Several years ago, my family went through one of the hardest seasons we’ve ever faced. And it wasn’t just one thing, it was a wave of things. One after another. Several of my immediate family members became seriously ill. Not a cold. Not a typical winter bug. Real, significant, life-altering health concerns that demanded every ounce of our time, attention, money, energy, and prayer.
Because we are a family of faith, we knew, even in the darkest moments, that things would eventually turn around. But that didn’t make the storm any easier to walk through. Each day brought new challenges. New fears. New medical decisions. And a new layer of exhaustion, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
It felt like trying to stay afloat in an ocean that kept tossing bigger waves our direction.
And then something unexpected happened. Something beautiful. Something we didn’t ask for, expect, or even know how to receive at first. A Community began forming around us. Friends checked in. Family stepped closer. People outside our usual circle reached out. Even strangers, who heard about what we were going through, offered help, meals, rides, prayers, and in some cases simply a listening ear when we needed to collapse emotionally for a moment.
It was as if a life preserver had been thrown toward us, and suddenly, we weren’t trying to tread water alone anymore. People held us up when we were too tired to hold ourselves. People
carried burdens we didn’t have the strength to carry. People stood in the gap when our faith, energy, or resolve felt thin.
We didn’t ask. We didn’t organize it. We didn’t coordinate anything. Community simply stepped in and it saved us in ways we didn’t even realize at the time.
When the storm finally began to ease and life slowly returned to something that resembled normal, we emerged changed. Not just healed, but strengthened. Not just recovering, but grateful. And we never forgot the people who stepped into our hardest moments and refused to let us walk through them alone.
To this day, we remain close with every single one of them. And we are forever thankful. That difficult season taught us something we could never have learned otherwise. The value of community isn’t seen in the calm, it’s revealed in the storm.
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!
In our first post, we talked about Directions and that set up Pillar 1, Planning. We discussed why every business needs a blueprint, and then we moved into Pillar 2, Coaching, which gives you the guidance, clarity, and directional support to walk that blueprint with confidence. Those pillars set the foundation. But today we’re stepping into Pillar 3 of the Blueprint Series: Community.
And just like the Planning pillar set the stage for everything that follows, Community becomes the pillar that holds you up when you can’t hold yourself up.
If Planning is the map, and Coaching is the guide, Community is everyone who walks alongside you on the journey. Community is the encouragement when your momentum slows, the accountability when you feel distracted, the wisdom when you feel unsure, and the strength when you feel overwhelmed.
Just like my family didn’t weather that difficult season alone, you are not meant to build a business alone either. And here’s the part most people overlook. Community isn’t optional, it’s essential. Especially in online business, where isolation is one of the biggest dream-killers.
Why Community Matters (and Why It’s Pillar #3)
A strong community can be the difference between giving up and pushing forward. It can make an impossible challenge feel manageable. It can turn confusion into clarity and loneliness into momentum. A community gives you:
- Support When You Feel Stuck – When you hit a wall, your community reminds you you’re not failing, you’re learning.
- Encouragement When You Feel Discouraged – Nobody succeeds alone. Your community helps you push through the “dips” in life.
- Answers When You Don’t Know What to Do Next – Someone else has already faced the problem you’re facing, and they know the way out.
- Accountability When You’re Tempted to Quit – We all drift at times. Community brings you back to center.
- Strength During the “Storm Seasons” – Just like my family experienced, the right people around you can carry you through the toughest times.
But here’s the thing. Communities don’t just always “happen.” There is a structure and a formula to building a business community that actually works. One that helps people grow, stay motivated, and make progress together. The most successful entrepreneurs don’t just “find” community, they intentionally build themselves into one.
As we continue this series, you’ll see how Community works hand-in-hand with Planning and Coaching and how it sets the stage for the next pillar. Because here’s the truth. Planning and Coaching without Community become frustrating. These Pillars with Community become powerful.
This is the only post in the series dedicated entirely to Community because it deserves a full, honest look. Now we have:
- Pillar 1: Planning — your blueprint
- Pillar 2: Coaching — your guide
- Pillar 3: Community — your support, momentum, and strength
Next up, we’ll uncover the fourth and final pillar: Tools. The systems, platforms, and resources that help you build efficiently, professionally, and confidently.
And at the end of this series, just like I’ve been hinting, I’ll be sharing a complete solution in a simple, powerful, easy-to-follow framework that ties all four pillars together. It’s a proven path that has helped so many people start their business without overwhelm and finally move forward with clarity. Trust me you won’t want to miss what’s coming.
When was a time in your life that community held YOU up? Maybe it was during a tough season, a big project, a family moment, or even a simple situation where someone unexpectedly stepped in. Share it below. I’d love to hear your story.
We’re building this together one pillar at a time. And with the right community around you, everything becomes lighter, clearer, and far more possible.
Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” — Helen Keller
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” — Phil Jackson
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
Why did the community garden fail? No one wanted to “turnip” and help.
