193: Unlocking the Power of Community: How to Thrive as an Independent Consultant with Erin Halper

In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Erin Halper, founder and CEO of The Upside, a global community where top independent consultants come together to gain support and advance their businesses. We talked about the crucial role that communities and support networks play for independent consultants, and Erin shared her inspiring journey from feeling isolated to establishing The Upside, a vibrant community of 250 consultants. We explored the importance of finding the right community, the challenges that come with transitioning from corporate life, and practical steps to build a strong network. In This Episode: [00:00:00] Erin shares her journey as a consultant and the creation of The Upside community. [00:02:06] The significance of finding and building a support network for consultants. [00:04:14] Erin discusses the difficulty of finding suitable communities and how she recognized the need for a community for independent consultants. [00:08:22] Erin offers advice on how consultants can start building their support networks. [00:11:31] Discussion on the impact of burnout on the desire for community and support. [00:13:30] Erin emphasizes the fundamental human need for belonging in professional settings and how the right community can alleviate the burdens of solo consulting. [00:16:49] Discussion on the initial isolation of consultants and the eventual need for community support. [00:18:03] Advice on recognizing the right community, focusing on shared values and connection with leaders. [00:20:09] Warning signs to watch for in communities, including lack of values and authenticity issues. [00:21:41] The importance of genuine community experiences over flashy marketing and celebrity endorsements. [00:25:42] Encouragement for active participation in communities to gain the most value from the experience. [00:28:02] The value of forming meaningful connections within communities for personal and professional growth. [00:29:36] Advice on authenticity and being true to oneself in the journey of independent consulting. Key Takeaways: It can be isolating moving from corporate to independent consultant - and often that urge to isolate yourself after leaving corporate is intentional! But having access to a network can help to fill the gap left by leaving a structured corporate environment and fulfil the need for connection and support as you grow your business. High-quality communities lead to transformative relationships and opportunities. The key is finding those high-quality communities and showing up authentically and consistently within them. Erin believes that a community should inspire and connect with its members on a deeper level so that they feel seen and understood. Her advice for finding the right community includes aligning your values. If a community doesn't clearly communicate its values or fails to resonate with its members, it raises a red flag. When you're transitioning from a corporate role, you may feel the pressure to present a polished version of yourself. But Erin encourages listeners to embrace their true selves, shedding the armor that corporate life may have built up. Quotes: "That is just basic, foundational human nature to always find that sense of belonging, always search for that sense of belonging. And that's why it's so important to make sure you're choosing a network, a path, a program that gives you that sense of belonging. Because they're not all one size fits all." - Erin Halper "I have found that when consultants go out on their own, the thing they miss the most is being part of a team. Second, the thing they miss is having access to the marketing department, the accounting department for anything they need … Then all of a sudden you're out on your own and you are the marketing department and the accounting department, and you're the bookkeeper and you're, you know, the COO, you're just wearing all the hats." - Erin Halper "If you're a high ac

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