Ever notice how the same business decision can feel obvious with a friend nearby, and completely impossible when you're facing it alone? There's a real psychological reason for that, and it explains a huge amount about solo entrepreneur burnout, overthinking, and the strange swing between overconfidence and self-doubt that comes with building something by yourself.

In this episode, Jo breaks down social referencing, the psychological mechanism that makes humans check other people's faces before making decisions, first studied in infants and never actually switched off in adults. She explains what happens to decision-making and even your nervous system when that "room" disappears completely, why working from home in isolation can quietly distort how you judge your own performance, and why the habit of "reading the room" can turn against women in particular once there's no room left to read.

If you've ever wondered why you can give a friend brilliant advice about a problem you can't solve for yourself, this episode explains exactly why, and what small, concrete thing actually helps.

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Connect with Jo:

Instagram: @thequietgame
Website: www.jobeldade.com
Email: info@jobeldade.com

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