“The price of community is frustration.
The price of convenience is isolation.”
— Kendrick Sampson
We love the idea of being self-made.
But the truth is, it’s a myth.
Photo credit: Matheus Bertelli
As Jennifer Kem writes in Unicorn Team:
Work alone, and you will fail.
Work with an underwhelming team, and you will also fail.
Community has always existed. What we’ve lost is the habit of being in it.
In business especially, the narrative of independence, speed, and self-sufficiency has slowly replaced something essential: the ability to think, reflect, and grow with others.
The Hidden Loneliness Behind Entrepreneurship
What we don’t talk about enough is how isolating entrepreneurship actually is.
Recent data paints a clear picture:
- 46% of entrepreneurs report grappling with loneliness or isolation in their work
- Entrepreneurs are estimated to be 5.5 times more likely to experience loneliness than the general population
- Around 50% of CEOs report feeling lonely in their role, and 61% believe this isolation negatively impacts their performance
- Nearly 30% of solo entrepreneurs say isolation is either “a big problem” or “something of a problem”
- According to the Gallup Wellbeing Index, 45% of entrepreneurs report feeling stressed, compared to 42% of other workers, and 34% say they “worried a lot”, versus 30% of employees
Harvard Business Review echoes these findings, noting that loneliness is especially acute among first-time and solo founders. And in a Self-Employment Review led by Julie Deane, founder of Cambridge Satchel Company, isolation consistently ranked as one of the biggest challenges faced by business owners.
This isn’t a personal failure.
It’s a structural reality of working alone.
The Quiet Cost of Doing Business Alone
Many entrepreneurs tell me the same thing:
“I’m independent.”
“I like working alone.”
“I don’t really need a business community.”
I understand this deeply.
I’m an ambivert. I thrive in one-on-one conversations. Groups can challenge me, especially when noise replaces presence. And still… I need people. I think better with people.
Not louder people.
Not performative spaces.
But intentional environments where ideas can be challenged, clarified, and refined.
Because isolation in business doesn’t always look like loneliness.
Sometimes it looks like overthinking, stalled decisions, or carrying everything alone.
A Business Community Is Not a Trend, It’s an Ecosystem
A real business community is not a Slack group you mute.
It’s not a room where you only show up to take.
It’s an ecosystem.
You give.
You receive.
You listen.
You contribute.
You learn when to speak and when to make space.
And yes, sometimes it’s frustrating.
Community requires patience.
Tolerance.
Compassion.
But convenience without connection quietly leads to isolation.
And isolation is expensive. It costs clarity, momentum, and perspective.
What I Learned by Choosing Community in 2025
2025 is the year I’ve been most in community.
Not because it was easy.
But because I chose to learn how to be in it.
I didn’t just find my people.
I became more patient.
More tolerant.
More compassionate.
I learned that the real gift of community isn’t just choosing who you’re with.
It’s learning how to be fully yourself and useful, without asking others to be different.
It’s not about being seen all the time.
It’s about being present.
Giving. Receiving. Respecting the rhythm.
That’s the price I’m willing to pay.
Inside a Business Community: The Abundance Clarity Circle
This belief is exactly why I created The Abundance Clarity Circle a business community designed for entrepreneurs who want clarity, not noise.
The Abundance Clarity Circle isn’t about hustling harder or chasing tactics. It’s about stepping back, identifying blind spots, and making better decisions together.
One participant shared this experience:
“Rose’s expertise in identifying gaps and inefficiencies in my business processes was invaluable. Through her guidance, I resolved critical issues that were hindering my sales performance. As a result, I significantly increased my revenue and was able to recoup existing balances.”
— Ciara Butler
What stands out isn’t just the result.
It’s what happens when people stop trying to solve everything alone.
That’s the quiet power of a well-held business community.
Why Being Part of a Business Community Changes How You Grow
When you’re part of a business community built on clarity and intention:
- You stop carrying decisions alone
- You gain perspective faster
- You recognize patterns sooner
- You make progress without burning out
Growth becomes less about pressure and more about alignment.
And alignment compounds.
Closing the Year Together
As the year comes to an end, many entrepreneurs rush to plan and optimize the year ahead. But before moving forward, there’s value in pausing.
That’s why I’m hosting the Abundance End-of-Year Review, a free live session designed to gently close the year and create space for what truly matters next.
This isn’t a business deep dive.
It’s a light, personal and business reflection.
A moment to reconnect, recalibrate, and move forward with clarity.
If this article resonated with you, I’d love for you to join us.
👉 Register for The Abundance Year Review and experience what intentional community can make possible.
Sources
- Agarwal, P. (2018). It Is Time We Acknowledged Loneliness in Entrepreneurs And Did Something About It. Forbes
- Harvard Business Review, CEO Snapshot Survey
- Gallup Wellbeing Index
- Self-Employment Review, Julie Deane (Cambridge Satchel Company)
