The Power of Peers

As a business owner or sole proprietor I'm sure that you often feel as if you are stranded on an island with no one around to help. When the weight of the world around you falls squarely on your shoulders and you are solely responsible for the decisions you make, the stress can sometimes be too much to bear. Before these feelings overtake you, take a step back and remember you are not alone. In actuality there are thousands of other people in your shoes. While their problems and concerns may be different, these peers share the same burdens and blessings of responsibility as you.

There are numerous opportunities to share and learn from your peers. It could be an organized group that meets on a regular basis, or simply an Internet forum where opinions and information can be exchanged. The main thing you need to do is seek out a group or groups that best suit your needs. If you cannot find one, then start your own by gathering a few close colleagues who are willing to learn from each other. The main result you want to achieve is to shed the notion that as a leader you have to go it alone and tough things out. The weight of any decision will still be on your shoulders, but you will have a support group that can help you carry the load. As long as you are open to an honest exchange of information, you will learn new ideas you never thought of before and handle situations in ways you never did before.

Everyone in a position of responsibility has made mistakes and has had success. By sharing these with others, the entire group can benefit. I love the saying "hindsight is twenty/twenty" because it is so true. Mistakes are often made due to lack of experience or knowledge, so why not try to learn from one and other to help avoid them in the first place. Make the effort to learn from your peers as well as let them learn from you. When put into action this concept becomes a very powerful tool.