Waking Up My Network Changed Everything
This post is part of our ongoing Friday Founder series: a weekly reflection on what we’re learning as we build We Lead Out. We’re sharing the real behind-the-scenes: the decisions we’re making, the challenges we’re facing, and the things we’re trying (and sometimes getting wrong) as a professional services startup. Our goal is to be helpful, honest, and human, especially for others walking the same path.
Most people treat their network like an address book, not a living thing.
For years, I’ve done the same. I’d connect with someone after a great project, promise to stay in touch, and… forget. The contact lived on LinkedIn, but the relationship had gone dormant.
When we started We Lead Out, I realised this had to change. Not just for commercial reasons — though let’s be honest, in a services business your network is your runway — but because I’d been missing out. Missing conversations. Missing ideas. Missing opportunities to collaborate with people I genuinely like and rate.
So I made a decision:
Instead of treating my network as something static, I’d treat it as something dynamic, worth investing in, worth showing up for. I started sending messages. Setting up calls. Reaching out with no agenda other than, "Here's what I’m building. What are you up to?"
The reaction? Honestly, it floored me.
People were so generous with their time. Curious. Encouraging. They offered introductions, advice, and honest takes. They told me where I was off the mark and where I was onto something. They opened doors. In many cases, they just said, “How can I help?”
What’s been unsurprising is that the people who already knew my work were quick to get what We Lead Out is trying to do: to deliver a clear, sharp, useful strategy for people building ambitious new ventures.
What’s been surprising is just how energising these conversations have been. Even the ones that don’t “lead to work” have led to insights, confidence, and clarity. I’d underestimated how powerful it is just to talk to smart, values-aligned people about the work you’re trying to do.
If I could go back five years and give myself one piece of advice, it would be this:
Don’t let your network go cold. You don’t need a pitch. You just need a point of view.
And if you're sitting on a quiet network you haven’t spoken to in a while, consider this your invitation to start warming it up. You’ll be surprised what comes back when you put something interesting out into the world.
We’re deep in founder mode over here, so if you're building something new or just want to swap ideas, we’d love to talk. Drop us a line.
Let’s talk
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