BUILDING YOUR TRIBE

We have previously discussed the potential consequences of going it alone, but your friends and family that you might count on in ordinary circumstances may not be available to you during a Category 5 catastrophe. Be willing to get out of your comfort zone and build community so you don’t go it alone, and you can thrive in the aftermath.  
It is tempting to isolate ourselves when we are dealing with tough situations. As an entrepreneur, you may endure extremely difficult financial distress that you don’t want anyone to know about. In our culture, we are taught that we should be independent problem-solvers.  
Author Christine Perakis shares, “When I went after my captain’s license, I could have used guidance to navigate the arduous application process. Instead of asking a dear friend who was a very experienced captain, I struggled to get it done by myself. I was surprised talking about it with him later that he thought I wanted to do it on my own, like I wanted to prove something. I hadn’t realized then that I’d made it seem like I didn’t want help. How many times had my own actions kept people from offering help?”   

Try this: What is one situation you are dealing with right now that you are struggling with but have not asked for help? Identify one trusted person—a colleague, a mentor, a friend—and ask them for help. Reaching out will feel vulnerable, but it is not weak.