Surround Yourself with Inspiring People

Find the ones who celebrate big wins—and small eureka moments.

Meet the inspiring person: they’re like a radiant sunbeam of positivity, enthusiasm, and passion that stirs up change and sparks motivation in those around them. They may not have a big title or a shiny corner office, but they lead by example. They show up. They cheer you on. They celebrate all the wins—especially the small, strange, or hard-won ones.

Their presence is like a creative cocktail, shaking loose new ideas and pushing you further than you thought possible.

I’m lucky to have one of those people in my life. Her name is Sam.

Me and Sam in her hometown

I met Sam in 2021 when I was working at a global marketing agency. She was the North American creative director, and I was a senior-level manager. We bonded instantly—two mission-driven storytellers who believe that good ideas can change the world.

Sam has a story for everything and a connection to everyone. She’s basically the mayor of wherever she is. Her energy is electric in the best way. We worked on several projects together, but one moment in particular stands out.

We were building a brand deck for a major client. We’d reached the point where strategy slides and creative direction were all starting to blur. We had options, but no clarity—just that "throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks" energy that can be both frustrating and full of potential.

Some people hate that part. I love it. If you’re with the right person, that chaos becomes play.

Sam and I went back and forth for an hour—storyboarding, Googling, free-associating. At some point, one of us landed on a line that cracked the code. I wish I remembered it (confidentiality and time have erased it), but what stuck with me was the moment we found it.

We paused. We locked eyes. We knew.

And then I started singing, “This is how we do it…” Montell Jordan-style.

Sam grinned, grabbed her phone, and played the song on full blast.

There we were—two writers in a tiny WeWork in Hollywood, dancing to 90s music and finishing a deck. It was ridiculous. And it was perfect.

That moment sticks with me because it represents something I’m always trying to build into my life: a creative circle that fuels me instead of draining me.

The writing life can be deeply solitary. But that doesn’t mean it should be lonely.

We need people who get it. Who clap for the paragraph you finally nailed, not just the book deal. Who celebrate clarity, not just the finished product. Who remind you—when your confidence is cracking—that what you’re doing matters.

That’s what Sam is for me. That’s what I hope to be for others.

And that’s why I’m on a mission to encourage you to surround yourself with the Sams of the world.

There’s a popular quote: “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” And it holds weight. Your network—and your network’s network—shapes how you think, what you believe is possible, and how you move through the world.

If you’re a writer or creative of any kind, those people matter. They shape your imagination, your emotional endurance, and your relationship to your own work.

So, take inventory. Audit your circle—not just your closest friends, but your broader community. Ask yourself: Does this person lift me up or wear me out? Do they encourage growth or resist it? Do I feel more like myself around them—or less?

If the answers make you uncomfortable, that’s okay. Change is slow, but it starts with awareness.

Inspiration is vital—and it’s also something we can build. It doesn’t have to come from lightning strikes. It can grow from shared laughter in a WeWork office, a story told at the right moment, or a friend who plays the perfect song when you crack a big idea.

Writing is a solo act, but creativity is a communal one. Surround yourself with people who see you. Who celebrate your breakthroughs. Who live in story right alongside you.