Waiting for the Invite: On Belonging, Patience, and the Creative Journey

As I carve out my career path, I find myself becoming more introspective and discerning about each step I take and I discovered something interesting:

Where I want to be, metaphorically, feels like a closed-door members club that is invite-only. You can knock on the door, but without an invitation, you’re not getting in. You wave at people through the window, and sometimes they wave back, motioning you to come closer. But unless you have that invite, the door stays shut.

What’s interesting is that there are many of these clubs. Every profession, industry, personality, and set of values is catered for. You can be an loud fashion photographer from East London who features modified cars in their work, there’s a club for that. Or a quiet, appointment-only perfumer, there’s a club for that creative too.

Sometimes these niche clubs intersect when their values align. And that’s where magic happens: those awe inspiring collaborations between people from different worlds. They are what shift culture and create conversation. It’s these moments that inspire generations of people.

I know which club I belong to. I know where it is. Right now, I’m still waiting on my invite while I wave to people through the window and they wave me toward the door. “I’ll see you inside,” they mouth.

These clubs are professionally incestuous: everyone works with everyone in the club. They run on referrals and word-of-mouth. Until you’re in, you’re not.

So how do you get in?

Patience. Perseverance. Belief in self.

It’s a long game, and it’s long because the people in the club expect and demand experience, expertise, and quality. All three of those are subjective, each club has its own benchmark, but none of them happen overnight. They take time to learn and earn, there are no shortcuts. Recognition takes time. And once that recognition happens, most importantly, within yourself, you begin the process of entry.

It’s about honouring yourself and your work by staying true to it. It’s about sharing what you do with the world, knowing it’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. It’s about building meaningful relationships with those in the club, your peers.

Your invite is already in the mail. The only thing left is to be ready when the door finally opens.