Being A Solo-prenuer, Doesn't Mean You Have To Do Everything Alone
Just over a year ago, I came across a post, in my neighbourhood’s Facebook group, about a woman hosting a monthly gathering for women solo-preneurs. The format was a monthly in-person get together to connect with other like minded women!
I don’t think I could have clicked any faster to sign up. The opportunity to meet other women, on their solo-preneur journey, who were from my very neighbourhood, was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Each month, we had an opportunity to introduce ourselves and to share: what we offered, how things were going, and what others in the group could do to support us.
Women supporting and cheering on other women! Yaaas!
Near the end of 2024, I volunteered to take on the leadership role, as the OG leader was having to edit commitments in relation to their growing business. And as we enter the fifth month of 2025—I have to tell you it has been one of the BEST decisions I have made for Me + My Business.
Connection Over Isolation
When I moved into my home ten years ago, I removed the ‘No Junk Mail’ sign from my mailbox. Since we were new to the city and neighbourhood I felt that allowing flyers, (for a time), would help all of us, get to know more about what there was in and around, where we lived.
Similarly, I started searching for women’s networking events and began attending a variety of them.
No matter where you are in the world, it felt pretty standard: shaking hands, exchanging business cards, nodding hello to the familiar people at the current event, that you met at the last one.
I did this with the same spirit as I did by allowing my mailbox to be filled with flyers.
New city, new people, new connections to new offerings and services.
What makes the group I’m hosting now, different— is that the women that have joined, are genuinely and authentically invested in seeing each of us grow and thrive.
And that makes being a solo-preneur a lot less lonely.
Body Doubling
The format has changed from gathering once per month to my hosting frequent “Co-working Coffee” get togethers.
It generally begins with a little “water cooler” talk to check in, but collectively we shift to focusing on whatever we are working on. What a pleasure it is to be able to ask a question, ask for help, or for feedback from real people—in real time!
Our group’s ADHD & Executive Function Coach Sam, called it “Body Doubling”, a term I hadn’t heard before, but learned is a common practise for supporting productivity.
The benefits of body doubling are significant. It can lessen your feelings of isolation, since you are in the presence of someone else. It can decrease procrastination and increase your accountability, since you will have made a commitment to your “double” to do your work.
And for those of us who crave a reprieve from lone wolfing in your business, this has been proving to be highly productive and energizing gatherings.
[Un]Common Denominator
None of us, in the group, are in the same niche, while at the same time there is potential for collaborations.
Each of us have depths of knowledge and experience with all things solo-preneur: writing copy, social media, marketing, websites and the gazillion other things we have to have in place for our virtual or brick and mortar office, in common.
In that way, we are resource rich and each have been happy to share experience, perspectives and wisdom about what they know, to help another out. And if we don’t have anything to offer on a particular topic, the messages are encouraging and supportive in lieu.
As we get to know more about each other’s business, and each other personally, we are cultivating a safe place for us to share what we are struggling with and practise being open to receiving support and help.
Being with others who can empathize with the challenges and who are compassionately able to hold space, makes this group extra special.
We are growing as friends, and in community.
Inquiry
How do you balance working alone and feeling lonely?
This really resonates with me—a needed reminder that even when I’m working for and by myself, I don’t need to be alone.
Thank you, Sherry.