Are you sitting there alone in your office, wondering how to grow your business? Well, there’s one piece of advice I offer virtually every entrepreneur: join an organization. You can build a company faster, easier, and more successfully if you’re part of group serving your industry, community, or local entrepreneurs.
What will you get out of joining an organization?
1. Community. Working alone or in a small business, it’s easy to feel isolated. Joining organizations helps you become part of a larger business world, whether it’s being part of an industry or part of your local entrepreneurial community.
2. Connections. If you’re looking for the name of an attorney or graphic artist, trying to find a supplier, or just need advice on how to handle a problem or price your services, you’ll find people who can refer you to these sources based on their own experience.
3. Education. Many groups, especially entrepreneur and industry associations, provide valuable information and training. They can help you stay on top of current trends and sharpen your skills.
4. Friends. You can meet people who become your personal friends, regardless of any business connection or benefit.
5. New business. Of course, it’s ideal if you get clients or referrals as a result of joining an organization. But I should warn you, if that’s your only goal, you’re likely to drop out fairly quickly.
If you want to get the most out of an organization, don’t just go to one or two meetings; attend regularly, volunteer, serve on a committee. That’s how people will get to know you and how you’ll make the best contacts.
Photo by fakhar.
Join A Group, Grow Your Biz
August 11, 2008 by Rich | 1 Comment
In Advice, Networking, Strategy
cassy on August 11th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Very true! Joining an organization have lots of advantage if your an entrepreneur. It can really make your business a successful one.