| If you work as an independent consultant often you | | | | on the amount time when you want to enjoy being |
| will find yourself working alone even though you may | | | | in the company of others or when you just want to |
| have close friends or family members. In fact, | | | | enjoy your own company. |
| depending on the type of consulting work that you | | | | Choose aloneness and discard loneliness if you work |
| do, finding time to be alone may be a must. However | | | | as an independent consultant. It is not difficult to find |
| aloneness should not be confused with loneliness. For | | | | organizations and groups to join if you are single or |
| two terms which sounds so similar, there is a world | | | | to plan family activities for fun and enjoyment. |
| of difference between the two. The difference is as | | | | Indeed, finding time for fun and enjoyment is a basic |
| stark as a comparison between running and sleeping. | | | | human need that we should fulfill. However, it is |
| Loneliness is a state of dependency. When you say | | | | important that you control that time and not let it |
| that you are lonely, you essentially saying that you | | | | interfere with your need for survival and growth and |
| have a need for others to entertain you; to comfort | | | | a professional. At least, use the time alone to read at |
| you; to support you; or to meet some type of | | | | least an hour a day materials that helps you to build |
| emotional need. On the other hand, aloneness | | | | on your strengths or to acquire new knowledge or a |
| suggests the opposite. It suggests a condition of | | | | skill. |
| self-reliance whereas you have made a conscious | | | | And, if that feeling of loneliness starts to creep in, |
| decision to be alone because your work as an | | | | take yourself away from familiar surroundings. Go to |
| independent consultant requires it or you need to be | | | | a new restaurant. Go to a local fair, festival or |
| alone to accomplish some personal objectives. | | | | concert. Plan that vacation that you have been |
| However, experiencing either aloneness or loneliness | | | | thinking about. Or, call an acquaintance that you |
| is a matter of choice. To be clear, aloneness is the | | | | haven't talked to in a long time. As an independent |
| mark of emotional maturity, whereas loneliness is the | | | | consultant, you have to train yourself outside of your |
| unmistakable hallmark of the immature. | | | | chosen work to invent activity of your own, to build, |
| Aloneness is the source of our greatest strength, | | | | to make, to discover, to explore, and to improvise in |
| but, loneliness is the sign of our greatest weakness. | | | | the world around you. You do not need someone to |
| We you choose aloneness, you are saying that by | | | | take you by the hand and lead you. |
| choosing to be alone you want to personally decide | | | | |