Fred Rogers once said that in scary times, you should look for the helpers. He meant firefighters, nurses, neighbors, people who show up when the world feels unmanageable.
Entrepreneurs live in a different kind of scary time: the 2 a.m. cash-flow spreadsheet, the product launch that wobbles, the co-founder who suddenly “needs more balance” and leaves you holding the bag. There are no sirens or smoke here, but the fear is real. And the loneliness is worse.
The Message I Needed, Right When I Needed It
A couple of weeks ago, I sat at the Prosper Forum in Amelia Island, Florida, listening to Liz Forkin Bohannon unpack the epidemic of loneliness leaders face “at the top.” And honestly, I couldn’t have heard it at a better time.
It was one of those moments where someone names the thing you’ve been carrying but didn’t have language for. For me, it landed with the weight of truth: success can be isolating. The myth of the “visionary founder who never wavers” is not just exhausting, it’s destructive.
Liz’s talk was a reminder that if you feel lonely as a leader, you’re not broken. You’re human.
Entrepreneurship: The Glorified Solo Act That Isn’t
We love to mythologize entrepreneurs as lone wolves. Brilliant outliers with a laptop, a dream, and just enough caffeine to build empires. But ask anyone who’s actually lived it: the “lone” in lone wolf is not sexy. It’s isolating.
And here’s the paradox: everyone wants to help the underdog entrepreneur starting out. But once you look like you’ve made it, the support evaporates. Suddenly you’re the one expected to be bulletproof.
Why Helpers Are a Business Strategy
Here’s where Fred Rogers’ advice gets entrepreneurial:
Spot your helpers. Investors who actually care about more than your next round. Fellow founders who admit failure stories instead of only posting “we’re thrilled to announce…” on LinkedIn. The quiet friend who listens without pitching you an idea.
Build your circle. Entrepreneurship is a contact sport, but the field doesn’t have to be lonely. Founder dinners, mastermind groups, accelerator alumni networks, these are not extracurriculars. They’re survival systems.
Be someone else’s helper. The fastest way to cut through isolation is to show up for someone else. Share a hard-earned lesson. Open your calendar. Tell the truth when another entrepreneur asks how it’s going. You’ll be shocked how much lighter your own load feels.
Why This Matters More Than Capital
Venture funding can extend your runway. Market traction can validate your vision. But neither will keep you sane when you’re doubting whether you’re cut out for this.
Community is the undervalued currency of entrepreneurship. It doesn’t show up on the balance sheet, but it compounds:
Founders with trusted peer circles pivot faster and smarter.
Teams built on mutual care outlast competitors fueled only by hustle.
Entrepreneurs who admit they need help avoid the quiet implosions that take down “unbeatable” startups.
The Real Founder Superpower
Every entrepreneur loves a good origin story: “I had nothing but an idea and a garage, and now look at us.” But the stories worth emulating aren’t the ones about going it alone. They’re about who showed up, who joined the tribe, and who shared the weight.
The entrepreneur’s real superpower isn’t resilience. It’s receptivity. It’s being humble enough to look for the helpers, and brave enough to accept their hands when they reach out.
Because at the end of the day, building something that lasts isn’t about proving you can stand alone at the summit. It’s about making sure the people you climbed with are still standing next to you when you get there.
