The Hidden Isolation of Small Business Owners and How to Overcome It

Have you ever had a “slice of life” interaction with a stranger where they unexpectedly give you a deep dive into their life? This happens to me on the rare occasion, and one in particular came to mind during a conversation recently.

This was about 20 years ago when I was living in a much smaller town than I’m in now. My family took their cars to this little hole in the wall mechanic’s shop when they needed an oil change or a tire rotation. The waiting room was a tiny little room that had been erected in the corner of the shop floor. It had magazines and a tube television hanging from the ceiling with non-stop Maury Povich or other such talk shows playing.

I brought a book with me when I went because it took 45 minutes or so and I waited while they worked. The shop was small enough that the waiting room rarely had anyone in it, and that day was no different. So I started reading, trying to tune out the sounds of Maury and the mechanics just outside the window.

After a few minutes a man walked in, sat down next to me, and started talking to me about his hernia. He didn’t know my name, I had never seen him before, and he was giving me every detail about his procedure, his doctor, and his experience so far with everything.

I don’t recall him attempting to build a bridge for me between us sitting in a waiting room at the mechanic to his hernia and the resulting healthcare. He spent the entirety of my stay sitting right next to me telling me everything there was to know about him, his hernia, and his home life with this hernia.

Why he decided I was the person to talk to I’ll never know, but he clearly needed to talk to someone and I happened to be sitting in a room with a name that let him know I wouldn’t leave right away. At the time I marveled at how I was given a fleeting glimpse into this man’s life and the matters that troubled him. Twenty years later I have a little different perspective.

At times we go through something that feels unique to us, with nobody to share the experience with. Whether that’s because we don’t have anyone in our lives, or because the people in our lives can’t understand, is unimportant. What’s noteworthy for me is the isolation.

How alone or isolated must someone be to talk to a stranger in the waiting room of a mechanic about their hernia? I would wager that you, as a small business owner, might have some understanding of what that isolation feels like. I get it. The good news for you is that this feeling of isolation isn’t necessary.

Every small business owner deserves to have the community, the success, and the life that they dreamed of when they started, including you.

PS: This is one of the various ways I engage with people. Many small business owners want to grow their business and improve their lives, but they’re overwhelmed and they don’t know how. I use straightforward frameworks to help them drive their business forward, increasing profit, gaining confidence and peace of mind.

Here’s how you get started:

1. Reach out on LinkedIn or via my website to schedule a call
2. We get to know each other a bit and you tell me about yourself, your business, and what your current challenges are
3. Schedule a low-risk 60-90 minute coaching session to take the first step toward a solution and experience what it’s like to work together