On Building Your Support Network (even without $100 million dollars)

On a road trip many years ago someone asked me what I would do with $100 million dollars. (You know, THAT question.) I thought through the list of possibilities… extensive luxury travel, buy an island, fill a stable with horses, etc. (These days I certainly believe my list would include starting a foundation or charity, but back then I was already dedicating my life to non-profits and wasn’t doing so hot emotionally, physically, or financially.)

Thinking through all of the delightful options, the real answer came to me gently, like a little butterfly landing on my head - I would have lots of people around to support me.  

I would hire personal trainers, my therapist on retainer, a chef, many high-level and patient experts to teach me different skills like show jumping and archery. (At that point I hadn’t yet been exposed to coaching but I certainly would have stuck a heap of different kinds of coaches in there too). 

I pondered this idea throughout that trip. At some point it occurred to me that I didn’t need a cool $100mill to build a support network around me. Sure, I wouldn’t be able to hire the leading equestrian expert and have them move into the guest cottage to work with me five days a week, teach me all the theory and perfect my groundwork. Or the personal chef (who was also of course a nutritionist) to come and make incredible meals and by proxy grant me a degree in nutrition. 

I realized that there already were many wonderful people in place supporting me, even if not one-to-one. The yoga instructor at the studio I already frequented, my therapist who I saw the standard once a week but twice if needed, and people all over the place who could teach me basically anything for free. 

As I transitioned to being a business owner over the next few years, I was delighted to realize that this is basically the way things freakin’ work in this new world. You build a network of other small businesses: peers, colleagues, collaborators, clients, and contractors. 

I also came to find that indeed there are incredible resources out there, eleventy billion possible mentors and teachers who certainly give away a lot of content for free, but that also have wonderful digital courses, Masterminds and other types of programs that can straight up change yo’ damn life. And by investing in yourself through investing in these offerings, one is also investing in the network and in other small businesses, who can then do the same…and on and on. 

Here is where I give a shout out to all the incredible people and small businesses who either have or are currently supporting my journey; both in straight-up business ways and also in physical, emotional and mental wellbeing ways (which of course, directly support the business). 

I am over-the-moon grateful to have worked with all of these incredibles. 

A question for you - how can you build or strengthen your own network? How can you strategically invest your energy, time, and/or real monies into actual people around you to help you grow, support your goals, and teach you things? And by doing so, support them. 

If you haven’t already done so, give it a think my friends, it’s a worthwhile question.