Penny Power Ponders: Tackling Loneliness in the Business World
Penny Power OBE
The Human Touch in an AI World- Creating Love & Connection for Business Owners in an emotionally disconnected world through BIP100/ Author ?? Business Is Personal
Good morning! Today, I want to address a topic that many might find familiar but few discuss openly: the loneliness that business owners often face. My recent three-year online survey, with responses from 1,780 business owners, revealed that 70% had experienced loneliness in the past month. This loneliness can manifest in numerous ways, impacting both personal well-being and business performance:
The driving force behind my life and work has been combating loneliness. Since the internet began transforming our lives, I’ve focused on how vital it is to feel valued within a group. Scientifically, reduced social connections impact the brain chemical oxytocin, crucial for fostering confidence and resilience through bonding and love.
The 27 years I have dedicated myself to this subject in business, by providing community, I have seen both sides, those people I meet that are not deeply connected, and those that are.
These are the symptoms described to me by ‘emotionally disconnected’ business people:
These challenges are significant because they not only affect the individual but also the health of their business. Many business owners hesitate to reach out for support due to various reasons:
This is why building a supportive community and participating in in-person events are more crucial than ever. Engaging with a community can:
I strongly believe and have evidenced that loneliness in business isn't just a personal issue. While we feel it personally, its impact on our business is profound.
I always ask new members of our BIP100 Community when they join us, “what ROI are you chasing here?”, without an exception, they all state emotional reasons above business ones. It is not a surprise, we are starved of the very thing we need to survive, ‘deep connection’, we all know what happens as a result of community, our business grows. Through the shared learning, the friendships, the increased motivation and the ideas shared. Not forgetting the trust built that enables referrals and direct business deals.
Make 2025 a year that you deeply connect, build trusted business friendships with a peer group that you respect, admire and aspire to.
As always, I am eager to hear your thoughts and experiences. How do you combat loneliness in your business life? Let’s discuss and support each other in fostering an engaged and vibrant business community.
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Let's make 2025 a year where our digital advancements celebrate and amplify our human essence. Thank you for being part of this journey, and for allowing me the privilege to share in your lives.
Fractional General Counsel | Commercial IP & IT Lawyer | Helping Start ups & Scale ups Navigate Growth Securely & Strategically
1 个月Thank you for sharing this and raising awareness of the curse of loneliness amongst business owners, an interesting read. Thank you Penny Power OBE and Thomas Power for all of the work you put into the BIP100 community which we all benefit hugely from being part of.
Transforming your Inner critic into your Inner Ally. Inspiring children, their carers and educators to cultivate their compassionate voice. Helping Women make friends with their body.
1 个月Thank you for naming this Penny. Very important issue that I wish I had understood as I embarked on this business adventure. I resonate deeply with your message. The biggest challenge for me has been finding my "tribe" where I feel my core values are aligned.
Helping Web3 projects boost their site's traffic by 20% (minimum), 1st page search ranking, & seen as an authority in your industry - in 90 days. If not, we continue for free until you are.
1 个月Radio stations (6 Music for me) and podcasts help provide company during working hours. I'm glad to see you reflect on this Penny. It's something I've thought more about lately. Guess I'm feeling it more with winter's early evenings. Running a successful online business is my objective, and solitude is part of the deal.
Retired Finance. Trade and Development Facilitator and Member of True&Fair Party
1 个月One can be alone and not experience loneliness so long as You know there are others You can connect with whenever required ?? ?? and on here and via Penny's ponderings there is alway connectivity
Managing Director at The Diverse Cleaning Company South Ltd
1 个月Many years ago being personal was frowned upon as being unprofessional in many circles that I moved in. How intensely I disliked that culture! Ultimately its what drove me to start my own privately funded and run businesses - businesses that could and would be personal at every opportunity bringing personality and soul into every interaction - after all its the very essence of who we are as humans isn't it? Loneliness in business for some is a significant challenge but for me it isn't - I have developed a huge network of business friends and personal friends that I have contact with on a regular basis. Though my involvement with a couple of local charities, supporting University students making their way and through the large network of friends and supporters at our local community rugby club (#PRFC) and lastly through the never ending opportunities to spend time with my Grandchildren. I don't differentiate between business life and private life as its all just LIFE! I count myself as extremely fortunate - but sometimes you have to make your own luck right?