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Do you ever feel like that one lone martini glass on the back shelf at a dive bar – frosty, fabulous, and full of potential… but also tragically passed over because nobody wants to drench you in liquid courage or garnish you with a tiny pep talk on a toothpick?

Me too. All the time!

Isolation is just part of the solopreneur experience.

It’s the uninvited party guest of running our own show.

It sneaks in when you’re trying to decode your own to-do list, whispers in your ear about how the world is judging you, and reminds you that you're just a number every time a LinkedIn connection messages you to pitch their pyramid scheme.

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Here’s where the loneliness plot thickens, like an enthusiastically botched Manhattan.

Loneliness isn’t your enemy.

It’s not even a problem.

It’s a bat signal.

It’s a giant neon flashing sign from the universe saying, “Dude, it’s time to connect!... And no, that doesn’t mean reactivating your Facebook account.”

It’s a loving slap to the head to remind you that you’re wired for connection.

Soooo, if you’re feeling disconnected, it’s not because you’re broken or because no one likes you; it’s because you’ve outgrown your comfort zone and need a bigger dance floor, baby!

It’s just another human need we have to nourish.

Like, when your body’s thirsty, you drink water.

When your brain’s tired, you sleep.

And when your heart + soul is lonely, you seek out people.

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Isolation isn’t a badge of honor; it’s a cry for margaritas.

Running a business on our own is a cocktail shaker full of BIG, REAL, DEEP-SEATED emotions.

We’re the bartender, the DJ, the bouncer, and the lone drunk crying in the corner, all at the same time.

We’re like artisanal cocktails made with obscure ingredients nobody’s ever heard of.

Sure, we’re special.

But when you tell someone you’re a kombucha sommelier, they’re like, “…Cool? Anyway, Karen, how’s your real job?”

Sprinkle on all that emotion, how fucking busy we are. Between marketing, invoicing, creating, selling, and Googling “how to not lose your mind,” who has time to go out and… “PEOPLE?”

Sound on-brand? Congratulations! You’re human. And you’re not alone… in feeling alone. Oh, the sweet, sweet irony!

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Your to-do list isn’t the problem… your empty barstool is.

Think of the universe as a very persistent bartender who keeps sliding you a drink you didn’t order called, progress punch.

You can keep pushing it away + insisting you’re fine with your lonely lil’ club soda of struggle.

Oooor you can tilt your head back, open your throat, and send that shit sailing down the hatch, embracing that it’s exactly what you need. Prioritizing “peopling” + experiencing the kinda progress that hits you like a triple espresso martini.

Because connection will lead to more progress than content will… every damn time.

Connections fuels momentum.

Collaborations sparks ideas.

Conversations untangle knots.

Closeness creates confidence.

And suddenly, that thing you’ve been stuck on for weeks, months, or years?

BOOM… solved in 30 minutes over some real talk between kindreds.

Connection isn’t another task to add to your already overflowing overlord of a to-do list—it’s the spark that makes all those tasks easy, fun, meaningful, and POSSIBLE (in record time).

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The Bar is Back, Baby (Almost)

I’m going ALL-IN on connection + community in 2025 + beyond.

Like, ordering a double and sliding my entire to-do list off the bar kind of all-in.

Why?

Because I’m done chasing content quotas for content’s sake.

It’s exhausting, it’s lonely, and honestly, it’s like trying to spark joy with a soggy match.

Connections are where the magic is (and the money!), and I’m doubling down without apology.

Come February, Brandishing You is back, baby! But this time, it’s not just a branding bar; it’s a connection-laced speakeasy for solopreneurs who want to build brands and relationships that actually feel good + spark progress.

Imagine a place where collaboration flows like craft cocktails, and you leave every visit feeling like you’ve got the swagger of someone who just nailed karaoke on their first try.

I can’t wait to slide you a progress punch or clarity spritz once the doors reopen.

But for now, let’s start small! Think bar napkin notes, not grandiose toasts.

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Here are 15 easy, fun, feel good ways you can start sparking connections, collaborations, and conversations this week.

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✅ Find Your Bar: Whether it’s an online forum, a local meetup, or a co-working space, find your people. There’s a place for every shade of solopreneur – yes, even kombucha sommeliers. Start making that your home away from home.

