3 Solutions to Feeling Connected & Confident as a Solopreneur

Let’s face it - working from home can be quite lonely. No matter the industry, entrepreneurs can feel lonely, overwhelmed and stressed, especially when they’re running a business of one. I remember that isolated feeling back when I ran my own consulting business before joining Travel Planners International full time. (Yes, even social butterflies can get lonely.) While some people believe in hiding this issue, I think it’s something we need to address head-on. Consider these two facts:

• - According to a 2018 Forbes article, isolation is one the biggest challenges faced by business owners. Almost 30% of respondents considered loneliness a “big issue”.
• - Research shows the loneliness can “vastly elevate” a person’s risk of heart disease, cancer, or stroke.

Loneliness is a real thing. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are three simple things you should consider in order to banish the loneliness and start feeling more connected and confident in your entrepreneurial journey. Let’s jump right in!

1. Find Your Space

Get out of the house if you can! Finding your own space will really help you build your confidence as a business owner. Take advantage of co-op work spaces. These are shared spaces that various entrepreneurs and business owners can work out of when there’s no physical office (yet). You don’t have to use this full time. This is a great option for meeting with clients. Co-op work spaces are very trendy so it’s very easy to find one in any major city.

Another option is to strategically share a space with an existing business that is related to your field. For example, I know of a travel advisor that rents an office out of a local credit union. It turned out to be a great value-add for the credit union members and an incredible lead generator for her.

2. Meet Outside the Bubble

You have to go outside your bubble to find your confidence as a business owner. Here’s four bubbles you should break out of:

• Industry: Going to the same industry events and meetups can get boring and can exasperate your loneliness. Break out by joining an outside organization. You never know who you’ll meet this way.
• Facebook Friends: Stop lurking your feed and transform your social media into a useful tool instead. Start by joining Facebook groups for your community, town, or state. Focus on building relationships and the leads will find you. (Note: Don’t get involved if your only purpose is to advertise your business. Most Facebook groups ban those types of posts.)
• Community: There’s nothing wrong with wearing your own merch while visiting your local farmer’s market or state fair. But I dare you to go beyond that. Get involved with an aspect of the community that you’re passionate about. This could be a local charity, running club or neighborhood watch program. Build rapport with those around you. It’s an effortless way to stay connected and, eventually, promote your own business.
• Boost Your Insides: Go outside! Set time aside in your schedule for a yoga class, going for a run, or even a tennis lesson. It’s crucial you do something that’ll boost your insides. I meet entrepreneurs, myself included, that don’t schedule time for their health. It’s always the first thing to go! Research shows that even just a 15 minute walk outside is enough to reset our mood and help combat stress.

3. Partner with a Host Agency!

I meet travel agency owners all the time that brag about being “independent”. They’re proud to be alone - no agency, no host, no consortia. My question to them is always, “why?”. If you’re not with a host agency, find one that understands your entrepreneurial spirit and your challenges as a small business owner. Partner with someone that respects the hard work you do, day in and day out, and offers amazing resources that will only make your life easier. It doesn’t even have to be TPI (although, our 4,000 happy agent Rockstars would say otherwise).

Wait, There’s More

I actually have three more solutions on how to combat loneliness as an entrepreneur. To find out the rest, listen to a webinar I did in September. Not only will you get three extra tips, but I go more in-depth on my previous points. You can listen to the webinar by clicking here.

How do you stay confident as a business of one? Share your tips in the comment section below!

About the Author

Jenn Lee, Travel Planners International’s VP of Sales and Marketing, isn’t shy about her obsession for guiding and leading today’s entrepreneurial-minded travel advisor community. According to Lee, now’s the moment to remind the world that travel advisors aren’t just booking travel, they’re true curators of the future. She believes that those that find success are going beyond boosting their bank account; they’re building a business. Meeting and strategizing with these hustling entrepreneurs-in-the-making is what keep her going. That and her Bulletproof Coffee.