The Importance of Community
As a fellow gladiator, change agent, mover or shaker…do you tend to default to running solo?
Trust me when I say #YANA (you are not alone). For years it was a natural default for me, too. And I STILL have to remind myself that while I can do this work alone and it might APPEAR to be faster, doing it in with a community FEELS so much better–and that’s where the long-term payoff always happens.
So, this week, I wanted to share with you the 3 biggest benefits that come from establishing a support community as well as 3 simple questions to help with accountability.
Now, you probably already know these benefits, but as an #entrepreneur, #solopreneur, #lonelypreneur or #doitonmyownpreneur, you might need this gentle, loving, nudge/reminder about the true power and importance of community. After all, we are better together.
#1 – Community gives you feedback.
Having a community provides you with a source of feedback. Getting honest feedback is important. Not only to celebrate your brilliance and when you shine, but to shed light on what might be in your blind spot. That has been the biggest benefit of having a community for me–getting feedback.
#2 – Community serves as your helium.
Community is the helium in your balloon. When you are in the weeds, working and doubling down on designing your dreams, you are like the balloon string. Your community of gladiators are the helium to help give your dream spirit and remind you to soar! And on the days when you are your own helium and are floating all over everywhere, your community is going to be the string to make sure you don’t fly away inside those dreams but stay rooted and in action.
#3 – Accountability.
Your community is there to be your accountability group–to help you set realistic goals inside realistic dates and to create realistic, doable action items to get there. Accountability groups can be a few people that will meet periodically. I love to meet every two weeks to stay connected.
And when you meet (I recommend a quick 59-minute call), you ask each other these three simple questions:
- What are you in action on?
- Where do you need help?
- And what do you want to be celebrated for?
This community is there for you to throw your dreams against the wall and see what sticks. They are there to lend you their lenses when you are not seeing the best version of yourself. They are there to cheer you on, hold you accountable and champion your achievements, big or small.
Now these accountability groups, in my experience and I know most of the gladiators on my campus find this as well, are not forever and will fade away. Some last four months, six months, two years…but eventually you must create or find another one to help you get to the best version and vision of yourself.
I promise you this; you will blow your own mind with what you can accomplish with a community to support you. If you can do it really well by yourself, it only gets better when you are doing it with the support of a tribe of gladiators.
I love reading your comments and seeing you engage with each other. So please comment below and let me know what was your biggest AHA? What touched your soul? Was it a reminder of something you already knew?
This is your home. We are your tribe and your community. And when I say that I believe in you and I love you, it’s because I truly do.
Your Sister in Prosperity and Possibility,
I feel community is a way to create motivation. I did the I AM the change summit won the Platinum Package but I have not got anything. I’ve called without success and I’ve emailed and got a response that I would get something emailed to me but I have not received. I’ve talked to others who has won the Platinum package and they haven’t received it either. Thank you so much for your time
You are Very energetic Lisa. Love your videos. Will ensure to work as a community in all walks of life, be it work, relationships, society, etc.
Good afternoon Lisa, this was so on time and I thank you so much for reminding me that I don’t hVe to do a thing alone. I have an awesome opportunity to be part of a community that thrive to encourage one another. Again, thank you so much
Julie
ImaniJudahSkincare, DE
Thanks for the motivation to work on building my trib. I’m going to focus on finding my supporters. I want to be opening up to the blind spots so I can move forward. Lisa you’re beautiful and I love what you’re doing!
You are anazing Bug Sister Lisa …Iyou truly inspire me to being my best me The I am the change summit was awesome …I got a lot of Aha moments as well as #YANA moments love you greatly
I LOVE YOU DEAR!! You have given me oxygen always since I have started to see your videos. You make me believe I can fly too. You have given me wings or shown me how to fly. I want to fly. I don’t want to live a mediocre life. I want to explore myself. I want to reinvent myself. I am alive for a purpose. It’s just matter of time!!
Thank you so much, Lisa! Your message about the importance of community in giving feedback and holding me accountable is so timely! ❤️❤️❤️
Most days I feel so “stuck.” I listen, I nod, I do a little and back to “stuck.” Why is this happening? I have started so many projects and have yet to complete one. At 60+, I sometimes feel it is too late, why bother but yet something inside of me keeps nudging me to get up and do. Lisa I hear you, I am listening and perhaps it is the community that I need to join to get up and DO! Thanks for your service! Here I go…
I needed to hear that. Thanks
Hi lisa mam,
Your vibrant smile and positive thoughts create an aura of motivation. Whenever one feels low , one should listen to you.
Even I also support the concept of community or living jointly as a family.
I can bet you on the fact that there are more humans than humanity.
Thanx , keep up with god work.
