“It takes a village,” they say. We usually hear this in the context of parenting, that it takes a community to raise our children. But I’m realizing more and more that this also applies to building a business. It really does take a village.
Take this past Friday. It was 7 p.m., I was about to put the kids to bed and call it a night when it hit me: I had to set up for my pop-up — that night. The cutoff was 9 p.m. I grabbed my phone and started dialing, hoping someone could swoop in during this mini-emergency. The third call I made was to my friend Laura, and she was available. We both zipped down to Chelsea and set everything up in record time. I was so grateful. But the truth is, if Laura hadn’t been able to go, I still had a list of 10+ people I could call. That is my village.
And this kind of thing happens all the time. When you have a question, when you need perspective, when you just need someone to tell you you’re not losing your mind, you turn to your villagers again and again. It’s the kind of ecosystem where the more you give, the more you receive.
I’ve never been one to gatekeep. I’m here because so many people shared information, experience, and guidance with me. So I try to pay it forward in my own way. If someone is starting a business and needs to talk to someone who’s been in their shoes, I’ll make the time. If someone wants to start doing pop-ups and doesn’t know where to begin, I have a spreadsheet I share without hesitation.
This week, Petruska — owner of Sugar Hill Creamery and someone I admire — wrote in her newsletter: “If you want a village, be a villager. Ask for help when you need it, and give it when you can. Don’t take more than you give.”
So I’ll leave you with this: in today’s world, we need community more than ever. And being part of a community sometimes means inconveniencing yourself. When Laura, who also has two toddlers of her own, rushed out to help me during her own bedtime chaos, was it convenient? Absolutely not. But did she show up? Yes. And will I show up the next time she needs me? You bet I will.
With Love,
Maria.