Collaboration Queens: How to Build Community & Create a Culture of Success
Once upon a time, Roland S. Martin, a prolific journalist, asked movie-making powerhouse Issa Rae her opinion on networking. Iconically, Issa responded with a phrase that forever changed the way entrepreneurs and business owners viewed the practice: "It really is about networking across.” she said “ Who’s next to you? Who’s in the trenches with you? Those are the people you need to build with.”
For millennial queens who are moving into the next great phase of their personal and professional lives, building community is a common goal. TCQ is a proud community of content-creating queens but to date, we haven’t held space for preaching our own gospel: how building community is the lifeline of business success.
Our diverse community of queens works together towards a common goal. This is what drives the success of TCQ. In this week's blog, we’re diving into how synergy and intentionally creating community can be a powerful tool in making your brand an unstoppable force.
The first thing any brand-building bossette needs to remember is, no queen is an island. Being a solo entrepreneur or running a small business can feel like a one-woman show at times but success rarely shows up for a solo act. The greatest minds in marketing, entertainment, and otherwise, have cohesive, supportive teams that come together to bring brand visions to life. A shared vision and a belief in your success can help you curate a network of like-minded people in your industry that can help you and your brand grow to new heights.
Purposefully seeking out people who share your creative and entrepreneurial values can energize your brand. The truth is, the community is where the real fun in business begins. When was the last time you went to a networking event to make a friend? Think about the last time you slid into the DMs of someone you wanted to collaborate with on Instagram. How did you approach them? Did you “pitch” yourself? Sis, you’re a person, not a product. Sometimes narrow-minded ambition can make the most well-intended marketing strategies come off as paper-thin and superficial. The art of successful, long-lasting networking lies in your ability to authentically connect with fellow boss babes to build connections that go beyond business.
Additionally, having a solid, supportive team around you can help you be more efficient at addressing gaps in your own abilities. The faster you can make up for your personal or professional shortcomings, the easier the road to success will be. Imagine if you had a team of women who believed in you so much that they stepped in with their own superpowers right when you needed them to, with the sole intention of helping you elevate your brand. I don’t know about you but it always felt like Sailor Moon was only as cool as she was because she had the Sailor Scouts backing her up. (Too niche? My bad, Toonami was a different era.) There’s no limit to what can be accomplished if you combine your skills with other boss babes whose talents complement your own. Are you a marketing maven? Grab coffee with a graphic designer. Go shopping with a social media specialist. Get outside and get out of your own way. Don’t focus initially on making connections based on how someone else's position can help you. Team up with women whose company you enjoy and who consistently bring something unique to the table. Then, sit back and watch the magic happen.
At the end of the day, going into networking and collaboration with positive intentions and good energy makes every connection a win-win. Inevitably you’ll create opportunities that benefit everyone involved. Whether it's sharing resources, cross-promoting each other's businesses, or co-hosting events, building community can help you and your tribe find ways to uplift each other and make sure everyone comes out on top. Besides, aren’t we rooting for everyone femme?
It’s time to get in your collaborative bag queen. Don't be afraid to walk the talk. Build a community that you can pour into. You’d be surprised how your efforts to sow the seeds of success through authentic connection bear fruit.
As always, we’re in your corner.
With love,
The Team at TCQ
