Mark McCluskey

Friendship: A Core Human Need

Mark draws on Tony Robbins’ six human needs to highlight how friendship is central to life. He breaks it down:

• Connection and love – friendship brings a sense of belonging.
• Growth and contribution – good friendships challenge us to develop and help us give back.
• Variety and significance – friends bring new experiences and make us feel valued.

“Life, in a lot of ways, is about connection and love,” Mark says. “The more friendships you build, the more you contribute – not just to them, but to yourself.”

Should We Teach Friendship?

Simon Sinek recently suggested that schools should teach kids how to make and maintain friendships. Mark agrees completely.

“Friendship is a life skill,” he says. “It’s one of the things that makes life better, yet we don’t teach kids how to do it well.”

He sees a huge opportunity to build those skills early.

“If you help kids develop good friendships, you’re giving them something they’ll use for the rest of their lives,” he says.

Friendship’s Greatest Gift

Mark ends by reflecting on what really matters in a friendship: emotional support.

“Trust, openness, honesty – they’re all important,” he says. “But when it comes down to it, a true friend is someone who’s there when the chips are down.”

Human beings are emotional, he explains, and good friendships recognise that.

“We all need support. That’s what a real friend does – they stand by you when you need them most.”