I told my neighbors we need more unity. Now they all agree that I shouldn’t be in charge of planning anything.
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more. And please continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.
Great post, Ernie! I love the series and the buildup to the end. Engaging and enticing. The IP community, especially in BA and IPA, has been amazing. Without a doubt the most supportive, encouraging and motivating group I’ve ever been in. And we are all in the same business online, but we don’t tear each other down, we encourage and build each other up, celebrating their successes. Blogs like yours motivate me to do better 🙂
Hi Jordan – Thank you so much! That means more than you know. I couldn’t agree with you more about the BA and IPA communities, they’re living proof of what happens when people choose collaboration over competition. None of us are trying to outrun each other, we’re just trying to run with each other, and that’s rare. I’m grateful this series encourages you, because voices like yours do the same for me. We really are better when we build each other up.
The answer to every stage of life is community. It could be that as we get older, we value it more, but at the heart of these, caring, empathetic people who hold out a helping hand is love.
I have enjoyed watching the community here at IP grow and become more of a cohesive whole. Our little mastermind group has become an important part of our journey as solo entrepreneurs. We hold each other accountable. And if we have questions, we always ask. One of the things Dean Holland emphasizes is to ask for help. Asking for help is at the core foundation of any support group like Alcoholics Anonymous etc.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Hi Kate – Well said! Community really is the common thread that carries us through every season, and you’re right, the older we get, the more we recognize its depth and necessity. Watching the IP community grow into a place of genuine encouragement has been one of the best parts of this journey. Dean is spot-on. Asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. Grateful to be building alongside people who truly get that.
Thanks for sharing your family’s story, Ernie. The way you connected that difficult season to building an online business really drives home the point. I’ve been working solo for too long and definitely feel that isolation you mentioned. Your point about community not just happening but needing to be intentionally built is something I am grateful we have. Looking forward to seeing how the Tools pillar ties everything together. Also, those dad jokes made me groan in the best way possible!
Hi Atif – Thank you! It means a lot that the connection landed. Isolation sneaks up on all of us when we build alone, and I don’t think we realize how heavy it feels until we finally step into real community. I’m glad you’re part of one now. It does make the journey lighter and more sustainable. And yes, the Tools pillar really does tie everything together. I can’t wait to share it. As for the Dad jokes, groans are the highest form of approval in my world, so mission accomplished!
Hi Ernie,
This truly resonates with me. My army upbringing and career has shown me that anything is possible with that kind of support.
I look back at the years I tried working this “online thing” alone and it’s only in the past few years that, with Dean and his team, I was able to find a community of like-minded people who are there to help, listen and more importantly, want your success. Great post!
Hi Marc – Thank you! That means a lot. Your army perspective speaks volumes, because you’ve seen firsthand how much strength, resilience, and possibility comes from people who have your back. Like you, I spent a long time trying to “figure it out alone,” and it wasn’t until I found a community that progress really started to feel possible. Dean and his team have built something rare, a space where people genuinely want others to win. I’m grateful we get to be part of it together. Have a wonderful wee
Hey Ernie! I’ve always been someone who tries to do everything on my own, so asking for help has never come naturally. In the beginning, it was especially hard because I hated feeling like I might look stupid in front of others, so I put it off for a long time, but over time, as I’ve gotten to know the people in my community and grown alongside them, it’s become so much easier to reach out.
Community is so important, and you explained it perfectly. I’m excited to check in on others who are going through similar challenges and to offer support wherever I can. Being part of that kind of give-and-take makes everything feel lighter and more possible. Thanks, Ernie!
Hi Meredith – I appreciate you sharing this so much. You’re definitely not alone in that feeling. Many of us were wired to “figure it out ourselves” and avoid looking like we don’t know something. It takes real courage to unlearn that and step into a place where receiving help, and offering it, feels natural. I love what you said about community making things lighter and more possible. That’s exactly it! The give-and-take is where the transformation happens. I’m really glad you’re leaning into that now, and even more excited to see how you show up for others along the way. Thanks for being part of this journey with us. Voices like yours strengthen the whole community.
Hi Ernie,
That’s an amazing post! I can really relate to the importance of community, however, I would rather have a very small community of people I trust. My family and I were let down by most of our community when we needed them most. It’s part of the reason it was so hard to trust getting help for business. Even now, I tend to not fully engage in communities, but I’m a work in progress 🙂
Thanks for you post, it really gives me something to think about, hopefully engaging more in community.
Hi Denny – Thank you for sharing that and I really appreciate your honesty. When you’ve been let down by the people who were supposed to show up, it absolutely shapes how you view community and trust going forward. Wanting a small circle of people you truly trust makes perfect sense. I’m glad you’re giving yourself permission to engage at your pace. That alone is progress. The great thing is that the right community doesn’t push you, it meets you where you are and grows with you. I’m honored this post gave you something to reflect on, and I hope you continue finding spaces where you feel safe, supported, and valued.”