WHO SUPPORTS YOU?

Not everyone understands the life of an entrepreneur, and that may include your friends and family. Here's how to build a network that cares.

- STEFANIE RICCHIO

Two years after launching my consulting business, I had doubled growth and built multiple high-exposure brand partnerships. This was a bittersweet moment for me. Professionally, I had achieved many of my goals-but it was to the detriment of my physical, mental, and, at times, emotional well-being. Hardly anyone noticed. No one sent flowers. And that's OK.

Entrepreneurs often struggle to keep going without the support of family and friends, but I always tell them this: Friends and family don't pay your bills, and people who don't share your career ambition or background simply may not understand what you're doing. I once obsessed over who did (or didn’t) read my book, or who supported me on social media, and then realized I was just spending mental capacity on something that would never yield tangible results for my business. The only thing I really needed to worry about was my business, so I put my head down and started strategizing.