Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
  • Photos
  • Projects
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book
Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
  • Photos
  • Projects
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book

The Part Of Success That Nobody Talks About

—

reads

  • Total: 138
  • Facebook120
  • Twitter7
  • Pinterest1
  • Buffer10

We’ve all been there: after spending countless hours building something – a product, a new website, a piece of art – you release it into the world, put out the word on your social channels, hold your breath and…. nothing. Crickets. Tumbleweeds.

Then you start looking at other creators or companies enviously, wondering how they manage to get so much traction for their work when yours – which is just as good if not better – struggles to get any attention.

You rewind the tape to look for mistakes, but there are no obvious ones. You did everything you were supposed to do according to all the industry gurus. You made an account on every social platform on the planet, used all the right hashtags, and went down every marketing checklist… so what happened? Why are they getting traction where you aren’t?

While it’s tempting to make excuses, pointing to perhaps their bigger budget, larger team or other resources you don’t have, that’s not the answer. Sure, those things are always helpful, but the magic ingredient for getting traction is in one simple yet poorly understood word: community. And more specifically, participating in that community.

Assemble your own personal army
By now most of us know that great things don’t sell themselves, that they need some marketing juice behind them to cut through the noise. That’s old news.

But what’s not yet widely understood is this: making something great and promoting it is only half of the equation.

The other 50% of success comes from your community. From building authentic relationships with other humans who are passionate about the same things you’re passionate about such that when you put your work out there, it’s not just you – it’s you plus an army of evangelists and advocates, a massively powerful force multiplier for everything you do.

And the people and companies you looked at enviously, who seem to get a gigantic pop for everything they do? Community is in their DNA, at the core of everything they do. This is true not only for individuals like my friends Tim Ferriss and Gary Vaynerchuk or companies like Refinery 29 and Crossfit, but also for offshore real money online casinos, which prioritize building deep and authentic connections with their incredibly engaged communities. Whether it’s fostering interactive platforms or hosting exclusive events, the common thread is a deep and authentic connection to an incredibly engaged community.

Yes, their work is great – but that’s only 50% of the equation. And if you’re struggling to get traction like they do, it’s almost certainly because you’re missing something here. You’ve created something great, you’ve promoted it, but without community you’re only halfway there.

And that brings us to the obvious next step: how you actually DO the other 50%. There’s no one one-size-fits-all formula, but in my own career by far the most effective (and fun) vehicle for community-building is collaboration.

Collaborate with other humans
I generally avoid being prescriptive, but in this case I’m going to give some marching orders for all entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone else who’s “doing everything but getting nowhere:” get out there, find the communities of other humans who are doing and passionate about the same things you are, and get involved.

Roll up your sleeves. Participate. Collaborate.

The operating principle here is reciprocity, and the tactics are very simple yet extremely effective: do for others what you want them to do for you. If you wish you had more comments and likes on your social channels, comment and like on their social channels. If you wish more people would come to your events, go to their events. You get the idea…

To make sure I’m really driving this home, I’ll lay out some very specific tactics you can (and probably should) be using to participate in both online and offline communities:

  • Go to local events + meet people. Whether you are an entrepreneur, artist, scuba diver or anything in between, there’s some kind of meetup, club or trade group for you. Young Professionals, AIGA, Toastmasters, conferences… the list goes on. Check them out, find the ones you like best and (here’s the most important part) TALK TO PEOPLE! Standing in the corner might be less scary, but it’s ultimately not helpful toward your goal of building community. If you’re an introvert and need a little help coming out of your shell, check out these 3 introvert-friendly networking tips from Vanessa Van Edwards and me
  • Volunteer to help. The groups I mentioned above are generally small, resource-constrained, and will jump at the chance to get another set of helping hands. As part of the process, you’ll often end up working closely with the organizers (who are usually very well-connected), and getting the chance to meet guests, speakers and other VIPs – people who it’s otherwise difficult to get access to.
  • Engage in the digital community. Follow the top names in your field as well as your peers, then jump inb and join the conversation. I really can’t emphasize this piece enough – this is an absolutely huge opportunity to expand your network at no cost other than a few minutes of your time. I promise you that thoughtful comments DO get noticed, even if time doesn’t permit a response to all of them– especially if you keep it up for a while. I’m friends with hundreds of people who I know from them following me online, commenting, and contributing to the discussion. “Hey, I’m so-and-so from the Internet, nice to finally meet you in person” is a great icebreaker and the beginning of so many of my friendships and inspiring collaborations. The bottom line is this: it has never been easier to connect with other people than it is today – take advantage of this incredible opportunity. Don’t be shy.

