A solopreneur’s standard tools of the trade are a laptop, a phone and grit. It takes courage to take an idea, a dream, a passion and parlay it into a working, tangible business. It also takes a lot of long hours at your desk and local coffee shops. Creating a plan, staying the course and moving through obstacles on your own is a tall order. Having people around you who understand your journey is invaluable.
What is Centre Solopreneurs?
Centre Solopreneurs is a group of like-minded solo-entrepreneurs who see the benefit of collaborating with each other to identify opportunities, solve problems and serve the community through their businesses. This is a knowledge-based networking group, not a referral-based networking group. The difference is simple. Knowledge-based networking is about what a member can give to the group. Referral-based networking is about what a member can get from the group (referrals). The former is built on service to each other and our clients, the latter on a scarcity model.
Who can join?
The group doesn’t limit membership to one person : one industry. The group encompasses a wide variety of people who have built their businesses around their passions; from financial planning to home organization to coaching. But Centre Solopreneurs isn’t limited to people who work at desks; solopreneurs are landscapers, contractors, bakers, mechanics, etc. If you’re in charge of the work you do, the money you make and the life you build, this is your community.
Sharing knowledge, offering information, and working together promotes better businesses. Promoting each other is encouraged, dragging for leads isn’t. The goal is that we all build successful businesses through our connections. The traditional competition mindset of ‘I win, you lose’ doesn’t serve anyone in business. Competition built on pushing each other to do more, do better and do it well serves everyone. Whether you are just starting out or have been working your business for years, we can all benefit from taking time out of our normal routines to connect with each other.
What are the details?
Centre Solopreneurs meets once a month for lunch and discussion. Members can ask questions or talk about concerns or ideas over lunch one on one or with the group during open discussion. If you are interested in sharing more about your business you’re welcome to arrange that ahead of the meeting. Members are encouraged to share what they have going on: upcoming events, seasonal offers, etc. Just because the group is not all about getting referrals, members are absolutely welcome to refer and share about businesses they believe in.
The goal is to grow our solo-businesses, offer our customers quality services and products, and create connections that will enhance our professional journeys. The key to doing this successfully is to show up, share freely and be invested in others. The rest will follow.
There is no cost to join Centre Solopreneurs or attend the monthly meetings.
Centre Solopreneurs was started by Sara Craig as a way to connect with other like-minded solo-business owners. Offering a way to form a community of solopreneurs encourages us to share our knowledge and resources, promote each other’s success and better serve our customers and clients.
Centre Solopreneurs is comprised of solopreneurs from around the Centre Region in beautiful central Pennsylvania. If you aren’t in our area but want to start a similar group in your town, please reach out. I am more than happy to share why this networking group is so beneficial and needed in our communities.
Want to learn more?
You can learn more about Centre Solopreneurs on our website. While you’re there, check out our member’s businesses.
Join us on our Facebook page.
I’m in. How do I join?
If you’re ready to join us, you can do that here. If you want to connect with me for more information, feel free to reach out.
To learn more about my individual coaching work with solopreneurs, check out this page.