We’ve all heard it before:
- Build good community
- Surround yourself with good community
- Get into a good community
But what is the hold up? Why is it not happening?
Here’s a few hard truths about Community:
1. Community is dang hard to execute.
Am I right? Yes! We are living in a digital age, where you can sit in your house with no one around, but be “online”. You can communicate with people all day, but never see anyone or physically talk to anyone. *Note, I am a big fan of online communities, no shade throwing here. They are a tremendous asset to the startup community, it’s just a reality.
2. Genuine community takes time.
Who has the time to be “in” community? The pressure is greater than ever to succeed in “Startup Life” and you need to grind out the next MVP, ASAP!!!!!! Who has time for coffee, grabbing a beer or to sit around and just shoot the breeze?
3. Community can be messy.
Especially in the professional world. Are you friends with your coworkers? Do you even have any coworker or are you grinding it out on your own right now? Do you confide in your coworkers about the the struggles you’re facing or do you have to “keep it real? It’s extremely hard to find a balance in those relationships.
Let’s step back for a moment and take a look at the definition of community:
What do we see?
Common interests. One place. Together. Unified. Collective. Fellowship with others. Same values and responsibilities. Designed to serve the people of a particular area. Joint ownership.
We see that when you bring people together and really unite on a common interest and take ownership of that connection, real community is cultivated.
Community is the keystone to success in the startup world.
Yes, you need to have a good product, nay, a great product. Yes, you need to hit the market at the right time in the right place. Yes, you need a great strategy. BUT without the foundation of solid community to hold it all together, your company will never be the next Google, the next Salesforce, the next {insert stellar company here}.
Let’s face it.
Community is tough
but community is necessary.
So how do you get/build/cultivate/find community?
Step 1: Start.
What are you waiting for? Why are you still waiting to go/seek/find it? Get out the door, off the couch, away from your monitor and start.
Step 2: Pick one thing and just do it.
Not sure where to start? Might we suggest you attend an event? Find something you’re interested and you will naturally find people there that are interested in it too. A common ground is the easiest way to start building community.
An easy place to find out about events is your local coworking spaces events pages (see an example of one here in Atlanta), check out Eventbrite, or check out a Meetup.
Step 3: Talk about it.
Everyday. Discuss it. Tell people you’re seeking real community. Do not be afraid you’ll look weird or be shunned because you are seeking genuine community. The reality is that people you tell are seeking the same exact things.
This is just the beginning. Community can happen.
With some investment and genuine desire for change, you and your startup will soon be on their way to a more fruitful and healthy community.
Check back soon for more tips on building a solid foundation for community in your startup, your life, and your team.
