The importance of building your community Jodie Webber - Bob Marketing for The Businesses Community www.thebusinessescommunity.com
Running your own business can be tough, it can be lonely, it can be exciting, it can be challenging, it can be rewarding... it can be soooo many things! Chuck into the mix the fact that you are also juggling the responsibility of bringing up a well-rounded little person (or little people) and there’s one hell of a lot of pressure, plate spinning (sometimes smashing!), juggling, prioritising, feeling amazing, feeling inadequate, feeling…. Well, the whole spectrum! In this day and age where we are told by the media we can ‘have it all’, it’s no wonder that many parents are rejecting the return to work and being bold… stepping out into the world of business for themselves. And if that is you – big
10
congratulations and well done! The problem (in my opinion) is, our media only seems to report the success stories, and it’s only once you decide to embark on your new journey into the world of running your own business, that you realise it’s not enough to have a fantastic idea and see the gap in the market. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to scare you! Having your own business is utterly fantastic (one of the best feelings in the world!). But in the same way as being a parent, it can also be daunting, exhausting, frustrating, over-whelming, throw you curve balls, and at times you might question what you are doing! There’s an African proverb that says ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ meaning that a community of people must interact with children for them to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment… And the same can be said of starting your business! As parents, we rely on a whole support network of people when we start out (and as we grow)… from family members, midwives, friends, neighbours, nursery teachers, baby groups – the list goes on! Why then, when you start your own business