The TRUE Value Of Connection In Business And Life - Part 1
Recently I had a revelation about relationship building and business ownership in today's marketplace:
If you want to be successful, you need two things:
a true and meaningful connection with those that you serve.
a powerful team of people in your network, who are willing to support you on your journey
For some of you, I am sure you are thinking "Duh! Of course my network is important."
I challenge you to think differently about this, because how often (and how quickly) do you tap into your network when you run into a business problem?
In my experience, I have found it is super easy to get stuck in my head, freak out, and spiral completely before asking for help. Even WITH a core network of people I trust will help me, if I asked!
I know this because when I launched my business I had a TON of questions that I tried to answer on my own before asking anyone else for support.
And I mean a TON - here are a few...
Should I have an ideal client avatar, and why?
Do I need an LLC before I launch? Why?
How do I decide which vendors can really help support my vision and goals?
And the list goes on...
Yes, Google is great and I use it early and often, BUT there is no replacement for the energy exchange you receive after you have a conversation with someone who has been in your shoes or is currently going through what you are.
Which leads me to the following conclusion - my work satisfaction and personal happiness depend on the quality and quantity of the connections and relationships I am building with others. Scientific research supports my conclusion. However, I also want to share my direct experience which led me to this understanding.
I also want to share what I have done to connect other like minded female entrepreneurs in a more consistent & fun way (hint: I created a mastermind!)
Personal Brand Photo by Nichole MCH Photography
MY EXPERIENCE WITH RELATIONSHIP BUILDING - WHICH I NOW CALL, THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL FEMALE LED BUSINESS.
I have been lucky enough to meet and talk to dozens of smart, ambitious, and talented women experts as a personal brand photographer (one of them is pictured above!).
This is just one of the many benefits of my job.
The photos we capture together help my clients build new client relationships and maintain customers, so talking about how to build those relationships beyond the photoshoot, naturally comes up.
I often feel really satisfied and excited after these photoshoot chats. So, I started meeting many of my clients and fellow "fempreneurs" for coffee or happy hour to learn more about what projects they were working on, how life was going, and how they were feeling about their businesses.
We laughed, we got serious, and we helped each other gain clarity and confidence through these conversations...
I cannot tell you how many times we would say, "wait - that's a great idea - let me write that down in my Notes app!"
I felt so lit up and inspired after each discussion, my shoulders would drop down from my ears a little (anyone else hold their tension there?!). I was so amazed at how fast I could reduce my anxiety and gain clarity during these conversations.
I kept thinking, I want to spread more of these “feel good vibes” to other like minded entrepreneurs.
So I took a “leap of faith” and created a container where female business owners could connect and learn from each other with a mini-mastermind.
Personal Brand Photo by Nichole MCH Photography
HOW DID THE MASTERMIND FOR THESE FEMALE LED BUSINESSES FLOW?
I say “leap of faith” because I had never created a similar space before. And I like to be honest about my journey in business ownership, which includes being honest about some of the (oh so common) inner critic thoughts I wrangled in order to launch this mini-mastermind; like “who are you to create this”, “why do you think people would want to come?” etc. etc.
Deep down, I knew that creating this space was more important than my fears. So, I made a few calls, booked a space, bought champagne and made a plan to gather some of the most amazing women I knew for a few hours of focused reflection, brainstorming, and sharing.
I was intentional about who I invited. I believe all of the women who were invited are making strides to shape the future of women in business in both the local Philadelphia and international community. In fact, one of the members moved to Spain this year!
I was also intentional about the environment, structure and the overall vibe I wanted the mastermind to have; I wanted a judgment free space, where we could focus, reflect, and be open with each other.
ENVIRONMENT
Environment has a large impact on mood and behavior, so I knew it was critical to create a space where the guests would feel safe to share, (especially since many of the attendees were starting as strangers). For that reason, I hosted the first session in a serene outdoor garden with an expansive pool.
VIBE
It is no secret that our emotions also play a big role in how much we are willing to open up, be present, and share. If we are closed off, scattered, and/or in a bad mood others can feel it. These emotions also have the ability to make or break the general vibe of any situation. To manage this, I knew we would need to get grounded. I asked an attendee and meditation expert to lead a breathwork meditation so we could calm our minds and bodies - and be ready to share and receive. Then, we sat in a circle and talked briefly about what we were grateful for or hoped to gain from the mastermind.
STRUCTURE
Once we all felt centered, I wanted to create a structure around the conversation to help us stay efficient and focused during our time together. We journaled and talked about 3 topics; a challenge we were facing in business, an idea we had, and what was going really well for us. Each person had focused time to reflect and share with the group.
Personal Brand Photo by - Nichole MCH Photography
WHAT WERE THE SOME OF THE MAJOR TAKEAWAY'S FROM THE MASTERMIND, ESPECIALLY REGARDING RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND BUSINESS OWNERSHIP?
I am so grateful to the women who took time out of their schedules to attend this event. Not only did they show up, but they all opened up to each other and gave each other space to share in such a beautiful way. I was still buzzing with positive energy weeks later.
Mastermind ladies!
The 2.5 hours we had together went by so fast we barely noticed the sun going down behind us. There were so many takeaways, lessons, and actions. I asked everyone to share one thing they felt most connected to or inspired to do after the event.
I will share more of these takeaways in a follow-up post, along with some actions YOU can take now to help you grow your business faster and with more flow. But for now, this is the number 1 takeaway and an associated action to help you get started.
KEY TAKEAWAY AND ACTION -
Takeaway - Building positive relationships is essential for any business. Without the support and cooperation of others, it can be difficult to succeed. Relationships can be built through heartfelt connection, empathy, and engaging in mutually beneficial activities, such as collaborating on projects and sharing ideas 1:1 or in group settings.
Action - Find and join or create a community of like minded entrepreneurs - this is so helpful for working through issues in your business and life. Trust me, you can find people in your local or virtual community! Click HERE if you are interested in learning more about or potentially joining the female mastermind I founded.
Additionally, it's important to maintain a positive attitude and be understanding and supportive when needed, and to be a giver as often as you take from your network!
Hi! I am Nichole, a personal brand photographer and lover of genuine human connection
ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
My purpose is to create professional headshots and branded photography for ambitious women, so they feel motivated to serve their communities and confident about achieving their dreams and goals.
How do I do this? I am not only a photographer, I am also a certified project manager (PMP). So I mix my planning expertise & creative eye with compassion and laughter to provide you with the best set of photos to serve your business and life – so you don’t have to worry about a thing! Essentially, hiring me is an investment in your future and a lot of fun.
While I am based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, I have clients located across the country, from Connecticut to Oregan. It is a joy to work with female entrepreneurs, like you, to capture the businesses and families you are building. My passion lies, not only in highlighting your professional goals and personal dreams, but also telling the your story of why your passions matter and how you serve your community. That is what brings each photo to life.
If you have considered taking your work to the next level or have questions about upcoming offerings, be sure to click the link and strike up a conversation.
I am always updating new content check out the latest blog posts HERE
Pictured - Author Nichole working on content creation for her business