There’s little I miss about life while living on the road, with one possible exception.
When I was anchored with sticks and bricks, I required a local fitness center, I always belonged to some kind of organization where I could belong.
Running a small business is lonely most of the time.
But we have options to combat this loneliness and earn the companionship of other business owners facing the common shared problems of running a small business.
The relationships I built with these connections proved invaluable in so many ways.
The job of the small fitness business owner (even if you are part of a national chain you are a small business owner in the local market) is to develop the resources of the organization.
One often overlooked resource in the community.
Every community has service organizations that bring people together for the purpose of bettering the community.
Examples are Rotary, Lions, and the Kiwanis to name a few.
Typically, the organizations have monthly or even weekly meetings where members gather for breakfast or lunch.
Service projects around the holidays or at other special times are conducted by the members for the expressed purpose of supporting a specific cause that in turn supports the community.
Examples include hosting a golf tournament, a Ziti dinner to raise money for a local organization, a pancake breakfast to support families going through challenging times, and an annual fundraiser to support a community initiative. These are just examples, and there are many more.
Becoming a member of a service organization requires commitment to the organization and support for its mission.
Typically all the members of the organization are community leaders, and these community leaders roll their sleeves up and work side by side with each other when hosting the events.
Social activities (all work and no play can get boring) are offered routinely to the members and are great opportunities for additional networking and connections.
By now, you can probably guess I am a huge fan of these organizations. Belonging to one is an enriching experience, personally and professionally.
Perhaps most importantly, volunteering in a service organization is a way to give back to our community. Giving back never disappoints.
People do business with people they know and respect. What better way to gain respect than to publicly, in the presence of other leaders, give a little bit of time and energy back to your community?
This is networking at its finest.
Try it and I think you will be pleasantly surprised how your business grows because of these relationships, but that will pale in comparison to the self-satisfaction you get from helping to make a difference.
Not sure? Go to a few meetings as a guest to gather your own impressions.
At the least, you will meet some new people.
These meetings are always fun!
Want some ideas on what the next steps are? Get on my schedule for a free 30-minute conversation.
Remember, you only get results when you take immediate action on your ideas.
