Being a business owner can often be a lonely old place, particularly if you are the only person in your business.  Even when you have staff too it can still  feel like you’re working in isolation as a business owner.  You might be surrounded by people who understand the mechanics of business, but you'll often find yourself filtering information, challenges and ideas from people you employ.

But just take a moment to think how great it would feel if you had access to a like-minded group of business owners that could support, help, act as a sounding board and provide you with a great place to share ideas, get inspired and also discuss challenges too.

Finding others with a similar state of mind and drive to succeed is one way to break out of the isolation that often comes with being a business owner. There are so many benefits to connecting with other entrepreneurs and business owners that go beyond just finding someone with whom you can share stories.

Well the good news is there's plenty of support out there and the Entrepreneurs Circle Local Group in St Albans is just one of those places where you can mix and mingle with like minded business owners all focused on supporting business growth.

Here's some reasons why connecting with fellow entrepreneurs is a smart move for anyone looking to take their company further, faster.

Success leaves clues

Learning from the success of others is an important part of moving your business forward.  There's always likely to be other business owners who have faced similar challenges, experienced success, learned from their mistakes and spending time with them can be liberating and inciteful for business owners.  Learning from others in an open and transparent manner with no specific agenda for themselves is priceless.

You’ll have a sounding board for your ideas.

If you find yourself having a few beers with a like-minded entrepreneur, you may start to open up more than you normally would. Perhaps you’ll share your frustrations and find that others have had similar experiences and can share some insight too. Everyone has the occasional bad day, but when you’re speaking with someone who is not involved in your day-to-day operations, it’s easier to let your guard down and be completely honest.

The person you’re speaking with has no stake in your business, so they’re free to be completely honest in their feedback. You’ll likely walk away from the conversation with some new found knowledge and great ideas about how you can improve your business or just enjoyed the opportunity to let off some steam! You may also be surprised with the advice you receive from your business buddies as your entrepreneurial friends often have experience that is applicable to your situation too. Think of your entrepreneurial friends as the people you can get advice from without worrying about hurting their feelings.

You’ll Get Honest Feedback

As mentioned above, one of the biggest benefits of networking with other entrepreneurs is being able to get honest feedback, both on your ideas and on your challenges. You may have people in your life, such as family and friends, who are hesitant to give you direct and honest feedback because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. You may also have business partners who are committed to being honest with you and giving you feedback, but who are also attached to the business with you.

In Business Growth and Networking Groups there are likely to be people in your network who are detached from your day-to-day operations and who, therefore, are free to give you honest feedback. Networking with like-minded entrepreneurs can be a great way to break the ice and get feedback on an idea or project that you’ve been sitting on and not sure how to take to the next level. You can use your network to find beta testers for new products or services, or to get feedback on the idea before launching.

Networking can lead to business partnerships.

It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to partner with like-minded people and use the strengths of each partner to make their business stronger. By networking with other entrepreneurs, you may find yourself in a situation where business passes between you both or you may event decide to team up and start a new venture together.

There are many benefits to partnering with another entrepreneur, including having someone who understands what you’re dealing with on a daily basis and someone who can help deal with the daily stresses of business and life. You may also find that you have a better chance of success when you’re working with someone who shares your drive and passion.

Who you hang around with matters

The best way to accelerate your success as an entrepreneur is to find other like-minded business owners and hang around with them! People who are in the same situation as you and have similar goals and dreams will always provide you with great insight and support.  Most successful entrepreneurs will tell you that the key to achieving success is finding like-minded people and creating a network of support, feedback, and partnership.

Plus, of course, hanging around local business groups is a great place to socialise and enjoy a beer together too!

The Entrepreneurs Circle Business Growth & Networking Group in St Albans meets every month to support local business owners. We're part of The Entrepreneurs Circle - the UK's largest Membership Organisation for Entrepreneurs who want to get
and keep more customers.

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If you'd like to find out more about how this local group can help support you as a business owner or if you'd like to join us at one of our meetings just contact us and we'll be happy to help.