Hi, friend -

On November 19, 2019, I got a Slack message from someone I'll call Paige (because that's her name):

"I've decided we're friends."

On that same day, I got a LinkedIn message from her:

"omg hi."

Since that day, Paige and I have traded innumerable texts, Slack messages, and Zoom chats. She's one of my all-time favorite people.

But I've gotta be honest (and she knows this): If Paige hadn't made the first move, I don't know that we'd be in each other's orbits.

Wanna know why?

Because Paige is cool AF, and I am ... decidedly not. There is simply no way I would've ever gathered the chutzpah to try to be friends with her.

And listen, I don't know if you've noticed, but making friends as an adult is hard. Especially if you're not the going-to-the-bar, neighborhood-book-club-forming, church-small-group-attending, play-group-hosting type of human.

Especially especially  if you're none of those things and you're trying to run your own business. There's just not much time and energy left for relationships.

Especially especially ESPECIALLY  if you also happen to be a socially awkward, post-menopausal introvert with body image issues. (So I've heard.)

But I'm telling you, ...

Pep Talk #018: Relationships are worth the risk.
Building connections with people can feel vulnerable*. But being siloed is what actually leaves us vulnerable—to workaholism, burnout, loneliness, imposter syndrome (or delusions of grandeur), and, honestly, the echo chamber of our own experience.

When we risk relationships, we find our people: the ones who'll tell us the truth, offer encouragement, hold space for our blech, laugh at our stupid memes, say "yes" to wild adventures (I'm looking at you, Sarah), and challenge our worldview so we can be better.

Of course, finding your people is gonna require that you put yourself out there.

I promise: If I can do it, you can do it.

Here's how I've risked relationships and found my people:
> I engage with other entrepreneurs through Slack.
> I host regular virtual co-working sessions via Zoom.
> Every couple of months, I pretend I want to read a business book so I can invite other people talk about the book with me. (Weird. I guess I am a book-club-forming person.)
> I say "yes" when someone invites me to have a conversation. Usually.

I realize those ideas may not be your cup of tea. In that case, brew your own cup. Just don't brew it alone.

Oh, and this is important: Go ahead and put the full-strength version of yourself out there right from the start. If people don't get the whole you, they're not for you.

*If you're an Enneagram 7, you might argue with me, so I'll just add the word genuine in front of connections and watch as you break out in a cold sweat. (Said with love.)

Here's to full-strength, YOU finding your people—
Kelley

P.S. Someone 'fessed up to sending me that floral bouquet I wrote about last time—which is proof that email works. If you want to send emails to your list, but you don't wanna write 'em, I can do that for you. Let's talk about how we might work together.