Hello My Name Is Andrea...And I'm An Entrepreneur

I joke to my colleagues there should be a support group similar to AA for entrepreneurs but there are times I really wish there was such a group. When you’re running a potentially high-growth company, you can sometimes feel alone in your situation.  If you have never been an entrepreneur it is hard to relate. Of course, your family and friends can sympathize but when you try to talk to them about business issues or marketing/sales problems,  the blank stares say enough. 

That’s why I really think someone needs to bite the bullet and start some kind of entrepreneur support group. I’m not saying everyone needs to sit in a circle and cry for two hours but it does help to vocalize your frustrations and fears to a group of like-minded people. I can’t tell you how much online chatting has come in handy in the middle of the night when I’m having a panic attack about my business. 

With that being said, I really think someone needs to create a group where you can really sit around and talk openly about your business both the good and the bad.  While I think start-up networking events further solidify an entrepreneurial community, I think people are often worried about really opening up about their business at those types of events.

With that being said, I will be more than happy to take the lead and start one in my city. I know a lot of talented budding entrepreneurs that could use a night to bitch about business. If you’re looking for a way to really help your entrepreneur community, think about starting a small get-together once a month for your fellow entrepreneurs. 

Andrea Walker is CEO of W. Social Marketing and partner with MyMarketStreet. She currently runs the Birmingham Entrepreneur Women Series and serves on the board for American Marketing Association Birmingham Chapter and BBA Small Business Council. She is also co-founder of S.H.E.-Network, which aims to teach women in business technology & social media.