In the quest to become a more successful business owner, most of us (me included) focus on acquiring new skills. We learn how to blog. We learn how to write email newsletters. We learn how to use social media. We learn how to make videos- and we learn about goal setting, and keeping ourselves accountable, and about a whole lot of other things besides these.
Yet, even though isolation impacts more than 53 million Americans everyday, very little consideration is given to the community within which we live and work as entrepreneurs. I’m not talking about your friends and social community, even though friends and a social community are both important.
Rather, I’m referring to the community of entrepreneurs that you surround yourself with. Do you have one?
Do you want one?
The research I’ve read suggests that the more peer support and greater professional network an entrepreneur has, the easier she or he will find it to be successful. When you think about it, it makes sense.
If I refer you to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:
You will see that belonging and love is the base upon which self-esteem and self-actualization rest. Once our basic physiological and safety needs are met, we seek places to belong.
Even though many entrepreneurs valued freedom and independence; it doesn’t mean we don’t need community and connection too.
This could come in many forms; but one powerful form is that of a business advisory group- a small group of your entrepreneurial peers who are committed to you, as you are committed to them. This small group can be your most trusted allies in your quest to grow your business.
You learn from them, and they learn from you.
The problem is that many entrepreneurs don’t actually know how to find and connect with a group of like-minded peers. If your experience is anything like mine, you’ve met some people online, in programs or classes you’ve taken. You set up regular meetings to stay in touch…. and these fizzle out after just a few weeks.
Your group members get “too busy” or “can’t make it’ – and you’re left, again, without the support system and accountability you thought you were getting.
This is why, in many cases, informal group meetings don’t really work. They aren’t always of equal priority to all those involved.
When selecting a peer group, it’s important to have group leadership as well; one or two people who are leading the group; keeping everyone on track and accountable to their commitments.
There also needs to be a strong emphasis on confidentiality, if anything meaningful is actually going to get done.
If you agree with what I’ve shared here, and are looking for this kind of group to join in 2017, then I’d like to invite you to learn more about my new mastermind program: The Business Growth Forum; which I am co-facilitating with my friend and colleague, Dave Lakhani. Dave is one of the top experts in applied persuasion, and has worked with many large companies, moving them to millions of dollars of increased revenue. Combined with my knowledge of entrepreneurial psychology, and my expertise in marketing and technology; we bring a powerful complement of skills to the 10 entrepreneurs we’ll be working with this year.
If you’re looking for a powerful group of entrepreneurs to join next year, and you’re ready to commit to achieving more both professionally and personally; we’d love to have you in the Forum.
Learn more here:
