Loneliness as a Solo business-person....

Hi,

I'd like to ask your feedback on something.... The loneliness of working by yourself or for yourself....

I think this is less of a problem for some than for others.... But I know it IS an issue for some too, if you're trying to work at your own business...

If you've come from a usual work environment, you usually have work colleagues who you see and talk to every day, maybe spend lunch with, that sort of thing. You have a social environment around you....

However, if you're trying to support yourself going into business "solo," it can be lonely for some -- not having work colleagues, and that sort of thing....

Any comments on this?

Here's something Willy (the futures trader I mentioned earlier) told me.... He said he spent three years supporting himself from his futures trading. He has a small farm (on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia), and he had everything set up so he could do his futures trading from his home.

However, after three years he decided to go back to work as a futures broker.... The reason why, he told me, was because he was getting tired of just talking to the cows.... He missed the social interaction he had in a standard work environment....

And I know this can be a problem for many who decide to strike it out on their own. An unexpected loneliness, as they start to miss the social environment they used to work in....

I felt like this a few weeks ago, actually -- I don't at this very moment, though I may feel like this again. When I felt that loneliness, I must admit it was completely unexpected! Something I hadn't even foreseen.... So if anyone has any comments regarding this, I'd be interested to hear it (and I'm sure others would too!)....

Thanks! :)

Dien Rice

Just wanted to share an article which
has some tips for the self employed and
an excellent tip for dealing with isolation:

http://www.smartbiz.com/sbs/arts/bly66.htm

Thanks Sandy,

That's an excellent article.... Covering many of the things someone just striking out on his or her own will encounter.... I could relate to quite a lot of it....

Worth printing out and putting somewhere it won't be lost.... or at least adding to your "favorites" or "bookmarks"....

Thank you! :)

Dien rice

> Just wanted to share an article which
> has some tips for the self employed and
> an excellent tip for dealing with isolation:

> http://www.smartbiz.com/sbs/arts/bly66.htm

Sandy, thanks for the article. A very good one which I'll print and save.

To answer Dien's question, I find working from home can be very lonely, but even more so when your partner or spouse does not share your ideas, and to put it bluntly, has little interest in doing business on the internet. Day trading, yes, but marketing on the net, no.

This can create some challenges in a marriage when two people don't share the same vision. E.g. my ex. and I always supported one another's businesss ideas, and we worked well as a team.

When I worked in a corporate environment, my former boss used to be my mentor and coach so we were constantly bouncing ideas off one another. I really miss this and the lack of a network of friends to brainstorm with.

I think just like in any new job, if we all had buddies to work with, we'd be much happier and motivated to do better. And quite frankly, there are days when I wish I could go back to being a 9-5 salaried employee. I often envy my friends who have the security of their jobs and the daily interaction of colleagues and teams to work on.

We need a rent-a-buddy system to get some of us moving and staying on the right path. And quite honestly, I never thought I'd admit this, but I'm developing friendships on the net, some of whom have helped me cope with the loneliness of working alone.

Regards,
Eliz.