Creating Space for Connection
One of the things that I create space for every day is connecting with people. It literally feeds my soul.
I am a social beast. There are few things that I enjoy more than learning about people and ultimately discovering more about myself as a result.
But please know: this doesn’t mean I am constantly surrounded by people, or don’t spend time on my own. Alone time gives me a lot as well, and I recognize my need to balance my days with time to connect with both others and myself. The ratios change, depending on what’s happening and the work in front of me. I sit down every Monday to reflect on what worked last week, what I’d like to change in the week ahead, and have an honest conversation with myself about what’s realistic. It’s almost like creating a “connection recipe” that results in satisfaction and joy, rather than exhaustion or loneliness.
When I moved to running my own business full time, I gave myself weekly goals for “reach-outs”, which stemmed from a number of things:
To prevent the loneliness that can happen as a solopreneur
To learn and spark new thinking
To stay on top of what’s happening in the various communities and industries I plug into
To give and receive support and perspective
To get (or stay) on people’s radar
To think/talk about possibilities around partnerships
To inject a good shot of fun into my work and life
For business purposes, this feeds into my networking plan. But it goes beyond that. When I am intentional about how I connect with others and myself, it allows me to tap into where I am right now, and where I want to be in a week, month, year, etc. It ensures I’m taking care of my emotional health. That I know what connection brings me, and how it has the potential to take away from me if I give too much.
It goes beyond building connective tissue -- it creates community. Weaving together a network of knowledge, friendship, expertise, and support.
