Category: CommunityCategory: Community

Been thinking a lot about Priya Parker’s idea of group help vs self help concept, and Mel Mitchell-Jackson nails it in in a recent post, ‘on healing our attention and what’s at stake,’

We are all in the midst of unlearning the patterns of screen time from the early pandemic, but putting we’re the blame on ourselves and saying this is just a personal issue to solve.

This ignores the cultural conditions. It ignores that the intention we built with these spaces was to connect with our people. That is the thing that keeps me going back each time I try to stop. Quitting must happen with others.

Deleting an app while sitting alone on the couch with a laptop and big screen TV in front of us might not be the best way to regain our attention, but maybe finding other people in a similar pursuit could help.

A nice note from a former Email Guidance client:

Can I say your suggestion to start hosting zoom calls was a gamechanger over here? I now have a tiny group of people who are on a journey together and are making things happen. I know them and they know me and so much more can happen at that level ❤️ it’s like we’ve done intros already, lets get to work now

Not everyone needs to “post more,” or get more subscribers. Sometimes the magic you’re seeking is in the audience you already have. Get started here.

Another instance of paying attention to the people in real life, right in front of us:

In this instance Diana and Tom made a zine and it’s almost sold out.

 “I don’t need much to do much” is something I mentioned to someone earlier this week. Maybe we don’t need 4K cameras or big ad spends to get the word out.

Posting on social media is like buying a lottery ticket, because maybe it’ll pay off. But contacting the people who can directly help you? They either write you back, or they don’t – those are 50/50 odds, much better than gambling with an algorithm and hoping it just “works out.”

I felt a pang in my stomach, of how I’m not writing and publishing enough, or sending enough newsletters every week.

Instead of posting, I’ve been having Zoom calls with amazing people. I’ve walking 10 miles a day since the start of 2026. I’m bouncing emails back and forth in “tiny email circles” with my lovey Social Media Escape Club community. I did a two hour Substack Live this past weekend. I’m reaching out to potential guests to be on upcoming Escape Pod Zoom calls (like Erin Shetron later this week).

Paying attention to who you’ve got right in front of you is never a bad thing.