Community

If you can’t find it, build it

You might have heard the saying that you’re the sum of the people you spend the most time with. Especially when you move somewhere new, one of the best things you can do is join communities — or, if they don’t exist, create what you want to be part of.

What community makes possible

Being part of community opens doors to friendships, support, stability, and opportunities you might never otherwise have been exposed to. It can make transition easier, create a sense of belonging, and lead to some of the best adventures and conversations of your life.

Starting small

I’ve done this several times in different places I’ve lived. In Wellington, I wanted people to run trails with on a Sunday morning, so I asked for a slot in a club newsletter and started a group. What began as a simple idea turned into regular runs, brunches, and a genuine sense of connection.

Creating spaces people want

I also created a women’s mountain biking group in Wellington and a weekly gravel riding group in Tauranga. In both cases, the formula was simple: bring people together around a shared interest, make it easy to join, and create an experience people look forward to. The Wellington group was started just by putting up posters in a few bike shops. 10 people turned up for the first ride, the mailing list grew to over 50 and we went on to do a monthly Saturday morning ride and several epic adventure rides in the region. We were later featured in an article in Singletrack magazine.

The return was much bigger than the rides — friendship, mental health, routine, and the sense that no matter how testing the week had been, you would ride home happier.

Community at work too

That instinct has shown up professionally as well. In Tauranga, I created a group for digital product leaders because I wanted the kind of professional community I couldn’t find locally. It started as a small pilot and grew into ProductTank Tauranga, part of the global Mind the Product network.

It led to interesting conversations, great friendships, and future opportunities that never would have appeared without those connections.

A simple invitation

What kind of community would you like to be part of? If it doesn’t exist yet, perhaps the answer is to start small, test the waters, and build it. You might be surprised by the connections, experiences, and opportunities that come back to you.