What am I doing? Where am I going wrong? I can’t go on like this. Who will help me? As a solopreneur or new business owner, there will come a time when you question your decision to become a solo-entrepreneur. I like to refer to them as ‘growing pains’. Sure, we all have moments of self-doubt and indecision, but its times like these when an awesome, uplifting, inspiring business bestie comes in handy the most.
A business bestie will help you pull through with warm words of encouragement, make you laugh, and get you strong enough to carry on with your entrepreneurial journey.
The people you decide to surround yourself with will affect your life both personally and professionally. Contrary to belief, they play a major role in our future success.
Your tribe of business besties can either inspire you and help you grow, or they can be emotionally draining, unsupportive, and lower your energy.
This is exactly why we must choose our business besties wisely.
Why Do You Need Business Buddies in Your Life as a Solopreneur?
Business besties have your back, offer great advice, share your work with others, and give you a much-needed push. A true business bestie is your ally, your champion, your supporter. For an entrepreneur, business buddies are a great investment when it comes to having a network of support.
Over the years, these people will encourage you, believe in you, and be by your side no matter what. Your close-knit circle of business friends will not only have a positive impact on your business but will also lighten up your life.
Discover why business friends are a blessing in disguise and how you can find your own tribe of business buddies!
3 reasons why having a business bestie is priceless
Wholehearted Love and Support
While working, there comes a point in every entrepreneur’s life when they are ready to give up and no longer showing up as they should.
Let’s be honest, it’s a little hard to always hold yourself accountable without anyone to answer to. No coworkers, no supervisor, or customers who can complain to the higher ups about your service or product.
I know, firsthand, how difficult it can be to make sure that all deadlines are met and everything is checked off the to-do list for the day. Solopreneurs keep a foot on their own necks.
Thankfully, I have a support system that checks-in and keeps me on track when I’m not as motivated. Sometimes, a little ‘tough love’ is all we need to keep going.
When you try to do everything on your own, it gets overwhelming. This is all the more reason why you need a business bestie to lend a shoulder to cry on, and be your strength when you’re burnt out or have nothing left to give.
Having a tribe that loves and supports you is a blessing. Research proves there is a positive impact of emotional support on your mental and physical health. With the wholehearted love and support of your tribe, you can face everything and anything life throws your way.
Your business besties have no ulterior motive for loving and supporting you. They believe in you and want to bring out your best self.
Constant Source of Motivation
You’d be surprised how many of your friends and family are rooting for you to make it, simply because they weren’t given the chance to. They want you to succeed, and although they rarely admit it, they live vicariously through you.
Oftentimes, we lack the motivation to get up and carry on. Stress filled days are an inevitable part of life, and on days when you don’t have the energy to keep going, your business besties will provide the necessary motivation.
One minute you’re running the race, surpassing everyone while in first place, then something drastic happens and you drop the baton. Business besties are the ones who will pick the baton back up, hand it to you, and cheer you on until you reach your goals at the finish line.
Disappointment throughout your business journey will surface at different stages. At the beginning, you may not gain as much momentum or popularity with your audience.
In fact, your business may not skyrocket until years from now. Growing a business takes time. It’s not one race but a marathon, and with ample motivation and determination, you can achieve anything.
Even when you cannot see the best in yourself, your business tribe sees your potential and will always be there to help you pull through.
A little encouragement every now and then goes a long way. Business besties don’t have to be in your career field or run their own businesses for that matter.
They come in the form of family members, spouses, Facebook group members online, and friends in your social network. Sometimes, all we need is a small nudge from a business bestie to persevere.
Proximity to other successful business owners is imperative as well. Why not surround yourself with people you look up to or aspire to be? When you see the amazing work they are doing, you will be motivated to achieve your goals, too.
Free Marketing of Your Work
Want to share your work with a larger audience? Instead of paying hefty fees to online marketers or running ads on Facebook, you can reach out to your business bestie and they will share your work with their followers!
Yes, it is perfectly okay to leverage the network of your peers. You can ask them to assess your content, your new product line, or your campaign. Do they find your Instagram feed inviting?
Is there something you should change about your new product’s design? How can you increase the number of subscribers on your email list? Don’t be afraid to tap into their following by swapping mailing lists. That’s what they are there for!
