You’ve read them all before: the how-to books and magazine articles telling you that staying afloat in the current marketplace takes tremendous effort. That it takes visibility and connections. How do you do that when your budget is limited? Or nonexistent?

Take Kim Silvers, for example.

Silvers worked in the corporate human resources world for more than 20 years before she decided to go into business for herself. Tired of office politics, long meetings and stuffy clothes, she cashed out her stock options and went on a self-described sabbatical for a year, working on building her new home in the meantime.

Risky as it was, and especially is during tough economic times, she wouldn’t trade it for anything. “There are only two things I missed about being in the corporate world when I first left: my group health insurance and the IT department,” she confesses. “I love the energy that comes with working for yourself. I still work long hours, but now there’s a direct relationship between the number of hours I work and how successful I am.”

Silvers runs a human resources (HR) outsourcing company called—yep, you guessed it—Silvers HR Management. They specialize in evaluating HR programs in small- to medium-sized companies in California, offering confidential and practical employment expertise. This can range anywhere from recommending benefit packages to helping to meet state standards. In their 9th year in business, the company works with over 100 businesses statewide.

Of course, there were challenges in the beginning. “Learning to balance all the responsibilities was tough,” she admits. “You have to focus on working in your business while working on your business at the same time.” But several years ago, a colleague encouraged her to join the Sacramento Valley Chapter of NAWBO, the National Association of Women Business Owners. “I read an article in the Bee about her; she had just won an OWL [Outstanding Women Leaders] Award so I called her and picked her brain about what she had done to win an award,” she explains. “She ended up sharing her struggles and the different ways she dealt with them. I got a lot of useful advice.”

Therein lies the mission behind the organization: providing resources that help give women owners a leg up. NAWBO’s philosophy is education-based, not lead-based. Typical “networking” can sometimes translate into long luncheons and business-card exchanges with leads that never come to fruition. NAWBO’s goal is to foster relationships that create a support community: women fighting their fights together, celebrating successes and growing businesses.

Silvers joined NAWBO in 2002, and by 2006 she’d won the Wise Woman Award (more commonly known as the Business Woman of the Year). While she didn’t need to be a member to be nominated or win the award, she’d made enough connections through the organization to get her noticed. “I was stunned that I’d been nominated,” she says humbly, “and floored when I won the award.” The fact that reputable business-women in the community had deemed her worthy of the award was beyond flattering to Silvers. “Here was this wonderful nomination and award from my peers, which felt great, but on top of that these women had so many years of experience. It just meant a lot.”

Since 2006, Silvers reveals that the award has boosted her business and opened many doors. Additionally, there is an added credibility that she’s gained. “I have frequent speaking engagements where inevitably, the award is mentioned. People raise their eyebrows.” She explains that people are impressed both by the award and by the organization behind it. “Clients are reassured that I know more than just HR because of the organization—it gives me a broader scope of credibility.”

And, of course, it’s boosted her confidence. “I take more risks that I used to,” she laughs.

Having experienced firsthand the benefits of membership, Silvers is a fierce advocate of the group. She recently started a “mastermind” group that meets monthly. Business owners present their own company issues to the group in a confidential setting, and everyone discusses potential solutions. She also nominates colleagues for awards often. “I think I’ve nominated more people than anyone else,” she jokes. And while NAWBO doesn’t reveal the nominators to nominees, Silvers is happy to let her nominees know that she is behind the nomination. “Of course I want them to feel good about the nomination, but I also want to show them how I feel about them.” These days, she finds herself becoming the mentor to younger women that she found in her peers when she first joined.

Like anything worthwhile, NAWBO isn’t an organization you just want to show up for; you need to get involved. “You can’t just go to the dinner and expect to get much out,” Silvers explains. “By nature, we women tend to try to do things ourselves,” she says, “but this is an opportunity to really get value out of available resources and gain exposure at the same time. And sometimes, it gives you a chance to just let your hair down among professionals.” A far cry from stuffy clothes, indeed.

Editorial note:
NAWBO’s 12th Annual Owl Awards are October 15, 2009.