Starting a business can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. As a nurse and entrepreneur, I’ve found that utilizing local resources has been critical to my success. There are many local resources available, both free and paid, such as local entrepreneur meetups, incubators, accelerators, networking events, and business classes held at libraries, among others. These resources are great because they offer mentorship, various opportunities, and a supportive community to help you understand the landscape, launch, and grow your business.

When I first started out as an entrepreneur, I believed I needed to get a coaching certification or purchase an expensive course from a well-known nurse guru in the community, but this wasn’t the case. Instead, I focused on the following:

• Attended meetups like 1 Million Cups and Startup Week, which provided opportunities for me to immerse myself in the startup scene, connect with other entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors in my local community.
• Participated in a low-cost business boot camp, SeedSpot, which provided me invaluable resources and mentorship to help me understand foundational business concepts, marketing, and gave me an opportunity to pitch in front of a live audience.
• Attended business library classes that were put together by local business development centers like S.C.O.R.E to get resources and support for starting and growing a business. Some of these classes were workshops and had ample opportunities for me to obtain mentoring from a local, seasoned business mentor.
• Attended networking events and surrounded myself with like-minded individuals.
• Joined an online business mastermind community that met weekly to connect and support other entrepreneurs.
• Started an official mentorship relationship with mentors from a local startup. This helped tremendously with accountability and gave us an opportunity to brainstorm and get feedback as our business grew.

By utilizing these local resources and building relationships within your community, you can position yourself for success in the business world. So, if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, don’t be afraid to get immersed in the startup world and ask for help!