Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?
41–50 of 183 posts
Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?
#42Personally, whenever I feel lonely I would go volunteer and help people. It makes you feel connected and really puts things into perspective (like, even if your startup doesn't do well, you would still be surrounded by people who enjoys you as a person).
Every Saturday, my wife and I volunteer at our local library (northside branch in santa clara) to teach people how to code.
We've been doing that for almost a year with surprising results. Now I'm leading about 10 engineers that I've taught from the ground up and they are happily building features for my app for minimum wage (temporarily). I'm hoping that one of my apps take off and I can pay everyone great salary.
Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?
#43Thank you for posting this. I've five weeks into working for myself and avoiding loneliness has become a key task for me every day. I wouldn't say I'm succeeding at it, to be honest. I know I could join a coworking space but I question whether it's worth $400+ a month when I wouldn't be able to attend the networking events since I have a family and need to be home at night. (And I don't need meeting space, and have a…
I did the coworking space thing a few years ago, it wasn't worth it. No one there was doing anything interesting. There really wasn't much conversion. It was a waste of money for me. I can work alone for a long time. It's just the loneliness that slowly builds up over a long time from not talking about the project with peers walking the same path that sucks.
A good friend of mine who is a solo entrepreneur (...in a different city) said this was their experience too. They recommended finding a good coffee shop. They've been going to the same one for months and said that it slowly builds a culture of accountability and familiarity among the regulars.
Solves the socialization part, though not the lack of feedback and discussion.
Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?
#44I'd like a place where I could log in and see people working. The https://complice.co/rooms stuff (just chat, no cams) mentioned above/below is an interesting concept. Pomodoro timers. X mins push, Y mins talk. Shame the rooms are empty.
So...
A while back I was playing around on shodan looking for open webcams and found a few where you 'could log in and see people working'. Or, mostly, watch people who probably should be doing something productive not actually working.
My favorite was a town square in Bulgaria, wonder if that one's still open...
Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?
#45My friend Sherry is a counselor specifucally working with startup founders. Her husband Rob is the founder of Drip (and probably hangs out here) . She offers individual counseling and has some great group programs so you know you aren't alone in the challenges you face. I can not recommend her enough. https://zenfounder.com
Wow, her content looks really great. Thanks for sharing!
This is a real thing. And she has told me that the most common thing she works with is people thinking they are alone. And they are! Because the specific challenges founders face are unique to them and that compounds the feeling of "no one understands." But that doesn't mean community and counsel can't help immensely.
If you feel this way please get in touch with Sherry or listen to her podcasts and read the content. It can change your perspective and help embolden you.
Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?
#46Thank you for posting this. I've five weeks into working for myself and avoiding loneliness has become a key task for me every day. I wouldn't say I'm succeeding at it, to be honest. I know I could join a coworking space but I question whether it's worth $400+ a month when I wouldn't be able to attend the networking events since I have a family and need to be home at night. (And I don't need meeting space, and have a…
When I worked from home full time for a few years I found the gym to be a great place for social interaction. I would work at home in the morning, then gym, and work in a coffee shop in the afternoon. If you keep a schedule you’ll see the same people and eventually have some people to randomly chat with.
Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?
#47I have an accountability thing with a few close people in my life.
I commit to them that I'll do X items this week, and we catch up on them each few days. It helps me with keeping promises to myself and others, since I picked up bad habits during my depression's worst states.
It doesn't help with loneliness, but at least you have a person to talk to about what you're doing.
If you're working only on your startup, I'd recommend not burning too much time on it, and using the other time on other activities with other people.
Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?
#48This comment may be appreciated or not, but, I find (for myself) that taking Thanksgiving dinners and birthday cakes and pies and (often disasterous) dinners to "old folks homes" to be good for me.
I get to meet some people outside of my realm. That also appreciate me. That want to talk. Not about engineering stuff.
Just show up with a pie and a smile - and ... you realize that: 1) everything isn't so bad, 2) we're all going to be here (perspective), and 3) they know more about life than you do.
Give it a try. I've been doing it for 20 years. After my girlfriend at the time ended up a paraplegic from an accident, she ended up in rehab at one of these places. Other than her brain, she got better and left. I keep going back. YMMV.
EDIT: My point is-- you aren't the only lonely person out there. Sometimes you have to take the first step to make a friend. Even outside of your realm of experience.
Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?
#49Get yourself into a mastermind group with 2-5 others in a similar situation - solo founders, bootstrappers, etc. You can start with just 1 other person then add more.
Have a regular 1 hour video call every week or two. Everyone gives updates, support, and keeps each other accountable on goals.
Keep a Slack/Skype channel open in between to say hi, help each other, share wins, etc. Bonus points for meeting locally, but online is fine.
Why? Masterminds are the biggest thing I did going from wantreprenur to actually shipping & earning from products. They're also one of the best things you can do to beat entrepreneurial loneliness. Every week you meet other people who share your struggles and are invested in your success.
Here's a good resource for running one: https://taylorpearson.me/mastermind/
If you find at least 1 other person willing to do this (a few candidates on this thread already, or make a FB / LinkedIn post) I'll happily join the first one to facilitate & show how. Email in profile.
P.S. A coworking space + online communities like founder cafe, product people, complice, wip.chat (h/t other posters) can also be super helpful.
Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?
#50Try suggesting this idea at Indie Hackers (indiehackers.com), I think there are more founders there interested in starting something like this