AmiSight 4/24: An Entrepreneurial Community Built on Grit

About eight months ago, I was getting frustrated. We were getting more and more calls at MultiFunding from business owners and entrepreneurs who we couldn't help with financing because their profitability and cash flow were upside down. Other than offering encouragement and suggesting they cut expenses, I would have to move on to my next call.

Many of my friends are members of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. We are a community built by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, designed to create supportive connections for successful business owners everywhere. However, as I reflected on the trends we were seeing in our financing calls, I began to wonder whether we could do more when times get tough. Our core offerings include learning events and forums where members can get support and help. That said, I wasn’t sure this was enough, especially if a forum doesn’t have members who have worked through a tough economic cycle and can share their experiences.

So, late at night, on a whim, I started a WhatsApp group that I think was first called "members who are having a tough time right now." (Catchy, I know!) Slowly and steadily, an online community grew where members feel safe saying times are tough, discussing challenges they face, and asking for help. Soon enough, we realized we needed a proper name, and the community brainstormed it out. Before long, we were officially the EO Grit channel.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago at EO's Global Leadership Conference in Honolulu. My friend Jamie Pujara, EO's chairman, asked me to meet him a few minutes before the opening. Before I knew it, I was called onto the stage to receive the organization's Volunteer of the Year award. It was an honor to receive this award on behalf of the EO Grit community.

Want to learn more about the Grit community? Click here to read more in my 21 Hats column.

Subscribe Today!