Metaverse for Global Entrepreneurs

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Annelize Booysen, Founder of Your Global Village, located in West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Your Global Village is a unique metaverse for Global Entrepreneurs. My customers – we call them residents of the Village – are established businesses that want to do business while making a difference, and they are moving towards the metaverse to do just that. We’ve formed a close-knit community in Your Global Village where we focus on three things: business, impact, and relevance. We’ve created a thriving Village Economy that is 100% fueled by collaborations. Everything that happens in the Village is linked to improving the quality of life of someone else in the world. And, we provide a gentle onramp into the Future of Business to ensure that our residents not only survive but thrive in these rapidly changing times. It’s about remaining relevant so that you’ll still be around five years from now. We see the Village as your personal connection to the Future of Business.

Tell us about yourself

My entrepreneurial journey has been one of slow unfolding rather than a clear pathway from the start. I’ve been fortunate to have lived and worked in 9 countries around the globe, and that has very much shaped my perspective. Your Global Village came about as the result of frustration with current networking practices, an observation about changes in expectations during and after COVID, and an experience. The experience was a visit to a medieval walled city that brought the idea that this is what a community needs to be. I brought all of that together in a metaverse community design that draws on history but builds something for the future.

What keeps me going is the vision that we can reduce the waste of entrepreneurial solo effort. Being a business owner is a lonely journey, and we’re all going through the same frustrations. By bringing entrepreneurs together in an innovative and facilitated way, we tap into the power of the collective that allows people and businesses to grow faster while enjoying the journey far more. And if we can make more businesses successful, they’ll come up with the answers that we need to solve global issues. I’m creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurs to bring the best solutions to life. And in doing so, we’re making a difference, creating impacts, and building legacies to be proud of. That’s something to get up for every morning!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is turning a vague idea into a reality that is making a difference in people’s lives. It is by no means complete, but we’ve established ourselves, and we’re growing. And because we have a clear vision of where we want to go, others are getting interested in joining up with us to complement what they’re doing. That is something to celebrate.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest thing about being a business owner is not to lose faith in your vision and your ability to make it happen. I believe that there are many ideas out there, floating around, waiting for the right person to show up and turn them into something; at times, that can feel like a daunting responsibility. Then it’s good to remind oneself that it’s not about you and that things will look much better in the morning… Managing your mind is the key.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

💡 Start. Anywhere. Even if there is only a shimmer of something to work with, start. Because one thing leads to the next, nothing is in vain. Everything is connected to what was before.

💡 Think big and small. Have a vision that is completely overwhelming. Set that as your North Star. Then bring your gaze down and look at only the next two steps. Keep at it. Two steps at a time. You’ll be amazed at what has unfolded and sprung to life around you over time.

💡 Connect. Connect with those around you. Not meet. Not chat. Not network. Connect. Understand their vision and connect it to yours. Understand their challenges and connect them to solutions. Connect people to other people. That is how a vision comes to life: the dots get connected, and the connections are people who build with you.

My favorite quote is by George Elliot, who said, “It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” Aim for who you might have been, and you’ll achieve huge things on the way.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.yourglobalvillage.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annelizebooysen/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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