“How to grow a Substack” “Board of Health application Barnstable” “Best email subject lines” “How to get a farmer to commit to a Monday market” “How to build audience without being annoying” “Can you run a radio show and a farmers market and a Substack and still sleep”
It looks chaotic. But here’s what it actually means:
I’m stretching.
This week alone I sat in a Chamber member meeting, ran a quality control survey for one of our markets, had a mentor call where I got advice that contradicted last week’s mentor call, and then spent an embarrassing amount of time staring at a screen trying to figure out how a small local business is supposed to connect with its actual customers when there are nine thousand platforms screaming “PICK ME.”
Instagram. Facebook. TikTok. Google Business. Email marketing. Substack. Nextdoor. A guy at a networking event who swears you just need this other networking group.
It’s overwhelming. And I don’t think I’m the only one feeling it.
When you’ve spent years building farmers markets, events, and community radio on Cape Cod, there comes a moment where the megaphone you’ve been using doesn’t reach the people you need to reach next. The town shifts. The tools shift. You shift. And suddenly you’re back in student mode, typing “how do I...” into a search bar like it’s 2009 and you just discovered WordPress.
There’s something humbling about that. Being experienced and still learning. Sitting in those meetings, gathering that data, asking for help; and then coming home to google the rest.
But maybe that’s the point.
Leadership isn’t knowing everything. It’s being willing to figure it out where people can see you doing it.
So yes- I’m new here in some ways. And I’m also exactly where I’m supposed to be.
This is where I’ll be sharing what I’m learning, what’s working, and what’s flopping spectacularly about building community, reaching real customers, and not losing your mind in the process.
And if you’re a local business owner staring at that same screen wondering how to cut through the noise? You don’t have to google it alone.
The Mashpee Chamber of Commerce has 327 businesses in it right now-people who are asking the same questions, sharing what’s actually working, and building real strategies together. Member meetings, mentorship, market access, and honest conversations about what it takes to grow here on the Cape.
Come sit at the table. [Join the Mashpee Chamber →]
-Stephanie 🍋