This post is Monica Lent inspired. 🙌
Underrated strategy: building your own micro-communities.
— Monica Lent (@monicalent) May 31, 2021
So many people wait for others to organize. But that can be you! Create a collaboration group for whatever you need (blog promotion, growing your projects, etc.) and help each other.
Success rarely happens in a vacuum :)
Most communities start small. Most stay small, or wither away. It's a very small percentage that actually grow big and sustainable. I would love this percentage to increase, I believe we can and will increase it, in time, lots of time, but this is not why I write this.
I don't have stats or data on this. What I do know is what I've personally seen time and time again. People fantasize about how wonderful big communities are and that becomes their goal without even experiencing or knowing that it is something that they enjoy doing.
Let us be realistic — big communities can be wonderful and powerful, they can also be energy-draining and stressful.
Instead, when we're staring out we need to think small. Actually, small is too big. Let's think tiny, or micro, or minimum. Incy wincy! 🕷
We are all capable of building better community. We don't need to overthink it, but I think the reality is that we do. Instead, we all need to practice. Experiment, explore new ideas, figure things out. Fail in ways that are manageable.
Building community requires confidence. Practice brings confidence. Relationship building is for everyone, not just community builders. We must all get better at this.
Micro-communities are perfect for this.
It doesn't need to be anything with a big vision. It can have a simple goal. It can involve a small group. It can have a set period, or go on indefinitely.
- Organise a weekly walk with likeminded people
- Or a monthly dinner
- Or an accountability group
- Collaborate on an article
If it succeeds great. If it fails, it's not the end of the world.
Just make sure it's something you want to do and that you will personally grow from it. Maybe you'll learn a new skill. Get healthier. Make some new friends.
Sure, it may turn into something bigger, definitely keep an open mind. However, that's not the point. It's meant to be about learning, finding your confidence, building trust and relationships with people.
One action, and one conversation at a time.
