Solopreneurship doesn't have to be a lonely road

For many years, I've been telling myself that I am an introvert. That I need a lot of me-time to recharge.

But, after staying at a co-living and co-working space for about a month, something shifted.

I now realize how lonely I have felt over the past few years.

And to be honest, that was one of my biggest fears before going freelance: What would it feel like to work alone - day in and day out?

No colleagues to share the small wins with. No spontaneous chats by the coffee machine. No one to bounce ideas with. Just me.

Would it feel freeing? Or isolating?

Turns out, it's a bit of both...

The power of casual connections

That's why co-working spaces have been a lifeline.

First in Spain, then here in Bali, I've found unexpected energy and joy just by being around like-minded people.

Even when they're working on completely different things - and don't fully understand what I do - there's something deeply nourishing about short chats over coffee, spontaneous conversations about business, or simply sharing the ups and downs of daily life.

So if you're afraid of the isolation that can be part of the entrepreneurial journey, here's my advice:

Find a co-working space. Join a community. Be around people who get it - even if they don't get all of it.

You never know who you'll meet: A new friend, a future client, or even a potential business partner.

A quick trip alone - and a realization

Last weekend, I took a solo trip to Uluwatu - just a few hours south of where I'm staying in Bali. It was familiar territory: a private room, a bit off the grid, and no strict agenda.

And yet... after spending the past three weeks surrounded by wonderful, creative people, the solitude hit differently.

Even though I surfed on three different white-sand beaches, watched beautiful sunsets, and read a ton, it felt a little empty. Quiet in the wrong kind of way. By Sunday afternoon, I couldn't wait to get back to my pack in Canggu.

Maybe that's the point

Writing this, I realize just how much the fear of loneliness has shaped the kind of business I want to build.

I don't want to do it all alone. I want a small, tight-knit team. I want to build systems that help other business owners thrive - without burning out. I want to create something meaningful, with people I enjoy working with.

And maybe that's the real reason I share these things online: To connect with others who feel the same. To remind myself that I'm not building in a vacuum. And to find people who might one day help shape the thing I'm trying to build.