It’s lonely at the top…but, it doesn’t have to be!
I founded and operated a gym for nearly 10 years. And in the early days, to put it lightly:
I.
Was.
Stubborn.
My business mindset was that I would figure it all out, I’ve got a handle on everything, it’s MY business so I should do everything – I don’t need help. If you can relate, hear me out:
Collaboration > Competition
It’s really tempting to look around, especially in a neighborhood like Central Park, and only see all the polished, successful, driven and talented business owners as your competition. Especially if they offer a similar product or service to yours.
Running your own business is not about:
- Having all the answers
- Being the expert in everything
- Insisting you can (and should) do everything on your own
Running your own business IS about:
- Leaning into your strengths
- Identifying what energizes you
- Admitting to areas and tasks that drain you
- My personal fave: surrounding yourself with others who get it
Where Can You Start?
💪 Coach’s Cue:
Get Curious
- Whose work do you admire?
- Make a list of people and businesses whose values align with yours!
- Write down three things you like about what they do.
Be Vulnerable
- Send an email/direct message to three people on your list.
- Share with them something they do that you admire.
- (Wouldn’t you love if someone did this for you?)
Stay Grounded
- Don’t give away your “secret sauce” – just have an open conversation and see if collaboration is mutually beneficial.
- Make sure YOU are also getting what you need from this collab!
- Remember, it’s highly likely that there are plenty of clients/buyers/subscribers for what you AND your competitor offer – you don’t need every client.
Collaboration isn’t about being better than.
It’s about building strength together.
You may not even know you’re craving that connection and ability to be yourself with someone who understands your struggles – so why not give it a try?
Why Not Start by Connecting Locally?
Register for my new monthly meetup for Denver’s Female Founders on October 28th right here in the ‘hood! !
Stronger Together: for Female Founders craving community, support, and accountability.
📍 FlyteCO – 3120 Uinta St, Denver, CO 80238
📆 Held the last Tuesday of every month from 9:30-10:30am MST – starting 11/25!
💲 FREE! But please visit the Panda Coffee House (located right inside)
Each month, you can expect:
- Guided conversation around a shared struggle or challenge
- Opportunity to seek feedback on something you’re working through
- Simple, actionable prompts to inspire and keep you accountable
You’re busy, the to-do list is endless and each hour of the day counts – so, let’s maximize it:
- 9:30 – 9:45am: Coffee + Snacks
- 9:45 – 10:15am: Guided Small Group Discussion
- 10:15 – 10:30am: Resource Exchange + Action Item
