YATM | Stop Hogging the Spotlight (The Art Of Letting Go)

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Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas fellow YATM villagers from your old pal Liam.

Have I been good this year? Well I finally completed my homework at least.

At Creator Day in April I said I wanted to make time for my ‘extra-curricular’ writing project on Substack, and I’ve done it! Christmas is a time for nostalgia and you’ll find plenty of that at collectusall.substack.com as I delve into the psychology of collecting and the reasons why we collect, via stories about my own weird and wonderful collections.

Do you miss when people would make you a mixtape?

I’ve been compiling a monthly playlist of new music for the past couple of years on Spotify. (Jon Jenkins is my no.1 listener and sends me a review each month!).

I resisted the urge to fill the December edition with Christmas songs, so if you’re feeling a bit burnt out on Slade already, here’s an 11 song set that still feels festive, but might just introduce you to your new favourite band for 2025 (save it and it’ll magically update with a new selection in January!).

Have a great Christmas break 🎄

Check out the tinsel here (that's LinkedIn)

Look at my baubles on Instagram

Check out the SIM only deal from my company and money goes to charity.

No community can progress when one person carries all the responsibility.

Change happens when other people lead.

If you are building a space where you want people to join in with you, at some point it is going to be a wise move to find your leaders who have their moment at the front.

This article is for you if you want long term success in community building.

It may feel uncomfortable getting to hand responsibility over to other people. For a selfish reason, it takes the attention away from you and all the work you’ve done to get to a stronger place, you want people to see that. However, what once felt risky becomes second nature.

Community Can’t Be Hinged On One Person

When everything is on the few, it can become damaging.

This is where many communities hit a road block. So much emphasis is on the people who started the community or initiative. They carry the community, as well the delivery.

For instance, you only know what you know and you can’t be an expert in every field. The danger for communities is that delivery becomes formulaic.

This is where churn arises, as the value people are receiving is diminished by repetition of ideas and content. People take what they need, we move on.

This has been a concern for me. People decide to commit based on the attachment to a person, but we don’t need to create fan clubs.

On the other hand, the value a group brings to someone’s life or work is important. This could mean the boost of ideas, connectivity and opportunity.

I have seen it work this way:

— People decide to commit

— Commitment is rewarded with visibility

— Visibility builds reputation (within and outside the community)

In 2024 YATM ramped up the decision to delegate. For instance every Lunch Club has been hosted by different people, YATM Creator Day is started by others from the community and people are leading sessions in YATM Club. It has worked.

This is because the platform has been built over the years, there are people connected to YATM (subscribers, attendees), an audience who buy in and an environment that feels safe (people are on the same team).

In our membership space, ideas have been shared from other people and these have turned into sessions. These sessions become routines.

A sustainable community supports a flat hierarchy where attention isn’t solely on one person.

Handing the Torch: Steps To Let Others Lead Events

Handing control to others can be scary, but a necessary step for growth.

Here are five actionable steps to help you empower others to lead while maintaining the core values of your initiative:

1) Set Clear Expectations Without Dictating

Create a framework that outlines the purpose and desired outcomes for what you want to do without stifling creativity. For example, define the values or goals of the event, while allowing people to interpret and implement in their own way.

This ensures the essence of your community idea remains intact while giving people the opportunity to express themselves freely.

2) Match Opportunities With Strengths

Recognise the talents within your community and assign roles that align with those strengths. For instance, if someone is great at storytelling, let them host a panel discussion.

Matching responsibilities to abilities not only ensures success but also boosts confidence in the people taking the lead.

3) Provide The Right Tools And Support

Don’t just hand over the reins—offer guidance. People need to see you are invested in the process. This might include providing a schedule or mentorship in areas such as hosting.

By equipping people with tools and support, you reduce the stress of veering into unfamiliar territory. For instance, I want people who are leading a Lunch Club that the sales and attendance are being managed. People shouldn’t have to face additional pressures.

4) Celebrate Milestones, Not Perfection

Shift the focus from execution to progress and learning. After each event, acknowledge the effort and highlight what went well. People still need to feel enthusiasm after an event.

Celebrating milestones reinforces a sense of achievement and motivates people to continue stepping up and feel a part of the whole effort.

5) Create a Culture of Shared Ownership

Work on an environment where leadership is seen as a shared responsibility rather than a solitary task. When people see their peers taking the lead, it normalises participation and you start to see a ripple effect of involvement.

You have to recognise leaders publicly and involve them in planning future events to show that their contributions matter and are valued.

The YATM Leadership Blueprint

Here’s how we’ve nurtured leaders within the YATM community. A process shaped by years of learning and experimentation.

This is what I know works, by taking this from a singular effort to the involvement of many. This approach ensures your contributions are recognised for years to come.

1. Create An Inviting Space

Build a space where people genuinely want to be—a welcoming environment that resonates and feels enjoyable.

2. Deliver Consistently

Regular events and clear communication establish credibility and foster trust, meaning people know they can rely on you.

3. Foster Familiarity

Over time, as connections deepen, people naturally make themselves known. Familiarity builds confidence and a sense of belonging.

4. Hand Over Opportunities

When the time is right, let others step up and take their moment in the sun. Empowering others to lead creates a ripple effect of growth and shared ownership.

Ultimately, trust is the cornerstone. When trust is built, what once felt risky transforms into an opportunity for collective success.

Let’s Round-Up

Allowing others to take the lead doesn’t mean stepping back completely; rather, it involves stepping aside when others are ready to take charge.

One of my ambitions for 2025 is to allow others to take ownership of YATM in the live space and adapt to the personalities and regions in the UK.

Power lies in the people who step forward, inspired by the foundation you’ve laid. If you truly want your community to outlast you, make space for others to lead. That’s the legacy worth leaving.

Time Wasting

It's time to play a game and collect pixels. Get the high score 🎄

Pixels For Christmas

This Week Around The Web

GROWTH, CREATION & YOUR INDEPENDENCE

What we learned about marketing in 2024 - from Mark Schaefer

How a click farm looks - from Shelley Rostlund

THE COMMUNITY YOU CAN BUILD

Community comes from the work - from Rosie Sherry

Community is participatory - from Chris Corrigan

GROWING YOUR NEWSLETTER

How to earn passive income as a creator: 9 tips for success - from Kit

Why newsletters are great for market research - from Newsletter Circle

Another Christmassy Message

Thank you so much for being a part of YATM this year. Whether you’ve only just joined us, or you’ve been here for the past 12 months, or even longer, it truly means the world to me.

My focus has always been on creating a space where you can shine. From the YATM Takeover at the top today (so others can connect with you), to standing at the front and presenting your ideas, this community is about lifting each other up. There are no hierarchies here, just a shared belief in learning and growing together.

I really hope you feel that too.

Whether 2024 has been a tough one for you, or a year of cherished wins, I hope 2025 brings you optimism, resilience and opportunities that will excite you.

I’ll still be here every Thursday. If we get the chance to talk or meet up in person next year, that would be the icing on the (Christmas) cake 🎄.

Have a wonderful break. I’ll see you back here on January 2nd....Mark

People Of YATM

"I’ve been aware of YATM for several years, attending a Creator Day in 2022 but not joining the Club.

Then, I met Mark Masters, who greeted me by name—such a small gesture but impactful.

It showed me how remembering someone's name can deepen relationships. This moment inspired me to reconsider YATM, and I joined.

What stood out this time was the genuine sense of community and support. It wasn’t about competition but about networking at a deeper level, with people eager to help one another.

YATM is a network where collaboration and mutual support take precedence, creating a more genuine and authentic environment."

Joanne Young