Who have you been talking to lately?
Working in a vacuum makes most people feel a little lonely and stuck. And as we come out of the pandemic, I’m reminded that thinking in a vacuum is also not ideal. We need other people to power our ideas.
Over the past few months, I’ve rediscovered the power of people to help me get unstuck and move ideas forward.
After a year-plus working solo and barely leaving my house, and certainly not interacting with many people in person, I’d forgotten how much energy and momentum I can get from a single conversation.
Do you feel that way?
I’ve always been an extrovert, and I’m endlessly interested in other people. When I started my business, I considered calling it “Sounding Board” or some version of that idea. I wanted to help people think out loud, because that’s how I think best — with other people. A client recently referred to me as a “thought partner” and I was delighted.
A few recent experiences have helped me remember and rediscover the power of people in helping me develop ideas and unlock new ones. I think of these people as my personal “idea club.”
First, I’m wrapping up a big 2021 project: ghostwriting my first business book. My process with the author has been built around weekly conversations. We talk through each chapter, dig into her ideas, pause and reconsider, backtrack and bring up previous idea threads. I love working this way. Writing a book based on a series of long conversations is my absolute dream as an extrovert writer. It’s a similar process I’ve used over the years to write articles and blog posts with other authors, but getting to carry on an extended conversation for months with one person, and to really learn how they think and what makes their story and perspective special, has made this one of the most fulfilling and special projects of my career.
Second, I’ve been leaning in to my friendships with fellow writers, marketers, and thinkers to knock the dust off ideas. I’m especially grateful to all-star B2B writer and teacher Sarah Greesonbach for helping me think and giving me the gift of her time, attention, and friendship. We cheer each other on, ask each other hard questions, and offer new perspectives. I’m also grateful for former coworkers and clients who are game to talk through our latest ideas and challenges. I’ve found that when I’m able to move these conversations past the small talk and go deeper, my relationships and my ideas thrive. If you don’t already have friends and colleagues who help you workshop ideas, find yourself those friends. They have been invaluable to me, as a business owner, someone who deconstructs big ideas for a living… and just as a human. 😊
Third, as I’ve raved about here before, I’ve gotten involved with a private community this year, The Wise Women’s Council. This group of ambitious, empathetic women have committed to going deep on all things work, life, and entrepreneurship. I’m still a little amazed at how being in community with this group has sparked new ideas, connections, shared stories, and aha moments. My membership in this community is truly powering me. Our organizer, Sarah K. Peck, is an absolute genius at bringing people together in intentional ways and sparking meaningful connection that goes well beyond the normal networking small talk. For me, this group has filled the COVID-era void of meeting new people, connecting at events and conferences, and the spark of talking to someone outside your day-to-day life.
So here’s my charge to you: If you’re out of ideas or you’re perpetually stuck, you might not need to research more or practice more or think harder. You might need to pull in your wisest, kindest friends, or friendliest strangers, and put some people power into it. Who could help get your wheels turning, move your ideas to a more interesting place, or challenge your preconceptions? Think of it as an idea club, or a thought leadership circle, and keep those people close.
