3 Ideas to Help You Cultivate More Connection This Week 👇
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1️⃣ Champion the Authors You Know
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Books have been on my mind this week, specifically books by people I know. After almost 8 years creating content on LinkedIn, I've had the pleasure of getting to know several authors. I also co-authored a self-published book nearly five years ago, so I understand the work, love, and sometimes pain that goes into writing.
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One lesson I learned from my co-author Nicole Johnston (who sadly passed away last year) was her practice of purchasing books from people she knew. Nicole was a champion of writers, and this gesture reflected her incredible generosity. What she taught me was that it doesn't matter whether you read them immediately (though of course that's wonderful too). The simple act of pre-ordering and buying—even just the e-book version—makes a meaningful difference to any author.
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If you do read the book, a thoughtful Amazon or Goodreads review goes even further in supporting both the book and its author.
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2️⃣ Show Small Business Love
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While we're discussing reviews, here's another idea:
Think of all the small businesses that have served you well this past month. From suppliers to your local cafe or store, I'm sure you'd have something positive to say about their service.
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One of the most meaningful ways to show appreciation is to leave a Google review without being asked. It's a small gesture of gratitude that creates a significant impact.
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Many of us rely on Google reviews to make purchasing decisions, but few of us leave enough reviews as tokens of appreciation.
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If this resonates with you, consider making it a monthly practice—perhaps as part of your regular monthly review process.
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3️⃣ Be Generous with LinkedIn Recommendations
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Continuing the theme of recognition, consider extending this generosity to LinkedIn recommendations. Getting quality LinkedIn recommendations is surprisingly challenging, so there's value in leaving one for someone whose work you can genuinely vouch for (just ensure you can authentically speak to their contributions).
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​Adam Grant, in his book Give and Take, highlighted "giver" Adam Rifkin, who was named Fortune's best networker in 2011. While there were many reasons for this recognition, one detail has always stayed with me since I read about it: he had written five times more recommendations (235) than he'd received (49)—a powerful example of professional generosity.
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The recommendations you write for others are visible on your profile, and they also serve as an excellent research tool when looking someone else up. You can learn a lot about someone by seeing what they value in others' work and character.
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Which of these ideas feels most doable for you this week? You can hit reply or leave a comment online here.
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Until next week,
Anna
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