It’s Lonely At The Top

It’s Lonely At The Top

Running a successful business is hard.

I realize that’s a controversial statement.

Because let’s face it, no one really feels sorry for millionaire or billionaire business owners! And sure, running a successful company isn’t nearly as tough as raising a family as a single parent, growing up in poverty, or overcoming a major injury or illness.

At the same time though, I know first-hand that a whole lot of business owners you’d think have the dream life, actually struggle with their mental health.

They’re not truly happy. They constantly battle with self-doubt. And above all, they feel isolated and alone.

It’s not just guys at the very top though.

I’ve spoken to so many coaches who’ve gone from struggling to get by, or working a 9-to-5, to bringing in $100k, $200k, or even $500k+ per year, who’ve said to me -

“Russ, I know I’m doing well … But I’m not nearly as happy as I thought I’d be.”

That sucks. But it’s super common.?

And it’s why having people around you who ‘get it’ is so important.

You Don’t Have ‘Normal Challenges’

The difference between how most coaches and business owners approach life, compared to how most regular folks in a 9-to-5 approach life are vast.

You’ll see this anytime you have a conversation with someone who has no desire whatsoever to break the mold and do their own thing.

Their problems are way more likely to be around the lack of vacation time they have … How much they hate sitting in traffic for 2 hours a day … The fact they work 15 extra hours every week but don’t see that reflected in their pay packet … That colleague they just can’t stand, but can’t get rid of.

Whereas your challenges will likely be around feeling like you’re not having a big enough impact … Feeling like you’ve been plateaued too long and wanting to break through to new levels of growth … Juggling all the different hats you wear in your business, and so on.

That doesn’t mean you won’t also have a lot in common with non-business owners. In fact, sometimes you want friends like that, because it allows you to switch off from business and talk about something else.

But at the same time, from a growth point of view, you also need to be around people who ‘get you.’

A Successful Business Doesn’t Make You Happy

I know I should be sitting here, writing about how a 6 or 7-figure coaching business solves all your problems, and means you never have another stressful day your entire life.

But I can’t do that. Because it’s not true.

There’s a phrase I love - “New levels, new devils.”

Basically, it means that whenever you move up a level, you meet a new challenge.

So at level 1, you might be in a job you hate, and wanting to start your coaching business.

You achieve that, and while the ‘devil’ of your job has gone … Your new devil is finding clients and earning a consistent income.

Once you’re signing clients and earning consistently though, you’re up another level, and now your devil could be attracting too many ‘problem clients.’ Or maybe it’s working too many hours. Or trying to hire staff but not knowing where to begin.

See, it doesn’t matter what level you’re at, there’s going to be something that challenges you and causes you stress.

And if you don’t surround yourself with people on the same wavelength as you, it’s going to be a long, lonely ride.

Community Cures All

The power of a great community can never be understated.

Surrounding yourself with the right people really is a gamechanger in business.

Now, I want to be clear here -- If you’re earning $200k per year, this doesn’t mean you can only hang out with other coaches earning $200k per year. It’s much more about mindset.

So rather than looking at your income, look at your values.?

If you’re hard-working, impact-driven, and take radical responsibility, you want to get yourself around other people who work hard, are impact-driven and take radical responsibility.

Doesn’t matter if they don’t yet have a business and are simply working on building one, or if they’re 20 years ahead of you and already bringing in 8 figures a year.

The bottom line is, you want to be around people you vibe with.

There’s no need to sever ties with everyone else you currently hang out with. I don’t think that’s a healthy way to do things at all.

But if you are feeling alone, or it’s a case that most people around you don’t get you, then rather than putting your immediate energy into attracting more clients, or working out a new marketing strategy, maybe spend some of that effort on getting yourself around other people like you.

It might not directly add $10k to your bank balance, but indirectly, you’ll add millions over the next decades.