Rocket fuel for your business 🚀: Finding the right community!

When I think back over nearly two decades 😲 of being a business owner, I realize one thing has been true in every stage: I’ve always achieved more, gained clarity on my value and offerings, made friends, and made more money when I’ve been part of a solid community of business owners.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve participated in:

• A four-person accountability group that met monthly (come rain, shine, or snow) at a NYC diner to talk about business, brainstorm ideas, and support each other.
• Industry-specific communities like Freelancers Union or Spark Design Professionals
• Business groups tailored to founders at a very specific stage of their business.
• High-level, high-investment masterminds, business retreats, and coaching groups.

Here’s what I’ve learned works for me: I want and need a clear structure, well-defined expectations, and high-caliber, highly supportive members. They’re serious about action, accountability, and results, while being warm, welcoming, and generous. 

Given this high-bar, you won’t be surprised there have been some misses along the way too. For example, in 2016 I accepted an invitation from a friend to a BNI (Business Networking International) meeting. I quickly realized it wasn’t for me and after my yearly commitment was up, I bowed out gracefully and moved on.

Listen, if you’re in the entrepreneurship game, you’re going to make mistakes, some of them costly. It’s all good; just dust yourself off and keep going. The right configuration is out there just waiting to support and co-create with you.

If you’re wondering whether a community is worth the investment of your time, energy, money, and attention, my answer would be a resounding “Yes!” The trick is finding the right community for you at the right time. 

What to Look for in the Right-Fit Community

Here’s what makes a great community:

• Alignment with where you are now. When you’re starting out, you need peers who are also finding their footing. As you grow, you’ll benefit from being in rooms with people further along and have complementary knowledge and experiences to offer.
• A clear structure. Skillful facilitation, expectations, accountability, and consistency matter. Communities without structure and leadership tend to fizzle fast.
• A mix of experience levels. You shouldn’t be the most knowledgeable person in the room. Growth comes from peers ahead of you and the support you can offer those coming up behind.  Does being the little fish in the pond feel intimidating? Yep! But in my experience being that little fish, the growth you’ll experience is worth the temporary discomfort.
  

Warmth and support. Ambition alone isn’t enough. The best groups combine high standards and quality with encouragement and generosity.

3 Ways to Find Your Right Community

No matter where you are in your business, here are three actionable steps to build the kind of support system that accelerates growth:

1. Audit your needs and stage

Are you just starting out and craving solidarity with peers at the same stage? Or are you established and ready for a higher-level mastermind, retreat, or professional membership? Write down what you need most right now e.g. accountability, networking, skills, or inspiration, and let that guide your search. 

Action step: Make a short list of 3 things you want most from a community (e.g. accountability, visibility, mentorship). Use those criteria to evaluate options.

2. Sample and experiment

Try a few different formats. Attend a free meetup, join a short-term group program, or invest in a workshop. Pay attention to how you feel after each interaction: do you feel energized, motivated, and supported? Or drained and uninspired?

Action step: Commit to trying one new group this quarter, whether it’s a local networking event, an industry association, or a short group program.

3. Commit and contribute

The more you put in, the more you get out. Show up consistently, share generously, and follow through on your commitments. That’s how you turn a group into a real community.

Action step: Once you’ve found a fit, block time in your calendar to fully participate. As business owners we tend to prioritize client needs and deadlines. This investment and time are yours – protect it with your life, show up, and watch the magic happen.

As a business owner for many years I’ve tried all the things – from online courses all the way to expensive retreats and masterminds. Seeking out, and participating in right-fit communities of like minded entrepreneurs has remained a constant – I simply feel better, do better, and make more money when I do. This stuff’s too hard to go it alone!

Tell me, what are you taking away from this post? I’d love to hear from you!

P.S. My twice yearly The Creative Business Bootcamp group coaching program is kicking off February 3rd. If you’re interested in being part of a curated group of like-minded business owners who are mastering the four pillars of a successful creative business, you should check it out. Spots are limited, so apply here and let’s chat!