Helping entrepreneurs move things to the next level is the focus of a group looking to add more like-minded people.
“As an entrepreneur, it can be lonely,” says Rob Murray. “There is a group. You don’t have to be alone.”
Murray, co-founder of Guelph’s Intrigue Media Solutions, is on the board of directors of Southwest Ontario’s chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization – a worldwide organization aimed at providing networking and support for people who have started a reasonably successful business and are now looking to take it to the next level.
“What you get is a room full of people who ‘get it,’” said Murray in summing up what EO is all about. “There is a group. You don’t have to be alone.”
Entrepreneurs’ Organization is not aimed at start ups.
To be a member your business must have an income of (US)$1 million. The local chapter, founded in 2014, has 23 members whose median sales are (US)$3.5 million annually and employ an average of 38 people. Worldwide there are 12,000 members in 50 different countries.
And you don’t join, you apply.
The group is looking for individuals that want to be engaged, not just become a card-carrying member of an interesting group.
“If you don’t engage, you’ll end up leaving. The value of EO is in the engagement,” Murray said.
At the core of that engagement are monthly forums, where your specific group of entrepreneurs gets together for a four-hour meeting.
What is discussed in those meetings stays behind closed doors.
Jessica Chalk, owner of Guelph digital marketing company TrafficSoda, joined EO last October and said it has been extremely valuable as she grows her company.
“It’s people who are driven to better themselves,” says Chalk, adding that it can take a little while to build up the level of trust with others.
“But the more you open up the more you get out of it,” Chalk says.
Forum members come from all walks of life: people that own demolition company, a trucking company owner, digital marketers, sports distribution.
The discussion can range on any topic and the focus is on learning from other’s experiences. No one dishes out advice, they just tell of their experiences in growing their business and the other forum members take what they want from that knowledge.
Rules include no clients in the forum and what is discussed is strictly confidential.
“It’s more learning about business than the people there. It’s all about experiential sharing,” Murray said.
“You rarely talk about your own specific business applications,” Chalk added when asked about revealing information to others in the same field.
Entrepreneurs’ Organization members get access to other members around the world and through EO University can attend seminars and meetings where guest speakers share their knowledge.
“It gets you into spots that you can’t get into as the general public. There are billionaires in EO and I can call and say ‘I’m in EO, can I talk to you',” Murray said.
There is also a yearly retreat.
Many members get together outside the forums to continue the sharing.
For more information and to apply to become a member go to www.eonetwork.org.
