Why Community Is Better Than Growing Your Business Alone

For a long time, I thought clarity came from working harder on my own.

More thinking.
More refining.
More figuring it out in my head.

But this recent podcast conversation reminded me of something I think many consultants and coaches quietly experience:

Trying to grow your business alone makes everything heavier than it needs to be.

Not because you aren’t capable.
Not because you lack experience.
But because business growth was never meant to happen in isolation.

This episode was the largest group podcast conversation I’ve ever hosted, and what emerged wasn’t theory.

It was lived experience from everyone that went through my Impact to Income Accelerator.

The Hidden Struggle of Consultants and Coaches

Every person in the conversation was smart, experienced, and deeply committed to their work.

And yet, almost everyone shared some version of this:

• “I felt overwhelmed trying to piece everything together.”

• “I had clients, but not the right ones.”

• “I knew how to do the work, but not how to position it.”

• “I thought I should be able to figure this out on my own.”

This is incredibly common in consulting and coaching businesses.

You spend your days helping other leaders get clarity, make decisions, and move forward. But when it comes to your own business, you’re inside the jar, trying to read the label.

That’s when people get stuck in what I call the spin cycle.

What the “Spin Cycle” Looks Like in Business

The spin cycle doesn’t look like failure.

It looks like activity.

• Brain dumps full of ideas but no clear offers

• Tweaking messaging without confidence

• Saying yes to work that pays but doesn’t fit

• Charging hourly because it feels safer

• Networking endlessly but not gaining traction

You’re moving, but you’re not progressing.

And often, you don’t realize how much time and money you’re losing until you step out of it.

From Service Provider to Strategic Partner

One of the strongest themes in the conversation was the shift from being a service provider to becoming a strategic partner.

Many consultants get hired as a “pair of hands.”

They do the work.
They solve the problem.
They bill for time.

But strategic partners do something different.

They:

• Co-own outcomes with their clients

• Frame the work as a partnership, not a transaction

• Anchor proposals around value, not hours

• Ask deeper questions about goals, impact, and long-term change

This shift changes everything. Not just income, but confidence.

When you position yourself as a partner, clients trust you differently. They listen differently. They commit differently.

Why Networking Isn’t Enough

A surprising insight from the conversation was how often networking alone falls short.

Networking tends to keep people comfortable.
Community invites growth.

In many networking spaces:

• Everyone speaks the same language

• Similar industries reinforce the same thinking

• Conversations stay surface-level

What made this experience different was diversity of thought paired with shared intention.

Different industries.
Different business stages.
One shared goal: build meaningful, sustainable businesses with impact.

That combination sharpens thinking in a way networking rarely does.

The Unexpected Power of Community in Business Growth

Here’s something several people admitted openly:

They didn’t join for the community.

They joined for clarity.

And yet, clarity accelerated through:

• Accountability with peers

• Practicing language out loud

• Getting feedback from people who weren’t in their industry

• Working through decisions together instead of alone

Community didn’t replace strategy.
It strengthened it.

This wasn’t about forced vulnerability or instant closeness. It happened over time, through consistent interaction, shared work, and honest conversations.

Why Growing a Business Alone Feels So Heavy

When you work solo:

• All decisions live in your head

• There’s no mirror for your thinking

• Confidence wavers in silence

• Momentum is harder to sustain

When you grow alongside others:

• Ideas get clarified faster

• Blind spots surface sooner

• Confidence builds through reflection

• Progress compounds

This doesn’t mean you need a crowd. It means you need the right people.

Clarity Doesn’t Come From More Content

One of the biggest myths I hear is that clarity comes from more frameworks, more courses, or more content.

In reality, clarity comes from:

• Conversation

• Practice

• Feedback

• Perspective

Especially for consultants and coaches, clarity is relational.

You don’t find it by thinking harder alone.
You find it by thinking together.

What This Means for Your Consulting or Coaching Business

If you’re feeling:

• Stuck between ideas

• Confident in your expertise but unclear in your positioning

• Busy but not satisfied

• Tired of figuring everything out alone

There’s nothing wrong with you.

You may simply be missing what most solopreneurs lose when they leave traditional workplaces: thoughtful colleagues who help sharpen your thinking.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

This conversation reminded me why I care so deeply about creating spaces where consultants and coaches can think, reflect, and grow together.

Not to be dependent.
But to be supported.

Because when clarity, confidence, and community come together, growth stops feeling so heavy.

And that changes everything.

Next Steps

If this resonated with you, here are a few ways to keep the momentum going:

1. Get Support With Your Positioning and Partnerships

If you’re ready to move from “pair of hands” to strategic partner, I offer consulting and advisory services designed to help you clarify your positioning, package your expertise, and build client relationships that are grounded in trust and value.
This is for consultants and coaches who want clarity, confidence, and sustainable growth. You don't have to figure it out alone.
→ Learn more about my services here:  https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services 

2. Book a Discovery Call

If you’re not sure what your next move should be, a discovery call is a good place to start. We’ll look at where you are, what’s creating friction, and what would actually help you move forward.
No pressure. Just clarity.
→ Book a discovery call here

3. Watch the Full Video

This blog captures the themes, but the full conversation adds nuance, real voices, and moments you won’t want to miss.

Other articles you may enjoy:

• Command The Fees You Deserve with Casey Brown
• The Brand Messaging Process Consultants Need for Clarity and Confidence 
• 5 Signs You Have a Brand Messaging Problem (and How to Fix It)