"I initially named my Substack No One's in the Kitchen. I'd get off a work call super excited [because I] signed a new client . . . go to my kitchen to make a coffee, and no one's there . . . just my dog looking back at me."
"Loneliness is a mental health emergency in many cases," says Dr. Michael A. Freeman, a San Francisco-based psychiatrist who works exclusively with entrepreneurs."
"Ironically perhaps, "entrepreneurs often feel quite alone despite the fact that they have very large networks and communicate with lots of people every week," he explains, because those are largely "transactional role relationships" and solopreneurs, particularly, "are pursuing a uniquely personal vision.""
"The loneliness can come from a lack of people, but it can also come from being the only person who holds your 'why' so tightly," says Flax."
Transitioning from corporate roles into solo entrepreneurship can replace workplace noise with silence and social isolation. Running a business alone creates a distinct loneliness tied to acute uncertainty, constrained resources, broad responsibility, and intense time pressure. Large professional networks frequently remain transactional and fail to support deeply personal visions. Many solo founders seek connection through online communities such as subreddits, creator cohorts, and Discord groups to manage isolation. The loneliness experienced by founders can escalate into serious mental-health crises and stems from being the sole keeper of a venture's purpose.
Read at Fast Company
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