One of the easiest, yet most often dismissed ways to cultivate a vibrant artistic community is simply to acknowledge and celebrate the creative work of our peers. And yet so many creatives I know practically refuse to tell someone they enjoyed their work if it didn't meet their lofty standards of excellence.

We've all been there—feeling the frustration of seeing our most rivaled nepo babies in the entertainment industry succeed and getting all the juicy roles. But here's the thing: all this bitching and moaning isn't getting us anywhere. The reality is, we need to come to terms with a very simple truth about the world: people like to work with those they trust. And that's why nepotism exists, and why 'nepo babies' have had some level of success. If we want to succeed in this industry, we need to focus on building our own trusted name and establishing our own credibility—famous parents or not.

iI you still really need an excuse to reach out to your network, just look at your calendar—the holidays are around the corner! And there truly is no better time of year than this one to catch up on all the community cultivating you’ve anxiously postponed.

No matter where you end up in the acting and entertainment industry, it's always important to remember the value of building long-lasting relationships. Whether you're walking into an audition room, rehearsal environment, live set, fancy premiere, or dinner party, you never know who you might meet and how that potential relationship could change the course of your entire life and career.