Hola darlinghearts!

You know what I thought would be coolio-moolio?

Because you really are the best crew I could ever have wished and dreamed for, I thought I’d do a little blog-style Q+A and go back and answer some questions I’ve received that MIGHT just maybe possibly apply to oodles of you, and not just the one gorgeous soul who was brave enough to speak up and ask.

Because isn’t that how it always happens? The question on your lips is also in the hearts of a bunch of others who just hadn’t found the words yet.

Sound good? Yes? AWESOME. Here we go!

How do you work as a solo-preneur/entrepreneur from home and NOT feel isolated?

I work alone most of the time. And often feel very isolated. I have a home office but often will take my work to a cafe just so I can be around other peeps.

I think ALL of us just starting out in business (or even rocking it with a biz that’s going strong) have felt this way.

Because nobody knows your business like you do.

Nobody cares SO MUCH about what you care about.

And if all your friends/family/partners/cousins/etc. have day jobs and aren’t walking this entrepreneur path that you’re on, they just don’t get it, do they?

But here’s the superdy-duperdy important part:

YOU have to take action to get out of isolation.

Going to a cafe to work is a good start, but you’re really still kind of isolated unless you’re striking up conversations with strangers over your chai.

I’m saying go one step further. It’s crazy ridonkulous important to have a circle of like-minded biz peeps who know what you’re going through, who’ve been walking this path with you, who have maybe been there before and know the way.

As a matter of fact, I think it’s pretty much essential. One of my 10 lessons of building a heart-centered business is to surround yourself with peeps who are advancing souls.

You must must MUST be around people who are headed in the same direction as you.

If you’re the only person you know who is doing this amazing work, trying to change their life, trying to be more positive, trying to start a business, trying to grow a business or whatever…

Is it any WONDER you feel pretty dang isolated?? You’re missing out on a huge chunk of motivation, companionship, support + masterminding brilliance that comes from having that business camaraderie.

I have gotten so much out of my mastermind groups that I’ve belonged to. I know in my heart that they have been a huge key to my success.

It doesn’t matter what you call it — a mastermind group, an accountability partner, a biz goddess circle (my personal fave) — a community of other entrepreneurs to support you is ESSENTIAL to your business success.

How to find your own Biz Goddess crew:

So, this is that action I was talking about. You have to make the first move. If you’re feeling this need in your life for community, you’ve got to go out and find it.

It’s a little like dating, but you don’t have to worry about whether or not to kiss at the end of the night. (I HOPE!)

Here are some good Biz Goddess Circle pickup lines and tactics:

• First and tops is the Amazing Biz and Life Academy because this problem is pretty much exactly one of the problems it was created to solve! If you haven’t checked it out, it is a veritable LOVE FEST of amazing biz goddesses who are on the same path as you! It doesn’t matter what you do or where you live, there is a group in there for you — and if by some CRAZY MIRACLE you don’t immediately see your peeps, create a group and I assure you they will flock to it.
• Go to an in-person networking event. But for the love of Petunia, be choosy about which ones you go to. Some of these are just AWFUL with a capital AWE because they’re mostly insurance guys and real estate agents throwing business cards at each other. YUCK. Check out Meetup.com and see if there are any biz events that sound like the might resonate with you.
• Look for Facebook groups for entrepreneurs in your area. Lots of times they start on Facebook and then spill out into the real world in coffee shops and cafes and bookstores. Excellent place to find your people.
• Co-working spaces are a hot thing now, and if you don’t have an office, they might be just the thing. They’re popping up in big cities especially, but all over the place. They’re basically a big space where entrepreneurs come to work TOGETHER in a community. Totally amazing.
• Do you know any other small biz owners or entrepreneurs in real life? They don’t have to be in your field or your niche. In fact, sometimes it’s better if they AREN’T because they’ll have a different perspective on things. Ask them if they want to go on a biz date with you! Have a beverage and talk about stuff! And if it’s a good fit, you’ll feel it and be able to figure out what to do from there.

That last one could be a bit scary, couldn’t it? It absolutely shouldn’t be. Because just like there are other people who wanted to ask this question about being isolated, there are other entrepreneurs out there looking for connection.

If you need a little push, here’s what I would say:

I so respect the way you’re running your business and your life, and I was wondering if you’d be interested in getting together sometime to share and connect and mastermind and brainstorm together about our businesses. Would that resonate with you?

And if they are as amazing as I suspect they are (because you wouldn’t pick them if they weren’t amazing) they’ll say yes!

Don’t wait! Reach out right now if you’re feeling isolated.

LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN!

All my love and good connecting juju,