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3 Things You Can Do to Cope With the Loneliness of Entrepreneurship

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It’s lonelier than any entrepreneur would like to admit. Why would you? Everyone knows you’re living what most people could only dream of at the top. Nobody has to know that you’re struggling. Or do they?

Your social media profiles show the fruits of your hard work and hustle, and almost all your friends and family envy your lifestyle. But behind all that glitz and glamor is a person who works almost infinite sleepless nights, turns down social events to work, and has minimal time spent with friends and family.

The truth is, entrepreneurship can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

As a budding entrepreneur, here are ways on how I coped with my loneliness:

1. Take breaks, go out and meet new like-minded people

The best part of being your own boss is the freedom of how you want to spend your time. I used to work every day except Sunday and rejected invitations to events hosted by friends and family. It was the first time I experienced burnout, and trust me it’s a horrible thing.

No matter how much you love doing something, the reality is, if you do too much you will end up hating it in some way. Give yourself a break and stop thinking that working too hard will bring you closer to your goals.

Remember the cliché saying, “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” Part of your journey should be taking weekends off and doing what you love so that you have time to step back, reflect on life and an opportunity to miss your business.

As an extrovert, I know staying indoors working on the weekends would be detrimental to my happiness so I required myself to go to social events. These events could be something as small as having lunch or dinner with a friend. Believe me, it did a lot of good for myself and it put me in a better position as a leader in my organization.

My favorite part would be expanding my network to meet like-minded people such as attending Rotary events (I’m a member), personal development seminars, book clubs, and many more. You have more chances of finding like-minded people in those gatherings because it’s easier to know which ones have similar interests as you.

In your business, growth is a must so you keep planning for both the short-term and the long-term.

In your life, moving forward is a must. Go out there, meet new people, do new things and live life the way it’s meant to be lived.

“I love meeting new people; I think everyone has a story to tell. We should all listen sometimes.” – Kim Smith

2. Take classes or learn a new hobby

When you know you’re going to events with like-minded people, you essentially know what to expect. It’s different when you’re taking classes to acquire skills for a new hobby since you have no idea if you’re going to like it or not. However, stay open minded because you may gain  insights into new things you did not expect.

To this day, I continuously seek out new activities I could participate in such as hiking to new destinations, taking internet marketing classes, learning how to wakeboard, and attending Zumba classes. The knowledge acquired from hobbies could be valuable if you applied it in the right areas! Plus, it gives you more topics to talk about when you follow step one and meet new people.

Don’t be afraid to be adventurous with this one! You can go learn an instrument you never thought you’d play, or participate in competitive dog grooming. Bizarre ideas could even help with applying creativity in your business! If not, at least it gives you something interesting to talk about and new memories.

3. Talk to a trusted friend/family about it

Meeting new people and learning about the world and its wonders are great ways to combat loneliness. Nonetheless, it’s still different from having someone you trust and communicate with. Make sure this is someone who you’re 100% comfortable with and you know won’t judge you.

Although it can feel lonely at times, being an entrepreneur is wonderful. Know that you’re never going through this alone as there are others just like you struggling to make their dreams come true. No one could ever change the world like you can, so don’t give up and keep fighting.

“We need people in our lives with whom we can be as open as possible. To have real conversations with people may seem like such a simple, obvious suggestion, but it involves courage and risk.” – Thomas Moore

How do you overcome loneliness struggles? Let us know by commenting below!

Image courtesy of Twenty20.com

Nicah Caramba is an entrepreneur who is passionate about public speaking and travel. Aside from chasing the next adventure, she is constantly looking for ways to help people communicate their ideas better in her blog todayimchanging.com! Sign up for her FREE Minimal Fear Course!

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Business

The Entrepreneur’s Reading List That Transforms Ideas Into Empires

These must-read titles and writing insights reveal how entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into empire-level success.

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top entrepreneurship books for business growth
Image Credit: Midjourney

Entrepreneurship is powered by stories—of accomplishment, failure, and decision moments that define businesses. Books are maps, providing insight from individuals who’ve traversed the road ahead. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
Image Credit: Midjourney

In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

Building a Business Empire: Lessons from the World’s Boldest Entrepreneurs

Learn essential lessons, success strategies, and mindset shifts every aspiring entrepreneur needs to overcome challenges and build a thriving business.

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how to build a business empire
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Back in July 2017, I attended a business seminar on entrepreneurship in India. With my appetite for learning and meeting new people, I wanted to explore the latest developments in the entrepreneurial world. (more…)

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