Being an entrepreneur is tough.
While we get to envision the future…
we also must create it.
While we get to plan our growth,
we also must fund it.
While we get to dream and scheme the path we get to walk,
we also must carve this new path ourselves and — often — walk it alone.
Now, to be clear: I love being alone, and spend a good portion of my work hours without any human contact at all. In fact, I believe that the most creative work REQUIRES some alone time, alone with your thoughts, alone with your dreams, just a girl, and her laptop. I am not lonely, ever…
Until I am. But I’ll get back to that.
I live in an area where bumper stickers touting “I’d rather be fishing.” or “I’d rather be hunting” are prevalent. Occasionally I’ll see one for “women” saying, “I’d rather be shopping.”
For years I would think, where are all of the bumper stickers that read, “I’d rather be building my empire, writing my heart out, creating cash and changing lives!” Where are all THOSE bumper stickers?
And, forget the bumper stickers. Personally, I hate bumper stickers. But where were the women who’d resonate with THAT message?
The women who get together — not to talk about their latest shopping haul — but to get giddy over their latest idea or project?
The women who feel CALLED to do something / create something / BE something MORE today than they were yesterday?
The women who — yes, work for money… as they are often, like me the breadwinners for their family — work to change lives, to have an impact, to create HUGE success?
The women who prefer to plot and plan their next steps… who loves to talk about what’s POSSIBLE and then set out to make their plans, their ideas, their dreams a reality?
Where are the women who would work even if they didn’t need money… because it’s who they are?
Where ARE these women? Well, today… They’re gathering in the Women Who WOW mastermind, of course… but that’s not what I came to say.
I would never have considered myself “lonely.” Ever. I enjoy solitude. I prefer solitude. I actively BUILD solitude into my day, my home, my schedule.
But being alone or in solitude is different than being lonely. The truth is, I’m never lonely when I’m alone.
I’m MOST lonely in a crowd. I’m MOST lonely listening to other women talk about whatever it is they talk about, and having not a shred of interest in or grasp of the apparent importance of their topic du jour. I’m MOST lonely realizing that they feel the same way… about MY topic du jour.
I smile and nod, of course. (usually)
I (seriously) went to charm school growing up.
I KNOW how to do it.
I know how to look the part, laugh at the right jokes, nod when all the other women nod.
It’s just that I don’t.
I don’t do any of those things.
And I have no desire to.
I just thought I was an introvert. (I am.)
Or maybe even a social illiterate. (Am I the ONLY one who’d rather be writing my next blog? Am I the ONLY one who’d rather be solving problems for my clients?)
I thought I just didn’t fit.
Square peg in a round hole, and all of that.
And then I started Women Who WOW meetings.
By invite only.
PRINT invite only… to attract ONLY women who were SERIOUS about their business… those NOT playing around… those who felt called and those who — at least — had THAT in common with me.
I said I didn’t care if we had 5 members or 500. And I MEANT it with every fiber of my being. I just wanted the RIGHT members.
And during that first meeting, I realized I’d found my tribe. We had SO much more in common than the business stuff. We also — in a lot of cases — made more money than our husbands. We were very empathetic… many considering themselves ‘empaths.” We were loyal and demanded loyalty. We had purpose and faith and drive. We had VISION and humor and humility. We didn’t see color or religion or politics.
And, here’s what I realized… Without each other… YES… we felt lonely. Isolated in a world of our own making. But — like me — looking for others like us.
This isn’t meant to be a sales pitch for Women Who WOW membership, but if you want in at the rate of $97/month… Go here: bmichellepippin.com/womenwhowow and get on our notification list.
Because I GET that you want to be alone.
So do I.
But, we also want to know there are others like us… and where to find them.
Alone can be a preferred condition,
But LONELY is a choice. Come find your tribe with us.
Head over to Facebook and read my article 3 SPECIFIC TIMES YOU NEED TO TAKE A TIME OUT IN BUSINESS
