There is a line from my doctoral research that I think about often: “Community is impossible among strangers.” It comes from education scholar Christopher M. Clark, and I quoted it in my study of new teachers learning together.
It sounds obvious. It is also the reason so many online groups, networking events, and “community” apps feel empty. They connect strangers, and then expect community to happen.
Why we learn better together
Researchers call a group of people who share a concern and learn from each other a community of practice. Etienne Wenger and William Snyder described the idea in Harvard Business Review. It needs three things: a shared interest, relationships built on trust, and a practice people improve together.
When you are building something of your own, especially early on, that kind of group is gold. Someone who gets it can talk you through the slow week, celebrate the first sale, and tell you, kindly, that your logo is not the problem.
What I learned from a small study
For my dissertation, four first-year teachers met over one semester to watch and discuss videos of each other’s teaching. It was a small group, so I treat what we found as lessons, not rules. The teachers described feeling less alone, reflecting more, and growing faster together.
At a glance
How strangers become a community
Lessons from a small study on learning together.
A few things made the difference: valuing everyone’s ideas, asking questions instead of lecturing, speaking kindly, and making time for food and fun. That last one was not a side note. It was how strangers became people who trusted each other.
Food, fun, and shared experiences
Trust grows faster when you do something together. A shared meal. A walk through a new neighborhood. A market where everyone notices something different and compares notes afterward.
That is the thinking behind the hosted Thrive Vibes Journeys we are developing: small groups of entrepreneurs exploring together, learning from the businesses they visit, and building real connections along the way. Dogs are welcome on some outings, too, and they are excellent at breaking the ice.
Start small, close to home
You do not need to wait for a formal program. In Phoenix, or wherever you are, invite two or three people who are building something. Pick a spot with good coffee. Bring one question each. Then do it again next month.
The second meet-up is where it starts to become a community.
Apply it
Start your own circle
- Invite two or three people who are building something, too.
- Pick a place with good food or coffee and an easy vibe.
- Bring one question each about your business or idea.
- Explore somewhere together, even a new neighborhood or market.
- Put the next meet-up on the calendar before you leave.
Tip: print this page or take a screenshot of this checklist to use later.
Want a structure for your group? NextReady Studio has a simple 60-minute peer group format. And StrideForward explains how owners and nonprofit leaders build a community of practice around their work.
Explore with people who get it.
Join the list for hosted Journey updates, or plan your own outing with the free DIY planner.
Get Journey updates →Common questions
How can young entrepreneurs find community in Phoenix?
Start small: invite two or three people who are building something, meet somewhere with good food or coffee, and explore a new place together. Meeting again is what turns a group into a community. Thrive Vibes is also developing hosted Journeys for small groups of entrepreneurs.
Why do entrepreneurs learn better in a community?
A community gives you feedback, perspective, and encouragement from people who understand the work. When members trust each other, they share more openly and learn faster.
What does “community is impossible among strangers” mean?
It means community depends on relationships. People need shared experiences and time together before they trust each other enough to learn openly.
Sources and further reading
- Etienne C. Wenger and William M. Snyder, “Communities of Practice: The Organizational Frontier,” Harvard Business Review, January–February 2000
- HBR Staff, “The Power of Peer Groups (and How to Start One),” Harvard Business Review, April 2024
- Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner, “Introduction to communities of practice”
- Gina Warren (now Gina Wilt), doctoral dissertation on a community of practice among first-year special educators, Arizona State University (study conducted fall 2008)