Hi lisa mam,
Your vibrant smile and positive thoughts create an aura of motivation. Whenever one feels low , one should listen to you.
Even I also support the concept of community or living jointly as a family.
I can bet you on the fact that there are more humans than humanity.
Thanx , keep up with the goodwork.
Hello Lisa, my friend!
Words cannot explain how I feel about you and your inspiring, motivating, uplifting, rise-higher energy! You’re the best! And your message, which is great always, comes at a time when a community of like-minded people or tribe will bless me tremendously. Being an author is a solitary life but once I take off that hat and wear a pitching or promoting hat I find I’m still solitary. So your message is right on time today. Two heads or three, four, many heads are better than one. I’m ready to build that community. Hey, I’ve already started with you! Keep up the great work Lisa! We’re watching and taking action!
I appreciate your videos. This one is a reminder that I have a list of supporters and I have to reach out to them. The 3 things we need to discuss -what I am in action on? Where do I need help? What to be celebrated for? is the perfect start.
Lisa, thanks so much for such a great message! I have been working alone for a LOOOONNNNGGGG time. How do I build my tribe or community? I am ready to go and grow farther and I realize that I can’t do it alone. Well, I can however it will take MUCH LOOOONNNNNGGGGER and I would love to decrease the time.
My AHA moment was remembering the accountability that a community provides – plus the support, encouragement and motivation!
Hi Lisa,
You are certainly on point with this session. I knew you were speaking value and I am glad for the reminder that community keeps you accountable. I do not want to continue solo. Thanks for all you do!
Lisa, thank you for being such an inspiration and for sharing this wisdom with us. Definitely a few AHA’s and lots to work on. One love
Thank you so much Lisa. Again just at the right time. I just finished creating my lifebook and I am continuing lifebook mastery. Today I wached the Masterclass Transform your life. There’s so much I still want to learn and I am so grateful for all the things I already learned But compated to my friends or family
Hi Lisa.
You make public speaking seems so effortless and easy to do. I hope in the next 30 days I am able to do my first live speech with as much confidence and ease as you do.
Hoping this is the beginning of a good community relationship.
Thanx Lisa for helping me realize how much my community means to me. I now know how much more achievements I will have if I work with my community.. I am going to listen to the feedback my community gives to me..
Dear Lisa,
Exactly what I need to embrace! Thank you for sharing such a powerful and inspirational message! Support is a beautiful thing!
Many Blessings to us All…
Thank you for remind me the importance of the community.
As a gladiator, must of the time, I do many stuff by myself.
In fact like you said, it feels good when the community win.
Thank you so much for your leadership Lisa, you bright up my day! Love
Yes the importance the comunity is awesome when you see other point of view about the world and is really good receive feedback too this is importand for learn and whatever i want. Only step by step thank lisa.
Great advice, I would love to have a community but it is so hard to find those that are willing to be a part of . So i have some new ventures going on in the business and I am going to try again to build a community.
Starting out independently stifles the process of building your community. I like feedback but I want my team to be smarter than me. That’s my greatest challenge.
Oh! Man! The accountability piece. I love the way you broke it down. Thank you so much! You are Truly an inspiration!
Thanks for the loving and gentle reminder the value and importance of community! Thanks for ALL that YOU do, Lisa! Continued blessings to you!
thank you – i very much am familiar with the go it alone part. your presentation reminded me to …maybe give community a little more of a chance. thank you
This was so relevant for me right now. It inspired me with an idea to help others. The universe gave me exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you xx
Wow this is such a timely message. This is my second year in business and up to this point I had been doing it alone. Last week I reached out to friends who are solopreneurs to start a support group. Hearing your message reaffirms I am moving in the right direction.
Lisa!!
PUSH UP! ” A Community also has a language specific to it’s members!)
Thank you so much for the reminders and the nudging! After over 30 years of working in treatment Therapeutic Communities with people in recovery, you reminded me how to employ the concept of community as an entrepreneur! Not only do I embrace utilizing a tribe of people to provide the support, the perspective, the affirmation as well as the accountability; I know the vast impact of how it not only has the power to change lives but the power to SAVES lives as well!!
This week I will reach out to persons who I need in my tribe as well as those who need a gentle nudge from me! Besides as we say in the Therapeutic Community… “You can’t keep it unless you give it away!”
Blessings to you Lisa, and thank you for reminding me of the life-giving and life-receiving benefits, rewards and POWER of community!
Dr. Jacqui Maxwell
Life Coach & Grief Recovery Specialist
Thank you sooo much for defining what an accountability group really is. I am committing to developing an accountability group or community within the next 30 days.
Thank You Lisa
I AM always inspired by your show. I does take a community stay on point. My motivation has truly been empowered by your show. Love it!
