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Don't underestimate the growth opportunities of a purpose-driven community. It is one of the most influential tools in the entrepreneur's toolkit to help guide your business to longevity and long-term happiness.
Because let's be honest – no one wants to be unhappy in their business. In this article, you will learn the importance of building a community of shared goals and how it affects the continued success of your business.
Entrepreneurial success lies at the heart of purpose
I would like to see more purpose driven businesses being built in the world.
Purpose-driven businesses are run by entrepreneurs who lead from the heart and with the conviction that their business is doing good in the world. The business solves an important problem – perhaps one that is social or environmental. Purpose-driven businesses are not driven only from profit but from the change the entrepreneur wants to see in the world.
Surprisingly, my entrepreneurial journey did not start with a purpose. It started with the idea of creating 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 became purpose, or the value I want to bring to the world. It doesn't matter where you are on your business trip. You can take the alternative route and refocus your business on purpose.
Building a community of like-minded entrepreneurs helped me create this path to success. It was their inspiration, advice and support through difficult times that got me through five years in business. You remember, 2 in 10 businesses fail in the first year of operation. If you've passed this point, you're thriving!
When you create a community of common interests, you see more business projects aligned with your values, better collaboration opportunities, and new service verticals emerging. Don't underestimate the power of collaborating and connecting with other business leaders on purpose. Building this community is a successful ingredient for business growth – just as much as organizational, marketing and sales tactics.
Connected: 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.
Start the process from identifying the purpose of your business. It took me hours of reflection to narrow down my purpose and values, which then fed firmly into my business. Personally, my goal is to make meaningful connections, lead by example and support marketers and makers on their way to climate action – and to become an e-marketer, someone who puts people and the planet at the heart of all campaigns their marketing.
Understanding my purpose has equipped me 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 common goal, community bonds go deeper, from transactions to building a world in collaboration for the better.
Once you've identified your purpose, find your community. of LinkedIn the community is a great platform to connect with entrepreneurs and identify those who may share the same values as you. It is truly the world's largest business social networking platform with 1 billion members. You can use the search function to identify members who share and talk about topics similar to yours.
But active engagement in the community will help you identify those with shared values. These individuals are pure gold and will help your business grow. They champion your ideas, connect you to opportunities and drive your industry forward. Remember, group identification is just the beginning. As mentioned, your long-term success comes from fostering relationships with those who share a common goal.
Connected: 3 Reasons Purpose-Driven Businesses Can Help You Find Better Employees, Mentors, and Investors
How to build a community of common purpose
Once you've built the bridge, you can follow these three paths to build a community of entrepreneurs with shared goals.
- Change of mind: Long term — To build a community, you need to have the right mindset. First, put personal gain aside and focus on the community. You'll be surprised to see that a community-first mindset leads to more authentic connections that build long-term business growth. It also focuses your sights on the future, creating connections that last for years and don't stop at the end of a transaction.
- Step: Contribute — Contributing is another important step towards building a community of purpose-driven entrepreneurs. You cannot demand value from others unless you are willing to step up and provide value yourself. Meaningful connections are made by lending a helping hand, passing on business opportunities to your community, and offering collaboration opportunities. To build one community with common purpose, you must embody your values and practice them openly.
- Pass the Torch: Other Entrepreneurial Champions — Long-term entrepreneurial success comes from taking you out of the equation. Your growth goals, objectives and business strategy are not the most important things in the entrepreneurial circle. Champion the work of others, provide referrals, and build meaningful connections.
Find entrepreneurs with the same values and a similar journey as yours. Then, work on creating a community of common purpose with those entrepreneurs. This is a business tactic that will bring you longevity and long-term success in business.