By Margo Bebinger, CPCC

Having quit the day j-o-b more than a year ago to focus solely on a business, I have learned a little bit about working alone, and getting myself back on track when it feels hard or lonely or disconnected or...

The biggest challenge to me was working in spite of feeling so isolated. I became a coach because it spoke to my soul, I wanted to make a difference in this world, and I loved the transportable bit. That’s still true now, and I needed to learn how to do that in a way that not only kept speaking to my soul, but also spoke to my financial condition.

I knew nothing about being in business for myself, or I thought I didn’t. I came to find out that I did have some knowledge. And what I didn’t know, I could ask about. People are very willing to share their expertise if you simply ask them for help. What my coach helped me see is just what I do have a sense of and what is important to me—and how to build on that.

Connection is probably at the top of that list. Coaching is all about connection and so is working as a solopreneur. I realized I needed to create my own connections in a way that fit. I created a coaching circle with some local coaches. We meet monthly, prepare lunch together and talk about our businesses. We cover a lot—what’s new for each of us, what works and what doesn’t, teleclasses we’ve taken or heard about, audio podiums we’ve listened to…you get the idea. I also co-lead the Co-Active Leadership Mentor Program, and stay connected through email to friends as well as colleagues, including contacts in my previous careers… simply to stay connected.

If you take a closer look at what you do and how you do it, my guess is that you already know what works for you, too. How do you connect with people? Where do you go to do that? What groups have you joined (local chapter of ICF, other coaching groups)? What calls have you participated in? When is the last time you met a friend for lunch or went to a bookstore to browse and have a cup of coffee? When did you last connect with someone who is NOT a coach?

My approach to solopreneurship is to revel in the freedom of it, and take care of myself when I notice the “warning signs” of isolation: anything from being cranky to crawling walls. Sometimes simply doing something else for a little while—chores around the house, talking to friend who is not a coach, etc.—refocuses my energy. Sometimes I know that I need to be in the presence of others. And I talk to my own coach about it. I’ve landed in some magical spots as a result—and can easily find my way back there with the structures I’ve created. Bottom line: when challenged, get out of yourself and reconnect with others. And above all, enjoy your life!
 
Margo Bebinger, CPCC, is a well-respected and experienced life coach. She is a graduate of CTI’s Core Curriculum, Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching courses, and the Leadership Program. Margo is an executive coach, a leadership consultant to organizations and their internal teams, and a co-leader and mentor in the International Co-Active Leadership Mentor Program. Margo is based in Chicago.