Community Over Competition
Over the last week I have been participating in an online challenge aimed directly at creative entrepreneurs. This isn’t the first time I’ve done something similar. Every once in a while I need to challenge myself with new tasks and goals so I’ll sign up for this group or that group and work on what they’ve set out for us to do. But this one was different. The goal of The Rising Tide Society is to ‘educate and empower creatives to thrive in the spirit of community over competition.’ What this boils down to is that those in the creative field alongside us are not our competition in the grand scheme of things. Sure we may do the same thing for a living or have clients deciding between which one of us they’ll hire, but it’s more about fostering relationships with each other.
Being in the creative field can be somewhat lonely. Often times we work solo and the only time we get any real communication with the outside world is when we’re working with our clients. And for most of us that just isn’t enough. The Rising Tide Society puts us in touch with one another so that we can build a strong creative community. Over the last few days I’ve discovered some wildly talented people! Everything from fellow photographers to event planners to fashion bloggers and all things in between! The support that I’ve seen us show one another has been truly amazing! We can do far more by coming together than by working against one another. I mean who really knows what it’s like to work in the creative industry besides your counterparts? Sure your friends and family may be able to give you support and an encouraging word when things become difficult, but do they really know what you’re dealing with? Of course not. That’s why it’s vital to have friends in the industry. And yes, when I say friends I truly mean it. Not just someone whose work you admire online, but someone you can call during the day or shoot an email to at 11 pm when things are weighing you down. Someone you can go and grab a coffee with and bounce ideas off of. Someone that will not only listen to you vent about what’s going on but also help you to come up with a solution that works. And how I do know it works? Because more likely than not they’ve been through it. And on the flipside of that it’s amazing to have people celebrate your business and all the wonderful things you’re achieving because they know just how much work goes into what you do.
My hope is that after this challenge has ended those in the Rising Tide community will continue to support one another. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that a Tuesdays Together group will form in Rock Hill, SC because I would love nothing more than to meet local creatives and become a family with them. I’m not ashamed to admit that I need people in my life to encourage me, celebrate with me and challenge me to be better in my business. And I hope to be that person for someone else. Like their motto says it’s all about ‘community over competition’ and I’m excited about the wonderful community that’s being built around me!
