Business Showers – Support for the Beginning of a Bold New Adventure

Anyone who knows me can attest: I don’t like boxes.

Here’s a wild idea: Instead of baby showers, let’s host business showers. Now before you groan and shake your head—perhaps thinking I’ve lost my mind—hear me out. The similarities between these two things aren’t that far-fetched if you open your mind and look at them a little more closely. So, let’s unpack this together—or I should probably say unwrap. You know, like a baby shower gift?

Here’s the thing. When friends and loved ones learn that they will be bringing a bright, beautiful new living thing into the world, it is a cause of sheer celebration—one which we commemorate with the traditional baby shower gathering. This is a time-honored tradition where we bring gifts that can be useful to the parents as they give birth and grow this little human.

We bring these gifts to help make this process as easy as possible for the parents because any parent out there reading knows it’s not all sunshine and roses. It really is a great responsibility and undertaking. Often, during showers, attendees (especially those who are parents themselves already) not only bring material gifts, but they also bring encouragement and advice for the soon-to-be parents as they embark on this exciting (and more than a bit intimidating) new adventure.

Are any of you seeing where I am going with this yet? Well, just like our parents to be, when a friend or loved one starts (births) a business, I propose we throw them not a baby shower, but a “business shower.” It makes sense, right? Here, we can not only celebrate such a monumental moment in their lives—and the beginning of a bold, new adventure—but we can also bring them just as useful advice and encouragement just like we would our expectant friends.

But instead of the material gifts we bring to baby showers, when a friend starts a business, let’s provide resources for their business. Although, feel free to offer material gifts as well, as I highly doubt any recipient would oppose! But the real priceless presents will be resources for the well-being of your friends’ business babies.

Just like I often do with friends’ baby showers, before deciding what I will bring to their showers, I sit down and think of them. What does or will their child need right away—and as it grows? Which of these things do they currently have covered, and which are they still lacking that I could supply? If they already have tons of infant clothes, a crib, and a plethora of Pampers, perhaps that leads me to think of what their needs will be further down the road. Then I can focus my gift on what would serve them when their baby has grown to the toddler stage—and beyond. The sky’s the limit with this analogy, but you get my point.

In our business shower, each parent (business CEO just starting out) will have specific needs related to their business. Take the time to get to know those needs. Make a list if it helps. Which needs are currently covered? What gifts (advice and resources) do you have for them to fill these specific needs—not just when their “baby” is in infancy, but as it grows and matures.

Just like any soon-to-be parent, this stage of life for a new entrepreneur can be overwhelming, so this “showering” of support is one of the best ways you can truly come alongside them and encourage them in their new, exciting endeavor. And besides, who doesn’t love any good reason to throw a party?