Have you ever done something a little bit outside of your comfort zone? Like the kind of thing that has you rolling into an under-development campground with your stomach in knots as you try to navigate to the water fill station, knowing you’re about to meet a group of people who you’ve only ever talked to online, speak in front of that group (and others), all while juggling your family who is also in tow with you?

That was my experience at this year’s RV Entrepreneur Roundtable — and I’ll tell you, the stomach knots weren’t necessary.

This year’s RV Entrepreneur Roundtable didn’t shape up to be what most business conferences tend to be — a stage with speakers, lights, and booths where vendors sold their wares. This conference was far deeper, more impactful, and longer lasting than anything I’ve experienced in the business building community for three core reasons — the emergence of fresh ideas, the generous networking that took place, and the relentless focus on community.

Fresh Ideas For Business Growth Are So Needed

You don’t need to be told this here on a blog to know — how things have always been done in the business and entrepreneurship world isn’t how things will be done moving forward. The world is a-changin’ and you’re invited to either watch from the rest areas on the side of the road or merge onto this highway that will take you to a new way of doing business.

This year’s RV Entrepreneur Roundtable was ripe with fresh ideas. For me, in particular, I was inspired to:

• Finally, write the damn book I’ve had in my heart for four years (which is officially my 2023 goal)
• Start pitching the press with a few new angles (a goal that’s already in motion and has already landed me on several podcasts, including this one at RV Miles)
• Keep uncovering new ways to add easy revenue streams from the road (look out for a few new things coming soon)

Takeaway: Adding more to your plate isn’t always adding more. While these new ideas might feel heavy at first blush, what you don’t see are the ideas that were cut behind the scenes. Clarifying your direction, fresh ways to make money, and new approaches to business from the road lets you eliminate the areas that won’t work for you and this crazy, beautiful RV lifestyle. What can you eliminate from your idea list that might feel stale, outdated, or just not exciting?

Generous Networking

The term “generous networking” came up during my newfound friend, Heidi Dusek’s talk. Heidi hosts the Ordinary Sherpa podcast, which has quickly become one of my favorite podcasts. She’s all about helping families find adventure (which just so happens to be very similar to my mission over at Cruisin’ + Campfires, so it makes sense we connected instantly).

In her talk, she opened up about generous ways we can come together as entrepreneurs to support one another. Those ways most often don’t have to require opening up your wallet or forking over a bunch of cash. They can be something as simple as:

• Leaving a 5-star review on their podcast to help it get found by others
• Sharing their business with your contacts (kind of like I’m doing here for hers)
• Making introductions to others where it makes sense
• Liking, commenting, and sharing their social media posts with your followers who would be interested

This type of networking is so compelling and, at the same time, so primal. We’re inherently called to come together as a collective rather than live in isolation. While RVing, if you saw someone stranded at the campsite next to you, chances are you’d offer to lend a hand. Why wouldn’t we do the same in the business world and jumpstart each other’s businesses using the vehicles we’ve brought along on the journey?

Takeaway: Who can you leave a review on Amazon or Apple podcasts today? How can you show your support and encouragement for your fellow entrepreneurs just by giving them a public high-five that’ll also help the algorithms see they’re doing good work? It takes five minutes and means the world to the recipient. And, when you approach business through this generous lens, you’ll undoubtedly see the return come back to you.

Community is Everything

The format of this year’s conference changed slightly after I was booked to speak, and I’m so glad it did. Sure, we still had speakers there, but only in the mornings. Afternoons were meant for connection and building community. Together, people at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey sat around and discussed specific topics. Podcasting. List building. Growth (do we *really* want it all?). Blogging. Content creation. Our wins and the hardships that we’ve experienced.

There were tears. There was tons of laughter. And there was a vulnerability I hadn’t expected when I rolled up to the campsite, knots in my stomach and introvert-level anxiety about those new conversations. Unlike what I’d anticipated, the small talk wasn’t there. Deeper connections were formed because of the community that inherently came about through this format.

Takeaway: How can you foster the same approachability with your brand? For me, it’ll be through vulnerability. It’ll be through raw honesty. It’ll be by talking about what’s working and what isn’t. It’ll be through admitting things aren’t what they seem and honoring the ebbs and flows of every entrepreneur’s journey.

I hope you’ll come along with me. Each week, I send out a letter to keep you in momentum and on the path to designing a nomadic life based on simplicity. Put your name on the list and stay connected.