Why I don't network at the beginning

Hello, hello!

I'm trying something new today. Instead of sitting at my desk typing this email, I'm dictating it while cutting out little paper goodies for the October edition of my Sparkles of Joy snail mail club.

This month's theme is Beating the Burnout Blues, and it's a topic that's particularly close to my heart.

I think we sometimes associate burnout exclusively with work, but burnout can creep into so many different areas of our lives. It can stem from caregiving responsibilities, constant decision-making (hello, decision fatigue!), juggling family commitments, or simply having too much on our plates for too long.

And I genuinely believe it's something that can happen to any of us.

For this month's envelope, I'm creating a burnout checklist to help subscribers recognize the signs of burnout and reflect on whether they might be experiencing it. I'm also putting together practical tips, solutions, and little activities to help them work through burnout and find moments of joy along the way.

I've been having so much fun researching, writing, and creating everything, and I'm genuinely excited for my subscribers to receive their envelopes!

So, if today's email sounds a little more conversational than usual, that's because you're essentially keeping me company while I prepare my happy mail.

Anyway, I've been thinking about something else lately, especially as I've been building this new business.

Consistency over collaboration.

1. Networking Can Be Procrastination in Disguise

Over the years, I've started several businesses, including proofreading, freelance writing, social media management, blogging, and now my snail mail club.

One thing I've consistently noticed is that when people start a new business, they're often eager to network. They attend events, join communities, reach out to other business owners, and look for collaboration opportunities, hoping these connections will eventually lead to clients or customers.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this. I've benefited enormously from networking and collaborations throughout my entrepreneurial journey.

However, I believe that when you're just starting out, you're better off spending your time building something valuable than trying to convince people to collaborate with you.

Networking can sometimes become procrastination disguised as productivity.

It feels like you're making progress because you're meeting people and talking about your business, but if you haven't actually created anything, what are you moving forward?

2. Focus on the Work That Actually Matters

Let me give you an example from my newest venture, Sparkles of Joy.

I've noticed that mail swaps and collaborations are quite popular among snail mail creators. And I can absolutely see their value, particularly when it comes to reaching new audiences.

But right now, I don't think that's where I should be spending most of my time.

My priority is creating a product that my subscribers genuinely look forward to receiving every month. That involves researching ideas, thinking about the problems I want to help them with, writing letters, designing activities, printing and cutting paper goodies, and creating videos to share on social media.

Just as importantly, I want to spend time building relationships with the people who have already subscribed. I want to understand what they enjoy, listen to their feedback, and find ways to make them feel seen, heard, and appreciated.

These activities might not be particularly glamorous, but they're the foundations of my business.

And until I've built those foundations, I don't think chasing collaborations should be my priority.

3. Build Something Worth Collaborating On

Here's another thing I've learned from running businesses over the years.

The most effective collaborations happen when both parties have something valuable to offer.

Imagine you've just started a freelance writing business. You don't have a portfolio, writing samples, or any client experience, but you're spending hours attending networking events hoping to find work.

Wouldn't that time be better spent creating writing samples, publishing articles, and developing your skills?

Once you've done that, you have something tangible to show potential clients and collaborators. You're no longer simply telling people what you plan to do. You're demonstrating what you're capable of.

I've had some wonderful collaboration opportunities throughout my blogging career, but I was able to make the most of them because I'd already invested time in building my business.

I had content, an audience, experience, and something valuable to contribute.

The work you do consistently becomes the proof that makes future collaborations worthwhile.

4. Consistency Creates Its Own Opportunities

I think we sometimes underestimate the value of simply showing up and doing the work, particularly when the results aren't immediately obvious.

When I started blogging, I spent countless hours writing articles, learning SEO, experimenting with different strategies, and improving my skills. Much of that work happened long before I had a significant audience or any meaningful income.

It wasn't particularly exciting, and there were certainly times when I wondered whether my efforts would pay off.

But that consistency eventually gave me something far more valuable than a collection of business contacts. It gave me a track record, experience, and a business that people could see for themselves.

And that made future collaborations much easier.

Of course, networking still has its place. I'm not suggesting that you should isolate yourself until your business becomes successful. Sometimes a conversation or an unexpected connection can open doors you didn't even know existed.

But I do think there's an important distinction between using collaboration to amplify the work you've already done and using collaboration to avoid doing the work in the first place.

5. A Question Worth Asking Yourself

If you're currently starting a business, building a blog, or working on a new project, I want you to think about how you're spending your time.

Are you focusing on the activities that will genuinely move your business forward, or are you getting distracted by things that make you feel productive without producing much progress?

For me, that means prioritising the letters, activities, videos, and subscriber relationships that make Sparkles of Joy what it is.

For you, it might mean publishing your next blog post, building your portfolio, pitching a client, or finally launching the product you've been talking about for months.

Whatever it is, I believe the most valuable thing you can do in the early stages, is develop the habit of consistently doing the work.

There will always be opportunities to network and collaborate, but those opportunities become much more meaningful when you have something you've built to bring to the table.

Build first. Collaborate to grow.

Anyway, those are my thoughts for today as I sit here surrounded by paper scraps and a rather ambitious amount of cutting!

I'd love to know what you think. Have you ever found yourself spending more time networking or planning your business than actually working on it?

Hit reply and tell me. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts.

Thanks for reading

Aisha Preece from Outandbeyond.com

P.S. Feeling a little burnt out lately?

This month's Sparkles of Joy envelope is all about Beating the Burnout Blues, and I've packed it with little things to help you slow down, recharge, and find your spark again!

Inside, you'll find a Rainbow Recovery Kit, a burnout checklist to help you recognise the signs, fun stickers, a 15-minute exercise to boost your brain and energy, a relaxing art therapy activity, and a personal letter from me sharing practical strategies to help you navigate burnout.

I've poured so much thought and love into this one, and I genuinely can't wait for you to receive it!

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or simply in need of a little joy, this one's for you. 🌈

Join Sparkles of Joy and get October's envelope!

PPS: I share my bare minimum low-effort strategy to grow my businesses on my Instagram stories — if you want more behind-the-scenes like this, come hang out: @aishapreece

Some pics from the week:

saw someone using my money challenge from September's envelope!

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Out And Beyond | Blogging & Side Hustle Tips