Find your tribe: the first step to success

“Social capital is the glue that facilitates cooperation, exchange, and innovation.”
The New Economy: Beyond the Hype

Entrepreneurship may seem like a lonely path, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is finding a community that is on your side, and that not only encourages you but helps you build bridges. To find it, you must get out of your comfort zone- your office, your computer and your own head.

What is a tribe?

Social capital is defined by The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as “networks with shared norms, values, and understandings that facilitate co-operation within or among groups.”

So… what is a tribe? According to Seth Godin, author of the book “Tribes,” a tribe is a group of people connected to each other, but fundamentally connected through a shared idea. It is the sense of community and reciprocity between the members of a group and it goes further to signify that there is an influence, an exchange, a support system, and a particular dynamic. For millions of years, human beings have been part of tribes in some shape or form. 

What is a tribe - She Works Blog

What do tribes have to do with business?

In the business world, the tribe is the set of people who usually identify collectively with the same product or service, and who share a similar notion or point of view. This is why finding or creating the tribe of your business is crucial to moving forward. In our case, as entrepreneurs, a great way to start is through a thorough analysis of your networks. Map players, organizations, groups, institutions, companies in which you have contacts.

The second big step is to start strengthening your personal branding and networking; since this practice is the first step to connect with others and find common ground.

Business is a contact sport

In the words of our founder and CEO Silvina Moschini:

Generating a network of contacts, creating valuable relationships, and building social capital are keys for successful entrepreneurs. Finally, business is very much a contact sport. If you are not able to establish genuine mutually beneficial relationships, you cannot do business. You have to build relationships up, with mentors or sponsors who help us to position the brand, but also downwards, to make our business known.

In search of one’s own tribe

  • You need to create a connection and seek feedback: look for people who have had the same frustrations or successes similar to yours. The ideas and accomplishments of others can help you gain an introspective with yourself, your path, and your business.
  • Your objectives will lead to valuable connections: although the businesses will not be the same, it will happen that you may have similar goals and that will unite you. For example, business expansion, reaching the first sale, reaching an untapped social network. Together, you’ll be able to move faster and share knowledge.
  • In business alliances: the entrepreneurial core is collaborative because they know the path they have had to go through, that is why empowering each other is key to generating the best agreements between people and brands and thus establishing collaborations with a vision for the future.

“In many countries, it seems that there has been a shift from the support of traditional organizations and institutions towards new forms of voluntary association…” – Barrie Stevens et al. en La sociedad creativa del siglo XXI

In search of one's own tribe - SheWorks Blog

Activate the power of your Tribe!

It is clear that being part of a tribe will bring advantages to your business because it allows you to connect and build loyalty in an entrepreneurial environment, and become known to you and your brand. It is a step in power.

Some of the benefits that you’ll get:

  • It will allow you to understand your target audience, even more.
  • It gives you the opportunity to show yourself as a reference for a topic, talent or ability, as well as to learn from other people with similar abilities.
  • It increases a sense of belonging and support.
  • It helps you boost your confidence in your endeavors and yourself.

Now the question you were waiting for: do you already have a tribe? If the answer is yes, congratulations! Make the most of it, do not be ashamed to ask for help, feedback or support.

If you don’t have it yet, you can take all these tools and start building it. Surround yourself with those people you admire and who are willing to help you on your challenging entrepreneurial path. In fact, here at SheWorks! you already have a tribe that is there for you.

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