My Biggest Lesson: Nick Patterson
As the founder and co-CEO of STORM+SHELTER, Nick has led the charge on thousands of projects for major clients like Amazon, O2, Yamaha and Twitter. Whether it's live-action or motion graphics, Nick's goal is that each production meets and exceeds expectations, delivering a standout experience from start to finish.
Since STORM+SHELTER's launch in 2013, Nick has served his time at the coalface; honing his skills in editing, motion graphics, and project management. Today, he focuses on building and nurturing strong client relationships, but his hands-on experience means he understands exactly what it takes to deliver exceptional work; guiding his team with a sharp eye for detail, ensuring they stay at the top of their game.
Nick is passionate about pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation, always striving to keep STORM+SHELTER at the cutting edge of content production. He stays plugged into the latest industry trends, constantly experimenting with new techniques, and helping clients stretch their wings.
When he’s not leading the team or working with clients, Nick can be found indulging in his other passion—his Destiny 2 raid clan, The Goose Protection Society—but the less said about that, the better.
One of the most important things I’ve learned over the last 10 years of running a business is that everyone, no matter who they are, is ultimately looking for three key things. They want to be:
1. Seen
2. Heard
3. Valued
When we stepped onto the scene and started finding our feet in the industry, we had to learn how to get talking to people—and selling ourselves to them— pretty quickly. It can be super daunting for people without sales experience to get into this sort of thing, and we were proper deer in the headlines at this point.
Admittedly, I’m like an introverted extrovert. I can be very much the centre of attention, but maybe for like 15-20 mins before I need to go chill out somewhere and recharge. That means that conversations can sometimes be draining for me and I naturally shy away from them. As a business owner, you’ve gotta really work to get over that and drive that charisma and charm as hard as you can.
I ended up getting to know a career coach through some content we were producing, and there was one thing that really stuck with me. She spoke about how when going for a job, you should consider that the people in that room want to be seen, heard and valued. How it’s important to tailor your approach to make sure they get what they’re looking for.
Realistically, it means taking note of the people around you, what they say and do, and responding in a way that shows you respect their time.
It really took a lot of the guesswork away for me in how to actually talk to people in networking environments. Like, if someone says they’re from a certain place, or they like a certain type of work, you don’t just go 'ah yeah cool!', you ask about it. You make them feel like you’re genuinely interested in the things they like—so they feel seen as a person, listened to, and that their interests are valued by you.
It feels like such a simple way of thinking about it, but man, it’s so powerful. The more you can drill it in, the more you can control how you’re perceived yourself. We all know that person who is totally self-centered or very 'me, me, me'. Equally, we know that person who feels like they’re hanging on every word you say and you feel great talking to them.
Ultimately, you’re letting the other person do the work in that conversation by asking questions, but you’re also making them feel like the most important person ever. That way, when you ask things that are maybe a little more probing, or trying to talk business, they’re already feeling good because you’ve taken the time to listen and value their words, and more likely to consider what you have to say as a result.
As an introverted extrovert, but also the owner of a business that for the last 10 years has grown simply on word of mouth and referrals alone, I’m living proof that following this framework actually nets results. Not only short-term ones, but helps to forge long-standing, fruitful relationships that last for years and years.
So if you’re the kind of person that’s naturally 'rubbish at networking' like me, just think about hitting those three things, and honestly, you’ll find those conversations so much easier to be a part of, and you’ll also feel the benefits of those conversations maybe more readily opening up to places you’re aiming for!
