How To Generate More Creative Opportunities: Get Out of the House
If you’re like me, there’s something exhilarating about the glow of an open computer screen. It's like the moment just before dawn - quiet, still, and full of potential. The feeling like anything can happen. That anything is possible.
I hope that feeling never disappears. But there does come a time when you’re stuck, and neither your computer or the internet has the answer. Maybe your newsletter isn’t growing. Or your content isn’t working. Or you’re not sure what to work on next.
Or maybe - and I’ve seen this with prolific creators who are living the “dream” - you’re just miserable doing what you’re doing.
That’s the time when you need to close your computer and go out into the world. Feel the earth under your feet. Hear the hum of life around you. And open yourself up to serendipity.
Get out of the house more.
Success comes down to people.
“Your goal in life is to find out the people who need you the most, to find out the business that needs you the most, to find the project and the art that needs you the most. There is something out there just for you.” - Naval Ravikant
There’s a reason Naval lists people first. Who you spend your life with - your friends, business partners, collaborators, investors, etc. - determines how far you go.
The more time you spend out in the world, whether it’s at a local workshop, an art gallery opening, or even just a park gathering of people interested in the same thing you are, the more people you meet. And the more opportunities you’ll stumble across.
It took me a decade to learn this. But the longer you bang your head against the wall, the more obvious it becomes.
Engage with the world, and the world will engage with you.
Here’s an example from my life. A year ago, Tara and I went out to a comedy sketch show (something we are very interested in). The theater was buzzing and the show killed, but we didn’t get a chance to meet anyone after it was over.
The next day, by pure chance, Tara ran into the creator of the show at an audition. They hit it off and became friends.
Cut to last week - Tara and I had a video sketch in that very same show!
All because we left the house.
To find opportunities, build in private, share in public.
But it’s not enough to just go out into the world.
You also have to:
1) have something to show that proves competence before you…
2) share it with people you meet who are interested in the same thing you are.
Part of the reason Tara was able to get a sketch on the show was because the creator had seen one of the sketches Tara and I made on our own for social media. Tara didn’t even ask to be in the show - the creator asked her! Because we proved competence.
We built in private, shared in public, and created an opportunity from thin air.
If you’re an introvert like me, force yourself to get out.
I’m an introvert. And I’m guilty of not always following my own advice.
I prefer to work furiously in front of my computer to get things done - creative writing, video editing, etc.
But the best decision I ever made was marrying an extrovert.
Because Tara needs to get out of the house. That’s how she gets her energy - from other people. So I have someone to push me outside my comfort zone.
If you’re an introvert, then find your extrovert.
This could be a friend, a co-worker, even a family member - anyone who will say, “hey, I’m going to this thing, want to come?” And then go.
Because if you make it a habit to get out of the house and engage with the world, the world with engage with you. And good things will happen.