Send cold emails.

At least send three today.

Ask the question, send the message – reach out.

I travelled home for one of my best friend's wedding over the weekend. I grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. I lived there for 18 years before I booked a one-way ticket to Hawaii. Some of my major life influences are housed and rooted in Adelaide: My family, tennis courts, dry-scorching-hot Aussie summers, and close friends. Yet 'home" remains a funny one for me. Since departing Adelaide, I've lived in Hawaii, Sydney, the Gold Coast, Portugal, the Blue Mountains, and Melbourne.

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I hold pretty basic (loose) requirements to say I've "lived" somewhere.
- A postal address.
- A washing machine and fridge.
- A cafe or coffee shop to frequent. (Owner/staff must know your name.)
- Some reasonable amount of 'extended time'.

Bonus points:
- If someone recognises you in a car driving by and shouts your name.
- Your favourite pizza restaurant makes you hot-lemon-honey tea when you're sick. - You join an international running club and race under their name.

The more places I claim to have 'lived', the more my definition of home fragments.

Home is where you make it.

Home is where you feel most alive.

Home is where your friends are.

Home is where your childhood memories are.

Home is where you feel safe.

Home is the place you want to return to.

*Home is also a place where you're asked many questions.*

I won't list the stock standard ones that everyone loves to ask. Despite being well-intentioned, they're often dull. Small talk bores me; I'd much prefer to get into the nitty-gritty of your life, to unpack what tightens the bolts and moves the needle forward for you. At social gatherings, I'm now opting to have 3-5 well-intentioned conversations than twenty 'how's life?' kinda chats.

One question that I appreciated this weekend was: "What is the process behind your collaborations?"

Initially, I was a touch confused. I've never really considered collaboration as a process, and I'm still not sure if I have one. However, I realised there is one thing I unashamedly "over-index" on.

Cold-emailing.

I love asking questions, and I love sending out cold emails.

I replied to my friend: "I send out soooo many cold emails. I've got nothing to lose. You can only win."

This week, I'm working on a collaboration with two brands that have been on my 'dream-brand' vision board for the past 18 months. I'm working on this campaign with a team of creatives I am deeply inspired by. It's an honour, and I feel lucky to be there.

What underpins this 'luck' is the willingness to send cold emails.

I think about the next wedding I'm attending—I'm the best man. The friendship started when I sent a cold DM asking for camping recommendations in Hawaii and if I could borrow a tent.

I think about my exhibition with At The Above last year. It began with a cold email I sent from a cafe in Portugal.

I think about the conversations I've had with some of my favourite podcast guests, they began with cold messages.

I think about the people I mentor and the cold reach-out emails they've sent to me. Now, I'm hiring them for shoots.

If you want an opportunity, ask for it.

Right now, let's quickly calibrate - you are at a baseline of 'zero'.

If you send an email, DM, or message - you remain at zero.

If you don't receive a reply - you remain at zero.

If your pitch or message is declined - you're still at zero.

If you receive a reply, or an opening to meet - you're now moving into the +ives.

+1, +10, +100.

If you land a job - you could move into the +1000s.

If you land a best friend - there's no (+) number assignable.

Collaboration is the honey you find at the farmer's market. Rarely do I go to the markets looking for honey; typically, I go with a list of veggies I need to cook a new meal at a friend's dinner party. Amongst the broccolini and sage leaves, I'll often take home a new local honey. It's either because some asked me to try a little or because I was curious if I'd like spiced-hive flavour. Sweet things are waiting for you.

So next time you're at a wedding, ask the person next to you what they're excited to buy the next time they go to their local farmer's market. Ask them about collaboration. Ask them something irrelevant, something cold, anything that might lead to an opportunity.

Otherwise, ask me. If you'd like me to consult on your creative strategy, I'll bring my spiced-hive honey, and we can chat over tea. If you want a running program for your office's weekly running club, I'll write it. If you want to know how to fix an angry hamstring tendon, I've got notes. There's no shortage of opportunity out there, and there's no limit on the amount of cold emails you can send.

If you want mine, here it is:

catchme@joshualynott.com

JL

P.S This weekend, I’m hosting my first workshop of 2025. “NOTES ON RUNNING” on the 15th of March, 9AM-11AM.

Join here.

In the last two days. This is what I’ve been up to. ^