As a budding entrepreneur, there are probably several things on your mind, and it may be hard to keep them all in order. But if you’re an entrepreneur, then it’s likely that what you share with all other entrepreneurs is an ambitious and individualistic spirit. After all, without such a spirit, it would be very difficult to attain the motivation and courage necessary to go about this kind of project. That being said, though, I would advise you to keep the importance of community in mind as well. An entrepreneur doesn’t exist in a vacuum: You’re in a world where all kinds of different forces are at play, and your success as an entrepreneur will probably depend not only on your own individual initiative, but also on your ability to form meaningful connections with other people who are in the same boat as you. The business world is a highly competitive place, of course. But this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to make good connections as an entrepreneur. If anything, it’s much the opposite: It’s exactly because of the competition that it is important to build networks of support and trust. All throughout history, being an entrepreneur has involved relying on these networks. In fact, without solid networks of trust, it would be more or less impossible to embark on any venture, because the insecurities would just be too great. You need to preserve your individual spirit as an entrepreneur, of course. But it’s also important that you seek out others who have similar spirits. This way, you will be able to grow and develop both professional as an entrepreneur and personally as a human being. At the same time, you’ll be helping others do the same. This way, your business ventures just become an extension of all your other ventures in life. This said, though, you’ll need to be careful in the sort of connections you develop. If you find yourself in the wrong sort of community, your innovative spirit might be stifled, and the passion which led you to become an entrepreneur in the first place will have no outlet. Sometimes, a group can become parasitical, and then it prevents the individual from thinking freely. If this happens, then failure in the business world is inevitable. But there are, in fact, communities which can bring out the best in you as an entrepreneur. For a safe bet on such a community, I would suggest the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). This is an international network of trust and support, open to business members only. It has 120 chapters all over the planet, and over 8,000 members. The EO’s stated mission is to do everything in its power to aid the personal and professional development of its members. And due to its broad base, the organization is extremely rich in knowledge and experience. This sort of community may be able to provide you with exactly the sort of resources and support you may need to fulfill all your ambitions as an entrepreneur.