Self-employed and lonely? Get a life! – get networking!
There is something rather special and exciting about running your own business and being your own boss. If you previously worked as an employee then getting away from the usual 9-5 regime where every decision is being taken by your boss can be like being set free from a kind of prison. So what happens when we decide to go it alone? Most of us set up our own office (usually the spare room in the house or, in some cases, a converted shed in the garden) Then once our office is established we make sure we have all the necessary equipment to run the office; computer, phones, faxes, Skype access, headed paper, website etc.
OK, so now everything is in place. Now we need to find some customers! Gulp! So what do we do? Firstly we put an ad in the local paper, splash out on a glossy magazine advert, sign-up to on-line directories, tell friends to tell friends that we have set up our own business – and then wait for the orders to flood in. For some reason, whether through naivety or concern, we are shocked to realise that the phone doesn’t suddenly start ringing – so we move on to the next option – Networking! (Here are a few of my preferred networking groups – 4Networking – Business Village – Wiltshire Business Club – Business Scene).
This ‘Networking’ in itself brings on a hot flush (for us women) and perhaps an uncertain wariness for the men in so much as initially we don’t really know what to expect. Networking means talking to people face-to-face instead of on-line – and, let’s face it, although we might feel confident when we are saying what we feel via a keyboard, it’s very different when we have to look people in the eye to promote our business. We suddenly become very tongue tied – well at least I did!
When we work on our own we tend to become encased in our own little world producing endless post-notes, reminders and task lists and generally keeping busy just for the sake of being busy. In some cases we end up talking to ourselves because we don’t have anyone else to bounce ideas off and there are no office corners to huddle and talk in.
Well all I can say is thank goodness for Networking and on-line social networks! Attending Networking events is brilliant because it actually gets you out in front of people that may well be looking for the services that you can provide. Even if they don’t need your services right away they may provide something of use to you – or even someone you know. Either way you have made another valuable contact. Just by having to stand up and give your pitch, not only are you promoting your business but you are confirming to yourself out loud what it is you do. Suddenly you find that your social skills need to be brought back to life because you will get a direct response, whether positive or negative, and that is very useful.
On-line social networking provides instant access to companies, products and people. It is a global resource for meeting people, gaining knowledge and a first class medium for promoting your business as well as referring others. It is a life-line for the SME and sole trader enabling interactions each and every second of the day. In the old days we had “pen pals” but today we have on-line friends who keep us connected, not only socially, but through business too.
I have met some amazing people over the past couple of years who have helped me both in my business capacity as well as socially. These are friends that I would never have met had Networking face to face or on-line not been available.
So the message is very clear. Yes, working in isolation can have its pitfalls and the occasional sense of loneliness. But don’t despair. The world is still out there waiting for you and it has never been easier to communicate with thousands of like minded people through some inspiring face-to-face network forums or through on-line communities.
So get out there and join the revolution. I’ve already embraced it and believe me – it’s definitely worth doing!
