For the last few years I have worked from a home office which can be a lonely existence if you let it.  Prior to this I was on the road and had minimul contact with work colleagues.  Again a lonley existence.  Before this I had worked in a busy corporate office where you were always surrounded by people you could bounce ideas off, socialise with and generally had a healthy level of contact.

After about 7 months of working from a home office I decided to create a network of people to help maintain my sanity, keep me informed and assist in maintaining some connection to outside business.  

Each month I  meet with two business owners for a morning coffee at a local cafe. At this get together we dicuss everything from technology, staffing issues, business, local events, you name it, we discuss it.  It is amazing, discussing a small issue that can seem insurmountable while working away on your own, with some healthy input can produce a simple solution.

I also ensure that I attend one or two business networking functions every month or two.  Attending the networking functions help to give you a fresh new look at your business, your office and your outlook.  Most networking events have a guest speaker on the day, speakers can also give you the ability to view your world in a new light. 

If you are a business owner and are feeling the same challenges I did I would love to hear from you.  If you have created your own support network I would also be keen to hear how this has assisted you in your business.