Finding A Community: Such an important (but difficult) aspect of starting your own business

Who doesn’t love a bank holiday?

When you are an employee, it’s basically like a free day-off but, when you run your own start-up, bank holidays are quite a weird sensation.

As a start-up founder, you feel a bit guilty taking a day-off but, even if you wanted to do any external work, your clients are likely to be off so you end up having a semi day-off working on internal activities and admin.

The latest bank holiday in the UK was a beautiful day weatherwise so I was up early and bounded to my desk ready to plough through a morning of work before treating myself to the afternoon off.

However, my mood was soon to turn a little as the first email I opened was a rejection email.

Rejection for what?

I had recently applied to join a prestigious London start-up community so as to tap into the fantastic network, events and office space — to finally feel a part of something where I didn’t have to do all the legwork.

Alas it wasn’t to be; in fact this was the second such network that I was rejected from in the last 3 months and it made me think what it is about me or my business that doesn’t quite make the grade for some communities.

I am acutely aware that having started a start-up consulting business, it may not be as glamorous as a tech or product business but it is still a start-up going through the same ups and downs as any other.

The loneliness of being a solopreneur or sole founder

I have written before about how being a solo founder can be incredibly lonely

I’ve said it time and time again, not only is there the physically loneliness but very few who haven’t experienced the start-up life will appreciate just what you are going through [it’s one of the reasons I blog every week and post every day to try and share the experience].

It is not an aspect that I considered enough when I started my business but it was one that quickly dawned on me and I was fortunate enough to overcome through a variety of solutions.

Solution 1 — The Solopreneurs Club

A big one was creating my own community — a group called the Solopreneurs Club .

We are 35 people strong, comprised of people who are all building their own business whatever it may be (some consultants, some coaches, some financial advisers, some lawyers, some special needs experts, etc).

They are such a fantastic group to lean on, share challenges and successes with and just generally hang around with; I also have the pleasure of actually working with some of them on a regular basis.

Not a week goes by when I don’t chat to someone from the group and I value their insight and opinion — I realise that with many I have reached a much deeper friendship as a result which is invaluable in a business world where conversations can be quite superficial at times.

Solution 2 — Other communities

Over the last 4 years I have sampled a variety of other communities for small businesses, solopreneurs or people with portfolio careers.

Some have been great like The Portfolio Collective where I am still an active member.

Others have started strongly but then fizzled out (like the NatWest Accelerator , The Help to Grow Programme and The Virgin Start-up Accelerator that I joined).

And some have barely taken off for me — like the BNI ; but at least I tried.

Solution 3— Networking events

I’ve always been a big networking fan and I regularly attend multiple events a week .

Take the last week, I’ve been to a visualisation session , the Chelsea Flower Show and a talk hosted by an ex-member of the CIA .

As well as learning interesting things, I find these events fantastic to meet like-minded individuals who might become a part of your community or you might become part of theirs.

[If you want some tips for networking events, check this out ]

Solution 4 — Members clubs

If Covid taught us one thing it is that many of us prefer (and are more productive) when we meet physically with others.

I am no different and I realised pretty early on when running my business that I missed having a regular space to hang out and meet people (working from home just didn’t cut it).

Initially I enjoyed hanging out at client’ offices but this wasn’t always sustainable (particularly post Covid) and I soon cottoned on to the idea of joining a couple of members clubs and a local flexible work space so that I could feel the buzz of others being around.

These are great; I enjoy spending time in them and am a repeat visitor at The Ministry , The Ivy Club and The Home Grown Club in particular.

That said, it’s hard to build traction from a professional point of view as the members are quite varied.

Solution 5 — Meeting new people and catching up with old acquaintances

I am perpetually going for coffees with people; some are virtual and some are in person .

Some are with old acquaintances and some are with new ones .

Not only are these great for potentially finding new clients and team members but there is a hidden objective of finding someone who could become a part of my community (or me part of theirs).

Despite all these strategies I’m still keen to find another really good community

It seems the sum of all my endeavours is not enough and that’s why I was super keen to join the 2 networks I applied for; I was enamoured by the combination of the people they have brought together and the physical space that they have.

I could really see those communities adding so much to my business acumen and mental well-being as well as allowing me to contribute [another key aspect].

Having a community solely dedicated to start-up founders with a permanent space is like the holy grail and hence my eagerness to join.

Hopefully, as the rejection email says, there will be a chance to join further down the line ??.

In the meantime I will continue searching for a great community; if you know one (or are searching for one) then please drop me a line.

I look forward to keeping you all updated on my progress.

Faris ??

Faris is the CEO and Founder of Shiageto Consulting , an innovative consultancy that helps firms and individuals sharpen their effectiveness. Connect with him here

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