Business Besties Give Honest Feedback
Writing your sales copy or updating your logo? Need some honest feedback? Your business bestie will be there to save the day. Since your business buddies know your brand inside out and understand how the marketing world works, they will give valuable and transparent feedback.
Whether it is to provide constructive feedback or give praise, it will come from an honest and genuine place. Don’t worry about your tribe blowing smoke – they want you to succeed!
How to find your business bestie?
Now that you know the importance of having a business bestie and supportive tribe, it’s time for the million-dollar question. How to find your business bestie?
For some, finding their tribe and attracting people with similar ideas and purposes, comes naturally. They attend the same schools, take business classes, participate in membership groups, and go to the same events and conferences in their fields. Overtime, familiarities and bonds grow online and offline, some even turn into lifelong friendships.
For others, it is a bit more challenging. There are a few simple rules we’ll share that will help you find your own tribe, whether you are a natural or not!
Identifying people with similar interests who you can, ultimately, take with you on your journey to success is not a simple task but definitely well worth the time and effort.
Sometimes, you find people at work and connect with them right away. Other times, it is the friends and coworkers that you have already known for ages. But, for the most part, finding your tribe happens after a series of ‘trials and errors’.
Some people you may have a genuine connection with while others may only see you as a means to an end. The best way to find your tribe is to observe a person’s actions and take a chance on trusting others to see what works.
GET SOCIAL
When you are looking for business friends, you have to put yourself out there. You can’t expect your business bestie to arrive at your doorstep, right? Ask people in your career field or network to meet up for coffee.
Schedule coworking days on the weekend, or invite them to participate in monthly calls over zoom to check-in and review progress towards goals. Moreover, reach out to people on social media and introduce yourself to them.
Social media is a great place to start a friendship. However, you need to take the relationship off the internet as well. Visiting a town? Know a blogger who lives there? Reach out to them and see if you can meet!
Explore Online Groups
The internet is a great resource – not only can you find tons of information there, but you also can meet new people.
For instance, Instagram, Facebook groups, Pinterest boards, and other social platforms are a great way to meet business besties in your niche. If you see individuals online that inspire you, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Many niches have gurus that offer their own paid membership groups or courses where you can find your community within an online community.
Take advantage of exclusive memberships and paid groups that are offered by professionals with years of experience in your field.
Their groups are highly valuable for the advice given by well-known members in the group who you can converse with for free.
Arrange Face-to-Face Meetups
Once you find a person you click and connect with, the next step is to arrange a meetup with them. Going from text conversations to video chats such as Facetime them or giving them a call over Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp should follow as you all grow and build partnerships with each other.
Keep in Touch
Just like any other networking opportunity or relationship, budding friendships within your tribe have to be nurtured. If the chemistry is right, the next step is to determine how to keep in touch.
If you don’t stay in touch, it is very easy to lose contact over a period of time. Therefore, set up weekly meetings, exchange your contact information, send over a DM every other week, so that you can grow lasting, solid relationships with your tribe!
Also, show support in return and put your face out there to meet others. When you provide value, you’ll attract your tribe to you.
Try New Things with Your Business Bestie
Glow up and grow with your new business besties. Try out different things and don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone.
For example, conferences, retreats, group meetings, and weekend trips are great ways to meet new professionals aligned in your field. If you go to places that are new to you, you’ll benefit from new experiences and make life-long connections along the way.
Are you more of a conceptual person that’s skilled at creating visions and can see the ‘bigger picture’? Then pair up with a person who is more organized, analytical, with an eye for detail and systematic.
Are you shy and not that comfortable with being the face of your brand? Try to connect with people who are bold and confident, and while you’re at it learn how to improve your communication.
Business Bestie – A Blessing in Disguise
Working on your own can be lonely. Setting milestones, achieving goals, and working can become an uphill battle, if you don’t have the right support and people around you.
Someone who has a great business sense will help you reach new heights, personally and professionally. Therefore, you must surround yourself with supportive and successful people.
Select business buddies who encourage and motivate you to become your best self. When you finally find the tribe of your dreams, you will see tremendous growth in your business and success in your career.
Your circle should mirror who you are as a person or who you aspire to be both personally and professionally at the very least.
Here’s to finding the best business bestie yet!
Are you interested in starting a side hustle business of your own? Get started with The Side Hustle Planner and leave a comment below.
I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.
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