Entrepreneurs & Pirates: Welcome to Lonely Island
Your Gratitude Map to Navigate Entrepreneurial Loneliness: A Business Growth Strategy
Hey there, Erin here! This week’s blog isn’t about basic gratitude, it’s about action. There are so many times I’ve found myself sitting on a deserted island of loneliness in my head. It feels like I’m there for days and days, and finally, my gratitude map shows up. So, here’s to my inner Captain Jack Sparrow and the map to finding myself.
Sometimes I think being lost on a deserted island would honestly be pure bliss just before you hit insanity…this is the only way I can truly describe the feeling of relationships and networking as an entrepreneur.
It’s no secret that entrepreneurship can be and feel extremely lonely, even when you have a staff full of people. If you’re an entrepreneur, I don’t have to explain what that feeling is like- you know it and I know it well. You’re all the way out to sea with no one to help you row your tired a** back to shore.
The decision-making, the constant need to take action, someone always needing an answer, and feeling like the whole world is on your shoulders. You’re the highest up on the “chain of command,” and there’s no department that you can just send the idea off to for them to deal with. It’s all on you.
I’ve been reading the book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy, MD, and 19th Surgeon General of the United States. In his book, he says, “Loneliness is not just a feeling. It’s a biological signal, like hunger or thirst, that drives us to seek connection.”
It’s so easy as entrepreneurs to get so wrapped up in work that we neglect our relationships and connections.
This week is so much more than being grateful for who you have, or - let’s be honest - don’t have, in your life anymore. So for this week, we are treating gratitude like a business strategy. Your network and relationships are everything. It’s not just about telling those people how you feel, but actually showing them you are grateful for them.
When we practice gratitude in our entrepreneurial networks, it becomes contagious. People are more inclined to support those who genuinely care and value them. So, in a world where relationships are everything, gratitude is the ultimate business growth hack.
Remember, loneliness is universal. It doesn’t matter what stage of your business you’re in, where you went or didn’t go to college, what type of business you have, how many employees you have, or what your revenue was last year. It’s also not about the number of people you know, it’s about the high quality, deep connection with those you truly want to connect with and care about.
Categories of Connections to Cultivate:
Let’s first categorize the connections you might have:
Professional Connections - these are like your mentors, peers, freelancers/contractors
Service Providers - Lawyers, accountants, and financial advisors
Team Members: People you employ or employed in the past
Customer/Clients: this can be prospective clients or even prospective suppliers, current and past clients
Industry Connections: this is different from professional, these are communities you’re part of or people you’ve gathered insights from
Inspirational Connections: Role Models and Authors - you look to these for inspiration and guidance, though they might not know you actually exist
Social/ Digital Connections - you’ve never met IRL, but you know what’s going on.
Personal Connections: family, friends, teachers, and others who have helped you or helped shape who you are.
So, how do you turn this into a business strategy? Simple. Create gratitude in action.
Don’t just write the above list and then in your head be like, “soooo grateful for you.” Let’s DO.
From Gratitude to Action: Practical Strategies to Deepen Connection
Here are ways to showcase gratitude, when you’re working to cultivate your networks or connections:
Don’t just say “thank you.” Tell the person a SPECIFIC REASON you are grateful for them. Share exactly the advice and outcome or whatever the *thing* was.
When someone says, “Just whenever you have time, we can get together.” Look them in the eyes and say, “I wil make time for you.” Close the loop on the endless bullsh*t of “Let’s get coffee soon.” Either do it, or don’t.
Be present. Turn your phone upside down, leave it in your bag, or keep in in your lap. There are so many studies that show having a visible phone is distracting. Show gratitude for connecting by actually authentically connecting.
Be real, as in don’t be perfect. You can share your struggles, you can be vulnerable. Let your humanness shine.
Bring others together. Create cross-category connections by introducing one connection to another from a different category. People appreciate seeing people in multifaceted ways.
Reality Inventory: The Gratitude Map for Your Network
As great as it is to have all these categories and connections, to show actionable gratitude for people in your life truly, you need to get really present to who they actually are. This reality inventory is all about taking the tally of those people.
Picture yourself with three (3) rings around you (kinda like if you were the sun and you had 3 planets orbiting around you. One close, one in the middle, and one the furthest away but still very visible. Or, if you’re a Houstonian, it’s like 610, Beltway 8, and 99. 😜
The Map & It’s Contents: All rings circle around YOU.
The Direct Circle (Closest Connections)
Sideline Circle (Supportive Allies)
Balcony Circle (Inspiring Influencers)
The Direct Circle - these are your ride-or-dies. They are the people who are most instrumental to your growth, success, and sanity. These are your mentors, business partners/romantic partners, or that one friend who always shows up to pull you off the ledge.
The Sideline Circle - These people won’t get as much time as those who are in your direct circle. However, they are still supportive and help you grow. They say your names in rooms when you aren’t around and are always cheering for you. It’s someone who still helps push you forward, but isn’t your typical go-to.
The Balcony Circle- These are those who inspire you, or maybe someone you admire. They could also be someone who made an impact in your life but was very brief.
The Map in Action:
Ask yourself, “What actions of gratitude can I inject into each circle to help deepen these relationships?”
Side Note: You might also do a quick check to see if there’s someone in those circles who shouldn’t be. They are tagging along, but bringing a whole lotta NOTHING.
Remember: you are not alone on an island, but when you feel like it use your Gratitude Map to find yourself again.
“No survivors, eh! Then who do you think told all these stories?” - Captain Jack Sparrow
Say YES to Action
No matter how heavy the weight of decision-making feels or how isolated you may think you are, your network—those relationships you’ve built and continue to cultivate—is your lifeline. They’re the people cheering for you, guiding you, inspiring you, and even holding you accountable when you lose sight of the shore.
This week is about turning gratitude into action. It’s not just saying “thank you” or scribbling down names in your notebook; it’s showing up for your connections in meaningful, authentic ways. It’s about recognizing that loneliness is universal, but connection is intentional.
By practicing gratitude as a business strategy, you’re not only strengthening your network but also creating a ripple effect. The more you show care and authenticity, the more it comes back to you, growing into a cycle of support, trust, and opportunities.
Take this moment to:
Write down your circles.
Define an action for each connection.
Do the thing.
You are courageous. You are capable. You are strong. And most importantly, you are surrounded by a circle of people rooting for your success—whether you see them every day or simply feel their influence.