Healthy Entrepreneurs Grow in Community

Welcome to part three of our Habits of a Healthy Entrepreneur Series. This week, we’re looking at the importance of “Growing in Community”. 

Community Can Help Us Find Our Focus Again

Finding a community to connect with reminds us that “iron sharp sharpens iron.” There is an opportunity to learn from and grow with each other.

The growth in my business can be traced back to being part of some great masterminds, small business groups, and group coaching programs. 

Years ago, I decided that if I was going to invest in higher-ticket education or coaching programs, my personal requirement was that a community component must be part of the program. 

One of the last “big” programs I purchased was from a gal I had purchased smaller courses from previously. I learned a lot from her and enjoyed her teaching style. So I took the chance and invested in her high-end coaching program. 

It turned out to be way more DIY than I expected. About halfway through the program, she went on maternity leave and left the community to fend for itself. While we knew this would happen, the community connection was not fostered or supported from day one and dwindled quickly after the leader left.

That did not work for me. I fizzled out, feeling alone and unsure of what to do next. There was no sense of common direction or purpose, and no one I had connected with to ask for help or feedback.

After that experience, I knew any future programs I purchased had to have a community option built into the program. It became an essential criterion for future training and education investments.

Growth Comes Through Community 

I can link growth spurts in my business to seasons when I joined a mastermind or group coaching program. 

When you are all working together, asking questions, and being open to people challenging you and asking you to rethink your ideas from a different perspective, there is an opportunity for growth for everyone involved.

As an introvert, I need smaller, more intimate communities where I can really connect with and learn from fellow members. 

You may need large groups where there is more action in the group and an exciting level of fast-paced energy that feeds you. That’s great! 

Knowing your personality and the type of community that can help you the most will aid you in sifting through the community options available. Understanding what works for you will help you find a place where you can plug in, grow from the experience, and help other members along the way. 

Benefits of Being in a Community

A community can give you a strong sense of belonging. 

Having a place to connect and to be seen and understood has tremendous mental and emotional health benefits. In this environment, you may find yourself moving forward instead of shrinking back.

I’ve been a part of some amazing mastermind and small-group coaching programs that have served me well. I learned a lot through these communities. The unique experience I had with each was the push I needed to launch the community I had been contemplating for so long.

So I did! The Selah Mastermind was born. 

So, where do you find community? 

1. Shameless Plug Alert (sorry, not sorry): there’s my Selah Mastermind, of course. If you would like to learn more, you can visit https://selahmastermind.co/mastermind to find out more about the community I offer.
2. Is there a coach, counselor, or consultant you like to work with? They may have a community of their own or can give you a few recommendations of communities that could be a good fit for you and help you find just what you’re looking for.
3. Ask colleagues, ask friends, and ask people who are in your industry. Where are they learning? What community environments are they enjoying and learning from? 

As you gather a list of potential communities to connect with, I want you to make a list of what you’re looking for. 

• Is there a particular training or skill building you’re seeking? 
• Do you need a group with many people and energy, or a smaller, less frenetic style of a group?
• Do they have a Facebook or private community platform? Do you care? What is your preference? 
• Do you like to jump on video chats with the group and group leader, or is more of a Q&A type forum better for you?  
• What is your price point? What level of investment are you able and willing to make in a community experience?

A little tip for you: the best communities I have been a part of and the experiences where I got the best results are the ones I paid for. Some had price tags that made me cringe just slightly. When you and your fellow members have some “skin in the game,” you all show up better and more intentionally.

Your Next Steps: 

• Think about what type of community would be best for you. Big? Small? Somewhere in between? 
• What are you looking for in a community? 
• Are you looking for a specific type of training or outcome? Or are you looking more for general business support and networking?
• What would fit your budget? What would make you cringe a little? 
• Where do you want that community to be hosted? 

A Closing Thought

Please don’t ignore your need for community. Don’t leave yourself out in the cold. Instead, find a place where you can plug in and connect with other people and grow as a person, as a business owner, and have the security and comfort of a safe place where you can grow your business.