Bob's Thoughts: Surround Yourself With Like Minded Hustlers

Remember how when you were a kid, your mom didn't want you hanging out with the bad kids? As grown folk we have a pretty good idea of the folks who are a positive influence on us, and those who are not. When it comes to doing whatever creative thing you are into, the same mantra holds true.

Look for people who have the same amount of hustle than you. Or, ideally, just a nudge more. Folks who, as you are around them, you can learn from them and they drive you to be your best self. As best you can, make them your circle.

I have a tooooon of friends who are authors and artists at this point. Being on the con circuit will do that. Ben Meeks, Joe Compton, and Richard Fierce though are the folks I spend the most time with. There are creatives who hustle a lot less than them. There are creatives who hustle a lot more than them (though not many). But these are the guys I feel that I give and take from in almost equal measure. Folks in a similar space to me, that when we stay up talking long into the night at a con about what we want to accomplish, I don't feel like I'm just teaching a class, or sitting through one.

We are always giving each other tips and tricks to try, giving each other advice, helping out where we can. As much as possible we share tables, we share hotel rooms, we watch each others spaces, we share each others links. Most events they sell more than me (pro tip: fancy hand crafted pins and amazing collectors editions are fantastic sellers, and I have neither). But I don't feel down about it. They share all their methods, so I always understand exactly why. And it motivates me. I'mma have that fancy collectors edition sooner rather than later, and thanks to Richard I know just how I'm going to do it.

But I don't go out there and try to compare myself to John Hartness, or Matt Dinniman. That's not a fair comparison (yet!), and would probably just serve to depress me. Though I certainly do watch them and ask questions when I need advice. And I don't compare myself to the baby author who just started selling at events, or the authors who just do it for the fun. We are in different spaces, and have different goals.

So I encourage you, find your tribe, who are in it for the same reasons as you. Just starting out? Find other authors who are also just starting out, and share spaces. Learn from authors farther along the path, and share what you learned. They will be doing the same with you. You will grow together, and both be stronger for it.

And maybe one day you'll find that you eventually outgrow them, or they you. That you care more about the business, or maybe they do. And that's ok. You will still be friends. You just might not share as many tables or hotels, as one of yall starts doing different events. You might be the lucky one who suddenly breaks big on tiktok and starts doing things full time. Remember me fondly when you do.

Ben and I share a ton of tables. But you know what? Within a year, I will be surprised if we share too many more. We're just both getting too big, with too many books, too many other projects. We'll have caught up to Richard on space needs (we'll never catch up to him in book count lol). But we're still gonna be sharing rooms and rides. We've just grown our little empires. Which we would have done no matter what. But did we all grow a little faster with each other at our backs? With each other motivating and guiding each other?

I think so.

One of my 'author hype songs' that never fails to get me pumped is Team the Best Team by Doomtree. I'm not saying we're the best team...but I'm not not saying it either.

Find your tribe.