Is Lone Ranger Syndrome Killing Your Business?

Written on March 10, 2010 by Ali Davies in Business Success Blog
12 Comments - Leave a comment!

AIs Lone Ranger Syndrome Killing Your Businessre you running a business from home, trying to do everything yourself?

Do you just think of it as one of the aspects that goes with the territory of being a sole trader and the only consequence is feeling a bit isolated, lonely and unsupported from time to time?

If you answered “yes” to either of these questions then it’s time for a re-think. You need to find a way to cure your Lone Ranger Syndrome quick, because it is a lot more serious than just leading to isolation and having to do everything yourself.

Lone Ranger Syndrome Can Kill your Business

Just in case you are thinking I am being just a touch alarmist, let me explain:

Look at people running successful small businesses. One of the common factors is that they don’t do it all alone. Now I am not talking about having staff on payroll here. I am talking:

  • hiring help for areas of the business that aren’t their area of expertise, knowledge or skill set
  • outsourcing stuff that bores the pants off them so they can concentrate on what they love and are good at.
  • surrounding themselves with a support team to brainstorm ideas, strategise and so on.

The point is this:

Successful Business Owners don’t do everything on their own

So, if you are suffering from Lone Ranger Syndrome and doing nothing about it you are risking it killing the business success you want.

How to Kill Lone Ranger Syndrome Before It Kills Your Business

It’s simple – get help. If you can factor hiring help into your financial strategy, do it. Can’t afford to hire the help you need? That is no excuse for doing nothing. If you genuinely can’t afford it:

  • seek out other home based business owners – share information, support each other
  • meet up at regular intervals with the purpose of helping each other develop your businesses
  • build a support team around you by building genuine relationships

Whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Lone Ranger Syndrome is a Choice. There are ALWAYS ways to get the help you need whether you can pay for it or not. Think creatively. Think outside the box.

Whatever you do, NEVER underestimate the damage that Lone Ranger Syndrome can and will do to your chances of Business Success.

Do you have any tips of dealing with Lone Ranger Syndrome on a budget?

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  • Ali,

    You're so right with this Lone Ranger syndrome and the addition of Tonto alone just isn't enough. The power of more than one extra body is more than the sum of the parts and beneficially in many other ways.

    I wrote post on this a few weeks ago which you may wish to read, http://www.diary4life.com/create-a-mastermind-team/

    There are so many different ways to make new contacts and service existing ones with the birth of Social Media.

    Thank you for sharing this message.

    Regards

    Paul
  • Glad you liked it Paul. Like the point about Tonto!!!
  • I use Skype to stay in touch with a group of friends that are working by themselves too - free and easy way to keep you motivated and focused.

    Also I've found myself a couple of great mentors that are more than willing to give some advice when i've a problem - its even good just to know that they are there and can be called upon when needed!
  • Good quality mentors are worth their weight in gold. Finding the really good ones is the key.
  • Hi Ali, great post. Your last comment 'choice and help is everywhere' I personally really identify with being in a very similar postition to yourself. I too have found that help surrounds us and for me I have found it also through using some of the social media tools and online platforms to engage with others and find local people as well. The even greater part is meeting up and sharing which is really supportive. I have to say as well that following regular bloggers is also a great source of help and learning and your blogs certainly do this as well. Thanks Sharon
  • Thank you Sharon. I appreciate your comment and feedback. I agree that Social media tools are great for building a community of like minded and supportive people. There are so many ways to build a support network both online and offline these days. I find a combination of the two works best for me.
  • Relevant post Ali - fair play. Isolation was one of the first experiences of my entrepreneurial sojourn because I started out on my own. It is too easy to disappear and fail before you've started by not making sure you get help when you need it. And you are right, the biggest blocker seems to be budget until you go digging and realise there is a lot of help out there, be that government agencies or other business owners. People are always willing to help you out when they can - the general feeling of good-will amongst individual and small business owners, especially in this climate, is amazing.

    A great comment that I heard with a guy I met the other day... "It's sometimes just good to meet the other mad people, who have started up their own business, so that you can hear other people with the same problems as you!"

    You are not alone!
  • Thank you for sharing your experience Barney. Your comment about budget being a blocker reminded me of the importance as buisness owners of asking questions instead of making statements. So, "I can't afford the help I need " becomes "How can I get the help I need?"
    I think that one of my big learnings since leaving the corporate world to run a home based business is that isolation is a choice and support is everywhere, if you seek it out.
  • heatherbestel
    When I lived in a big city I used to meet up with a group of WAHMs on a monthly basis. It turned into a mutual appreciation society and we loved the positive vibe. We even got together to do some joint ventures, so it was profitable in more ways than one.
    Now that I live in the countryside, it's not easy to get together in person, but I still connect regularly with those women and we give each other cyber support.
    I've also joined a mastermind group and can highly recommend it. If you're on a budget and can't afford a coach, then coach each other and share resources.
  • I agree with you on Mastermind Groups. I am in one with three other business owners and the discussions, feedback, ideas and support that come out of it are a huge benefit, both professionally and personally.
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