“Having the right six or seven people saying, ‘I get what you’re building, I believe in you,’ is worth more than any amount of money!” 

We’re very excited to kick off The Joy of Connecting show by welcoming Eric Harrison, founder of Thrive—a community tailored exclusively for bootstrapped entrepreneurs.

Matcha’s CEO & Co-Founder Melissa Moody sits down with Eric to chat about how fostering meaningful connections in your community supports business growth and mental well-being. Eric shares his journey of founding Thrive, his experience with early struggles in business, and the pivotal moments of connection that shaped his entrepreneurial path.

He also discusses the importance of being vulnerable and honest in networking, offering a practical story about how a single meeting propelled him to new business relationships and opportunities. Tune in for his advice on making genuine connections and thoughts on hyper-local networking and intentional community-building.

In this episode, we cover:

• Eric’s experience of bootstrapping his first business and lessons learned along the way
• Why building a community for entrepreneurs can be a game-changer for mental health and startup success
• Practical networking tips to build strong, genuine connections in person and on LinkedIn
• The power of vulnerability and honesty in finding support and mentorship
• How Thrive’s community empowers founders to grow businesses from scratch without venture capital

Whether you're a solopreneur, small startup founder, entrepreneur, or a full-time hired professional looking to grow, this episode will inspire you to rethink your networking strategy and the role of connection in your success. Who’s in your corner, and how could they help you grow?

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🍵 Find Eric on LinkedIn.

🍵 Learn more about Thrive, a community for bootstrapped entrepreneurs.

🍵 And get bi-weekly, actionable tips for building your network and connecting with meaning.

Links from the episode: 

• Philly Startup Leaders - a startup-focused community in Philadelphia: https://www.phillystartupleaders.org/
• Hustle and Grow - a curated, intimate networking group in Philadelphia: https://www.hustleandgrowpa.com/
• Notice Media - agency specializing in LinkedIn ghostwriting: https://noticemedia.xyz/
• Haven - Accounting and tax software company: https://www.usehaven.com/
• Eric Harrison https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericsharrison/
• Dan Ritterman https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritterman/
• Stephen Cassano https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-cassano-5a657720
• Josh Cons https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-cons-453993204/
• Michael Brod https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-brod/

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