If you're considering working in your own solopreneur-type business, one of the things you may or may not have considered is how to handle the isolation of your career choice. Sure, you may have clients, contractors and/or colleagues that you interact with but in today's digital age, much of this contact comes in the form of email or social media exchange, rather than actually seeing someone's face in person or hearing their voice on the phone.
Going hours (and often, depending on the type of business, days) without actually speaking with or seeing another human being during your workday can make even the introverts in the crowd go a little squirrely. (Trust me on that one).
As discussed in my Optimal Living TV series with Social Media Specialist Kayleigh Platz, more and more documentation is coming out on the link between heavy use of social media and increasing levels of loneliness. To one degree or another, we all need the kind of connection with other human beings that only happens in person.
I'm not knocking online connections and virtual relationships; in fact, I think the internet is quite possibly THE most incredible tool on the planet for helping us to connect with one another, especially when physical distance separates us. But it's not to be relied on at the expense nor exclusion of good old fashioned in-person and voice connections.
Duh, right?
So when you make the choice to start your own business with a setup that has you primarily working alone, what are some ways that you can create your own IRL ('in real life') connections? We human beings like to feel that people 'get' us and that we belong, so finding people who are in the same boat - other solopreneurs - is a great place to start, where not only the personal connection helps to keep you sane, but where you may also discover a great business-building forum for exchanging ideas.
Here are some of my favourite ways of connecting in business:
Co-working spaces: more and more of these spaces are popping up in urban centres. Co-working, or collaborative workspaces are shared office spaces that you can rent under different arrangements, allowing you to get out and interact with other human beings who are also looking for people contact and idea exchange. If you don't have one of these in your area, even getting out to a local café (with wifi, of course) can give you the dose of humanity that you need.
Co-working partnerships: one step up from just a co-working space is to partner up with a like-minded professional and meet regularly to work together, for a day or even a few hours at a time. To keep on task, you agree to break for discussion at set periods of time (say, every 30-60 minutes), and save up any of your questions or ideas for that discussion time. You hash things out for five minutes, then get back to work. This can be done in person, by phone or by Skype too.
: similar to a co-working partnership, accountability arrangements help keep you...well, accountable to the goals and objectives you set for yourself in your business. Knowing that you'll need to report in to someone else on your progress can be all the incentive you need to keep you on track with your goals and deadlines.
Mastermind groups: coined by Napoleon Hill in his most famous book, Think and Grow Rich, a mastermind group is a gathering of 5 - 8 people, usually from a similar industry and with complementary skill sets, who come together on a regular basis with the intention of helping one another make significant progress and breakthroughs in their businesses.
In each case, you can agree to a trial run of your chosen structure to make sure it's a good fit before committing to an ongoing arrangement. If you don't already have people who you'd consider inviting in to such a partnership or group with you, look for them by getting involved in your community (geographical or online), and then reach out to people who you sense may have a similar work ethic and/or intention for their business.
Oh, and let's not forget the ever-simple and ubiquitous way-to-connect standby, lunch. Meeting up for a part-social, part-idea-exchange meal with someone whose company you enjoy and whose advice you respect is a surefire way to fill your idea coffers and your belly, all at the same time.
How do you like to create connection in business as a solopreneur? Share your favourite idea or any others you've heard of in the comments below.