Be a loud fan of your friends’ stuff. Hype is cheap to give and priceless to get.

Encouragement costs the giver almost nothing and lands enormously, which is an unusual ratio and a good reason to spend more of it. Most people making something work in near silence and assume nobody noticed, so a specific and genuine word arrives with far more weight than you would guess. Withholding it is rarely a decision. It is usually just something people forget to do.

Tell one friend this week what you actually liked about what they made, specific enough that they know you looked. Say it publicly if you can.