Thank you for joining my 85th Ponderings.
As many of our online friends and connections know, the belief Thomas and I have in the power of community is proven over the past 27 years. The transformations that can happen in a person’s life and business, health and mindset is the reason we do this. It is a beautiful business to have.
I am hearing so many people create ‘communities’ and then discover that building them, serving them and resourcing them is not the side-hustle they thought it could be, this can lead to so much disappointment from the Leader and their members.
This week, I want to share why nurturing a community is a full-time commitment, not just a side hustle.
Let’s start with a little bit of Internet history!
In 2002, 4 years into Ecademy,Thomas and I created the ability for our members to create a local community. This might sound very obvious, but back then, LinkedIn had only just started and Facebook was still in an embryonic state. We had no pathways to follow, only our own instincts. Critically, we always listened to the members and sensed what they would like. Thomas and I maintained a very close relationship with the members, it was never like turning a wheel for us.
The Law of Stepping Forward
Over the years from 2002 to 2012, using what Thomas called ‘The Law of Stepping Forward’, we witnessed thousands of groups emerge. Their success depended on the commitment the leader made to the development of their ‘members’ and while Ecademy’s Culture was ‘friendship first, commerce second’, the style of the Group Leader set the culture. At its height, 5,000 in-person events occurred in a year, from Sydney to New York, Belgium to India. It was a very special time in the history of social networking, when the online met the offline.
Over the years since 1998 when the Internet created many pioneering attitudes in a new world, many people have honed deep expertise. Digital Marketers, SEO, App Developers, to name a few (see my comment on my article for the list of new skills that have emerged!)
We all seek experts in very defined niche skills for our business growth.
Running a Community is one of these skills, yet, so many people create ‘communities’ without the expertise needed, without the commitment required. The people they let down are the members they serve.
At BIP100, our team of nine is devoted to supporting 100 business owners with a comprehensive ‘business lifestyle solution.’ This involves learning, networking, professional and self-development, and even their social life, all curated to cater comprehensively to our members’ needs.
Thomas and I have dedicated our lives to Community.
Leveraging our 27 years of expertise to create a space that goes beyond mere networking. Creating the culture, the experiences, finding the right people, hosting on and offline events, building a team, building the technology and most important, being available.
The culture of a successful community is about establishing deep, meaningful connections where members can laugh, cry, learn, solve problems, and celebrate successes together. As Peter Drucker stated in his book ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast’. Get that right and focus on the needs of those you serve, rather than your own needs, and you can’t go far wrong.
This commitment to the community was illustrated this past weekend when we spent four incredible days skiing in Norway with 15 BIPPers and their partners. The trip, organised by Dan Charlish of Snow Camp and a BIPPer, exemplified how communities flourish when they focus on serving members’ diverse interests.
Communities are increasingly recognised as essential solutions for professional and personal growth. However, many emerging communities falter because their founders underestimate the investment required to sustain them. Running a community requires undivided attention, love, and resources, it has to be a primary mission, not as a secondary project.
Community is the next evolution of networking.
Community provides a platform not just for professional networking, but for a richer, more integrated life experience. As community leaders, our role is to ensure that every activity, every gathering, and every interaction enriches our members’ lives, proving that when done right, community involvement is transformative in life and in business.
As we continue to nurture our community at BIP100, we all know that true leadership is about service, about genuinely caring for the well-being of each member, and about fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.
This week’s ponder for you
How do you see community playing a role in your business and personal life? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
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