Who do you know already?

Only connect

One of my favourite questions in coaching sessions, is “Who do you know already?”

We all know more people than we think. Yet when we need support, information, more work, tech support, we all tend to look past our own warm contacts. Instead, we go cold-calling or start shouting at strangers online. 

Whatever their challenge, when I ask clients who they know already who might help – they can always come up with a name. Someone they might ask. Someone who might know someone else. A virtual forum, trade organisation.

The key here is asking for what you want, and being prepared to be vulnerable. It’s not always easy to admit you need something, or that you don’t know everything. But once you do, people are often happy to help. 

In fact you’re giving them two gifts:

• Permission to be vulnerable and ask when they need something. 
• The joy of helping out a fellow human, feeling useful – and showing off who/what they know.

Connection is so important for creatives.

It’s how we find inspiration, ideas, new tools and strategies. It’s important to keep in touch with colleagues, but also to take inspiration and help from creatives working in other fields.

Our problems are often similar, but our approaches to solving them might be different. I’ve written here about some of the things I’ve learned from creators in other fields. 

I’ve also explored Brian Eno’s idea of scenius: the power of clusters creatives working together, instead of the out-dated idea of the lone genius, toiling alone and unappreciated. 

As a writer, I mostly work alone.

Except I don’t, not really.

There are editors who improve my work enormously. Sub-editors who pick up typos and grammatical errors.
Art directors who commission images to enhance my words. Photographers, illustrators and artists who make those images. Designers who make it look inviting on the page.

Then there are the publishers who get what I write in front of an audience. Printers, distributors, competitors, newsagents and bookshops. Readers who give me feedback and share my work with friends.

And that’s just the start.

There are also the people I interview, or who help me with information. The PRs who set up those interviews.

The writer friends who have supported, encouraged and critiqued my work for decades now. Friends from other creative fields who discuss process, blocks, how we might pivot and keep making a living in the face of endless change. People who make me laugh, introduce me to exciting new things, pick me up when I’m down.

Then there are the multitudes I have never met. Some of them died long before I was born – but they still influenced me, led me, shaped who I am. Their music, books, clubs, art and films opened new worlds to me.

To be truly creative, we need each other.

• We need a whole ecosystem of publishers, labels, shops, galleries, fans, collectors, critics, agents, managers, producers.
• We need guides, mentors, heroes: people to light the way, and show us what’s possible.
• We need collaborators, pioneers who introduce us to new ideas, new tools and techniques.
• We need people to react against: rejecting their work helps us find a voice of our own.
  

Our network is our power, our strength.

Almost all of us could spend more time nurturing it, strengthening it, reaching out and helping when we can, cheering people on, offering encouragement when they’re down, and sharing what we know. 

So put time aside to do this, regularly. It’s time well spent.

In fact, just try it. Now. 

• What do you most need, right now? And who could you ask?
• What do your current clients or audience need most right now? Can you offer them anything to help?
• Who could you offer help to? Is there a question you could answer on an online forum? Someone you could mentor? 
• Think of an old friend you’ve lost touch with. Reach out and say hello. 
• Think of a former client you’ve not spoken to in a while. Reach out and see how their business is doing, if there’s anything they need.

How would it feel to do this every week? Pick a time, and schedule it in your diary as a regular commitment. 

Do this for at least 90 days, and watch the magic happen.

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