As someone who shares a lot of my life on my blog and social media, I can tell you that there are both positives and negatives to it. On the one hand, you can interact with people from all over the world (and maybe even make new friends). Yet, on the other hand, you open yourself up to all types of intrusions when you allow strangers a glimpse into your life. But, for me, social media has become a community. I’ve met other cancer survivors, had opportunities to collaborate with advocacy groups, and networked with equestrians, and I even met my business coach through a friend of a friend on Instagram. It’s those kinds of connections that have made social media such a valuable tool for me. So, when my business coach announced that she was hosting a meet-up in New York City to get her community members away from their screens and in front of people face-to-face, I knew I had to go.
When I used to have a full-time job, attending a meet-up like this on a Friday afternoon would have been out of the question. But now that I am my own boss, I can prioritize these types of networking opportunities that are important to me. I’ve been a part of my business coach’s community for a while, so it’s exciting to be able to meet a lot of the people that I see often on Zoom in real life. It’s also a good reminder that we need to make time for in-person connections again, something that has been on hiatus for many over the last few years.
The support from my coach’s community is what led me to leap into full-time entrepreneurship, and it’s what helps me through those times when I’m unsure of my next step. Having like-minded people to lean on as I go through this next chapter has been invaluable and it’s why I’m such a supporter of hiring a business coach when you are first starting (and having a coach who ingratiates you into their community is even better).
So, this afternoon is all about kicking back and meeting people IRL. It’s about community, connection, and creativity. It’s about showing up and supporting each other and valuing the importance of community over competition. Because when we come together, we all win.
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