How To Become A Self-Made Nepo Baby

“Nepo baby” surely has to be the term of 2023 so far. But in case you missed it, the expression refers to children born into nepotism, aka people who have become successful due to the influence of their already famous parents. Take the daughter Phil Collins, Lily Collins for example. Or Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s children Jaden and Willow.

Of course, having famous parents doesn’t make them any less talented, but they already have a connection to the industry through their parents which gives them the contacts and network they need to succeed. Which is why you’ve probably started to notice, there are a lot of nepo babies hanging around the sets of Hollywood and the catwalks of Milan.

The same story goes in other industries. You might have heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” That’s only true to an extent, because you still have to be good at what you do if you want to be successful, but knowing the right people can definitely be a bit of a cheat code into your dream career. 

But if you’re anything like me, the word “networking” probably makes you feel physically ill. So to take a bit of the stress out of things, here are a few ways you can become a self-made nepo baby by making the right connections in your dream industry. 

Go To Relevant Events

If you’re feeling adventurous, meeting people in person is the most effective way to build a network of connections. Whether you’re at a business expo, a book launch, an art exhibition or even a pub gig, there are going to be a few people from the industry who you will be able to chat to. If striking up a conversation in the flesh doesn’t make you a tad nervous, you’re not human. But if you think of a few things you might like to say in advance, and spend more time listening to what they have to say rather than talking their ear off, you’re probably going to leave a pretty good impression. 

Use Social Media

Talking to people online is so much easier than chatting to them in real life. If you like their work, and want to collaborate with them, or even just chat to them about where they draw inspiration from, reach out and shoot them a message! The worst that’s going to happen is they ignore it, but you really have no idea what opportunities could come from a quick dm. 

If that seems a little too daring for you, a painless approach is to simply follow creators you like from the account you use to share your own work. You never know, maybe they’ll take a look at your account and something might happen down the track. It may not be the most effective way to build connections, but you’ll still be getting more eyes on your work!
 

Start Making Things

If you work in an industry that involves working with other people, such as music, photography, or a form of journalism that requires interviewing, you’d be surprised at how quickly word gets around about your work. If they share the work that you’ve collaborated on (which they more than likely will), their followers will have exposure to your work which will build a web of connections they’re probably followed by a bunch of people in the industry.
 

Use Mutual Connections

If you have friends who already have a connection or two in the industry, don’t be afraid to ask them if they’d be happy to introduce you to some relevant people. In the same way workplaces appreciate personal referrals, people in the industry will take more notice of you if someone they already know and trust is vouching for you.
 

Volunteer

You’d be surprised at the number of people you’ll meet when you volunteer in roles that are relevant to the industry you’re keen for a career in. Say you want to work in law, volunteering at community legal centres or as an assistant at a firm are great places to start. You’ll be adding some really valuable experience to your resume, plus you’ll also be building personal connections with people who have already broken into the profession.
 

If you go about it the right way, building a network of people in your dream industry comes pretty naturally. And although this article is about becoming a self-made nepo baby, never forget that you’ve still earned every bit of success that comes your way. You put effort into building connections, and those connections only paid off because you had the talent to back up your passion. Now go enter your CEO era.