September 11, 2020
How to Find the Perfect-Fit Entrepreneurial Community
A few years ago, I was presented with an opportunity that would change my life. Pittsburgh Women’s Mastermind, an entrepreneurial community, needed a new leader and I was offered the job. It was a big decision for me.
As a successful female business owner, I have always been passionate about helping other women who are eager to get started as entrepreneurs. With an already busy schedule and a family, I knew I’d have a lot on my plate if I took on this new leadership role. I also knew if I was going to cultivate a community that supports women in business, I wanted it to be packed with substance and value.
I wanted it to be a place where women entrepreneurs could be themselves, make genuine connections, grow, and learn from each other. I wanted it to be fun, too. Deep down, I wanted it to be everything I desperately needed years ago when I was taking my first steps.
Well, I accepted the job, and since then those criteria have been my north star to guide this community, and I love every minute of it.
Why you need a supportive community of female entrepreneurs
I know from experience how hard it can be to start a business. For women in particular, there are a lot of confidence and mindset issues that can hold us back. I’ve lived that, and honestly it took a lot of faith in myself and fortitude to keep going sometimes. If only I’d had a great supportive community back then!
Beyond the fears and crises of confidence, there’s also so much to learn. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re in a growth phase, your knowledge has to continually evolve. With every new level of success, a whole new set of challenges appear!
Knowing where to turn for help is half the battle. Membership in a supportive female entrepreneur group that is aligned with your aspirations makes everything so much easier.
What makes for a perfect-fit entrepreneurial community?
So how do you find the right community that will really help you reach your business goals?
Through my experience in business and as a female entrepreneur group leader, I’ve seen and experienced the power of community in action. It’s exciting and uplifting. Support, encouragement, accountability – it’s all fuel to achieve more.
You encounter new ideas and meet new people. You have opportunities to improve your business skills. And let’s not forget gaining exposure to potential new clients or customers.
But, when it comes to finding the right business community, you have to be choosy. There are a lot of them out there!
Here are the criteria I would recommend to any woman looking for a female entrepreneurial community, or group, that provides connection and a firm helping hand to grow her business:
Welcoming and comfortable, but exclusive.
As a guest or new arrival, you should feel accepted. Members should be friendly, interested in learning more about you, and clearly dedicated to helping each other succeed.
It also isn’t a community for just anyone. Members are serious enough to pay to be part of a group in which everyone is committed to growing as entrepreneurs and deliberate about reaching their business goals.
Your community should provide the information you need, no matter where you are on your business journey.
Maybe you’re just thinking about starting a business. Or, you’ve just launched your enterprise and need all the help you can get. Or your company has taken off and you’re looking for growth strategies and guidance.
The right community should be a resource at any stage to help you make sound decisions and overcome obstacles. It also should be a reliable source to get answers to all of your questions.
You get terrific value for the price.
The amount of support, education, and connection in your female entrepreneurship group should outweigh what you’re paying for membership.
Is the group facilitator caring and committed? Are there frequent sessions where actionable information is presented by experienced specialists and professionals? Are you making great connections? Are exciting, constructive conversations with like-minded members happening?
This should be the group that gives you the real-world advice, support, and encouragement that women in business need.
Why a female-only entrepreneurial community?
Membership in a supportive business community that includes men and women can have plenty of benefits, but research has shown that women gain more advantages from being part of a gender-specific group.
Unfortunately, we still face cultural and political discrimination in the workplace and in business. (I’ve lived that, too.) When we connect in a supportive female-oriented community, we gain the know-how and strength to better navigate those difficult situations.
But the right community isn’t just about business. I’ve made wonderful life-long friends who have gotten me through tough personal times. I’ve collaborated on exciting projects and have met people who have opened up new opportunities and transformed my thinking.
Building these relationships in an entrepreneurial community is key to your personal and professional growth. You never know where they’ll take you.
Getting better together
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through my experience in building a business community, it’s this: as women, we need to support each other. We all do better when we connect and collaborate instead of compete.
You can do it all on your own, of course. But it will take more time and effort to get where you want to go. Who wants that??
The journey for a female business owner is not an easy one. While our numbers are growing, we are the exception. It takes grit and guts to do what we do.
Finding the right female entrepreneur community where members lift each other up is the pathway to success in business for women. You’ll have a lot more fun on the way, too!
Do you have questions about how you can succeed in your business and accelerate your journey toward reaching your goals? I invite you to learn more about From Startup to Success coaching packages
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