It’s 9 am and I am in ATX. 28 years young and this message finds me in high spirits. Feeling like it’s ok to reach out and reveal my heart to the universe. Why am I commenting cause I usually don’t. A voice in my mind keeps telling me to reach though. Maybe someone will get inspired from my story. Or maybe recapping it will it in perspective for me. Maybe I’m tired and outta to take a nap.
I am an artist, at these in my life I find my self being an incredible dancer. I am loving everyday of it. Although in my pursuit of it I became so much more. A teacher, a performer, a teammate a friend. I’ve been sayin yes to dance as a profession for the last 6/7 years. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with it at first. After all no one in my family had ever chosen to flourish this talent before. It was only after I finished school that I decided to put my passion into it. College wasn’t what I wanted though I knew that. You see I knew I could learn what I needed to become a better dancer from the Internet. After all with my drive and the world greatest at my finger tips I could learn from 0-100 rq.
I put together a strict training regime and started to hone my talent.
Now I am here at 28 I’ve accomplished trying out for sytycd and won my first dance battle. I found new ambitions along the way and I realized how much a craved starting my own thing. I learned that one of the things I want to do is combine my other talent of speaking Wisdom into people’s hearts with dancing. Like I know I was meant to inspire and reach people but some days Idk which way to go. I’ve kept a close relationship with god. And now that I have more confidence in my physical abilities I am ready to lean more into my gift and approach my newer ambitions. Even though right now they don’t all seem clear.
I have to put together a crew with my brother from the other and we have a few inspirational shows we street perform rn to inspire people in these dark times. I want to make money but I want to it dancing performing the way I want to. Not just the ol standard ways I see other dancers do it. I want to create my own path so to speak. I hope this doesn’t read like I’m rambling.
Anyhow, I want to make 500,000$ A year dancing motivationally and inspiring people much like you all do.
I am currently doing this in my street shows. I’d love to reach a massive audience. I am wondering how I connect the dots.
I’d take that money create and host dance battles that would give other dancers of all varieties a platform to realize thier dreams.
I look forward to hearing back from someone. Now I am sleepier than I have been all day so I’ll catch some zzzzzs while I can. When I wake up I will take one more step closer to those dreams and lay one more brick in the path of the way of the GrandMonstar. Live long and prosper
The force is strong with you and
The odds are forever in your favor.
If you do like to pour into my story my cash pp / Venmo is @bassmonstar and if you want to my journey this google my content @bassmonstar or @ Incredicrew
Loved the analogy of the helium balloon and sometime being the helium and sometimes the grounded string. To see both sides of it helps to provide balance. thank you.
Thank you for this Lisa! I love it.
Community is incredibly important to every person whether they know it or not. Our community is the people we choose to surround ourselves with. Building our community should take real effort and intentional choices. Build relationships with those who you feel inspire and uplift you. Who challenge you to be a better version of yourself while still being your self.
For too much of my life, I just let myself gravitate towards those who most easily would accept me without any thought or effort. I would conform to their standards rather than work to develop my own. I would do, and did, almost anything to feel accepted rather than spend my days alone. The one thing I wouldn’t do, however, was put in the time, work and effort to examine and develop my own self identity, desires, beliefs, wants, etc. I didn’t know who I was for a very long time because, firstly, I thought I did… I used to think that a person automatically knew oneself; That it should be effortless. I mean, I am ME, right? Who knows me better than me? Exactly, who does? Nobody does, especially if you don’t know yourself. Secondly, once I figured out that I didn’t know myself, the task of getting to know who I am always seemed like too enormously difficult of a task to undertake. So I continued to float trying to be whatever or whoever I thought my most immediate community wanted or expected me to be. Rather than defining myself and my community around that self, I let the community define me and that rarely worked out for the best, or at all.
So, how can you develop a good community for yourself if you don’t even know who you are? I don’t believe you can. I also believe it is a life-long process, just as is getting to know yourself. But again, it requires effort and intention.
Good morning Lisa. Thanks for the kick in the but I needed today. Girl I’m over here running a one woman/man show. I’m falling behind on payments, my scheduled, my reading, my company ( in production launching soon) keisha’s visionary institute. Deadlines are not been meet, I’m making all kinds if friends thinking I’m gain there trust but I’m locking my deliver and saldering my trust by living too much in wandering world. Jamaican style too much of lala land. Girl I need to get up, step up, wake up and even learn to put on my makeup in this pandemic before all my good leads go down like the titanic. I’m forming a community in the next 15 minutes and I’m getting at lease 1 thing final today. Thanks Miss Lisa I owe you lunch and a good swim day….. My bathing suit coming out soon. ❤️
BoL…. True story. I always feel that I will get it done faster. But also I don’t like to ask people.