✅ Slide into some DMs: Not like that! But seriously, reach out to that new Substack friend whose posts are giving you all the feels. Send a voice note. Share a meme. It’s low-pressure, and it’s a start.

✅ Host Your Own Happy Hour: Invite a few solopreneurs for a casual Zoom call. Make it fun. Theme it. Wear silly sunglasses. Nothing brings people together like laughing over the weird shit that only happens the moment you join a Zoom. Yep, that's my cat's ass perched in front of the camera. 🤦‍♀️

✅ Join a Community: (Shameless plug: Brandishing You is perfect for this, but it won’t be open for a couple of weeks.) Find a space where showing up as yourself isn’t just allowed – it’s the whole point! This isn't about kumbaya vibes, this is about energetic exchanges + people who change your mind (in the good ways)!

✅ Send a ‘Thinking of You’ Text to Someone You Admire. Reach out to that online friend, former client, or fellow solopreneur you’ve been meaning to connect with. Keep it light… say something like, "Hey, saw this [blank] and thought of you!" Or, "You're so [blank] I think we might have been separated at birth!" Both can fling the door right open.

✅ Make Your Errands a Conversation Starter. The barista? The grocery cashier? The librarian? The guy in line ahead of you? Strike up a quick chat. You never know where it could lead. NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT getting something tangible out of it. Energy exchanges are priceless.

✅ Compliment a Stranger Online. Leave a thoughtful comment on someone’s Substack or LinkedIn post. Just make sure you skip the generic "Great post!" we've been programmed to call engagement, and say something heartfelt – genuine compliments go a loooong way. Genuine being the key word.

✅ Plan a Co-Working Sesh. Grab a solopreneur + hop on a Zoom call to co-work. No pressure to talk the whole time, but the accountability and shared vibes can be magic. Connections don't always require talking your faces off! A lot of times, it's the little wins that come from simply being with someone that create bonds + builds trust.

✅ Drop a note in a group you’re already part of. Whether it’s a Slack channel, Facebook group, Mighty Network, Skool, or forum, share a win, ask a question, or just be vulnerable and tell them WTF is weighing heavy on you right now. Groups are only as alive as the people in them, so be the LIFE of the party!

✅ Make a Connection Wishlist. Write down 3-5 people you’d love to call your buddy or BFF, and challenge yourself to reach out to each one this week. Keep it casual: a DM, a compliment, or even a quick ‘thank you’ for something they’ve shared. Make a point to connect with them every single week… and I promise they’ll cherish you for the connection!

✅ Host a Virtual Brainstorm. Invite a few kindreds to hop on a morning Zoom with their coffee and breakfast. Keep it short and fun, and use it to share ideas or give feedback to each other.

✅ Trade a Skill or Resource. Need help with a website tweak? Offer to review someone’s copy in exchange. Collaborative trades (with the right person) build trust + connection really quick. Just make sure you listen to your gut + choose someone that really gets you, and you them… or it’ll turn into a much bigger workload for YOU.

✅ Go to a local event. Search for something simple + low-pressure near you – a networking night, open mic, workshop, whatever's clever. Brownie points if it comes with drinks + snacks… that’s always an easier “sell” for my introverted ass.

✅ Make it a Game. Challenge yourself to connect with one new person every day this week (or month!). It doesn’t have to be deep or business-related; even a friendly exchange with someone at the gym counts.

✅ Create a Shoutout Post. Share a post on your newsletter or socials spotlighting someone you admire -- whether it’s a fellow solopreneur, a mentor, or even a client who inspires you. Tag them, say something genuine, and watch how it sparks conversation (and maybe a few surprise connections with their kindreds, too).

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I double-dog-dare you to nourish your need for connection!

Choose 1-2 ideas off of this list and just do them.

No overthinking, no ‘maybe later,’ just dive in like it’s last call at the bar of progress + make it happen.

Slide into that DM… send that text… start that Zoom. Your lonely heart + soul will thank you with the buckets of progress that are evading you while you’re in this self-imposed isolation.

Chug that progress punch, baby! 🥤

Order the damn drink! Take the scary chance. Skip the mental debate and just pick one that makes you say, ‘Okay, that’s not too terrifying.’

And remember: you’re not alone in feeling alone. If you need proof, reply to this email. I’ll respond. Pinky promise!

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Now go out there and find the garnishes to your liquid courage,

Dre ‘Chief Connection Officer’ Beltrami