Laura Meyer, host of The Expert Freedom Show, has spent more than 25 years building businesses. She has closed one company, rebuilt with another and now runs a successful marketing company while raising three kids. In this solo episode she gets candid about entrepreneur loneliness: why it shows up right when the business starts working, and the three core reasons behind it.

Laura covers the beliefs that keep business owners feeling isolated, how isolation fuels imposter syndrome, and how to build a support system and community of people who actually get it. If you’re an experienced expert building your own business and wondering why success feels so lonely, this episode is for you.

Timeline Summary

[0:00] – Cold open: 25 years in business, more than one rock bottom, and the rebuilding that follows

[0:20] – Why success can make entrepreneurs feel more alone, and the three core reasons behind it

[0:43] – A student’s honest post about the mental load and loneliness of building her own business

[1:45] – Laura’s early mistake: only befriending entrepreneurs and getting too close with her staff

[2:33] – Why Laura has her ads manager block her local area from her ads

[3:27] – A derogatory email about being “overly ambitious” that her husband was accidentally copied on

[4:15] – The beliefs underneath entrepreneur loneliness, starting with “other people should get it”

[5:50] – Owning the path less chosen and lowering what you expect from friends and family

[6:16] – Building an identity outside the business as an athlete, a mother and a robotics coach

[7:41] – Spotting when loneliness flares up, plus Laura’s 5 a.m. deep work routine in the summer

[8:52] – Leaving corporate structure behind and how isolation fuels imposter syndrome

[10:22] – What if it’s supposed to be hard? Reframing obstacles as part of the entrepreneurial journey

[11:22] – After rock bottom, be intentional about who stands next to you while you rebuild

[12:12] – Coach Jennifer, an extreme triathlete, finds common ground in people who share her capacity to grow

[13:05] – Choosing a business community that matches your values, and who Expert Freedom is built for

[14:35] – Both of Laura’s lonely stretches came right before the parts she’s most proud of

5 Key Takeaways

1. Success Changes Your Relationships — Once your business gets visible, some people will misunderstand it and some will quietly resent it. Expecting that ahead of time takes away a lot of the sting.
2. Check Your Beliefs First — A lot of entrepreneur loneliness comes from believing other people should understand or support your path. You chose this path and they didn’t, so let go of that expectation.
3. Build an Identity Beyond Business — Hobbies, family roles and community involvement give you common ground with people who will never care about your business. That makes you a lot less isolated.
4. Isolation Feeds Imposter Syndrome — The “maybe I’m not good enough” thoughts usually show up when you’re alone, not when you’re around a coach or a community. Pay attention to when they hit.
5. Choose Your Community Intentionally — Look for a small group of people building at the same stage and with the same values as you. Shared experience matters less than a shared drive to grow.

Links & Resources

• Future Self Journal — http://expertfutureselfjournal.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=expert_freedom_show&utm_content=EP008
• Expert Freedom (Laura’s program and community) — https://getexpertfreedom.com

Enjoyed This Episode?

If Laura’s story about the email her husband was never supposed to see felt a little too familiar, you’re not the only one going through this. Send this episode to an expert in your life who’s building something of her own and could use the reminder that loneliness isn’t proof she’s doing it wrong. Then follow, rate and review The Expert Freedom Show so more women like her can find it.