Burned out on building community? Read this.
Most communities don’t fail because people stop caring. They fail because we were sold the wrong playbook.
We were told that if we just found the right platform, nailed the perfect strategy, or added one more feature… community would magically appear.
It won’t.
Over the last 20 years, I’ve built, scaled, and fixed more than 25 communities — from one-week pop-ups to $35K/month ecosystems. And I’ve seen the same story over and over again:
Community success is a mindset first, a framework second.
That’s why captured a year's worth of essays – all of my reflections and perspectives on community – and put them into my latest project:
Just Add People: The Community Builder’s Cookbook
A mindset reset + practical manual for solo creators and community managers who want to build something real — and sustainable.
This isn’t another community-building playbook filled with growth hacks and engagement metrics. It’s a reset button — for anyone tired of building zero to one, the false promises, or the fantasy that “forever communities” are the only way.
Inside, you’ll learn:
- Why your community probably stalled (and how to start over without shame)
- How to build with 4 people before trying to scale to 400
- Why temporary, time-bound communities often outperform “forever” ones
- The real infrastructure that matters (hint: it’s not your tech stack)
- How to protect the energy that makes a community feel alive
This is the book for builders who remember why they started — and are ready to do it differently.
👉 Read the full book free here
As a bonus, you’ll also get The PopStart Checklist. This one-page resource checklist to help you apply what you learn. Find it in the resource section; a downloadable copy to reference as you rebuild or relaunch
If your community feels messy, stuck, or like it lost its spark — you’re not alone. And it’s not too late.
Start fresh. Just add people.
Patrick
ps - this book is a living work, so be sure to bookmark it as I'll be adding more as my community work continues.