How I Build Community in 25 Minutes (Plus Personal News…)

The Power—and Reality—of NetworksHey, everyone. I am dropping this one today because it compliments some hard news I shared on Facebook today. This week’s blog is going to be short and honest (which may be a better version to listen to!) I’ve been up to some pretty cool things (more on that later), and this episode is inspired by Questlove’s “Creative Quest,” especially the chapter 4, The Network.Why Community Matters to MeWhen I moved to Grand Rapids in 2019 and started working remote, I knew I needed real local connections. I found a monthly agile lunch group that was the antidote to Zoom burnout. It was powerful—and genuine—to meet with people, talk about our problems, and realize we share so much even when our contexts look different. After COVID, that product group faded away. About a year ago (actually I have realized it’s been almost 2 years now), I told myself: If the community I want doesn’t exist, it’s on me to build it. So, I started the West Michigan Product Community on LinkedIn, hunted down anyone in the area with a product-related title, and just started reaching out. Then I hosted meetups. My first in-person product coffee meetup? Literally nobody showed up. It was awkward and weird. But here’s the lesson: Real networking isn’t instant Instagram success. It’s slow, persistent, and—if you’re lucky—a little bit fun. And fast forward to today, we have a vibrant product community with well attended meetups!Collaboration and Facilitation TipsNow, I partner with Jason and Rebecca to run these meetups, and what makes them special isn’t attendance—it’s meaningful connection. We use facilitation tools like Liberating Structures’ “one-two-for-all,” where folks reflect alone, pair up, then join groups and share. Prompts like “How do you use AI?” become our jumping-off point. In just 25 minutes, 25 people bond; it feels intentional, not awkward. Making those spaces comfortable and real is key. If you want to build your own network, get messy, try facilitation games, and know persistence pays off.Here’s a little video I took of the community at our meetup the other day! That’s the power of liberating structures and facilitation right there! When Networks Really MatterThis episode is especially personal to me. Recently, my sister, Annie’s breast cancer came back and spread quickly. It’s everywhere…liver, lungs, spine, femur, hips, colar bone, and the skull. We really don’t know how long she has so naturally she is checking off her bucket list with her kids, and we’ll also travel to New York state more. When she found out in the ER a few weeks ago, I flew out as soon as we realized how serious it was. I bought a one way ticket. I stayed for a week…a long time to leave your kids and spouse with no notice. I got to spend time with her at the hospital—and take her home, care for her (even celebrate my birthday with her). It reminded me that we barely get this kind of time together as adults with kids. She shared this to her network yesterday on Facebook, the only time social media can really be useful. But this is the power of the network…my friends, my collaborators, my local community (including my product meetup collaborators) turned out in all the best ways, checking in, sending cards, showing up. Even social media, which often feels fake to me, became a way to see love and care pouring in for my sister. Networks matter not just for professional success, but because when life gets hard, these are the people who show up for you.My Next ChapterI want to be real: I’m taking a pause to focus on my family and healing. The book club and podcast may slow down, but everything I’ve learned about networks—from product meetups to deeply personal support—reminds me it’s worth building relationships intentionally, one coffee at a time. Get out from behind your screen, show up messily and authentically, and watch your community form in surprising ways.So you may or may not get consistency leading up to the holidays, and I have decided that I will not finish Creative Quest via this substack. I will read it, and might document ideas and inspiration from it…but am not going to formally guide you through the book like I have in the past. Thank you for sticking with me. I hope these honest reflections spark something for you—about your own network, or how you show up for others. I’ll be back when it’s time, and in the meantime, keep nurturing your connections and yourself.Whenever you’re ready, I can help you with:* Workshop design and facilitation* Facilitation and workshop training, including AI Opportunity Mapping, Strategy & Design Sprints* Intention setting, planning, and incremental progress for success Get full access to Confessions of a Creative Leader at creativeleaderconfessions.substack.com/subscribe