We as humans are MADE for connection and we as female business owners are no exception. We're wired to do better together, period. It's why solitary confinement is considered inhumane, and why Tom Hanks drew a whole face on a volleyball in Castaway – Wilson wasn't just a prop, he was a lifeline. Of course, not all of us are super extroverted (I'm a bit of a "centrovert" myself - I love love love people, but I also need my downtime and struggle if I’ve overdone it with said people). Still, every woman in business needs genuine, lasting connections to really thrive. Trust me, your entrepreneurial journey doesn't have to be a lonely slog. Let’s talk about it.

The Powerful Impact of Business Communities for Female Entrepreneurs

Let's be real: As women and business owners, it's dang near impossible to separate your personal life from your business. They just tend to blend into one amorphous blob with no beginning and no end, don't they? You can't just clock out at 5 PM and leave work at the office, because, hello, your home is the office most days. And your working hours? Lol, what are those? Unless, of course, you’re better at boundaries than I used to be.

That's exactly why finding your people - your entrepreneurial community - is so important. Think of it like having a friend group who geeks out about the same stuff you do, but with real, high-stakes implications for your business and your sanity. And in the craziness and uncertainty of today’s world, your business, your sanity, and your community are more important than ever.

Running a business can feel crazy isolating, especially for female entrepreneurs who are often juggling all the things and facing unique BS in the business world. Long hours on your couch or at the local coffee shop instead of an office are great when you don’t feel like interacting (or want to work in sweats!) but when it’s your every day? Loneliness can creep in and take root. That's where a supportive community comes in. It can:

• Kick entrepreneur isolation to the curb: Knowing you're not the only one struggling with X, Y, or Z is HUGE. That feeling of “Wait, you too?!” and the sigh of relief that comes from realizing you aren’t alone are well worth pursuing.

• Give you a trusted sounding board when you're facing business challenges: Get real, honest feedback and fresh perspectives from people who get it (and who are invested in your success, not just looking to capitalize on your struggles).

• Offer major emotional support and entrepreneurial encouragement: When you can celebrate the wins, big and small, and get a virtual hug when things get tough, even the most difficult client interactions, vendor relationships, or customer mishaps can feel lighter.

• Open doors for kick-butt female business collaborations and partnerships: Expand your reach and work with other amazing women by tapping into authentic relationships. Being seen as just a number or a leg up sucks. We’ve all gotten one of those “hey girl” messages only to be ghosted when we were interested in the friendship, not the ✨super cool business opportunity✨.

• Seriously accelerate your growth and learning curve: Tap into the collective knowledge and experience of women who've been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt. Side note, matching t-shirts is a great idea. Jotting that one down for later.

Where to Find Your Female Entrepreneur Support Network

Okay, so we're on the same page about why community matters, yes? Now here’s the struggle, especially for my introverted girlies: where do you actually find these magical business connections? Don't worry, they're out there, you just have to know where to look. Gee, thanks, Rach, you may be thinking to yourself. Got you. Let’s talk about the how:

In-Person Networking Options for Women in Business

• Your Local Chamber of Commerce: While this can be a bit of an investment, it’s absolutely worth it for local and service-based businesses. Join their referral groups, make time for their events, and schedule coffee chats with other members.

• Local Business Facebook Groups: Post in those local community groups and ask to connect with other female business owners in your area. You'd be surprised how many of us there are, working away in our pajamas!

• In-Person Networking Events: Keep an eye out for local networking events specifically geared towards female entrepreneurs (though any opportunity is likely a good opportunity!). A little follow-up goes a long way here - take notes on the people you meet and follow up for coffee chats (and work sessions!).

Online Communities for Female Business Owners

The internet is a goldmine of connections. You just have to dig a little! Fortunately for you I’ve already done a lot of digging and I’m happy to share my wins.

• Facebook Groups: There are tons of specialized Facebook groups catering to different niches, industries, and levels of experience. A couple of my faves are Women in Marketing (this is for all women who do any marketing, even if it’s just for your personal business) and Off the Vine (this one isn’t strictly a marketing group but the community is awesome and it can be great for market research). I also created my own group called Marketing with Grit for female entrepreneurs focused on offering free marketing + business trainings, virtual coworking sessions with guided productivity exercises, virtual networking, and more. It’s free and I’d love for you to give it a try.

• Paid Memberships: Don't shy away from investing in a paid community if it aligns with your business goals. I'm personally in Amy Porterfield's Momentum membership and it's been a game-changer for me in the digital course world. I also learned quite a bit from Anna Konchar's Meta Ads group when I was a member.

I'm Building a Free, Intentional Community for Female Entrepreneurs - Welcome to Marketing with Grit!

It’s me, hi, I’m Grit. 

Alright, I briefly mentioned this earlier, but this is something I couldn’t be more excited about. I'm building an intentional, fiercely-guarded community specifically for female business owners, designed to have that same supportive, judgment-free feel as the girls' bathroom at a bar or your favorite group text thread. It’s called Marketing with Grit and I’d like to send you an invite to be part of it.

In this Marketing with Grit, you'll find:

• Weekly free marketing + business training from yours truly and other incredible female entrepreneurs (want to throw your hat in the ring and teach a training? You can sign up here). Want to submit questions or topics you’d like covered? You can do that here.

• Weekly free virtual co-working sessions every week with guided productivity exercises. This is an incredibly secret weapon for getting lots of the right stuff done right now. It’s also really fun.

• Virtual networking opportunities to expand your circle and connect with amazing women (and pick up some new friends along the way).

My heart with this is to do some genuine good while growing my business - there are plenty of business owners out there who can and want to pay for help but I want to make sure those who can't pay for help are still able to get it. Wherever you are in your business, if you’re just starting out and bootstrapping it or you’ve built what you dreamed of and more, there’s a place for you here.

Your Next Action Step: Join a Community That Gets You

If you’ve been around for a minute you know I always always always like to leave you with action steps. It’s pretty easy to guess what you need to do but the how is a different animal entirely. 

Ready to finally experience the real power of community for your business? Then I want to invite you to join Marketing with Grit - a judgment-free, supportive space where you can connect with other women business owners, snag some free training, and get the support you need to take your business to the next level. I also strongly encourage you to join the Facebook groups I linked above as well - more support is always better and I can’t gatekeep these gems.

Finding your people can feel a little daunting at first, but I promise, the rewards are pretty dang difficult to overstate. When you surround yourself with supportive, like-minded women in business, you'll be amazed at how much faster you can crush your goals and create a business and a life that serves you - not the other way around.

Hey, I'd love to hear about your experience with community as a female business owner! Have you found a business community that's been a game-changer for you? Share your stories and tips in the comments below!