FINDING YOUR TRIBE - Issue 34
Because it's more important that you think….
Hello again, dear readers
I hope you are all well and survived the insane heatwave we experienced in the UK last week. As a country we really aren’t used to temperatures like that and didn’t it show? I hope you weren’t too badly affected and you have been able to return to normal life.
Here’s my usual message to say it’s great to have you here and coming back issue after issue - it’s very much appreciated. And if you are here for the first - a huge, big welcome to you and thank you for subscribing. I hope you enjoy being here and the newsletter resonates with you.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO FIND A TRIBE?
I’ve been aware of the necessity of having a tribe for some time. But it took a guest of mine on the 45NotOut podcast, back in the early days of the podcast and most definitely pre-Covid, to speak about the importance of finding somewhere you belong with like-minded people (aka a tribe). The guest was someone I’d admired for a while - she’s a big name in the tech world and someone that had reached such a position that people listened to her. Me included.
So, when I asked what she thought the most important thing for a mid-life woman setting out in business needed to do - the first thing out of her mouth was “find your tribe”. And although I can’t remember in detail what else we talked about on the podcast, I’ve remembered that answer.
So this rumbled around my head for a few years (the episode was recorded nearly 3 years ago) and then Covid hit. Like everyone else, Covid massively affected my business and how I do my job and in particular, for me, letting go of my existing business network (tribe) that was based in Manchester City centre, and starting again building a new tribe in Cheshire, closer to where I live.
If I’m truthful, once the lockdowns finished and we were able to meet up in person again, I didn’t really know where to start. I started to hunt out online groups (mainly Facebook groups) business women in Cheshire and bit by bit, I’ve found a path I’m following to establish a network of fab business women (and some men) based closer to me than Manchester. Like most things, I just had to take one step, see what that leaded to and embrace the opportunities that I found. It’s been around 6 months now - so still very early days - but I’ve discovered pockets of fab people that I identify with and who I stay in contact with.
Half of them I’ve “tripped over”, if you know what I mean. I’ve gone to meetings and events with no agenda (me, not the events - lol!) and just spoken to people. Some of them I met at events; others have been recommended to me and I’ve hunted them down (in a good way) and made contact. Basically, networking in it’s purest form.
As I said, it’s early days and I’m planning on attending more events and opportunities as summer turns a corner and more things spring up in the Autumn. But, I tell you what, I’m having an absolute ball doing it! Who knew finding and establishing a new tribe could be so much bloody fun!!
HOW TO DO IT…
Well, I think I’ve outlined in the paragraph above how I’m currently building that contact base I’m talking about in a work/business sense, but I’ve also vowed to myself I’d expand my personal network too.
I have to say, this is a very different animal. You can’t hide behind your business or the formalities of a work situation, so you are a bit more exposed. But, fortune favours the brave, so I’ve taken on the notion of saying “yes” a bit more often. One of which I did this last weekend.
Living in South Cheshire, I’m lucky enough to live closed to one of the major music festivals of the summer - Blue Dot Festival at Jodrell Bank. Following the mantra of saying yes to more things, the opportunity to volunteer at the event crossed my radar, so I completed the online form, had the zoom interview, attended the briefing for the volunteer team at the festival site, prior to the festival starting at the end of that week.
So, I’ve spent two days this past weekend being a volunteer at the festival and although it was hard work at times, I had a ball. The first day I was part of a team of 6 where we welcomed, processed and parked over 500 camper vans and other “live in” vehicles. As ever at festivals, it bucketed it down for the whole day, but that didn’t dampen the spirit of the team, or the festival, and I had a ball talking and helping all the customers who arrived during my shift.
For the second day, I manned the gate at “Boutique” camping (Glamping, to you and me) where there was a whole raft of different type of lovely, pre-pitched structures from which customers could use as their base at the festival.
And, once shift was finished, I was free to enjoy the events on offer. That meant watching Groove Armada, Metronomy and others play live.
And, following my brave move, I was vindicated in that I had a total, total ball!
All my objectives of meeting new, amazing and like-minded people was fulfilled many times, and I’m now in contact with loads more people across the country and I I’ll continue to keep in contact with them.
Thereby adding to my tribe. Quid pro quo!
A WORD FROM ME….
So there you have it - another issue done & dusted. I hope my ramblings resonated with you and you learnt something. If you want to hear more about 45 Not Out and join the ever growing community of fab, fab women who don’t take ageism and age prejudice lying down, I’ve got a lively Facebook group where you’d be very welcome. Just come on down and ask to be admitted - it would be great to have you there.
So that’s it from me for another fortnight.
Take care till then
Una x