretending.

Harvard professors Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey described this as the “second job”, the enormous amount of energy people spend hiding weaknesses, managing impressions, and protecting how others see them.

At Next Jump, we call it No LHF: No Lying, Hiding or Faking.

Think about the human potential wasted when people spend more energy looking good than getting better.

And this is where belonging becomes powerful.

Belonging is not fitting in.

It is having the courage to be seen.

At Next Jump, we say this all the time. “We are all misfits. You are our misfit.” And that’s the point.  Lead by example being unapologetically you. This will help others feel courage to do the same.

The world's problems are growing faster and more complex. We cannot solve them with conformity. We need the full power of human wisdom, intuition, judgment, and our differences.

Before COVID, Next Jump earned top recognition for building company culture. But over the past six years, we've come to believe something bigger:

The future isn't about building great company cultures. It's about building great communities.

Company culture asks: How do we get people to work together?

Community culture asks: How do we help people become better together?

Alone is hard. Together, we are stronger.

At Next Jump, we express this through one simple equation:

Better Me + Better You = Better Us.

Better Me: Take responsibility for your own growth. Stop hiding. Get better.

Better You: Use your strengths to help others grow. Make the people around you stronger.

Better Us: Unlock what none of us could achieve alone.

That's why Dov's message resonates so deeply.

The Art of Belonging challenges us to stop asking, "Do I belong here?" and start asking a harder question:

"Am I showing up fully and helping others do the same?"

Dov’s book is a powerful reminder that belonging is not just something we feel.

It is something we practice. Together.

Charlie Kim & Meghan Messenger

Co-CEOs, Next Jump

More About the Evening

We'll be hosting an exclusive pre-release for Dov Baron's upcoming new book, The Art of Belonging: Why Conformity Silences Genius and How to Unleash It.

Dov has spent 30+ years in rooms with global leaders digging into the emotional wiring that drives the top 1% of leaders to perform. Now he’s taking on the question so many of us feel but rarely say out loud: what does it take to belong, not just fit in?

We’ll have special pre-release copies of the book for everyone attending, and stay afterwards for the amazing bites from Chef Dani, custom cocktails and all-night jams….

About Dov Baron

Dov Baron is a leadership speaker, corporate cultural strategist, and bestselling author specializing in authentic leadership and "Emotional Source Code"

He is recognized as an authority on authentic leadership and the psychological drives behind organizational and personal identity.

Bestselling author of several books including; One Red Thread and Fiercely Loyal: How High Performing Companies Develop and Retain Top Talent.

Dov is the creator and host of two popular podcasts, Leadership & Loyalty, where he delves into themes of authenticity and leadership which has been named the #1 podcast for Fortune 500 Executives by Apple podcasts, and Curiosity Bites, which has featured hundreds of hours of interviews with top leaders, scientists, theologians, military intelligence officers, and artists all in the commitment to master What Drives Human Behavior. Now, they are both combined under one name: The Dov Baron Show: Unmasking Hidden Truths for High-Profile Deep Thinkers

About First Thursdays

First Thursdays are our signature monthly gatherings—each one centered around a different theme, but always designed to spark meaningful connections across industries. Past evenings have featured AI x Food, Dancers & the Chefs, and a film premiere from an Oscar-winning director.

Expect a curated crowd, exceptional conversation, and Michelin-level dining from our Chef Coalition of world-class culinary talent.

Have you attended a First Thursday before? Let us know your feedback [HERE]

Fridays after First Thursday: CEO Happy Hour (10AM - 1PM)

Our post-First Thursday time to connect, reflect, and brainstorm in pairs while we clean up together (a ritual we also do as Next Jumpers). All leftovers from Thursday will be saved for those who join on Friday. Sign Up Here

About Next Jump

Founded more than 30 years ago, Next Jump is a technology company and leadership development organization best known for creating Perks at Work, which serves millions of employees at thousands of companies worldwide.

Beyond our business, we are deeply focused on helping people become better leaders, teammates, and decision-makers. Our work has been featured by Harvard Business School, which identified Next Jump as one of only two organizations highlighted for building a culture where personal growth and leadership development are embedded into everyday work.

Today, Next Jump convenes a community of leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, operators, coaches, and innovators who believe that while technology will continue to change how we work, investing in people remains the greatest opportunity.

Our belief is simple: Better Me + Better You = Better Us.