Welcome back to The Community Strategy Podcast! In this episode, you’ll hear the second half of a recording of an event in March of 2024 inside Community Builders with Purpose, an online membership for community builders. 

During the session, Brian Helfman, the host of Third Nature, an online and in-person community, helped thousands of people cultivate clarity, creativity, and connection while having more fun. In addition to the community, Brian has consulted with organizations to help them build more connections and cultivate a sense of community. 

In the second part of this discussion, Brian talks about how he built a team and continues to redefine terms of what he does. 

Still feeling like a solo entrepreneur, Brian’s team is project- and deadline-driven, with a clear start and end date and time to reevaluate the project. When building a membership, Brian selected Circle, an online community platform that is flexible for 

For Brian, an online membership isn’t a good fit. In the interview, he shared that the seasonality of timed programs works better for him and his team. It takes the pressure off “having to provide or generate value,” Brian said. 

Workshops led by community members lead to connections and growth because the members are relatable. His success is uncertain, and his workshop is a vehicle to learn. 

The “free time” is where the magic happens. 

“Nudging people in the right direction and creating conditions for authentic connection and fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment to feel fully self-expressed,” Brian said. 

The community plans to continue focusing on in-person experiences, however. There are enough people who will always crave in-person experiences. From Brian’s experience, the connection is cultivated more deeply when in person, but the online connection is really important. 

Third, Nature values accessibility. Before attendees sign up and commit to the summer camp, many potential participants join conscious conversations to get a taste of what is possible. 

Multiple income streams allow many community builders, including Brian, to gain momentum and attract more members. 

Go to www.third-nature.com for more about all of the experiences that Brian described in this episode. 

Click here to join Community Builders with Purpose. 

Send comments or questions to [email protected].