I'm a designer who turned into a writer who turned into a startup CEO. My mission is to help creators earn a living. Subscribe for essays on building an audience and earning a living as a creator.
Your network is 10x stronger than you think
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Hey Reader, I've been thinking a lot about LinkedIn lately. A few months ago when I started exploring it more seriously, I noticed something surprising. Many of the biggest creators on the platform were people I already knew or who were already following me. Some were even Kit customers. When I'd reach out to someone new, they'd often say, "I use Kit!" or, "I've been following your work for years." That's when it hit me: my network is 10x stronger than what I actually do with it. You may not realize it, but yours probably is too. The most successful creators I know have mastered the art of leveraging their connections. They're thoughtful about networking and even though they often have no idea what will come from it beforehand, in hindsight, it's always worth it. And that's why they make a point to proactively invest in their relationships. Old way:I have a question about something, so I guess I'll try to find the answer on my own. New way:Who can I ask that already has the answer? Here's a three-part approach to leveraging your network more effectively: Part 1: Take inventory of the advantages you haveList out:
Look for the overlap between the skills you have to offer, what you enjoy, and the people you're connected with. An example of what not to do is building a business that doesn't play to your strengths—like someone who hates being on camera but forces themselves to do it anyway. That's a recipe for burnout and mediocre results. Instead, establish a really clear goal. What are you trying to do? If you’re me, that might be reaching 100k LinkedIn followers (follow me here), or making $1M in course sales. For you, it might be launching a successful podcast or getting clients for your productized service agency. Whatever it is, your network can help—but only if you're specific about what you need. Part 2: Build a strategy around your inventory and goalsOnce you’ve taken inventory of your advantages: List out all the different ways you could solve for your goal. For example, if your goal was a certain number of course sales, you might consider multiple paths to achieving that: entirely ad-focused, leveraging speaking at events, selling purely on social, etc. Start high-level, and try to include at least one or two completely ridiculous ideas. Some of my best business decisions seemed outlandish at first—like a software company opening physical recording studios and making them free for customers to use. Narrow down to your top 3 options by mapping them against your existing skills and network. Which approaches align with people you already know? Which play to your natural strengths? Part 3: Make one meaningful connection each dayThe simplest way to leverage your network is to commit to one meaningful outreach each day. This isn't about mass messaging or generic check-in notes. It's about thoughtful, specific connection. Each morning, identify one person from your network who might help with your current goal. Send them a brief, specific message explaining what you're working on and asking one clear question. Don't ask for advice—just ask for their experience with a specific challenge. Create a simple tracking system (don’t overthink it). Use a basic spreadsheet with columns for:
Follow up on any responses within 48 hours. This compounds quickly. In a month, you'll have initiated 30 meaningful conversations that could transform your business. Remember that most people genuinely want to help—especially when you make it easy by being specific. "I'm researching podcast growth strategies and noticed you doubled your audience last year. Could you share the one tactic that made the biggest difference?" is much more likely to get a response than "Can I pick your brain about podcasting?" Your network isn't just a list of people you know. It's a group of relationships that can help you reach your goals faster than working alone. The difference between creators who break through and those who stay stuck often comes down to how many meaningful connections they build and maintain (with maintain being the important part). Which person in your network will you reach out to today? PODCASTFrom Brain Surgery to $1.6M: How I Built My Dream BusinessThis interview with Sam Vander Wielen is one of the most impactful I've done in the last year. She overcame so much (brain surgery, her parents passing away, and more) to go a from a burnt-out lawyer to building a $1.6M/year digital product business with just one full-time employee. She shares the strategy behind her evergreen funnel, the mindset shifts that helped her grow, and the systems that kept the business running after losing both of her parents.
Watch or listen to episode » KIT FEATUREAttribution data is now in your form and landing page reportsBeen wanting an upgrade to attribution tracking in Kit? You're in luck. Your form and landing page reports now show you exactly how your list is growing. Track marketing campaigns with UTM parameters, see top referrers, and measure conversion rates all in one place. This makes it easy to double down on what's working and stop wasting time on what isn't. See what’s driving your growth in your forms and landing page reports. Don’t have an account yet? BOOKThe Sweaty Startup: How to Get Rich Doing Boring ThingsMy friend Nick Huber released a book today called The Sweaty Startup. I was lucky enough to get an early copy and it's excellent. This book will help you:
If you want to make money without having a new idea, this book gives you the blueprint. Have a great week! —Nathan |
Nathan Barry
I'm a designer who turned into a writer who turned into a startup CEO. My mission is to help creators earn a living. Subscribe for essays on building an audience and earning a living as a creator.
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