Building Confidence through Collaboration and Community Ft. Pocono Table Company

 

“The mentorship program is a group of people from all kinds of backgrounds. It was a unique group. There were a couple of woodworkers, solo milling, and forestry businesses, so there was different knowledge within the group. We all had our struggles that we would tell each other, and maybe the other person might have a tip, trick, or insight on how to combat that. 

 

Of course, you were there to give your advice and your knowledge about pretty much everything marketing and branding because that’s what we were all there for. To be able to learn how to grow and expand businesses within this digital era.”

 

• James Matthius

 

 

Cultivating Confidence and Building your Brand

 

The other people in the mentorship group were struggling with the same challenges that James was experiencing. He explains that it was a very confidence-boosting experience to interact with people in the industry, learn what they know, and develop relationships with them. 

 

“It might sound weird, but it boosted my confidence a lot. To be able to take on what problems I have and just crush them. I’m still slowly applying the techniques because I struggle with Facebook, and I struggle with all that still, but I’m taking those techniques and applying them. 

 

You developed a worksheet for me, and I’m starting to do it, and I’m getting results. As I get results, I get pumped up! I just started a Facebook group, so hopefully, that gets some traction going. I still have to figure that out. But I want to build a community around myself and my brand.”

 

• James Matthius

 

One of the fundamental concepts that Steve teaches through the mentorship program is the idea of building a community around your business and your brand. That involves engaging and connecting with people while creating meaningful interactions that provide benefit and value to both parties.

 

 

Just Jump Into It

 

If you find yourself sitting on the fence, uncertain about whether or not you should opt for the mentorship program, James advises just to do it. 

 

“Honestly, if you’re unsure, and you’re already thinking about it, just do it. The more you think about it, you’re only hurting yourself. You’re a great guy to talk to, and I can see this as a friendship, actually.

 

It’s not just, “okay, he took my money, he told me this, and then that was it.” I feel like we’ve built a relationship, and I could reach out to you if I’m ever unsure of something, and you’d be there to help me along. If you don’t know what you’re doing, hire a professional.”

 

• James Matthius

 

 

Building Something that Lasts Beyond You

 

“I feel the same way. I feel like we’re both invested in each other’s success. You support me, and I support you. You do great work, and we text back and forth, and that’s honestly one of the things that I hope for is to build a community. 

 

I’ve been an entrepreneur for a long time, and I really love what I do. I just love encouraging other people to be entrepreneurs, which is why the Woodpreneur community exists. It’s like, let’s get paid to do what you love all the time and get paid well for it. Period. Build a legacy, build something that lasts beyond you. 

 

Lately, my big motivator has been a couple of things, but one is what my father-in-law told me. “You died two times in your life. The first time is when you physically die. The second time is when your people stop saying your name.” We were saying that regarding my wife’s grandfather, who was the patriarch of the family. He was an entrepreneur, an author, a woodworker, and a tree farmer. In that time, he made beautiful pieces of wood, and he was in his 80s still building stuff.

 

He has a lot of grandkids, and he has a lot of great-grandkids, and everybody has his furniture. His legacy lives on in his pieces forever. My wife just refinished a dresser that her grandfather made to give to my daughter. My kids sleep on a bed made by their grandfather but planted by their great grandfather 40 years ago. 

 

That’s the legacy that the Woodpreneur community and everything we just talked about is about. You want to pass on something to your kids and your grandkids. You want to build something that lasts, and that is only really possible with wood.”

 

• Steve Larosiliere