The Solopreneur Myth: Alone but Not Unsupported

Costa Rica 2023

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.”
- Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) 4: 9-10

The path of the solopreneur is often misunderstood.
To some, it looks like isolation. To others, it feels like freedom.

When I first stepped into business ownership, I was navigating new language: Sole proprietor. Self-employed. Independent contractor. Freelancer. Solopreneur. I gravitated toward solopreneur, but the image that accompanied it was stark: a lone figure, late into the night, behind a glowing screen. Overwhelmed. Unseen.

But I knew that couldn’t be the full story.

The word solopreneur describes someone who builds and runs a business alone. No partners. No team. Just one vision, one vessel. But the truth is more nuanced than the definition. Many of us who walk this path may operate solo, but we are not without support. We build in communion, with mentors, clients, advisors, contractors, or the quiet counsel of our faith.

Mastery, I’ve learned, is not about doing everything alone.
It’s about knowing what only you can do, and designing your business accordingly.

For some, mastery looks like scale: more products, bigger teams, wider reach.
For others, it looks like depth: fewer clients, more intimacy, intentional pacing.
Neither path is more valid. What matters is alignment.

I never dreamed of managing a large portfolio or hiring a team. I wanted proximity. I wanted sovereignty. I wanted to preserve the sacredness of my work. That meant building a business that didn’t compromise my rhythm, my peace, or my vision. That meant redefining what success and support looked like for me.

Solopreneurship isn’t a lesser path, it’s a deliberate one.
It’s the work of choosing clarity over comparison.
Structure over scale. Depth over distraction.

And no matter how “solo” your path appears, you’re never truly walking alone.

Reflection: What does mastery look like for you in this season? Are you building for expansion or designing for alignment?

Shalom, everyone!