Let’s all admit something: Starting a business is hard. Guest blogger Julie Nelson gets it.

We all become entrepreneurs because we have a spark of an idea or are passionate about serving others with our gifts and talents. That excitement fuels us in the beginning, propelling us forward, giving us the motivation to put in long hours and work hard in order to build our dream.

But what’s the secret to success?

When I meet with clients, I try to give them all the information I possibly can. I tell them all the tactics I’ve tried, the tips and tricks I’ve learned, and the tools I use to run my business.

So why not share with all of you?

I try to be as open and honest with the behind-the-scenes of my business as I can with all of you. So here’s a list of my must-have business tools (and why they’re the ones I turn to time and time again).

When I first started coaching, I never anticipated the amount of people who would compare what I did to a friend they have, or a relationship they’ve cultivated. And I often hear the question: “Is it like that?”

So let’s clear things up once and for all.

What is the number one thing most entrepreneurs want?

More business.

More clients/customers/products out the door/money in their pockets. More, more, more.

So we market ourselves. We create blog posts and podcasts, we advertise our services and post our products on social media. We use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube to reach our audience. We optimize our websites for search engines and we attend networking events like it’s nobody’s business. We send off cold call emails and we ask for referrals, go live on social media, sponsor events, and host giveaways. And we send newsletters.

One of the things we struggle the most with as humans is finding that person-to-person connection with others. Whether it’s finding a close friend group to support you, fellow colleagues and professionals to commiserate with, or a family to help us on our journey, relationships are at the heart and soul of any true balanced life.

So how do we find that community when we need it the most? Sometimes it feels so elusive, like everyone around it has one except for us. But here are the top tricks for finding your perfect community.

When starting a business, there are often a slew of things you want to figure out right away: business plan, pricing structure, website, products and/or services, etc. And generally, this are all things that people can figure out on their own, whether they have a background in business and marketing or not.

But the one area that I see people get stuck time and time again is in acquiring clients and customers. Where do I advertise? Do I advertise? What social media platforms should I use? How do I promote myself? Where should I market?

Marketing, mindset, empowerment, community, self care, business planning, goal setting, time management, burnout, imposter syndrome — these are just a few of the topics I cover in this blog, and with my clients.

But the one thing I find most entrepreneurs are curious about is which of these are the most common. It’s a question I get asked time and time again: “What do most people who work with you focus on?”