Top 5 Reasons to Join an Entrepreneurial Community

After leaving the corporate world, what I missed the most was the connection I had with the people I worked with. Whether it's cool interviews or focused group work, that sense of camaraderie can disappear when you start working alone.

With 14 years of solo entrepreneurial experience behind me, I can tell you this: I wouldn't be where I am today without the people I've connected with along the way. .

I haven't just partnered with random people, I've specifically invested in communities where other like-minded entrepreneurs exist, and I owe most of my success to those communities .

Here are 5 reasons why an entrepreneur-specific professional community will help you grow and how to maximize your results within the community.

1. You will be surrounded by people who understand

When I started my business, I felt like everyone around me thought I was crazy.

Go get a real job, they said.

Oh, and my favorite: "So you're gonna turn your back on everything you've worked so hard for?"

That one always got me.

If you've been there, remember that the people saying these things aren't starting their own business, so they can't really understand your "why". And in many cases, these particularly aggressive responses come from people who are externalizing their own insecurities.

When you partner with other entrepreneurs, you really feel like you've found your own. They get it, because they do with you. They understand your "why".

When I joined my first community, that was the most valuable part for me. Just knowing there were other people out there who were like me (and yes, maybe a little crazy) made me feel good. It made me realize that I was not alone and gave me the courage to keep moving forward.

2. You will find potential partners and people to collaborate with

In addition to being surrounded by the right people, the community itself acts as a filter to help you find perfect leads for potential partnerships and collaborations.

The best online bands all have a give and take attitude, and when everyone comes from a place of service first (knowing that it will come back), that's where the magic happens.

For example, in our SPI Pro community, two of our founding members created a product together. Now they are business partners doing amazing things. And we have more examples like this, all thanks to our communities.

On a smaller scale, guest swapping is something that happens quite often in our bands and in other bands around the world. If you have a podcast or a YouTube channel, or even a blog, it's so much easier to find the right person to trade with when you're part of a community.

Here is an episode of the Amplify podcast featuring two of our members together: Bob Gentle and Junaid Ahmed. Now they enjoy the reach of their respective audiences and grow together!

If you want to learn more about our entrepreneurial communities, click here to find the one that's right for you!

In a professional community, two things are likely to happen:

1. People will share their progress and victories.

2. People will detail how they did it.

As a business owner, there is no better source of inspiration than watching another entrepreneur succeed.

And for the most part, community members are VERY happy to share what worked for them and how they overcame obstacles. This is because they also learn lessons from others. It's reciprocal.

A pro tip from Pat:

One of my favorite activities when joining a new community is to create a post and share a specific strategy or tactic in my business that has recently worked really well and that I know will help. also the others. I'll go into great detail, provide step by step instructions, and ask nothing in return.

When you do this, it makes a great first impression because you're giving first, not taking. In many cases, this will capture members' attention. I've seen it time and time again - you can quickly become an authority in these spaces and have access to more people, places and events. It takes time, but get involved, over deliver and great things will happen.

4. You get accountability

Just like going to the gym, it's SO much harder to get up and go when it's just you...