Throughout childhood when the topic of success would come up I would inevitably hear the phrase:
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
The cynicism never really sat well with me, but it wasn’t until much later in life that I better understood the flaw in that logic.
It’s what you know AND who you know.
There’s no substitute for hard work, proficiency, and talent, whether learned or innate. If we’re unable to execute on our promises, we’re going to struggle.
Who you know doesn’t supersede the value that you bring to others.
As entrepreneurs we’re problem solvers. Maybe you hold the title of best problem solver on the planet (if so, I’m coming for you 😈), but if you don’t have a community, if no one knows who you are or how you can help them, then your business is cooked.
When all other metrics are equal, we support people who we know, like, and trust.
This brings me to this week’s episode of the podcast. Chris Healy, maybe better known as El Rubio, is the co-founder of The Longhairs, a global fraternity for men with long hair.
Long before earning their first dollar, Chris and Lindsay recognized the importance of community. From the beginning they set out with the simple goal of creating one piece of original content every week. (Remember: simple doesn’t mean easy.)
As the months passed, and the word count and videos began to pile up, they had successfully placed themselves at the center of this growing community.
The Longhairs is the hub for men with long hair, and they’ve proven to the community week after week that they’re not only highly likable, but also trustworthy.
Again, we support people who we know, like, and trust. Well, check, check, and check!
Community building was only the first phase in starting their business. Next came their flagship product, Hair Ties for Guys, and an appearance on Shark Tank where they made a deal with Mark Cuban. Then, more products, more content, and, finally, a massive charity event (The Great Cut) where they set the Guinness World Record for the most hair donated in 24 hours.
All of that has been possible at The Longhairs because they’ve continued to support the community of people who know, like, and trust them.
Listen to my conversation with Chris in this week’s episode of Starting Now to learn more and to hear about the near disaster that happened when they were on Shark Tank.
Watch and listen on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.