These past few months as raindrop paperie has continued to grow, I have had the opportunity to make many new and wonderful connections with other creatives and entrepreneurs here in the Twin Cities area. I cannot stress enough how important reaching out to others and making new connections is. It allows you to grow as an individual, share ideas and tips, and develop meaningful relationships. It helps you to feel confident in your small business and to push yourself even further!
One group that I have become a part of is The Rising Tide Society, Tuesdays Together Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter. This group of local creatives/small business owners/entrepreneurs meets once a month to develop connections and focus on community over competition. The idea is to share what works, what doesn't work and to encourage each other on through the ups and downs of doing what you're passionate about. It's a mix of photographers, wedding planners, calligraphers, marketing/branding specialists, and designers. I have grown to love these gatherings and deeply treasure the conversations held. As an introvert I'm not always the first one to speak my mind or to share my opinion, but these meetings have created a safe space where I feel encouraged to share my triumphs and challenges, my struggles and my successes.
I have also had the opportunity to make connections through social media that have now turned into in-person connections. These coffee dates have been so much fun! It is so nice to connect with others who are going through some of the same things that you are as a small business owner. These conversations have been real, genuine and without filters. To think that without some form of social media I wouldn't have met the people that I have had the opportunity to meet!
My advice to you is to reach out and not be afraid of saying that initial "hello". In a world where so much of what we see is through social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter - it is important to hold on to those in-person, face-to-face, meetings and conversations. It is easy to get wrapped up in scrolling through image after image on your Instagram feed, but I encourage you to take a step back and to set that coffee date you've been meaning to make, to organize a meet-up of a few local creatives or take that walk outside with a friend. Those are the moments that are going to stick out to you, those are the memories that you will want to hold on to and cherish.