The Best Return in My Professional World is People
Back in 2020, Benjamin Lu, Paul Miller, Ankit Vaid and I started managing what has become a 16,000-strong community of people connected to residential subdivision. What grew from that has turned out to be one of the most valuable things in my professional life.
Through the depths of Covid, we talked, we met as restrictions lifted, and some are now my closest of friends. When something goes seriously wrong for one of us, there is a known person you can reach out to. If things are really bad, it is a hand of support and direction, maybe even a strategic email. No money, just what you do.
One of my most special connections goes back to 2023. An awful Saturday morning: scaffolding had been removed early and plasterers were caught inside the building, loads of mud down on the ground. In came Ranjit, planks installed and crisis averted. Lunch a week later and I was a much happier developer.
More recently, a reach-out to sort out something for someone. A review of the story’s history and I had an email prepared (we chatted it over). Just over two weeks later his project was unblocked. Just this week I had the joy of a long lunch with that same developer. We shared learnings over the previous five years and our common experience from our international lives.
As people we are a community. We need to stay connected. Get our heads away from our screens and do more humaning. Think outside of our own projects, learn, reach out to and support others.
Our main community is on Facebook as Subdivision NZ. (Note: joining requests using anonymous names or unanswered questions will be declined.)
