Have you ever moved to a new city, a new school, a new job, and had no good friends, with no one to turn to? For the women, have you ever felt that when trying to make girlfriends, that you’ll just be judged in the process? Women are hard to approach, and to make girlfriends you have to spark conversation with a stranger and start from scratch. Now there is a website that can help you in the process of making good girlfriends. GirlFriendCircles is a website to introduce women and inspire relationships. Chic Galleria got an interview with creator Shasta Nelson:

Where did the concept for Girlfriendcircles.com come from?

From several moves for jobs, working from home, and a divorce– I know from personal experience that even those among us who are extroverted, social and friendly still can have an incredibly difficult time starting over when it comes to making new friends.  I just kept hearing, from amazing women, that they felt like everyone else had good local friends except them. And when one woman said “I could line up three dates on match.com next week but far be it from me to know how to start friend dating,” I knew that we could make the process a wee bit easier!

How does Girlfriendcircles.com meet the connection and social needs of women?

GirlFriendCircles.com matches women from ages 21-65 in small groups in their age range to other local women who value new friends.  We introduce women to potential friends in 35 cities through these ConnectingCircles in neighborhood cafes.  Members can also search our databases to find friends, set up classifieds to request specific friends, or post events of their own on our calendar for other women to attend.  Because of my coaching background I also provide a lot of structure, inspiration, and guidance through blogging, videos, and other resources to help ensure healthy expectations as we engage in new friendships.

What advice would you give a person considering starting their own business?

I recently heard that it takes about 1,000 days for an idea to take hold.  My advice would be to make sure that anyone starting something is ready to really care about this for long enough to let it bloom.  You can have the best idea in the world but it still takes time for the word to get out, for you to work out the kinks, and to build a brand you’re proud to stand by. And during those one thousand days– try to spend as much of your time doing the part of the business you enjoy the most!

What do you have in mind for the future of Girlfriendcircles.com?

I’m about to sign a book deal on female friendships so I will be working hard on that in the upcoming months, in addition to a few other projects I have dancing in my head. Part of my work around women’s friendships has to do with our personal growth too. That we show up with more courage, power, compassion, and creativity when we have healthy self respect and meaningful support systems. The two– personal growth and relational health– are intrinsically connected.  I have a lot of contributions I still want to make in helping us women feel our own worth and power, which includes learning how to cheer for each other and support other women at higher levels that we are currently offering! I’ll keep you posted!

Insight on who Shasta Nelson is?

What a fabulously worded question! Shasta Nelson, on a professional side is a pastor (M.Div.), life coach/relationship strategist, and Founder/CEO of GirlFriendCircles.com a women’s friendship matching site. Beyond the bio blurb, I am a woman who can be very spirited and playful, and also very deep and intuitive.  Words that come up often around me include: productive, soulful, wise, energetic, contagious, catalyst, motivator, grateful.

So if you are making a big move or transition in your life, or you just need friends, GirlFriendCircles is just the place for you. Congratulations to Shasta for being a wonderful, strong woman, that helps other women.