“Who you spend your time with is who you become.”
 

You’ve probably heard this saying many times. Motivational speaker Jim Rohn believes that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. This is true in business as well; who you surround yourself with as a business owner can determine the direction of your venture. Admit it or not, they can influence your decisions as you seek advice from them or rely on them when significant challenges come up.
 

So if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you must surround yourself with people who can help, encourage, and motivate you to get there. Or be with people who are also thriving and climbing the peak of success.
 

Here are some practical tips to help you grow your network.
 

1. Find an entrepreneurial tribe or mastermind group 

Research has shown that entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey. This is partly because entrepreneurship is not the chosen path for everyone, and many people opt to join the corporate world rather than pursue entrepreneurship. 
 

Therefore, business owners need support from fellow business owners not just to survive, but also to seek inspiration and grow. A tribe of fellow business owners or mastermind group can thus be a valuable support system in your entrepreneurial journey. GlobalLinker has several groups on the platform where you can find entrepreneurs within your industry or interest. For instance, if you’re into tech or innovation, you can find a group focused on your interests. And if you’re a mompreneur, you can find a tribe of fellow mompreneurs!

 
Don’t contain yourself to your office. Give yourself the space to go out and have personal conversations and interactions with other entrepreneurs so you can learn from each other’s business journeys and also explore potential synergies.  

Also read: Highlights of TradeConnect 2019 in Singapore

2. Be active on GlobalLinker where you can network with a community of entrepreneurs 

As a business owner, you tend to have a full plate of responsibilities, and going out for networking purposes may not be your priority. With your action-filled schedule, you can still interact with other business owners online. Instead of consuming your time browsing updates of other people in your newsfeed, you can use this time to network with other entrepreneurs and get to know the latest trends in your industry on GlobalLinker.

Seasoned entrepreneurs can be great mentors as they can help you improve your business and point out areas of improvement in terms of your business model or even you as a leader.

 

You can even invite other business owners on the platform. Here are the three easy steps: 

1. Go to the GlobalLinker homepage, click on the ‘Connections’ icon and select 'Connections'.   
              
2. You will be redirected to the ‘My Connections’ page where you have the option to grow your network on GlobalLinker through the ‘Add Connections’ button. 'Recommended Connections' are also displayed here. You even have the option to ‘Invite other businesses’ onto the platform.
   
   
3. When you click on ‘Invite other businesses’, you may fill up a simple form (email of the business owner) and click the 'Send' button. Your referred business owners will get notified to join GlobalLinker. Make sure that you enter the correct email address so that the invite is sent to the right person.

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3. Find a mentor

Having someone to guide you and give you essential advice for your business journey can help carve your way to success. You need someone who you can rely on when things get tough. Seasoned entrepreneurs can be great mentors as they can help you improve your business and point out areas of improvement in terms of your business model or even you as a leader.

Also read: 3 mistakes to avoid when growing your business

4. Surround yourself with positive influences 

Stay away from people who are destroying your sanity, who are quick in pointing out your mistakes and shortcomings, but never quick to provide solutions or feedback. Instead surround yourself with people who are positive, provide constructive feedback and motivate you to do better. Success doesn’t take place in a vacuum. Positive influences in your environment—-be it family, friends, team members, business associates—all play a key role in your growth as an entrepreneur.

These are some ways that you can grow your business network and connect with peers who help you be the best version of yourself. Remember, it’s not just about what you know, but it’s also about who you know.

Support other entrepreneurs by inviting them on GlobalLinker!

Image source: shutterstock.com