My wolf pants from Nominou Designs are my favourite pants in the world. I feel good when I wear them and I’ve come to identify with the wolf too…especially when I had one eye me up this afternoon at a wildlife park. The arctic wolf was pacing back and forth in her enclosure (I assumed she was a she) and she came closer when I said she was beautiful. I looked her in the eyes and saw a lot of myself reflected back.

The kids fell asleep so I reflected on the drive home and thought about the wonderful world of fitness and entrepreneurship and how it can sometimes be lonely even in a team setting. A friend yesterday asked if I ever felt alone in a crowded room and I knew exactly what he was talking about.

I can remember telling my mom how lonely it was running one of my first races back in 2014 but now even as a member of a rather large run club, I prefer to run alone. I don’t workout with a partner, because I tune into my playlist and tune out the gym. I am a sole proprietor because my business is my passion and my dreams are mine. I don’t play team sports, but I can be a team player.

Am I a lone wolf?

Starting and growing a business can be lonely because even though we’re fueled by our passion and area of expertise there’s soooooooooooo much we have to figure out on our own and it’s comforting to find out we’re not the only one! Whenever I have the opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs, sole proprietors especially, I feel that rush of relief like “Hallelujah! Someone who knows what I’m going through!” (Kind of like when moms get together for girls night.)

I have encountered some truly social runners who chat away the whole route and trod merrily along whereas I identify with the runner who pops the earbuds in and turns up the upbeat playlist and prefers to knock out the miles in solitude. (I’ll meet you at the cooldown and chat at the pub, mmkay?) Neither one is better than other, they are just two ways of doing it.

I am the only one working my business. I am the only logging kilometres.

Does that mean I’m lonely in this fitpreneurship journey?

Not anymore! I think I was when my running journey started and when my business was brand new. I felt like I had to go it alone and figure it all out by myself. Yes, I’m a lone wolf but now I’m also part of a pack! I’m fully aware I’m not really a wolf so it works that I’m both!

I don’t believe we can truly succeed on our own as entrepreneurs even though we as individuals are the ones who drive things forward. Even athletes in solo sports have coaches and don’t win medals all by themselves. You cannot know it all and you cannot do it all by yourself. There’s no way a personal trainer can be an expert at CrossFit and running and barre and nutrition. A health entrepreneur cannot be an expert at medicine and accounting and marketing and the law. Just not possible. Even lone wolves need a pack.

Be a pack leader.

Lead the pack you choose to gather around you! Your vision guides your performance in business and life but you never have to go it alone.