The Best Time to Start is Now
The beauty of community is that it can be as simple as sending a text or an email to gather people together for a shared purpose.
In today's newsletter, I want to emphasize the importance of building community, online, ASAP.
PLEASE START SOMETHING.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the complexities of starting something new.
From figuring out how to contact people, collect money, and organize the logistics, to coming up with the perfect name, the path to getting started often looks like a really bad idea.
But there's a really good reason to take that first step. To hit start.
The Power of Community.
So much of our mental and physical well-being depends on community. The positivity (and negativity) we derive from our daily interactions – it's all community.
Whether it's the people we see at the gym, the parents at our kids' sports events, or the familiar faces at our local coffee shop, community is all around us.
Small is Beautiful
The beauty of community is that it can be as simple as sending a text or an email to gather people together for a shared purpose.
The most impactful initiatives often start small. And so should you.
Don't worry about Slack's fees at 1000 members. Let's get 10!
The fear of the unknown should not stop you from taking the first step.
More Reps, More Success
The key to success really is how many times you have built community.
Your first community you design isn't permanent. It isn't fixes. You aren't stuck.
This is not your last home, and it's certainly okay for it to evolve and change over time.
The important thing is to not be paralyzed by the fear of not doing something perfectly.
More of Who Would Make Your Life Better?
If you are stuck, one of the easist prompts is to have you build something that is personally relevant to you.
For instance, during the pandemic, I decided to build a waterfall deck. I'm not super handy, so I looked for advice and plans online.
Eventually I was able to make a small online group of about 6 people. I thanked them for their help, I invited them to watch along and I sent updates.
Two years later we still talk even though my deck has long been forgotten.
It was a simple yet powerful example of building a community around a shared interest and providing support to one another.
Keep It Simple, Seriously!
The essence of community-building does not always have to be grand or world-changing. It's about uniting people who share common interests and giving them the space to grow and learn together.
If you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed by the idea of starting something, I'm here to help. Let's break it down together and turn your idea into a reality. Find me on Twitter or LinkedIn and tell me what you're up to. I'm ready!
The greatest gift you could give me – and yourself – is to start something with community.