Business Confessions: Loneliness Is Real

Being in business is like an exciting roller-coaster ride where you’re not sure if you’ll throw up but you’re having too much fun to care.

We love the thrill, the wins and even the losses. But what no one tells you, is that being in business is lonely as fuck.

We’ve all been at the dinner table with [insert your person] and they casually ask how your business is going. Instantly, you start talking about your sales funnel and compare it to your email funnel which is awesome because it’s now hooked up to your website and how much instagram is better than Facebook for some of your target market…

Then you look over and you see their eyes glazed over.

Or

“Hmm, that sounds… nice… Please pass the salt.”

Or, my fave

“Well if it doesn’t work, you can always get a job…”

As business owners, we often feel like we can’t speak to anyone about our ups and downs. Especially, the downs. Because in our minds - who wants to do business with someone who doesn’t have their shit together?!

So we keep all the self doubt, all the stress and all of the questions inside. Until we catch ourselves hyperventilating in the office, thankful that there’s no one walking by the glass door and hoping the blurred vision goes away so you can get back to… working.

And to top it off - loneliness could be killing us… At least that’s what researchers from the University of North Carolina are saying. So what now? Should we resign ourselves to being alone?

What can we do to combat loneliness while building a badass business?

1. Coworking

Going to a place, even part-time, where other remote workers and business owners are getting shit done isn’t just for productivity. You network with other like-minded hustlers. You can brainstorm ideas for blog posts, newsletters and collaborations. You can even find awesome business buddies that will tell you that they have also been hyperventilating and just trying to get through the quarter.

2. Organizations

I know. You don’t have time to do the actual work, let alone join ANOTHER group but here’s the thing - the right events help get you out of the house/office/pajamas and see the real world. They require you to look decent (and showered). You meet new people and get to breath in some fresh business air. Still in your side-gig? Go to the evening events. Join a group where people make you feel welcomed and appreciated. Have a bit more time? Offer to help set up for events and make friends with the host. Look at local chambers, business groups and even meetups.

3. Journal (aka VENT)

Journaling is one of the things that feels like it would be a good idea but we never do it because, we’ve got more important things to do… So don’t journal. Instead, VENT. Have something (preferably hidden and private) that you can write all the complaints down in. The annoying client? Your spouse not being supportive? Those days where you feel like kids stopping you from achieving your ultimate greatness and you just want to swear at them but can’t?! Write that shit down. Worried someone will find it? Perfect… Burn. That. Shit. I don’t believe in “clearing the energy” by burning the complaints but hell, it sure helps avoid people finding them plus you feel better after writing it all down.

4. Talk

Really feeling down in the dumps? Don’t go through the motions. Find someone to talk to. Whether it’s a business coach, a sibling, the old lady at the bus stop, pretty much anyone that you trust and who knows how to listen. Sometimes you don’t need a pep talk or support with strategy. You just need to talk to someone and that’s a total boss thing to do.

Loneliness when you’re starting a business shouldn’t be a thing.

Find your tribe. Get together with people in the same boat as you. Find someone to talk to. Write your complaints and then burn them. Whatever you do to combat loneliness know that you’re actually not alone. That the girl sitting next to you at Starbucks, head-down in their laptop with a hoodie that says #girlboss is probably just as lonely. Or that your office neighbor is also feeling like their drowning and can barely catch a breathe.

Loneliness and entrepreneurship is a real thing, and, the less we talk about it, the lonelier we are.

At what point in your business did you realize you were feeling lonely and what did you do to combat it?