There are so many wonderful ways to partner with others to grow your business that today I wanted to focus on two things partnering is great for: support and opportunity.
In the support arena, you’ll find that when you connect with like-minded business owners and entrepreneurs, you have a new support system of people who understand what you’re going through. Other business owners understand the challenges and emotions you experience, because they’re experiencing them, too. As well, if you partner with business owners with similar goal levels (as in, if your business goal is to build your business to the point of grossing a million dollars in the next year, don’t partner with someone whose goal is to make fifty thousand), you’ll have someone there to hold you accountable as well as someone who can hold your vision. That’s pretty valuable stuff. You’d be amazed at what a difference it can make to receive an encouraging e-mail from a support partner, on a day when you’re feeling a little down or discouraged.
And if you’re looking for opportunities to share your gifts with more people, the benefits of partnering are unmatched. When you partner with another business owner for mutual benefit, whether it’s a joint venture or another form of partnering, your brand is exposed to an entirely new audience. Make the right partnerships and you can grow your list of prospects very quickly.
So how do you find the right partners? It’s no easy matter, truth be told: You’ve got to make sure you’re connecting with authentic, like-minded people, who are authentic about investing themselves in your success. But the trick to finding people like that is to enter every connection with a spirit of giving — how can you serve the other person? Showing someone else that you can bring something to the table to help them grow their business often yields impressive results. The results may not come directly from that person, but sometimes come from another place. The rewards you reap just don’t always come from the places you expect.
When it is time to harvest the seeds you’ve sown, though, ask some crucial questions:
* What are your business goals?
* What’s your business philosophy?
* Where’s the synchronicity between our businesses?
Get to know the people you’re planning to partner with. Get to know their businesses, and don’t hesitate to ask the big questions, like “how big is your audience?” If you’re going to partner with someone in a venture, you really need to know the ROI and if it’s worth your time. If their list is small, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t partner with them, but you may want to explore some more equitable ventures as well.
Partnering isn’t without its pitfalls, but by connecting with a spirit of giving and authenticity, asking the right questions, and bringing 100% of yourself to the table, these relationships can make a huge difference in your business.