1. Attend Events. Depending on the size of the city you live in, you may find it quite easy to find business events related to your product or service. Keep an eye out for them and attend whenever possible. Look for flyers at bookstores, libraries, and check out advertisements in the newspaper or other local publication. Many of these events are free to the public, which is an added bonus.



The events will not only be motivating to you, but they'll also give you the chance to meet other people with interests similar to yours. There are excellent connections to be made if you keep your eyes and mind wide open.

2. Read, Read, Read. You may not be able to meet an entrepreneur in person, but have you tried reading his or her books? This is a great way to surround yourself with success, to be inspired, and to get motivated. But don't stop with books. See if you can find snippets or interviews on YouTube.

3. Meet With Your Peers. One of the most difficult things about entrepreneurship is that it's a lonely venture. More than anything you need a support system made up of other businesspeople who can help you get motivated and give you great ideas for your business. When you're looking for a group to join, make sure you're not the smartest one in the room. You want the chance to learn from other people. Also make sure that the group is structured and not just a free-for-all. If you can't find a peer group in your local area, find one online to join.

4. Attend Conferences. Whatever your business, you can always find relevant conferences. Do your homework before you arrive and have good questions prepared for any keynote speakers that interest you. Be sure to talk to them before their presentations instead of after since that's when everyone else will try to corner them and talk to them.

5. Help People Out. If you're serious about connecting with someone whom you greatly admire and whom you believe will be able to help you out, find a way to help them out first. Keep up with their business using Google Alerts. Using the information you get from Google Alerts, think of offers you can make, ways you can help, or services you can provide. This will help them remember who you are and will make them more likely to help you out next time you need something.

6. Surf. The internet is full of great places to connect with others in your business and in your demographic. But remember that it will take some time for you to figure out whose advice to take and whose counsel to seek. So be patient as you weed out those who aren't serious or successful while at the same time finding those who can help you out and hold you accountable for your business. Let your online community help you set goals, and then let them keep you accountable for your goals. Report your successes and failures and use the support you find to your advantage.

7. Keep Your Eyes and Your Mind Open. You are surrounded with people who can give you good advice and good help. You just have to be willing to see those people as resources. When you're in tune with your needs and desires as a small business owner, you'll be surprised by the opportunities that present themselves—some that you didn't even know you were looking for!

Get connected with a community that can support you and help you! You'll be glad you did!