The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner

The Empty Office

There is a specific kind of silence that happens in an office at 9:00 PM. The team has gone home. The cleaners are vacuuming the carpets. The air conditioning hums.

You are the only one left.

You are looking at a spreadsheet that says you have 2 months of runway left. You know you have to fire someone tomorrow. You know the product launch is delayed.

And you realize: You cannot tell anyone.

You can't tell your employees; they will panic and look for new jobs. You can't tell your customers; they will lose confidence. You can't tell your investors; they will lose faith. You can't even tell your spouse, because you don't want them to worry about the mortgage.

This is the Founder's Loneliness. It is a profound isolation that comes from carrying the ultimate responsibility.

Why Your Old Friends Don't Get It

You try to explain this to your high school friends over a Mamak session. "Man, the churn rate is killing me." They look at you blankly. "Bro, just chill la. At least you are your own boss. Can take holiday whenever you want."

They don't get it. And it's not their fault. Unless you have signed the front of a paycheck, you cannot understand the weight of signing the back of one.

You will find yourself drifting away from old friends. It’s painful, but it happens. You are playing a different game now.

Building Your Tribe

You cannot survive this loneliness alone. You need a tribe.

You need to find other "long-distance runners." You need to find the other crazy people who are awake at 2 AM thinking about customer acquisition costs.

• Join Founder Peer Groups: Whether it's EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization) or a casual WhatsApp group of local founders.
• Find a Mentor: Someone who is 2-3 stages ahead of you. They have been where you are. They can tell you, "This is normal. You will survive."
• Be Vulnerable: When you meet other founders, drop the act. Don't say "Everything is great!" Say, "I'm struggling with hiring." You will be amazed at how quickly the connection deepens.

The Solitude is Necessary

While loneliness is painful, solitude is powerful.

There are decisions that only you can make. There are visions that only you can see. Sometimes, you need to sit in that empty office and listen to your own gut.

The "long-distance runner" is alone on the road, yes. But there is a clarity in that isolation. It is just you and the pavement. You and the mission.

Learn to be comfortable with your own company. Learn to trust your own inner voice when the noise of the world fades away.

You are running a race that few people have the courage to even start. It gets lonely. But the view from the finish line? It's worth it.

Dave Chong DJC AI Sdn Bhd