\n\t\t Entrepreneur \t<\/p>\n
When you first launch a company, especially as a solo founder, it can feel like you\u2019ve buried yourself deep in the ground. It\u2019s isolated, it\u2019s quiet and if you\u2019re working early mornings and late at night, like I did, the darkness can quite literally envelop you.<\/p>\n
It reminds me of the story of the seed, lying alone in the soil. \u201cWhere is the sun?\u201d it wonders in alarm. \u201cWhere are the other seeds? Why is it so quiet? (Let\u2019s assume for the sake of this parable that seeds can feel these things).<\/p>\n
But over time, the seed grows roots. It pushes upward, little by little. Eventually, it breaks through the surface. That\u2019s when it realized \u2014 it wasn\u2019t buried. It was planted.<\/p>\n
Like being buried versus being planted, loneliness and solitude are two sides of the same coin. The difference lies in your mindset. As May Sarton aptly put it in her book, The Journal of a Solitude<\/i>: \u201cLoneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.\u201d<\/p>\n
For founders, learning to view solitude as an opportunity can become one of your greatest advantages. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n
Related: 5 Solopreneur Mindset Shifts and Why They\u2019re Critical to Your Success<\/b><\/p>\nSolitude vs. loneliness<\/h2>\n
When I was first building Jotform, I spent more time by myself than I ever had. It wasn\u2019t that I was alone \u2014 quite the opposite. Not only did I build my business in the dense crush of humanity that is New York City, but I also mostly worked in public, bouncing from coffee shop to coffee shop as I laid Jotform\u2019s foundation.<\/p>\n
And yet, despite being surrounded by people, I was very much on my own. Occasionally, being so deep in my own world made me panic. What did I think I was doing? Why did I think this idea would work?<\/p>\n
But embracing solitude and sitting in its discomfort is a choice. Neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky has written extensively about how the body\u2019s response to stress depends less on the stressor itself and more on how we perceive it. If you view a challenge as a threat, your body floods with damaging stress hormones. But if you see that same challenge as an opportunity, your physiology changes \u2014 you become more resilient and more focused.<\/p>\n
The same principle applies to being alone. Loneliness \u2014 the kind that eats away at you \u2014 comes when isolation feels imposed or out of your control. It\u2019s stress framed as a threat. Solitude, by contrast, is stress reframed as opportunity. It can be restorative and even powerful.<\/p>\n
Like being buried versus being planted, the external conditions may look the same. The difference is all in your mindset.<\/p>\n
Every founder starts off alone. It\u2019s not a sign of failure. It\u2019s a rite of passage.<\/p>\n
In storytelling, this is called the Hero\u2019s Journey \u2014 a narrative structure that appears in myths and movies across cultures. It begins with an ordinary person living in a familiar world, until one day they\u2019re called to something bigger. To answer that call, they must leave the comfort of the known and step into uncertainty \u2014 alone.<\/p>\n
Founders go through the same thing. You leave behind steady paychecks, clear expectations and a sense of predictability. By necessity, this transformative time is one that has to be endured alone \u2014 that is, after all, where the growth comes from. Moments of stillness spawn creativity, but even more than that, the act of being alone builds strength and resilience. Studies have found that those with a higher \u201csolitude capacity\u201d tend to be emotionally stable, ambitious and open to new experiences.<\/p>\n
The goal isn\u2019t to spend all your time alone. But being comfortable with solitude forces you to learn to trust yourself. For solo founders in particular, there is no skill more valuable. You learn to solve your own problems, make your own decisions and be your own biggest cheerleader. My advice? Structure your solitude. Use that time for deep work. Acknowledge the discomfort and resist the urge to grab your phone and scroll the pain away.<\/p>\n
This early solo stretch might feel like a lonely detour, but it\u2019s not. It\u2019s essential. It\u2019s where you clarify your vision and develop the self-reliance that will serve you for the rest of your journey.<\/p>\n
Related: Introverts and Extroverts Both Need Solitude to Do Their Best Work. Here\u2019s Why \u2014 and How to Give it to Them.<\/b><\/p>\nIt\u2019s not forever<\/h2>\n
As the father of three kids, I sometimes miss the days when loneliness was even a possibility. But the fact is, I left that time behind when my business eventually started growing. Now, I have teams, collaborators and constant conversations filling my schedule \u2014 there\u2019s always someone to meet with, something to review and decisions to make. The solitude I once had has been replaced by the hum of shared momentum.<\/p>\n
And while I\u2019m grateful for all of it, I also recognize what those early quiet days gave me: space to grow, clarity of purpose and the ability to move forward without needing external validation. That time alone built the foundation \u2014 not just for my business, but for the leader I eventually became.<\/p>\n
As your business grows, the solitary phase will naturally transition into collaboration and teamwork. But early on, don\u2019t rush to fill the void of loneliness with noise. Embrace the quiet, learn from it and let it shape you into a more resilient, focused and effective leader.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
When you first launch a company, especially as a solo founder, it can feel like you\u2019ve buried yourself deep in the ground. It\u2019s isolated, it\u2019s quiet and if you\u2019re working early mornings and late at night, like I did, the darkness can quite literally envelop you.<\/p>\n
It reminds me of the story of the seed, lying alone in the soil. \u201cWhere is the sun?\u201d it wonders in alarm. \u201cWhere are the other seeds? Why is it so quiet? (Let\u2019s assume for the sake of this parable that seeds can feel these things).<\/p>\n
But over time, the seed grows roots. It pushes upward, little by little. Eventually, it breaks through the surface. That\u2019s when it realized \u2014 it wasn\u2019t buried. It was planted.<\/p>\n