I have a personal question for you today. I hope you’ll answer it honestly.

Have you ever felt lonely in your business?

Does it feel like your friends don’t “get it”?

I often warn entrepreneurs against talking to their family members and friends about their business problems. They’re not the right people to bring your business problems to because they don’t understand the problems you’re facing.

Why can’t your friends understand your business?

Simple: They’re not entrepreneurs.

At the end of 2013 I was an extremely lonely entrepreneur. One year after starting my copywriting business, I found myself “location independent” and living in a crappy studio apartment in Montreal.

 

Here are some side effects of entrepreneurial loneliness. See if you don’t have a few of these, too:

• Imposter syndrome – Because I had no other entrepreneur friends, I didn’t understand that imposter syndrome is just part of the gig. Everyone has it and it makes you feel like part of a community when you hear other business owners share their struggles.

• Lots of thinking. Not enough action. – No one would know if I chickened out of launching my course. No one would know or care if my business shut down. No one would know if I didn’t do my work. I felt like I was living in a vacuum.

• Paralyzed by fear – Without anyone around to encourage me, watch me, pay attention to me, it was really easy for me to stay in my comfort zone (compared to my friends, I felt way outside of my comfort zone!)

• Stale ideas – As a creative, I felt utterly STUCK. I was sick of being the only one to hear my ideas. I had no feedback, no inspiration, no one to brainstorm with.

And I used to ask myself a lot of questions like…

Is all of this hard work really worth it?

Am I being ridiculous here? I mean, who do I think I am to start my own business?!

No seriously… am I crazy?

Entrepreneurship can make you bat shit crazy if you try to go it alone. That’s why it’s absolutely vital that you start finding your BUSINESS BFFs right now.

Watch this week’s video to learn how to build your entrepreneur posse:

 

 

 

Are you with me, entrepreneur?! Declare your intention + find your people!

I am SO joining a mastermind this year! http://ow.ly/U9fmz thanks @CourtRJ! 

I hereby declare the end of #entrepreneur loneliness! http://ow.ly/U9fmz with @CourtRJ 

I <3 my business BFFs http://ow.ly/U9fmz @CourtRJ 

 

Here are just a few of the benefits I’ve gotten from finding an entrepreneur posse:

• I’m inspired beyond belief by other women’s successes. My mind has been cracked open by what’s possible. The women I now call my best friends are big dreamers and bold doers.

• I learn from watching my friends fail. Sounds mean, doesn’t it? Getting a behind-the-scenes look at what doesn’t work in my friends’ businesses has helped even more than seeing what does work.

• I have confidants to speak to when I want to give up. A few times each year, business gets so hard that I want to throw in the towel. And it’s not just me! Every entrepreneur I’ve met feels the same way. Why on earth would you want to suffer in silence?!

• I have built-in business cheerleaders. These women have also become clients, referral partners, and advocates for my business. I do the same for them because I love and believe in their businesses.

 

How do you find your entrepreneur posse?

1. Make friends in online programs. I love the internet! No, but really — it’s easy to find your people based on similar interests. Not all friends have to be “in person” friends. In fact, many of my colleagues and clients are in Australia

2. Start your own mastermind. When I joined Marie Forleo’s B-School in 2012, I found a group of local ladies in the program and started my own mastermind.

3. Find local friends using Meetup.com. Here’s the trick: You have to get started! I didn’t fall in love with the first 1-2 Meetup groups I joined, but I always met someone who gave me info on another great group to join. These days, I attend at least one Meetup group per week!

4. Join a high level mastermind or group program. In 2014, I joined a program through Natalie MacNeil that completely changed my life and held me up through challenging business times. Set an intention to find your perfect group and then pay attention to what shows up for you!

 

My personal favorite online posse is Natalie MacNeil’s The Conquer Club.

Natalie MacNeil’s Conquer Club is my absolute favorite business community around. As an intimate group of women entrepreneurs (from shop owners to artists to sales experts and more!), the Conquer Club is the only year-long business incubator of its kind.

The Conquer Club only opens for enrollment once per year (end of October). Each year, I offer an incredible bonus package for anyone who decides to enroll through me.