I’ve been meeting up every week with a varied crew of entrepreneurs, solo business owners, writers, creatives, retirees, and every niche in between for 2 years.

(give or take a week here or there when someone else hosted for me or I was away)

2 years.

104 weeks.

208 hours per week.

As you can imagine, I’ve learned a thing or two about hosting live online meetups and working alongside different personalities and work styles. Some things delighted me. Others I didn’t see coming. Here’s how I consistently hit the mark week after week.

How I Got to 100+ Meetups

You might be wondering how I now find myself on the other side of 100 meetups. First, don’t worry, it didn’t happen by force. 😊

As a productivity coach, I’ve hosted accountability meetups, called Action Days for many years. Sometimes they were sporadic group get togethers, and other times, they were very intentional, as a way to help my 1:1 clients get stuff done. These days, I host weekly group sessions.

Action Days are a great way refocus on a project, task, or goal that got a little dusty.

Or to start something completely new that you’re passionate about. Or that someone else is waiting for.

Then somewhere along the way, I realized people need community. Including me! I was still reeling from tech snafus that messed up my course launch and I realized that I needed to be around people who would understand my profound frustration.

I also needed a clear, designated space to work on things. And I knew that if I needed these things, then other people did too.

So two years ago I created the Thrive-Hive with built-in Action Days, Resource Library, and community space. It was my solution for moving projects forward and connecting with other humans.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Here’s what I’ve learned.

6 Things I Learned After 100+ Action Days

I’ve noticed a few distinct patterns and discovered some surprising things. Here are 6 (of many things) I’ve learned now that I have 100 meetups under my belt.

1. People need accountability more than information

Having a ton of information at your fingertips can sound like a goldmine. Sometimes it is.

Often times, not so much. Especially if the “goldmine” just sits there and isn’t used in some way.

That’s when accountability enters the chat.

Having a business bestie who can help you “think through” or “follow through” is not just a feature. It’s essential. Especially on days when your brain says “I don’t wanna.” Motivation doesn’t always show up. And knowledge by itself isn’t enough to get you to the finish line.

Having a dedicated time and place with the right people nudging you along is priceless. That’s the secret sauce.

2. Tiny tasks are important

I used to think that people who came to live Action Day sessions would be really focused on their big, hairy goals. After all, those big projects can be scary.

(hello, procrastination!)

People showed up for the big tasks like writing a chapter of their book or mapping out a new service launch. But, as it turned out, tiny tasks are just as important too. They’re like little gremlins that take up a lot of brain space.

Things like:

• Making phone calls
• Setting appointments (dentist, car service, hair)
• Replying to emails
• Creating lists (to-do, grocery)
• Digital Declutter tasks (like unsubscribing to unwanted emails, tidying up your PC desktop)

Though small, they are like thorns in your side. You know you have to do them, they shouldn’t take much time, but they’re often clustered together and shoved aside for a myriad of reasons.

And when they finally get crossed off, the relief and pride is palpable.

3. Solopreneurs can often be solo in more ways than one

Solopreneurs are the unsung heroes of the business world who wear all the hats.

But after two years of hosting Action Days, I’ve realized “solo” often goes far beyond business.

Solopreneurs make decisions alone.

They celebrate wins alone.

They manage setbacks alone.

I’ve watched people show up to Action Day carrying the weight of difficult client conversations, uncertainty about what to do next, a tech disaster, or the mental strain that comes from making every decision on their own.

(NGL, I’ve experienced all of those myself.)

Some live by themselves.

Others have supportive families, but they don’t really understand what it’s like to build a business on your own.

It can be very isolating.

Sometimes they need advice. A lot of times, they just need other people who understand why it all feels like such a big deal. 💯

That’s one of the unexpected gifts of community. You’re solo, but you’re not alone.

4. People stay for the community

Productivity hacks are great. These shortcuts and workarounds can help us do things that we thought were super hard.

But hacks do not come with built-in accountability. Unless you’re a self-starter or often highly motivated, those hacks can (and often do) sit around collecting dust.

That’s where a community comes in. I’ve noticed that people keep coming back for three main reasons:

1. They have something they really want to get done. Saying it out loud to another human is a very powerful motivator and accelerator.
2. Action Day has become a productivity habit, a weekly ritual they can consistently depend on.
3. They really enjoy the spontaneous conversations and learning moments that come up in between the work.

That last one surprised me a bit.

Sure, everyone comes to get things done. But somewhere between checking off to dos, “hot seats,” and sharing wins, something else happens.

People connect. And not just on a surface level. They become truly invested in each other’s success.

That’s the “cherry on top.” They came for the productivity, but after a while they realized they were also looking forward to seeing each other again.

5. Hot seats are consistently valuable

One of the Action Day add-ons that Thrive-Hivers love is Hot Seat day. This is the day they bring a or challenge or idea they’ve been wrestling with and get feedback and suggestions.

It’s also a day that they get to share a win (tiny or mighty) and shout it from the mountain top for all to hear.

On these days, a Thrive-Hive member gets the full attention of their personal board of directors (everyone on the call). For business owners without a team, this is priceless.

6. Journaling is appreciated in theory more than in practice

Writing things down and doing a brain dump can be hugely cathartic and stop overwhelm from creeping in. I find it to be very helpful.

But for my Thrive-Hive community, not so much. Suffice it to say, they’re not fans. LOL They love the idea of journaling but actually doing it feels like a big ask and doesn’t delight their brains.

(much to my chagrin, of course! LOL)

That level of introspection is a little daunting and can hit too close to home. So journaling days likely won’t be making another appearance over the next 100 days. Maybe I’ll try affirmations instead. 😊

Final Word

I have learned much over the last couple of years. But here’s what I’ve known all along:

Progress isn’t perfect. It isn’t always fast, furious, or linear.

Sometimes it doesn’t look like much. It’s one step at a time. A a little here and a little there. It’s about showing up. And taking consistent, imperfect action. Knowing that you have a crew of business besties at the ready, makes the journey that much sweeter.

Ready to Stop Working Solo?

If you’ve ever wished you had a dedicated time each week to work alongside other entrepreneurs, I’d love to have you join us for an Action Day.

No pressure. No fancy prep.

Just pick something you want to make progress on, bring your coffee, and let’s get to work.

Learn more about Action Days