Success Draws Crowds—Storms Reveal Who Stays

There’s a strange magnetism to success.

When things are going well—clients landing, work flowing, ideas clicking—it seems like everyone wants to be around. Your inbox lights up, followers grow, and people resurface with admiration or interest. It feels like momentum. Like validation. Like progress.

But here’s the thing most freelancers and creatives eventually learn: success is a crowded place. Struggle, on the other hand, is far more solitary.

The moment a storm rolls in—when projects stall, income dips, and motivation wavers—many of those voices fade. Some disappear completely. The support you thought you had? Suddenly quiet. The praise? Absent. The people? Gone.

That’s not a failure. That’s a filter.

And understanding this isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for building a creative life that doesn’t fall apart when applause fades and the weather turns rough.

The Crowd Loves a Winner

It’s easy to be surrounded when things are working.

Clients are easier to impress when your portfolio is fresh and full. Friends and followers celebrate visible wins. Peers reach out when your name gains traction. You’re mentioned in the right rooms. You become someone to associate with.

There’s nothing wrong with this. It’s human nature. People gravitate toward energy, momentum, and visibility.

But it’s important to recognise this for what it is: circumstantial alignment—not deep connection.

When you’re on a winning streak, you often become a symbol of aspiration for others. That doesn’t mean they truly know you—or would stand by you when the tide turns.

Storms Are Where Loyalty Shows Up

If success attracts the many, storms reveal the few.

You only truly understand who’s with you when you’re not useful to them. When you’re not inspiring. When you’re not “on a roll”. When you’re simply… struggling.

Maybe a pitch flopped. Maybe your inbox is eerily quiet. Maybe your confidence is slipping. Whatever form the storm takes—financial, emotional, or creative—the test is the same: who checks in anyway?

• The client who values your thinking even in an off month
• The creative friend who texts to see how you’re doing without needing anything back
• The partner or peer who reminds you what you’re capable of when you’ve forgotten yourself

These aren’t just supporters. They’re anchors.

The people who don’t vanish when your wins do.

Reach Isn’t Support

For freelancers especially, it’s easy to confuse reach with support. A big following. A busy calendar. A thriving reputation. These can all feel like indicators of real connection—but they’re often built on fragile ground.

Support isn’t measured by volume. It’s measured by depth.

A single friend who knows what your silence means is worth more than a hundred who only respond when you post something impressive.

A client who trusts your thinking when results are uncertain is worth more than a dozen who only value you when the metrics are clear.

When storms hit, it becomes crystal clear: who’s here for the work—and who was just here for the wave?

Why This Matters for Creative Longevity

If you build your confidence on attention, it will vanish with the applause.

If you build your relationships on visibility, they’ll dissolve in the quiet seasons.

If you only feel supported when you’re succeeding, then failure—or even just a flat spell—will feel devastating.

To last in creative work, you need a sturdier foundation. That means:

• Valuing those who stick around during the messy middle
• Cultivating relationships based on mutual respect, not mutual gain
• Becoming your own source of belief when no one else is looking

Because in the long run, the crowd isn’t who you’re building for. The fair-weather fans will always come and go. The real ones—clients, peers, and collaborators—stick through the weather.

What to Look for (and Build) Instead

So how do you create a career that doesn’t fall apart when the storm arrives?

Find Your Few

You don’t need a crowd. You need your crew.

Invest in relationships with people who value your process, not just your portfolio. Those who stick around when you’re between wins are the ones worth building with.

Choose Clients, Not Just Projects

A well-paying gig can be great. But a respectful, collaborative client who trusts you long-term? Even better. Prioritise working relationships that feel like partnerships, not just transactions.

Work for Self-Belief, Not Just Recognition

External success is fickle. Learn to define success in terms of growth, effort, alignment, and creative fulfilment. When recognition comes, great. But don’t make it your compass.

Be the Person Who Stays

It goes both ways. Be the one who reaches out when someone else is quiet. Be the one who encourages others through their storms. These are the moments that create lasting trust—and that trust often circles back when you need it.

A Note on Disappearing People

When you go through a rough patch and people fade, it’s easy to feel bitter. Abandoned. Let down.

That’s a valid feeling. But it’s also freeing.

Because now you know.

You’ve seen what’s real. You’ve felt the difference between genuine connection and performative interest. And you can move forward with clearer eyes—and a stronger creative centre.

Let them go—not in anger, but in clarity.

They weren’t built for storms. That’s not your fault—and it’s not your responsibility to pull them back in.

Success Isn’t the Whole Story

Creative careers are long, messy, and nonlinear. They come with waves, setbacks, breakthroughs, and dry spells. If success only means being seen, then quiet seasons will always feel like failure.

True success isn’t just who shows up when you’re winning. It’s also who remains when you’re not—and how you carry yourself in the in-between.

If you’re in a winning phase right now, enjoy it—but don’t get drunk on the noise. Keep your eyes open. Notice who celebrates you, not just the win.

If you’re in a storm: keep going. Keep creating. Pay attention to who’s still in your corner. They’re gold.

Final Thoughts

In this creative life, it’s easy to get distracted by applause and discouraged by silence. But the truth is simpler than it seems:

• Wins bring attention.
• Struggles bring clarity.
• Loyalty is what lasts.

Let the storm show you what’s real. And keep building from there.

So build slowly. Trust wisely. And keep showing up—whether the sun’s out or not.

Because you’re not just building a career.

You’re building a life that can weather it.