So much of my work involves putting myself out there online. Music, coaching, newsletters, videos, new offers. Trying to bring more attention to the things I care about.

But even though we’re “building a community,” it doesn’t always feel like we’re building community. Sometimes it feels like we’re building some sort of metric.

That’s been hard for me recently.

I miss my people

Living in Hawaii, I miss my community back in Colorado terribly. Long-standing friends and family. Relationships with a depth that takes years to build.

I have great friends here, too, and I’m continuing to deepen those relationships. But that takes time. You can’t speed that part up.

Denver had its own kind of isolation. There were so many people and so much going on that it was sometimes hard to find where I really connected. I’d leave a happy hour networking event feeling like I’d collected 25 business cards and maybe made one real connection with a human.

Here, we’re spread out across an island. People have businesses, families, travel, and land to care for. An orchard, a garden, a forest that keeps trying to reclaim whatever you cleared last weekend.

The jungle never stops. If you don’t keep it in check, it will take you over.

I would rather be in more nature than in more traffic. Still, getting everyone together in one place at one time can be difficult. It’s beautiful here, and it can be lonely.

Putting myself out there has helped

Recently, I sat with a men’s group I’ve been part of for over a year. A space where we can really speak and be heard, and practice being good listeners for each other.

Regular pickleball has given me a place to be competitive, learn something, and meet new people. I’ve been visiting golf courses around the island as I bring my mindset coaching into more conversations. I also attended a business leadership summit with more than 100 business owners and got to know more of the people helping this island work.

Alongside getting out to hear more live music, these experiences have reminded me how much I love being with people. Listening, playing, sharing something we care about.

That’s what I want my business to create more of, too.

I want to master my digital space and streamline my processes using AI and other powerful tools so I can spend more time connecting with humans and helping strengthen community.

Reach out to someone you miss

Make a phone call, suggest a specific time to catch up, or send a voice or video message. Meet in person if you can.

For me, a casual “Hey, what’s been going on with you?” text can feel like it leaves the other person to do most of the work. I’d rather hear your voice, hear something about your life, or know when we can actually talk.

Give someone a little more of yourself when you reach out.

And if you’ve been feeling disconnected, or feel like you’ve lost some of your ability to connect with other people, that’s something we can work on together in coaching.

I love meeting in person when we can, and we can also go really deep in our video sessions. If you’re curious about what working together could look like, learn more about private coaching with me.