This past week I was in Chicago at an in-person mastermind retreat with one of my business coaches and many other amazing coaches, consultants, healers and entrepreneurs. I had many wonderful experiences, moments of growth and new awareness. In reflecting upon the amazingness of this week and the value I gained from this experience, I realized more than anything how important connection and community are as an entrepreneur. I would even say they are essential!

As people, we are hardwired to seek connection. For entrepreneurs, this is even more true. In building and growing a business, community is valuable in several ways. We have our audience of prospective clients, all our current and past clients, we have fellow entrepreneurs, jv partners, affiliates, collaborators and business buddies! Each community contributes and supports us along the way as we grow as entrepreneurs.

Building an audience is vital for business success. That’s why so many business coaches begin by talking about your ideal client and knowing your niche. Once you’ve identified who you work with and how you help them, an entrepreneur often forms a special bond. This bond is so special that often many refer to their audience as “my people”, “my tribe”, or “my family”. As you deepen your connection with your audience, they become your supporters, your fans, your clients, and sometimes even friends and colleagues. It is through connection that we grow our sphere of influence, reach more people and make a bigger impact in the world.