"The Lunch Table"

D you remember the awkward lunch table situation that you went through when you were the new kid? You probably saw someone you recognized from first period at each picnic style table but that was no consolation. So which table did you go to? The one you were invited to of course! The greatest way to get people involved is to invite them in and make them feel welcome.

Our family and friends have 99 other stresses and asking you about yours is probably not one. Instead of waiting on them to ask about your new ventures or show up to your openings, invite them. Don't send a mass text or an email with a lengthy list of CC's (at least BCC them) but call them, write a personalized text or send a facebook message and say I want YOU there. Since you've started your entrepreneurial endeavors you may have been absent from family movie night or Sunday service or Friday night with friends outings. While you've been "busy" in the past few months, your family and friends have grown to miss you and simultaneously resent what you do. They want their friend back and you want your endeavors to succeed so merge those two aims together. Invite them to a networking soiree or a product testing party or even ask their opinion on some of your ideas. Instead of sitting alone at your entrepreneurship table, invite your friends and family to fellowship with you.

While inviting your loved ones to take part in your entrepreneurship journey may warm them up to the new you, inviting them and putting them to work are two different things. While monetary, floor-mopping, hair pressing, flyer passing support would be great , try easing them in with low to no pressure engagements. Think about how you feel when you are in a store and a salesman comes up to you about buying something. You automatically do not want to buy anything because the pressure can turn you off. Our friends and family may respond easier to an invite that sounds like "I just wanted you to come see what I have going on" rather than "I need you to buy something tonight." If you invite your friend to a business soiree at your house and she is washing champagne glasses before the event, you have not invited her, you have hired her. Inviting is key but be careful that you are clear about their role.

Your family and friends want to support you not work for you or be estranged cousins since your "entrepreneurship thing." It's like that whole crush phenomenon where both people pine about eachother to their friends and want to ask the other on a date but never do it because they are scared of rejection. Your loved ones may want to get involved but are scared of the entrepreneurship train that has carried away their friend or family member. Take the first step and pick up the phone and invite them over to your lunch table and I'm sure they will appreciate the offer.