Originally published on Rowad Magazine
Most of us are well aware of what communities are, but very few actually realize how beneficial it can be to be part of one. Communities come in all different shapes and forms and reside in places, organizations, even virtually! We often hear discussions about communities and their various some are created for different activities, goals, focus, and even areas; they can even be present within an organization where people come together who share similar views and interests. It is often encouraged that people should be part of a community or join one as they can be beneficial, and are especially popular within neighborhoods where communities are formed for people residing in the area that focus on promoting activities, safety, and other elements to benefit residents. That in mind, communities are not only positive for residents of neighborhoods, but can add value to anyone providing they choose the community that fits them best, including entrepreneurs!
Entrepreneurs do not realize that communities are a relatively discreet support tool to further their growth and development. This is because communities are a great place to build networks, promote their product or service, survey the market, and even gain business inspiration. In every city that an entrepreneur starts up they will find a community and even in particular a business community which can be a great way to build knowledge and learn from experiences. Communities that are beneficial for entrepreneurs are usually professional or business communities, some can be specialized e.g. technology, art etc. Entrepreneurs themselves also build communities within the areas they are set-up and supports their entrepreneurial learning curve by interacting with people who share similar mindsets. No one understands an entrepreneur better than another entrepreneur and that is why finding a community of entrepreneurs within your larger community is beneficial.
THE ROWAD COMMUNITY HAS VARIOUS PLATFORMS WHERE THEY CAN MEET AND SHARE IDEAS VIA ONLINE PLATFORMS, SOCIAL MEDIA ARENAS, AND THROUGH ITS ROWAD MAJLIS QUARTERLY NETWORKING EVENT.
Be it a professional, business, or entrepreneurial community all of them can offer a lot of positive benefits for entrepreneurs as they serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and place to exchange experience. Members in a community can learn from each other on how to better address certain challenges; an individual facing an issue can learn better from someone who has experience the same situation or something similar. Communities can be a place where entrepreneurs can learn from each other’s mistakes, exchange advice or tips, build networks and connections, and even learn new skills. For each individual finding a community that adds value to their goals is imperative and is a tool that is not utilized to its full potential.
Communities can be created anywhere and organically due to the natural congregation of like-minded individuals and professionals. The Rowad Program has created a community of itself which has been a result of the members of the program who are all entrepreneurs and those who support them. The Rowad Community has various platforms where they can meet and share ideas via online platforms, social media arenas, and through its Rowad Majlis quarterly networking event. Like all other communities, the Rowad community does have its members meet on an individual basis whenever required and they do not need to wait for a the entire community to meet. For those who do not have time to physically be present within a community virtual communities are a great way to connect and even bridges distances and allowing entrepreneurs to access a global network. Communities can also be seen within the form of a cluster. We have heard interchangeably the word technology community with the Silicon Valley technology cluster and of course the film and actor community present in the Hollywood cluster for film production. It is very well known the benefits present for businesses to set-up within a cluster and the success has been seen globally because of the knowledge that is shared, partnerships formed, and competition driving innovation. These clusters and have served as platforms to encourage and inspire innovation, but rarely do we realize that therein lies communities within these clusters or vice versa.
BEFORE DISCOUNTING AN INVITATION TO JOIN A COMMUNITY THINK ABOUT THE MANY BENEFITS THAT IT CAN BRING FORWARD TO YOU AS AN ENTREPRENEUR…
As an entrepreneur there are many times that you will face challenges, require feedback, and might even feel like you need to bounce ideas with someone and rather than feeling confused or alone, the affordable solution is to tap into a community near you. Within communities, businesses have started up, grown, and partnerships have been formed. So before discounting an invitation to join a community think about the many benefits that it can bring forward to you as an entrepreneur and the opportunities for your business.
Communities have been around for years, such a simple concept, but an understated tool that helps entrepreneurs.
