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Some creators assume growth, especially in the early stages, is a solo effort. Work harder. Post more. Refine your craft. Eventually, the right doors will open. But what if progress isn’t driven primarily by output only?

What if sustainable growth can also accelerate based on your circle of influence? Not who you follow. Not who you admire from a distance. But who you actually walk with. Who moves from casual connection to collaborator.

“Walk with the wise and become wise.”
— Proverbs 13:20

The Hebrew verb translated as “walk” (holek) implies ongoing movement and habitual association—not a one-off conversation. And “companion” implies shared life, not surface-level contact. Wisdom, in this framing, transfers through proximity over time. That idea reframed how I think about networking—and why so many capable creators feel stuck.

Over the last year, I made it my business to start leaning into building relationships. LinkedIn has become one of the biggest accelerators in this effort. I’ve built relationships with marketing leaders, creatives I admired from afar, and even a television network executive who, after learning about my career goals, opened his inbox and invited me to pitch directly. I have applied the same wisdom on Instagram, but I find that LinkedIn is where many corporate types like me are more easily accessible.

But how do I initiate contact, you ask? When I wanted to connect for either a podcast interview or a networking meeting, I would send a message like this after they accepted my invitation to connect:

No résumé. No credentials. No hidden pitch. Just clarity and respect for how people work. From there, conversations unfolded naturally. Follow-ups were calm. Silence usually wasn’t rejection—it was a matter of timing.

Careers are less permanent than we admit. I had a great networking conversation with my new friend Alex over at Fiserv, and she said something that struck me: Titles are “on lease.” The people who navigate change best aren’t caught scrambling to reconnect when layoffs or a career pivot hit. They make it a practice to walk with others along the way.

If momentum feels harder than it should, here’s the reframe I wish I’d embraced sooner: Treat relationship-building as part of the work.

Growth is not only tied to what you produce, but also who you choose to walk with. So, if there’s one thing I want you to add to your arsenal as a creator:

#1: I pray that you would find favor with God and with people—that doors would open not through striving, but through trustworthiness, humility, and grace that marks your life and work. Scripture reference: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” — Luke 2:52

#2: I pray that you would find safety in a multitude of counsel, and that God would surround you with voices that sharpen your discernment, enrich your thinking, and help you see what you cannot see on your own. Scripture reference: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” — Proverbs 20:18 (See also: Proverbs 11:14)

#3: I pray that you would walk with the wise, developing rhythms and relationships that shape your character, stretch your perspective, and quietly position you for growth over time. Scripture reference: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” — Proverbs 13:20

#4: I pray that you would have discernment for timing and posture, knowing when to speak, when to listen, and when to move—so that your steps are ordered and your efforts are aligned with God’s purpose, not just your ambition. Scripture reference: “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.” — Psalm 37:23 (See also: Ecclesiastes 3:1)

#5: I pray that you would remain faithful in the small, unseen steps, trusting that God honors consistency, obedience, and quiet diligence long before results are visible. Scripture: “Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much.” — Luke 16:10

See you next Monday,