Being an entrepreneur can feel lonely sometimes, especially when you’re just starting and haven’t established the rhythms of the day and found a supportive community to hang out with. And if you’re a passionate on-line business owner, sometimes you may find yourself working for days on end without interacting much with others in person. Does it ring true for you? If yes, read on because the below five tips will help you overcome such feelings.
Network online and in-person
Social media and networking in person allow you not only to find potential clients but also to create real relationships. If you take the time to develop them, they can flourish and result in regular connections and friendships. And here is what you can do to grow them.
Online
First, there are many existing communities to choose from: Facebook, LinkedIn, or other platforms. You can join several of them at first and then pick a few that fit your interests, personality, and where the atmosphere is appealing to you.
As a matter of fact, you can start here by checking out my online community of fantastic women entrepreneurs: Businesswomen with Passion 4 Life. In there, we learn together, support each other, and have fun! Click here to join, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
In-person
Secondly, nothing replaces a live human to human connection. That’s why networking and meeting people in person should be part of your community-building exercise, even if you’re an introvert. You can dose the frequency of such meetups to ensure you don’t get overwhelmed. All I can say is that from my experience, in the beginning, networking was hard for me. However, after meeting some amazing women this way, I also discovered how fun it could be. After all, most entrepreneurs are on the same boat: passionate humans wanting to make the world a better place through their business.
And in case you’ve been avoiding going to networking events because you don’t know how to start a meaningful conversation (I hate small talk too!), I prepared a free resource that can help you with that: 50 Questions to Start Meaningful Conversations. So now, it’s on you to take the first step, download it here and then go out there and talk o people :0).
Collaborate
Once you know some fellow entrepreneurs and create a supportive community around you, then start collaborating. Do you have a podcast and would like to interview a guest? Or maybe you are a techy person but need help with marketing? These are just a couple of a multitude of ideas on how you can collaborate.
Collaboration is another way of learning from others, helping each other, and at the same time, beating loneliness while having lots of fun. Personally, I love collaboration: online and in person. For example, in the Businesswomen with Passion 4 Life Group, every other week, I interview one of the Members. During this time, they share their genius zone with the rest of the ladies. It’s a win-win. The group members learn new things that help them in the businesses for free, and the interviewee gets an exposure of their business to the potential ideal client. So far this way, we’ve learned a lot about anything business (marketing, content creation, automation), high-performance habits (planning, prioritizing, routines), and health (nutrition, exercise, meditation).
I have also collaborated in my business in person. One of the most exciting projects I’m preparing for this year is a collaboration with a photographer. We’re planning a fantastic one-day local event for women entrepreneurs where they’ll be able to design their business success for 2021, have new branding pictures taken, and receive many more amazing surprises. It will be a business workshop with a feel of a retreat. And all of this is possible because of collaboration 😊.
Co-work
Another effective way to deal with loneliness is co-working. It’s because when you get out of the house from time to time and work amongst other human beings, you feel connected. You can have a quick convo when you take a break, exchange some laughs, and better yet ideas about business. Especially if your business is 100% online. Whether you just set up a working date at a café or library with a fellow friend entrepreneur or rent a spot at a coworking space for a day, seeing other people and having a coffee chat will lighten up your day. Moreover, I bet you’ll learn something new or even come up with a breakthrough idea for your business.
Have a self-care routine
I cannot stress enough how important this point is. And even though I’m not an expert in health and wellness, I talk from experience. When you create great habits around your health such as nutrition, regular exercise (it can be as easy as a walk outside), time to rest and relax, not only will your body benefit but the whole you: your mind and soul as well. The vital thing many entrepreneurs don’t realize is that you are the greatest asset in your business. And if you don’t take care of you, there will be no business. In case you’re reading this and realizing that maybe you need help in this department, I know some fantastic coaches that I will happily refer to you 😊. They are all amazing, and their support creates well-being wonders for those whom they help.
Talk to your business mentor
If you have a business mentor or a coach, talk to them whenever you feel lonely. Most likely, they have been in the same situation and overcame it. I have no doubt they will give you lots of great advice. Not to mention the fact that they know you well and will be able to provide you with tips that will work specifically in your situation. It’s one of the many reasons why having a great fit with your business coach is so important. When you have it, not only do they help you grow your business much faster but also overcome other challenges that go with entrepreneurship (such as loneliness). They are your guide allowing you to navigate the labyrinth of entrepreneurship with much more expertise and efficiency.
And if you haven’t found a business coach yet and are thinking of hiring one, let’s chat and see if we would be a great fit for each other. Click here to set up a free discovery call with me.
“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
All in all, as humans, we weren’t designed to live alone. We thrive amongst others, even if as introverts those “others” for us means just a handful of people. Together we can uplift each other, motivate each other, and help each other. So whenever you feel lonely, don’t hesitate to raise your hand and ask for help. I’m sure there will be many of us in your circle ready to lift you up.
