Motivation Monday: Create a Board of Directors

By now, everyone knows the benefits of having a mentor (right?!). But have you ever considered having a Board of Directors for your solo business? Corporations have them and non-profit organizations have them, so why not you?

Let's face it, it can get overwhelming running a business on your own- sometimes you want feedback on your latest website, a new perspective on your branding, an outsiders' view of how to handle a difficult client, or just the knowledge that someone out there is dedicated to your success.

Why you should have a personal Board of Directors for your solo biz:

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Some considerations:

Will you officially ask people to join your Board of Directors or will you keep it to yourself?
6-8 people is generally a good size- too many more and there's too many cooks in the metaphorical kitchen. Too few and there likely won't be enough diversity
Consider reaching out to people who work with, are familiar with, or are in your target demographic- they'll be better equipped to help you effectively
Think about the various areas of your business, like marketing, financial, legal, manufacturing, writing, etc and find someone who is stellar at it: the insanely organized person who has a system for everything, the person who has a way with words, the person who can put together a cohesive brand strategy that perfectly captures your intentions
Think about the complementary personality traits that you’ll need. For example, it might be beneficial to have both a person who will cheer you up and a person who will give it to you straight
Make it worth it for your Board of Directors by offering to write them a recommendation on LinkedIn, connect them with your network, or promote their work on your social media accounts. And remember that a handwritten note goes a long way in this digital age!
This is probably not the right time to cold-email someone for the first time. Reach out to people you have an established relationship with

Want a template for reaching out to your future board AND an easy-to-use spreadsheet for creating your future board? Just enter your info below: