Why Entrepreneurs Struggle with Friendships – And How to Fix It

One of the hardest truths I’ve faced as an entrepreneur? Friendships change when you’re building a business.

It’s not that I didn’t care about my friends—it’s that I was wired differently. While they talked about weekend plans, I was thinking about scaling strategies. While they binged Netflix, I was reading business books. Over time, I noticed a gap growing between us.

Why Entrepreneurs Struggle with Friendships

1. Your Priorities Shift – Entrepreneurship demands growth. Many of my friends were content staying the same. I wasn’t.

2. Time Becomes Your Most Valuable Asset – Late nights out became less appealing when I knew an extra hour of sleep meant better business decisions.

3. Most People Don’t ‘Get It’ – Running a business comes with pressures most people never experience. The loneliness is real.

How I Fixed It

1. Found Friends Who Challenge Me – Instead of trying to hold onto every old friendship, I sought out people who matched my ambition and mindset.

2. Prioritized ‘High-Value’ Friendships – Not all friends need constant maintenance. The real ones understand if you don’t talk for months but still pick up where you left off.

3. Created a ‘No-Business Talk’ Rule for Some Friendships – I realized that not every friend wants to hear about entrepreneurship. I learned to separate business conversations from personal time.

If you’re an entrepreneur struggling with friendships, you’re not alone. But with the right approach, you can build a social circle that supports—not drains—you.