Grow Together or Go Alone: Why I Choose the Fellowship
Maps, Monsters, and Dandelion Leaders
🌼 The Map Only Works When You Move: Dandelion Leadership & Grow Together Marketing
You’d think dandelions are weak…
But in fact, they’re one of the toughest things in the garden. 🌼
They grow through sidewalk cracks.
They survive storms.
They multiply even after you’ve tried to dig them out.
They don’t shout—they root deeply and rise quietly.
It’s not about being the loudest in the room.
And it’s definitely not about having the shiniest armor or the highest stat boost in your party.
Real leadership isn’t performative—it’s about staying rooted when the wind picks up and the terrain shifts beneath your feet.
In a recent conversation with Chris, we reflected on a post I wrote about finding myself—and how that journey also led me, quite unexpectedly, to the roots of my brand.2
He began with this:
“I’m fond of the saying that to lead others, you have to lead yourself. Despite contrary assumptions, you don't need to be in charge to lead.
But in taking charge of your life, you will inevitably end up a leader of some kind—whether in work, personal life, or thought leadership.
So call it finding your brand, call it authentic leadership, call it the path less traveled, call it what you will.But as Brie-Anna Willey found and discusses here—you start with you.”3
That statement stopped me in my tracks, because yes.
You start with you.
And it reminded me: having a map isn’t the same as walking the path.
It also brought to mind the marketing map I often share with others (and yes, I’m currently building a course around that—though I digress as usual).
Because navigating leadership, whether it’s running a group, guiding a community, co-leading workshops, or building a business, isn’t a linear quest.
And somewhere in the middle of running a Facebook group, setting up a Discord server, leading calls, and designing a content system…
I realized: oh wow, I guess I am a kind of leader.
But it’s not the “hero with a sword” kind.
It’s more like being in a high-stakes RPG where you think you’ve found a peaceful shortcut, and instead…
Saruman whispers to the wind and an avalanche begins ❄️
Or the Watcher in the Water stirs beneath the seemingly calm lake you were just about to cross. 👀🌊
That’s why I love the idea of dandelion leaders
…the kind that grow where others don’t expect them.
Rooted. Resilient. Adaptive.
Gentle—but unstoppable.
It’s leadership that doesn’t say “my way or the highway.”
It says: Let’s find a way that works for all of us.
That aligns perfectly with my philosophy of Grow Together Marketing.
It’s leadership as fellowship, (which so aligns with my love of everything Tolkien).
Not a solo quest—but a community quest.
A little like those scenes in Rivendell, when the fellowship is forming and each person brings a different strength to the journey ahead. ⚔️🧙♂️🧝♀️
So here’s to the dandelion leaders:
The ones leading not with domination, but with discernment.
With strategy and softness.
With courage, curiosity, and a willingness to grow together.
The Grow Together Community
This is the kind of leadership we’re building in our community, too.
Not hustle culture. Not guru culture.
But Grow Together Culture. 🌱
The term Grow Together Marketing first came to mind at the beginning of my business coaching business journey. Chris (and other business besties, you know who you are I think) inspired further reflections from his posts and content.
His business Cultivar Leadership Solutions is all about cultivating leadership as an ecosystem—not a solo endeavor.
He helps leaders shift their perspective, honor the environments they’re rooted in, and foster sustainable, flourishing cultures.
It’s dandelion thinking in action—rooted, relational, regenerative.
In the same spirit, our Nerdiverse Discord is a space where:
🧠 Ideas grow through collaboration
🧭 Business isn’t a maze—it’s a map we build together
🌼 Leadership isn’t about being the loudest, but about helping others rise
If you’re a therapist, coach, creative, or curious business nerd—this is your invitation to join the fellowship:
📍 Join the Nerdiverse-Grow Together Community →
is in there, as well as , is co-nerd overlord (even though he’s now team Beehiiv)4, and we have some new members we are getting to know.And a clip from one of my favorite games of all time….
Because when we lead like dandelions,
we don’t just grow—we grow together.
And that’s all folks!
What did you take away from this article? Are you a dandelion leader? What are your thoughts about dandelions and dandelion leaders?
Dr. Brie Signing off and thinking about other nerdy things and sidequests….
Check out Chris’s excellent post about this concept on Linked In. Also please subscribe to his blog. Check out this post as an example:
You can read the rest of the conversation here:
Boo team Beehiiv! lol.