Why do you need to be a part of a business community? Five reasons to befriend other entrepreneurs
Some entrepreneurs, especially the new ones, refuse professional communities, business meetings, and networking. They are afraid of someone stealing their business ideas, secrets of business structuring, or planning. But these business solo riders are not aware that being afraid of business communities, they lose so much more. For example, there are statistics that 19% of entrepreneurs turn to their colleagues for advice. And there is a pretty big chance that their more experienced colleagues have already dealt with the same problems and have ready solutions that can save them time and money. For me, support groups for event planners are always full of insights and inspiration. Community meetings are about meaningful connections that help me be more successful.
That is why I insist that every business owner must become a part of the business community in his industry. I want to highlight the most important features that befriending other entrepreneurs brings to my life:
A sense of belonging.
Professional growth.
Mutual support.
Access to resources.
Increased customer rate.
Sense of belonging to a group of like-minded people
It might be surprising for the new business owners, but most of the time, non-entrepreneurs can’t understand the problems that people who own enterprises face every day. Moreover, entrepreneurs’ minds work a little differently — constantly searching for opportunities to grow. When new business owners first meet a bunch of like-minded entrepreneurs, it’s epic. Because not only the meeting is motivational, but finally they find people that understand them completely and feel a sense of belonging to a group of leaders and creators.
Valuable mutual support
As I wrote before, it’s hard to be understood by people who aren’t in the business. That is why it’s almost impossible to find support between your friends and family if they don’t experience the same problems as you experience. They can’t recommend anything to deal with unstable supply, issues with clients’ onboarding, lack of employee engagement, or troubles with strategic planning. Here is where community perks can help. Business people, especially the successful ones, generously consult, advise and teach a new generation of entrepreneurs. In support groups for event planners that I’ve attended, more experienced business community mates were happy to help with recommendations based on their own cases or with useful contacts. Being in a community will help you resolve your problems and complications much easier.
Professional growth and inspiration
There is no more inspirational than listening to other entrepreneurs’ stories. They share their experience: ways to succeed in a business; how to create systems and structures that help to move the business forward; valuable tips on how to find harmony between personal and professional life. Listening to this shows that all entrepreneurs are humans and have the same problems as you have. And what is more important, they’ve already found their way to overcome their difficulties, and that is why you can overcome yours as well. It inspires you to grow professionally and prepares you to meet problems fully prepared.
Access to resources
Entrepreneurs are people who are always ahead with novel approaches and innovations. Being in a community of business people is to be the first who has access to resources and firsthand knowledge. Statistics say that 26% of entrepreneurs turn to the internet for business-related advice. Although tons of different information is published online, you won’t find answers tailored to your case in your industry there. That is why industry-based communities are thriving. For instance, members of Hospitality Club, my Patreon community for chefs and event planners, have access to exclusive downloads, special workshops, access to trainings, and live Q&A sessions with other top chefs and other business people from the food and event industry. Being a member of the Hospitality Club helps to learn other chefs’ and event planners’ experiences to implement the best practices for your business.
Increased customer rate
Business communities are perfect places to find business partners and industry collaborations. Even if you’re in an industry-based community that is supposed to be full of your competitors, there is always a way to find a good partnership. For example, in a support group for chefs of the Hospitality Club, they can meet event planners who need their services, or chefs that specialize in main courses can collaborate with confectioners to create perfect dinners. This cross-cooperation always leads to increasing prospects numbers and customer retention since your customers will know you can offer more than one service and you strive to exceed their expectations.
I’m an owner of the Patreon community for event planners Hospitality Club and a member of a few more communities. They help me grow personally and professionally every day. They fulfill me and give me a feeling that I’m in my tribe. A business community is a place where I can share my problems, cases, applicable solutions and find inspiration for future triumphs. We entrepreneurs can share a common mission to create a newcreate new normal in the hospitality industry together. So don’t hesitate. Join the community and enjoy its privileges.