Do this for just a few months and I guarantee you’ll see an upward tick in traction for your projects. Do it for years and you’ll have a mini-army at your side.

To use the previously mentioned Tim Ferriss as an example, the outside world only sees the results of his wildly successful book launches. What they don’t see is the years and years of insanely hard work Tim put into community-building beforehand – volunteering at events, befriending journalists, guest blogging, and so forth. And that community – in addition to his brilliant writing – is what makes his book launches blow up like a nuclear bomb (multiple-time NYT and WSJ bestsellers).

Is this a whole lot of work? A big investment of time and energy that can take years to pay off? Sure – but if you don’t put in that work, you’ll only get halfway to success.

If you’re telling yourself that you don’t have time, that it’s too expensive, that you’re an introvert, etc – I get it. I’ve heard it all a million times. But the honest truth is that those are just excuses, and the people who really want it won’t let any of those things stand in their way.

How bad do you want it?

Community is just as vital for brands
While so far I’ve been speaking about why individuals need to invest in collaborating with their community, the same is just as true for companies – maybe even moreso, given that suspicion is often the default view of any company that attempts to engage with a tightly-knit community.

Companies who want the support of communities must first show that they’re participating in and selflessly supporting the community. And while that support doesn’t have to be financial, understand that communities often expect companies to contribute materially – again operating from the principle of reciprocity: if you want the financial support of the community, you must first offer them your financial support.

A very important note: this does NOT mean simply paying to slap your logo on anything you can. To the contrary, it means making a genuine investment in helping the community do the thing it’s most passionate about. Communities can instantly see through clumsy attempts at buying friends – and sure, they’ll take your money, but you won’t get an ounce of their respect unless your money comes with a sincere, authentic passion for the thing they’re also passionate about.

The world of action sports – a community that’s notoriously difficult for brands to penetrate, yet extremely valuable for its power as a global tastemaker – is full of great examples of this principle in action, eg Nike’s free and largely unbranded popup skateparks. Want the support of skateboarders? Give them a free skate spot (and don’t try to sell them anything when they’re there). Simple, straightforward and effective.

Collaboration isn’t an event, it’s a mindset
Whether you’re an individual or representing a company, the fundamental principle is the same: putting out something great and promoting it is only 50% of the work. The other 50% – the part that often makes the difference between a home run and a strikeout – is the support of the community.

And that support will come to those who live and breathe collaboration, who understand that even the most competitive niche is not a zero sum game, and that every hour or dollar spent participating in the community is an hour or dollar well spent.

What you give is what you get.

Originally published on Virgin.com

Check out these creative classes I've curated + built that relate to this post:

Worth It: Negotiation For Creatives
with
Master Your People Skills
with Vanessa Van Edwards
Overcome Fear to Get What You Want
with Noah Kagan

BUY NEVER PLAY IT SAFE NOW!

Get weekly, curated access to the best of everything I do.

