The high cost of loneliness
Starting, scaling, and sustaining a business is hard: really hard.
Some entrepreneurs are driven by the need to bring their vision into reality. Others find the allure of working without a boss or the prospect of “hacks” that will give them an effortless path to “income while you sleep” irresistible. But many entrepreneurs eventually figure out they are in for more work than they initially signed up for.
It starts with stress and the unhealthy habits and procrastination that leads to more disappointment, increased stress … and the cycle continues. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, depression will be the leading cause of disease burden globally.
Helpful friends and faking it
We know the stress is real and that stress is holding us back, so we reach out for help – with limited success:
- The platitudes – “don’t listen to the haters” make us feel better for a while, but ultimately wear thin
- We can’t really be open with employees, investors, and cofounders because they will lose confidence and stop backing us
- We feel the need to “fake it until we make it” then realize we never really make it. Running a business means conquering one obstacle to reveal the next, bigger obstacle
- Friends, neighbors, and relatives mean well, but often offer inappropriate advice: “You’re smart. Why don’t you just go get a good job?”
- Our need for judgment-free space to explore options frequently results in external validation of our internal doubt
Whack-a-mole and band-aids
So we turn to the pundits, podcasts, blogs, online courses, and specialists. We look for the one thing that will make everything better. It’s an endless game of whack-a-mole, doling out quick fixes one band-aid at a time – but never finding a deep and lasting resolution.
Working together
Fortunately, there is an answer. It starts by moving beyond the myth of rugged individualism and building a high-trust community. In my practice, we call them business leader councils. The rules are simple but living up to them is not easy:
- Be 100% committed to the success of others in your group
- Be 100% accountable for your own success
- Share your experience in favor of giving advice
Turning an idea into a functioning business is one of the toughest and potentially most rewarding challenges many people will face. You deserve the support it takes to maximize your chances of success.
What are your best tips for connecting with the community that will take you to the next level?
Recent Comments