I knew she was going to be a kindred spirit when arranged to go to Notting Hill Carnival together. Pair of trainers (CHECK!), little cross body bag (CHECK!), essential supplies: tissues, hand wash-gel, bottle of rum (CHECK!), whistle (CHECK!), map (YEP!) no extra friends to slow progress through the crowds (FULL HOUSE!). Apart from her approach to practical partying, my new friend was also a methodical Capricorn and a fellow North-London music fan.

Since then we’ve both become parents (five times between us) and started our own solo-businesses, without the benefit of colleagues, she’s my go-to to support person who gets the joys and miseries of this path. Having business buddies has been invaluable in staying motivated and committed to self-employment.

Several times a year I have a big ‘moment’ when I think about getting a 9-5 job so I just have to turn up and do the work instead of having to get it all in as well. My buddy talks me down from the edge and reminds me about all the flexibility and satisfaction of being your own boss.

We’ve both had to learn about building websites, social media and selling and have shared this knowledge with each other – trading advice and swapping skills.

It can be quite easy to lose perspective, so we meet up a few times a year for a daytime meeting just to go through what our goals are and how we are progressing – instead of just doing whatever work comes along. As a consultant it’s been really important to me to determine my own path.

My buddy helped me to see that you can define your own success by the efforts you put in, but let go of the outcomes which are often controlled by others. Once I set the goal – to deliver a training day once a week – I came up with a plan. This was: to update my social media bi-weekly, write monthly blogs and reach out to a potential clients each day. In turn, I measure that and only look back at the goal at the end of 2-3 months instead of expecting immediate results. My buddy keeps me accountable and stops me being too hard on myself as well.

But most importantly she’s been someone to talk to about the challenge of being the ‘main’ carer whilst running a business. How to deal with the entire month of November off because all your children get sick one after the other before giving it to you. And you don’t get any sick pay. Getting up at 5am to get a headstart on work only to hear your toddler getting out of bed a 5:01am. How to work through seven-sodding-week-long school holidays so you actually have some income. How to make sure your kids know you do have a job even though they think you are just playing computer games and “why haven’t you actually left the house if you’re working” mummy.

So if you can, unearth a business buddy and treasure them. They can be essential to your sanity and your success.