Hustling is Lonely
Why you should never hustle alone and how to find a buddy
Entrepreneurship is an addiction. If you’re predisposed, you know it because you are never satisfied by doing things on other people’s terms, for other people’s reasons, or on other people’s schedules.
This isn’t very common.
According to The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 10% of Americans are classified as “self-employed.” That means that 90% of the population has no idea what it’s like to be driven to create a business from scratch and maintain it.
For solopreneurs, in particular, this is familiar territory. We’re used to our friends and family having no idea what we do, smiling and nodding when we talk about the trials and tribulations of running a business, and pretty much always doubting that we have a “real job.”
So why do we do it?
For most of us, there is an innate drive to create something uniquely yours, purely driven by our own efforts and abilities. For me, it was also about taking control of my time, work, and life.
So, when you’re entirely driven by building your own thing and making money on your own terms, you have no choice but to make it work.
And most small-business owners are making it work alone. The US Small Business Administration says that 81% of small businesses have no employees.
81% of small businesses are solopreneurs.
Let’s recap.
Entrepreneurs are a small minority compared to traditional workers, and most of them are doing what they do alone.
Loneliness is a big issue for entrepreneurs in general. The Harvard Business Review reports that “half of CEOs report experiencing feelings of loneliness in their role.” And entrepreneurs combine this loneliness with higher levels of stress and worry when compared to other workers, according to A Gallup Poll.
Solopreneurs are dealing with these struggles alone because they don’t have the same work relationships other entrepreneurs have, and their usual support systems (friends, family, etc.) have no idea what they’re going through.
Now, I’ve painted a pretty bleak picture of entrepreneurship. The thing is, it isn’t all loneliness, stress, and worry. I LOVE what I do and would never have it any other way. And I’m not alone. Working for yourself can give you a sense of fulfillment that nothing else can. The same Gallup Poll cited above also found that entrepreneurs are more likely than other workers to report “learning or doing something interesting” and “experiencing enjoyment.”
With that said, entrepreneurs (and solopreneurs specifically) need to intentionally seek out and cultivate meaningful professional connections for two reasons:
It will make work more fulfilling to have someone who “gets you.” We’ve all had the “work spouse” who becomes your closest friend and confidant not just because they’re awesome, but also because they know what you do with the majority of your day. They can speak the same work lingo as you and understand your joys, concerns, and frustrations on a level the other people in your life don’t. Research bears this out with “70% of employees say friends at work is the most crucial element to a happy working life.”
It will make you better at what you do. Entrepreneurs don’t have a manager who helps them set goals, incorporate feedback, and generally get better at what they do. Most entrepreneurs are incredibly self-driven and do a lot of these things on their own, but sometimes it can still be helpful to have an outside peer or mentor, who understands what you do, and can give you an outside perspective on your work.
Before I tell you how to create meaningful connections, let’s define it.
A meaningful connection is a relationship with someone who understands what you do, whose success you genuinely care about (and vice versa), and who has something to offer in terms of experience/expertise.
A meaningful connection is not a relationship you are using to find clients, get work, or make a connection with someone else (AKA someone with a higher status, bigger following, etc.). Is this sometimes a happy byproduct? Yes. But it can’t be your primary motivation.
OK, now that we’re clear on that, here are a few ways to do it:
Networking, but not the terrible kind
I never burn a bridge. Since starting my own business, I have reconnected with so many people including former colleagues, partners, and friends who I haven’t seen for years. I HATE actual networking, which I define as talking to strangers at professional events in an effort to gain something. What I do is reconnect with people I actually like, know, and respect in an effort to make myself better at what I do. Although it took a couple of follow-up emails for some people, I didn’t find anyone who wasn’t willing to connect and everyone I talked to gave the most amazing advice and support. Did some of these connections lead to work? Of course. Several of these amazing people have referred me to clients, brought me in on their projects, and even passed on entire projects to me. Make sure to cultivate your relationships and keep up with your network. You never know when you may need to reach out for advice, a recommendation, or an introduction. Likewise, I never turn down a request for a chat with anyone I know who reaches out to me in an effort to pay it forward.
Social media (I know…bear with me)
I hate social media, but it is a necessary evil for a lot of businesses these days. For a long time, I did not have a social media presence for my business and tried to stay away from it as much as possible. As I’ve built my content business over the last year that has shifted. And while there’s definitely a lot of nonsense, I’ve made some real, meaningful connections in a couple of ways. I belong to a few Facebook groups specifically for different types of entrepreneurs (women, location-specific, niche-specific, etc.). With a few exceptions, I’ve found the people in these groups to be incredibly kind, welcoming, and supportive of each other. I’ve also found a few people through Instagram DMs that have turned out to be incredibly aligned with not only the work I do, but the reasons why I do it. Luck? Perhaps. But it can’t hurt to try.
Memberships, communities, and courses
This has become incredibly popular over the last several years. It seems like everyone and their mom is creating a community whether it revolves around a shared need or arises from participating in a learning experience, like an online course. I’ve been a part of several of these groups recently based on things I was trying to learn or new features I was trying to incorporate into my business (e.g., Amazon book publishing, running mini-workshops, creating social media ads, and even starting a Substack). In every case, I was so surprised by the level of kindness and support that I witnessed from the facilitators and members of these groups. These were especially powerful because everyone was working toward a similar end goal.
Create or join a mastermind
The concept of a “Mastermind” was originally created by Napoleon Hill in 1928. “The Master Mind principle: Two or more people actively engaged in the pursuit of a definite purpose with a positive mental attitude, constitute an unbeatable force.” Today the concept has been popularized by many business gurus. You can join a mastermind of like-minded people if you can find one, or use any of the strategies above to recruit your own members and create one. The group meets regularly to discuss goals and workshop issues together. (I’m always looking for the right people to join my mastermind – you can learn more here.)
Hustlers need to intentionally create connections and combat loneliness so that they can keep building, creating, and doing what they love. Because it’s not just about someone to commiserate with about your crazy client or failed funnel, it is also about having people who can truly celebrate when you land that big contract or conquer your fear of public speaking.
Not yet a hustler?
Check out my Solopreneur Startup Roadmap Course for a step-by-step plan to launch your business in less than an hour. No venture capital, fancy website, or MBA needed.
Already got a hustle, but want to do it smarter?
Apply to join my Solopreneur Collaborative mastermind or consider individual coaching.
© Sarah Duran 2022
Find out more about me and my company, Fruition Initiatives, here.
Image by cyano66 from iStock
The Obvious Disclaimers…
This information is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional advice. What you decide to do with this information is up to you and all repercussions are on you.