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Don’t underestimate the possibilities of growing a purpose-driven community. It is one of the most influential tools in the entrepreneur’s toolkit to help guide your business towards longevity and long-term happiness.
Because let’s be honest: no one wants to be unhappy in their business. In this article, you’ll learn the importance of building a community with shared purpose and how this impacts the continued success of your business.
Entrepreneurial success is at the heart of purpose
I would love to see the world create more purpose-driven businesses.
Purpose-driven businesses are run by entrepreneurs who lead from the heart and with the belief that their business is doing well in the world. The company solves an important problem, perhaps of a social or environmental nature. Purpose-driven businesses are not driven solely by profit but by the change the entrepreneur wants to see in the world.
Surprisingly, my entrepreneurial journey didn’t start with a purpose. It all started with the idea of starting a marketing agency and solving complex marketing problems. But as my business grew, I became less driven by profit and success. Over time, my main driver has become purpose, or the value I want to bring to the world. It doesn’t matter where you are in your business journey. You can take the alternative route and refocus your business on purpose.
Building a community of entrepreneurs with shared goals helped me forge this path to success. It was their inspiration, their advice and their support in difficult times that led me to five years in business. Remember, 2 out of 10 companies fail in the first year of operation. If you’re past this point, you’re thriving!
When you create a community of shared interests, you see more business projects aligned with your values, better collaboration opportunities, and new service verticals emerging. Don’t underestimate the power of collaboration and voluntary alignment with other business leaders. Cultivating this community is a successful ingredient for business growth, equally with organizational, marketing and sales tactics.
Related: Why a purpose-driven business is the real key to success
Identify your community
Who will you build your purpose-driven community with? This question is answered by identifying your values and purpose as an entrepreneur.
Begin the process by identifying the purpose of your business. It took me hours of reflection to narrow down my purpose and values, which then dramatically influenced my business. Personally, my aim is to make meaningful connections, lead by example and support marketers and creatives on their journey to climate work – and to become an ecomarketer, someone who puts people and the planet at the heart of all their campaigns of marketing.
Understanding my purpose allowed me to identify a community of like-minded entrepreneurs interested in sustainability. It also helped me connect with them on a deeper level. When you have a shared purpose, community connections become deeper, from transactional to collaborative world-building for the better.
Once you’ve identified your purpose, find your community. The LinkedIn community is a great platform to connect with entrepreneurs and identify those who may share the same values as you. It is truly the largest business networking social media platform in the world with 1 billion members. You can use the search function to identify members who are sharing and talking about similar topics to yours.
But being actively engaged in the community will help you identify those who share common values. These people are pure gold and will help your business grow. They champion your ideas, connect you to opportunities, and push your industry forward. Remember, identifying your group is just the beginning. As mentioned above, your long-term success comes from fostering relationships with those who have a shared purpose.
Related: 3 Reasons Why Targeted Companies Can Help You Find Better Hires, Mentors, and Investors
How to build a community with shared purposes
Once the bridge is built, you can follow these three paths to build a community of entrepreneurs with a shared purpose.
- Change of mentality: long term — To build a community you need to have the right mentality. First, put personal gain aside and focus on community. You’ll be surprised to see that a community-focused mindset leads to more authentic connections that build long-term business growth. Plus, focus your attention on the future, building connections that last years and don’t stop at the end of a transaction.
- Take a step forward: contribute — Contributing is another important step toward building a community of purpose-driven entrepreneurs. You can’t ask for value from others if you’re not willing to step up and provide value yourself. Meaningful connections are created by lending a helping hand, passing business opportunities to your community, and offering opportunities for collaboration. To build a community with shared purpose, you must embody your values and practice them openly.
- Passing the baton: Supporting other entrepreneurs — Long-term entrepreneurial success comes from taking yourself out of the equation. Your growth goals, objectives and business strategy are not the most important things in the entrepreneurial circle. Promote the work of others, provide references, and make meaningful connections.
Find entrepreneurs with the same values and a similar path to yours. Then, work to create a community of shared purpose with those entrepreneurs. It is this business tactic that will bring you longevity and long-term business success.