Wow!!!!! The helium in my balloon. I never never ever thought of it that way. Revelation… Thank you so much
Thank you so much Lisa for this helpful Input! I will set up a biweekly call with my two Sisters and already look forward to the first one next week ❤️
Thant you Lisa,
i’m also with your group MOTIVATING THE MASSES. I also join your I AM THE CHANGE SUMMITT
Biggest AHA was looking through your community lenses see what they see
2nd question is to let your community to give you honest feedback,to be the best version or vision of yourself
3rd question Is that you don’t have to be by yourself let your community help you
Community? I was bless to learn from the two most powerful people on this planet what’s a community? MarY WIGGINS ,willie WIGGINS my parents. My first lesson they tought me and show me and all my siblings each and everyone of us are COMMUNITES ? And we build your base in each community? We learned our gift ? We learned how to work as brothers and sisters together? My parents show us how to believe in yourself trust yourself as well my siblings? And one of the most important things to me was about I learned how to recover from adversity, hurt pain by way of knowing your strengths. Some call it forgiveness. And they taught us SACRIFICE. From these teaching from these two POWERFUL PARENTS our COMMUNITY THEY SAT US DOWN AND SAID WE ARE A TRIBE , some may call this FAMILY. a COMMUNITY we had within ? My parents said but people will call us a FAMILY? And why most COMMUNITY DONT SUPPORT, HELP , BUILD EACH OTHER because it takes a community……..one person in your who is a community to help you build a community just like building a house …..YOU START WITH ONE BRICK at a time .
Lisa Nicole I Love you more and I’m
Very elated to have this opportunity and I’m
Looking forward and learning much more and allowing the universe to balance us together in this beautiful journey. Thank you again .
Thank you for sharing this very important reminder to belong to a community, Lisa! My AHA moment was when you said that you weren’t celebrating your wins because you were too busy working on the next! Wow! So did I back in the day! Now I take a short time to acknowledge and celebrate my win before I move on. I belong to an accountability pod in one of my mindfulness groups that meet up each week. I have always been a person that is fine being solo, but I really do appreciate a community as well.
Hi miss Lisa.
I really don’t know where to begin, at the moment I feel so lost in finding my way,
Trust is my biggest issue, I’ve been let down and disappointed ,the more I poor into other’s I find they are draining , they take and never give bAck not even a thank you.
So where the community is concern it’s always take take, each time I decide I’m done they keep coming and I’m still feeding,what so crazy I really love feeding,I’m tired of feeling drained, how do I build my own community.
I love listening to you ,I hear you talking and I’m listening,
One of my issue is fear, I don’t. Hv low self esteem, my presence when I walk in a room seem to make people uncomfortable, when I’m quiet or not, I don’t reach for anyone, they do reach for me, I cannot become comfortable, if I do ,it my be how I dress, how I speak,I’m a great listener, I love to listen ,so I can polarize each story, I love helping the underdogs, if that word is not too harsh, I look for nothing,
I was broken in my spirit by my leader, I’m better now, but it’s so hard to renegotiate my steps into my future.but I don’t know where to begin.i will continue to listen to you.thanks for listening, it means a lot,I’m not defeat I just don’t know how to get started, I know I have something to offer, I need the right place and people.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much for your encouragement and insight. I’m currently reading your book, Abundance Now. And it’s been beneficial to me in this time of quarantine.
One thing I will do is align myself with a community of individuals to help me fulfill my dream of becoming a Certified Financial Planner.
Dear Lisa
Just when I thought I have picked up all the pieces, just when I thought I was heal, you came along and shine your bright light onto me, your light is so bright it illuminated a dark corner in my life that I missed before. A corner so deeply hidden I forgot it was there. I have no choice but to face my past. I recently suffered some major loses in my human experience…lost a loved one of 30 years, made some mistakes and lost my retirement money, lost my career and was betrayed. I went through all the self development gurus and spiritual leaders to rescue myself. I thought I was doing a pretty good job until I discover you on YouTube. You made me realize that there was still a little girl in pain I haven’t dealt with. I was shameful of her so I shoved her in the dungeon and threw away the key. I didn’t want to have anything to do with her so I’ve forgotten her. Now because of you she is to be seen again. I have to accept and forgive her in order to free myself. What a BOL! Your words really resonated with me. When you were telling your stories on A-fest there was NOT one video of yours that didn’t bring me to tears. Not just the sniffle cries but the all out gut wrenching, soul shaking, heart breaking cries…recognizing the pain you went through mirrored mine. I don’t think the words thank you can ever describe my gratitude but I will start there. I am still a work in progress but at least you unshackled the chains of that little girl inside. She and I both thank you for shining your beautiful spirit inside and out for the world to see!
I love you for being you!
Sou