Finding your tribe as a female solopreneur can be a struggle. You read so much about the joys of being self employed and the glamour of being an entrepreneur, but there can be a major downside. Nobody speaks about the loneliness of the freelancer or the solopreneur. Working for yourself and being your own boss can come with the risk of being lonely. It is all too easy to fall into the habit of never really getting “properly dressed” when working from home. When you’re a solopreneur there is no team camaraderie or everyday office banter. Not to worry, there are steps you can take and positive actions that can help avoid the lonely-rut. Here’s a little look at how you can work on finding your “tribe” as a female solopreneur…
“No woman is an island”
As an entrepreneur, freelancer or self employed person it’s important to find a community of people who can support us, cheerlead for us, and help us to grow our business. Working alone is fine, for a while, but without a community of people around us, we can struggle to work effectively and retain morale. We can’t be completely self-sufficient, no matter how strong or smart we think we are, so with that famous saying in mind, we need to lose our island mentalities.
But who are the people who can support and assist us? And where do we find them? Well, they are everywhere, and to find them, we have to climb out from beneath the rock we sometimes hide under and introduce ourselves to them, for us introverts this can be the most daunting prospect.
Connect:
Take a look for groups near you. There will be plenty of small business owners working near you. Pop in to local stores and say hello over the counter. If you know of other solopreneurs, get together with them, and talk over a coffee. And whenever you hear of a business network meeting, make the effort to get along to them, and schedule follow-up meetings with the people you meet at the event. By networking with other people in business, you will benefit from the wisdom and advice that they may be able to offer you. If you’re a creative or full-time blogger look for and connect with other like-minded individuals. You might find ways to partner up with others. And with active support from people who may have been in business longer than you, you might have the capacity to work more effectively and avoid burnout.
Today then, make a list of the people you know in business. Find out about networking events near you. And make the effort to say hello to at least one other person in business today, because who knows, they might just be the person you need on your side right now.
Find your tribe online:
If your business is based solely online, you already have a community of people available to reach out to. Your customers and clients! You have probably already worked hard to secure their custom, perhaps by offering discounts to win them to your side. You may have taken steps to secure your website, perhaps with an award-winning identity verification service to earn their trust. You have taken steps to reach them, so make the most of these connections. By buying from you, your customers might share passions similar to yours, so talk to them on social media, connect with them when they comment on your blog posts. You don’t have to form major friendships with them, but at least when you’re working alone in the day, you do have somebody to talk and possibly relate to.
Look for industry professionals online too. Are there forums set up to support businesses such as yours? Do you know of any virtual meetups with like-minded others on Skype? Do your research, and build connections from behind your computer screen. There will be online communities relevant to your needs, so get involved and share with others. You might not be able to meet them for a coffee if they are half way around the world, but you can still talk on video or through a chatroom to get to know them a little better. Your business might benefit because of it.
Female solopreneur?
You don’t have to be alone as a female solopreneur. You don’t have to be that metaphorical island. You can find your tribe both online and off, so today, start to build connections with others, and benefit from what they can offer you. And who knows? You might be able to support other female solopreneurs in the process.
“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” –
Stay fabulous
Christine
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