Posted Under: Networking, Online, Social Media

As an entrepreneur we often feel the proverbial entrepreneurs’ loneliness, believing that no one else understands what we are doing or what we are going through, or shares our vision or has a similar passion for building a business. With all the struggles of finishing a project, making that one more sale, learning new skills, catching up with the pending work, updating ourselves with the industry and so many more items on our “to-do” list, the feeling of loneliness can very easily sink in and limit our vision and efficiency. Unfortunately, this feeling deepens with time and starts devour our creativity, enthusiasm and most importantly our self confidence. So, what do we do about it?

Remember, entrepreneurship is a lifestyle and loneliness is a typical emotion that’s part of this lifestyle. There’s no need to fear loneliness as there are many ways to combat it. For starters, we need to draw a line between business and personal life. How about shutting down the computer and business phone after a certain time every night; spending more time with your kids; going out with friends without a business purpose/ talk. Having said all that let me share my secrets on how I combat this negative feeling:

1. Don’t be a businessman with everyone. For instance, wear the boyfriend (girlfriend) hat when you’re with your girlfriend or wife (boyfriend or husband). With friends, be a friend first and then a businessman. Remember they befriended you and not what you do. Don’t talk only about your business while on dinners, and parties…talk about them too; ask them how have they been, or what’s going on in their lives. Not to say that you shouldn’t talk about your business or keep secrets but understand and respect the fact that not everyone is interested in your business, plus they may not be as excited or share the same vision as you do. The key is, if you don’t talk about it, they will be curious and ask you and then you’ll have the opportunity to talk about your business.

2. Events, Happy Hours, Book Clubs, Professional Associations Alumni Clubs and Sports Activities are great ways to meet more people, some might turn out business contacts, some will become good friends, some just Tennis buddies, and some you’ll never see again…

3. Build networks, join online networking sites like Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter and the likes to make new friends who you wouldn’t have befriended otherwise. Call on these people for advice and opinions. Reciprocate, pay it forward, and build relationships with them.

4. Utilize technology to stay in touch. In the day and age of cell phone, email, instant messengers, Text/SMS, Skype, Vonage and many more FREE communication tools you shouldn’t have any excuses left for not staying in touch. Sending a quick email just to say Hi, mentioning what you’re working on and asking other’s what are they working on and if you can help in anyway, goes a very long way.

5. Take a break, go walk around the block, smile, say Hi to people around. Remember, to make friends, you’ve to be friendly first.

Plus always remember your friends here, visit us often, make more friends, read and write blog posts, comment, ask for help, offer to help… and if that doesn’t work, contact me 🙂