By Lesley Keays
Herald Columnist
Entrepreneurs Anonymous is a free, monthly meetup for budding and current small business owners who may benefit from a physical space to talk shop without pitch decks or performative networking.
Facilitated by Christina Hollerbach at her new office, 112 Sanford Avenue is now a place where attendees are encouraged to vent, to obtain feedback, to ask for help, and most importantly, to remind oneself that while sole entrepreneurship can be a lonely vocation, no person with adequate support is alone.
Each gathering, attended by approximately 10 business owners, is lightly mediated and shaped by the needs of the room, with time for open conversation and a short leadership takeaway to help attendees think differently about the work they complete.
Whether attendees are exploring an idea, newly launched in a field, or preoccupied in the day-to-day tasks of running a business, all are welcome. Snacks and beverages are provided.
“In our personal lives, sometimes it’s a challenge to talk business with our partner, family members, or friends,” Hollerbach notes.
“The goal of Entrepreneurs Anonymous is different from traditional networking events, and intentionally so,” she states. “This effort is not simply pitching businesses or collecting contacts. It is about creating a place where entrepreneurs show up without ego, listen as much as they speak, and talk honestly about both what is working and what is lagging in their respective businesses.”
During its first few meetings, Entrepreneurs Anonymous shared recent wins and current challenges. Hollerbach used a whiteboard to capture common themes that entrepreneurs experience in real-time. “It was fascinating to see how many struggles overlap across completely different industries,” Hollerbach observed.
She shared a simple visual about knowledge that helped frame the discussion. “Imagine a pie chart that represents all the knowledge in the world,” Hollerbach suggested. “Each of us holds only a tiny sliver of the pie through our own experiences. Even the collective knowledge of the people in a room is still only a small portion of the total pie. However, when we share openly and learn from each other’s successes and mistakes, we expand the knowledge each of us take away. That exchange of experience makes us stronger as business owners and effective contributors to our community. “
The group name “Entrepreneurs Anonymous” was chosen intentionally as well. The goal is to remove the pressure of posturing or self-promotion; instead, creating a safe environment where business owners speak candidly about challenges, ask critical questions, and support one another.
Based on the strong response and enthusiasm from attendees, Ms. Hollerbach will continue to host Entrepreneurs Anonymous meetings on the first Wednesday of every month, in an effort to continue building a local community of honest conversation and shared learning among local businesses owners.
For further information about Entrepreneurs Anonymous, feel free to email Christina Hollerbach at [email protected].
