I’ve successfully launched a community from scratch that’s made for young professionals in Austin Texas. Many mistake were made, and wayyy too much money was spent leading up to the launch. We could have been just as effective and only spent a fraction of what I did. Your community will be successful because of the character you have, narrative you draw, and the controlled tenacity you have to invite people, follow up and promote events. I’ll be posting many lessons I’ve learned and document our growth as we continue to go bigger and bigger. Your input and advice from the communities you build are definitely encouraged. Most people don’t understand what it truly takes to build a community, not just a “club”.

• Be Part of the Community : (Outside of your current community) This allows you to understand your audience, do market research, and build genuine connections. It ensures authenticity and builds credibility. • Walking the Talk: John Maxwell says “You don’t attract who you WANT, you attract who you ARE. If you’re promoting something, you should strive to be “it” yourself. I am naturally very growth oriented and always looking for ways to improve in my life. Naturally this allows me to attract others who have a similar mindset. I’ve been in sales for a while and noticed that slimy salesmen attract other slimy sales people. On the other side of the coin, people of character naturally attract others who live by the same morals and values. Focus on being a better person and adding value, and you’ll be surprised by the quality of people who gravitate to your group. • Building Relationships: Strong relationships are crucial. Look to serve in your relationships more than you ever take and be intentional about trying to add value to those around you. It can be in the form of referrals, helping make introductions to others, or even smaller things.. think outside of the box. Reinforce relationships especially with the type of people you’d like to see be a part of your community. Our focus for Young Professionals Network is entrepreneurs, health and wellness, and nonprofit leaders. • Influence and Networking: Other community builders and influential figures can help grow your community. By establishing connections with them, you can expand your reach and attract their audiences. It’s mutually beneficial. There’s a lot of value you can add to them as well. • Pre-existing Trust: Trust is built over time through genuine relationships. Your initial success often comes from the trust you’ve already built in the community before launching your community initiative. That doesn’t mean you can’t start from scratch, but it is helpful having some relationships you can lean on from the start.

The following posts will reference these 5 topics: 1. Building Trust and Engagement: How to create a welcoming environment and keep members engaged over time. 2. Event Planning and Execution: Lessons learned from your YPN events, what works best for attendee turnout, vendor partnerships, and pricing strategies. 3. Community Growth Strategies: How to attract new members and retain them, including marketing tactics and referral programs. 4. Sustainability Insights: Exploring different funding outlets, membership , exclusivity, and more 5. Challenges and Solutions: Common hurdles