Popular Posts

20250611_CJLIVE_Failure_Micro_Thumb_16x9_v2.5What Most People Get Wrong About Failing Fast
A melting white canvas on a wooden easel, with a clock face placed in the center. The clock hands are black and point outward from the center, but the white material seems to drip and melt off the edges of the canvas, pooling at the base. The background is gray, providing a stark contrast to the melting white substance. To the left of the canvas, yellow and black text reads: "The Chase Jarvis Live Show," with the words stacked vertically in a bold, modern font. The overall composition evokes a surreal and creative aesthetic.The Creative Pause: Why We Need to Stop Asking “What’s Next?”
20250405_CJLIVE_SeeingWhatWeHaveBeenTaughtToIgnore_Micro_Thumb_16x9_v2.5How to Reconnect With the Intuition You’ve Been Taught to Ignore
A stylized illustration of a person in a hat and work clothes digging with a shovel, uncovering gold beneath the surface. The artwork has a rugged, textured look with earthy tones, symbolizing hard work leading to success. To the left, bold yellow text reads 'The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show' in a modern font.How to Tell if Your Hard Work Is Leading to Gold
a close-up of a bearded man with short, graying hair wearing a light blue button-up shirt. The text beside him reads "Mastering the 3 Types of Conversation" in bold white and yellow letters. In the top right corner, the show’s logo, "The Chase Jarvis Live Show," is displayed in yellow and black. The background is black, making the text and the individual stand out prominently.The #1 Mistake That Ruins Most Conversations
Illustration of a sheep breaking away from the herd, running in the opposite direction across a green field under a blue sky with clouds. The text 'The Chase Jarvis Live Show' is displayed in bold yellow and black on the left side.6 Unexpected Ways to Break Free from the Herd
A shattered red clock with broken glass pieces flying outward, symbolizing the concept of breaking free from traditional time management constraints. The image is paired with the bold yellow text: 'The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show' with the word 'Show' crossed out, suggesting a redefinition of the format.Time Management Is Dead—Here’s What Actually Works
The show's logo is displayed on the left side, with "THE CHASE JARVIS LIVE" in bold black text inside yellow rectangles, stacked vertically. The right side of the image features a robotic figure, resembling a humanoid robot, meticulously working on a canvas. The robot is painting or drawing a grayscale portrait of a human-like figure. The robot's detailed mechanical components are visible, and the scene evokes themes of artificial intelligence, creativity, and technology. The background is minimal, allowing focus on the robot and its artwork. The composition suggests an exploration of AI's role in creative processes.Is AI the End of Creativity or Just the Beginning?
A person sitting at a desk, holding their head in frustration, while flames seem to emerge from their head, symbolizing intense mental stress or burnout. The fiery scene contrasts with the calm surroundings of a room filled with books and papers, enhancing the feeling of overwhelming mental exhaustion. The expression on the person's face shows deep concentration or distress, and the bright colors of the flames highlight the inner turmoil they are experiencing.Creative Burnout Destroying Your Passion? (Try These 4 Quick Strategies)
On the right side of the image, the bold text reads: “THIS IS WHY MEN ARE FALLING BEHIND” The words "THIS IS WHY" are in bold white, while "MEN ARE FALLING BEHIND" is in bold yellow. The text is set against a dark, textured background. On the left side, there is a photo of a man wearing a suit and tie, looking off to the side with a serious expression. The show's logo is displayed in the top left corner, featuring "THE CHASE JARVIS LIVE SHOW" in black text inside yellow rectangles. The entire graphic is framed by a yellow border, matching the color scheme of the text and logo.Gender Equality Isn’t What You Think (Here’s Why)

Daily Creative Projects

© 2024 Chase Jarvis. All rights reserved.

My New Book Is Here!

This book is a powerful compass for embracing risk and creativity in all aspects of life. Chase shows us how to step out of our comfort zones and become who we were meant to be.

SOPHIA AMORUSO
Serial Entreprenuer
NYT Best Selling Author of Girlboss

BUY NOW!

My New Book Is Here!

This book is a powerful compass for embracing risk and creativity in all aspects of life. Chase shows us how to step out of our comfort zones and become who we were meant to be.

SOPHIA AMORUSO
Serial Entreprenuer
NYT Best Selling Author of Girlboss

BUY NOW!