Why community is key for entrepreneurs
I’ve had an online business in some form for the past 18 years and through all of those years, the thing that has made my work more enjoyable has been the presence of community.
From the early days of selling cloth diapers on Hyena Cart and the messaging boards with other “crunchy moms” who also ran their sewing businesses while babywearing & breastfeeding, to the Facebook groups I belonged to when I started my coaching business, to today. This iteration of my business lets me meet regularly with other business owners for co-working & mutual support. These moments of connection have made my work-from-home life much less lonely.
As a solopreneur, you’re the CEO, CMO, CFO, COO, and Human Resources department in your business and you’re often making things up as you go along, muddling your way through growing your business with a Macbook & a dream.
What’s missing is community.
Here’s why you should think about seeking out a community in the form of a mastermind, or online/in-person co-working:
Connection. Humans evolved to be connected in community and our brains' default mode is to be social. Positive human connection = happiness and longevity. See more here.
Gut checks. Perspective is everything when you’re running a business. We all have areas where we probably aren’t seeing the entire picture as clearly as possible. Having places where we can do a gut check or ask for feedback provides valuable clarity for better decision-making in our businesses and lives.
Moral support. Having a cheerleading squad during your launches will help you see them through to the finish line. Launches test our mental game and self-doubt can run rampant without positive support. Having a group of virtual co-workers who “get it” can make launching feel way less daunting, and far more enjoyable.
Referrals. Service-based businesses thrive when they have a healthy referral network. Belonging to intentional communities with other business owners who know you and your work will translate into a much more reliable source of referrals and leads than social media could ever give you.
Body-doubling. If you’ve got ADHD body-doubling is a very effective way of getting work done. If you’ve ever found working in a cafeteria to be a great way to get a lot of work done—that’s body doubling. Having others present can help anchor you in the moment allowing you to focus more easily on your work.
We aren’t meant to live in a silo, and when work doesn’t get you out of the house you still need places to share your hot takes about the latest season of Drag Race. You also need the other supports a typical office space provides like social gatherings, strategic planning, and an environment geared toward getting work done.
