Hey solopreneurs, it’s ok to talk about our feelings.

Hey there, ??

Welcome to the next edition of The Human Marketer newsletter!

And this edition is another personal one for me.

During the pandemic, I came across an article written by one of my favorite content marketing experts.

Marcus Sheridan ?is a leading marketing keynote speaker, author, and inspiring entrepreneur. He turned around his struggling swimming pool business by embracing content marketing 11 years ago. He has been sharing his experience and wisdom since.

I remember listening to him at my first content marketing event and thinking, “Wow! This guy has got energy and passion!”.?

I have followed his articles over the years and admired his optimism and straight talk.

In the middle of the pandemic, Marcus published an article titled “The 2020 lesson that changed me forever as a business owner” .

Knowing how difficult this time was (and still is) for many businesses, I anticipated some harsh words and hard truths.

But what was written was not what I had expected… instead I read something that truly resonated with me on a personal level.

Marcus wrote about the feeling of losing control over his future and his destiny.

I had experienced this by then, and I am sure you have.

Accepting reality is sometimes complicated because we are used to controlling almost every aspect of our lives, especially our professional life.

Marcus described it as follows:

And then he continued:

"If the economy crashed, I could make changes. If the economy soared, I would make the adjustments. It was somewhat cut and dry…until March of 2020.”

If this belief system is deeply ingrained within yourself, this realization can be a real shock to your system and difficult to adjust to and accept.

Especially if you own your own business and have spent years of energy, passion, time, and money building it – only to see it all crumbling before you and the feeling of helplessness as you are powerless to stop it.

Most of my conversations with business owners over the last two years have centered around the ongoing uncertainty in our futures.

The feeling of “there is nothing I can do about it” and anxiety about what kind of future lies ahead.?

On top, there is genuine concern surrounding the emotional challenge business owners, and solopreneurs are facing.

The loneliness many experiences, the lack of human connection, and in some cases, the feeling of shame or embarrassment to share the struggles that take us to dark places.

Since starting my journey as a solopreneur, I’ve been through the ebb and flow of feelings.

One day you are excited, and the next day, you are worried if you will be able to figure things out.

Here I come back to the post from Marcus.

His article resonated because the question of what I can do to regain control and stay optimistic during these challenging times is a regular companion in my life.

The answer I chose for myself is: Talk openly about your feelings and encourage others to do the same. Know that you are not alone in this situation.

By sharing and talking, we can lift each other up and out. Helping others by sharing our unvarnished truth gives us purpose too.

After reading the article, I dropped Marcus a message to tell him that he spoke for many out there, which was helpful for me to read.

He replied, “It was actually quite difficult for me to publish, almost “out of character” if you will. But my sense is that’s likely a good thing on occasion. :)”.

And here lies the truth. Marcus decided to do something that felt out of character for him.

He admitted his feeling of losing control and decided to share it instead of hiding it.

That is the bravery and courage that I admire in him and many others who do exactly this during difficult times.

Sharing their vulnerability and therefore connecting in the most human way possible.

By doing that, we take the first step in regaining control of our lives.

A deliberate decision to share our feelings and stories, especially when they involve struggle, heartache, and uncertainty.

Let’s be more like Marcus. It will help us and others through the tough times.?

Stay safe. Stay optimistic. Stay human.

I'll see you in two weeks.

Mike