Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi all,

All of a sudden recently I`ve heard and read many people say that it`s
important to have a good support group. According to what I`ve
gathered, such a group should:

• be composed of individuals in similar circumstances
• help
  support each other in challenges
• celebrate with and congratulate
  each other for successes
• hold each other accountable for
  commitments
• push each other in positive ways towards
  accomplishing their goals
• are best when under 15 people

However, after looking around for such groups to be a part of, even
online groups, I haven`t found anything that looks valuable. SN is great,
and I love it, but it`s a very large community.

Have others found/created groups such as this? If so, how?

Many thanks,


Conan.

Conanh,

I have a great (for me) support group, unknowingly we built this group just as friends and acquaintances, everyone knows and helps everyone.

Most of the guy`s own thier own bussinesses, but not all. We all live nearby and as it turns out all have businesses that go together but not competing.

One guy wholesales outdoor fireplaces, another has a nursery and landscape company, another has a trucking company and yet another has an excavation company. and while the excavation guy is probably the furthest from me (outdoor furniture) in cross marketing and synergy, we all sell to basically the same targets.

Without any doubt on my part I would not have had the limited success with my part-time (soon to be full-time) business without these guys.

If you can find even one person to start with it is amazing the impact it has on your brain. even if you disagree it`s at least someone to talk to about some little detail nobody else cares about.

And although you probably won`t get to have a beer with the SuN folks they are very supportive.

Just a thought

Stan

 

 

There`s always MeetUp.com.  You should see if there`s an entrepeneurial or small business group near you.  I`ve done some networking in other cities and these are the first groups I go to.  It`s amazing to see people share their challenges and others provide advice and ideas from a completely different perspective that`s out of the industry.  

MeetUp`s purpose is to organize people and groups online who then meet in person on a regular basis.

Hope this helps!

Jennifer

Hi,

I am a part of a group that not only is what you describe, we are also learning together how to do the very thing you speak of. These groups aren`t exactly support groups, though some seem to be. They are a group of people in business who look to one another for support. You might never meet with more than two of your support people at a time (or even more than one), but the point is (from what I`m learning) to have people to go to where you can learn, create synnergistic partnerships that benefit everyone involved, and surround yourself with people who are doing well, who are where you want to be...not everyone has to be better off than you, but if you`re in a group of people who meet for a 2 hour lunch and complain about how their businesses aren`t doing well and pointing fingers, obviously they won`t help you get any further (unless you`re looking for someone to have lunch with who`ll tell you what you want to hear).

I`m new to this, but can recommend local business association meetings, chamber of commerce meetings, attend conferences, and keep abreast of news in your field of expertise and in areas where you need support.

Good luck and hope this helps,

Kim

 

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Kim Paluch

kim_paluch@new.rr.com
Of the Earth Artisans
http://of-the-earth-artisans.blogspot.com