⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

Asking For Help Is Good For You and Your Business Reaching out to others isn't a sign of weakness. It's a step closer to success.

By Karen Peacock

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Reza | Getty Images

Running a small business can be lonely. There will be times when you don't know who to turn to with your questions, and your support system can feel as small as your shop.

My advice: Ask others for help, and broaden your network to get it.

Seeking counsel -- from mentors, peers, even your suppliers and vendors -- is simply another way of taking charge of your business. Rather than being thought of as a weakness, reaching out can help your chances for success. I always say, "If you don't ask, you won't get." One Intuit study found that 41 percent of small business owners feel lonely in their work life. That same survey found that 70 percent of small business owners say networking with other business owners is important.

In my experience, while it may seem daunting, pushing through your comfort zone can pay big rewards.

Related: How Asking for Help Can Be the Difference Between Success and Shutting Down

Connecting can energize you.

Even beyond your immediate need to solve a particular problem, listening to how others approach their business or even their lives can flick on a switch in your own thinking. That can lead to a breakthrough insight into something you weren't even considering.

A friend of mine who left corporate America to start her own consulting business told me that when she first struck out on her own, she missed the camaraderie that comes with being around other people every day. She's a bit of an extrovert, and a joiner! To help fulfill her need to interact beyond one-on-ones with clients, she joined a group for working moms in her community. She also joined an organization for marketing consultants in the Bay Area and another sponsored by her business school alma mater.

Today, she's part of probably four different groups that get together on a regular basis. They provide her with a real sense of community and the connectedness that she was missing.She's been able to rebuild in this new chapter of her life; and she's also getting business leads, which wasn't even her main intent.

In your own community, you can find local organizations -- like America's nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) -- to begin networking with neighboring business people.

Related: Get Your Ego Out of the Way and Ask for Help When You Need It

If you're shy or unaccustomed to reaching out to ask for help from fellow entrepreneurs in real-world one-on-one scenarios, find a network online.

Intuit built one called the Own It Network, an online community of small business owners supporting each other in growing their businesses. I love hearing stories about the relationships they build. The community has more than 100,000 members connecting to and learning from each other every day on topics like getting customers, goal setting, pricing and cash flow.

Think about where you'd like help.

Find great people you can learn from, whether you know them directly or not. And make sure you have strategic partners who know what it's like to run a small business and can offer you valuable advice.

For example, one of the most beneficial partnerships is the one you have with your accountant, who has insights into your business through a terrific window -- your data. Chances are you already have a comfort level with someone who knows you on one of the most intimate levels of all -- your finances -- so it's a great place to start. Your accountant probably has other clients who have faced the same issues as you. Ask for help, or for a helpful connection.

Related: When You're In a Rut, Ask For Help. You're Worth It.

You don't know what you don't know.

You should never stop learning. Take time to find and invest in relationships. There are plenty of people who have gone through similar experiences, have had others help them and would love to pay it forward by helping you.

All you have to do is ask.

Karen Peacock

SVP and Small Business Segment Leader at Intuit

Karen Peacock is the Senior Vice President and Small Business Segment Leader at Intuit, overseeing all of Intuit’s small business offerings including QuickBooks, Payments, and Payroll. Karen is passionate about giving small business owners and entrepreneurs the support they need to focus on the things that inspired them to start a business -- their customers, their products, and their craft.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.