When I started my business in 2004, I was all over the place. I wasn’t quite sure where to begin: how to get customers, how to brand myself, what my company was about, how to meet people in the industry. I was just flying by the seat of my pants, really. At that point, a few of my friends were also flying by the seat of their pants: trying out new business ideas, exploring with hobbies, soul-searching. We all had so much in common at this juncture in our lives. I thought it would be advantageous for us to join forces and help each other. Monthly we met to discuss our dreams, goals, wins, challenges. We always finished our meetings asking the group to help us with one thing: keep us accountable, put us in connection with a contact, help with a research project. We called ourselves the “WEB” (Women Entrepreneurs in Business).
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My Own Personal Cheerleaders…
I loved that little group. WEB helped me tremendously in that first year in business. That group helped me become more confident. If I was doubting myself or something I wanted to do, the group would be my cheerleaders. If I wanted to make a connection somewhere, sure enough someone knew someone who knew someone. I also loved helping others in that group. I loved being able to share what I could with them about business and connect them with my net of contacts.
Always Having Support…
When I moved to Seattle, WEB disbanded. I am still close friends with most of the gals in our group and we still share our dreams and passions with each other. In Seattle, I was able to build other groups on which I relied on for guidance. They were less formal than WEB, but they still provided a backboard for ideas. Sometimes these relationships were one to one, like the one I had with Kelly. She and I would meet every couple weeks to work on our business plans together. And, some of them evolved into something else entirely. This is how a group of us founded a full-fledged not for profit organization called Get Hitched Give Hope. And, I know a group of photographers in Seattle who get together monthly to simply brainstorm ideas… any idea. The group helps each member think through options to see their ideas come to life.
People Need People…
Having a small business can be isolating. We spend a lot of our time working alone. And, even when we are working with others to produce an event, we are separate. It is our company doing our work. Their company is doing their work. Internally, our businesses run because of one person – and maybe a few added employees or contractors. We need the support of others to help build our businesses: to realize our dreams, to accomplish our goals, to develop ideas.
Who do you go to when you need a cheerleader? Support?
by Michelle Loretta
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