How Do You Build a Practice From Scratch With No Network? | Ana Milena Goncalves | SE02E48

How do you build a business when you have the expertise but not the network? Start by finding people already where you want to go—and learn beside them.

In this episode of Unfiltered Solopreneur, Nikhil Vaish talks with family law attorney Ana Milena Goncalves about leaving a 20-year career, entering a new legal market, and building her own practice from scratch.

What does it take to build when you’re starting without connections? Ana’s answer is simple: find your people. Put yourself in rooms with people already doing what you want to do, listen, learn, ask for help, and build competence before chasing growth. When Ana entered New Jersey family law with no local experience, network, or clients, she attended CLEs, observed courtrooms, took pro bono and per diem work, and deliberately sought experienced guidance.

She also explains why asking for help—and risking rejection—became essential to her growth, including how approaching an experienced attorney at a networking event led to an important professional relationship.

Key topics covered:

Building competence before chasing growth

Finding your community, guides, and support system

Turning rejection and failure into lessons

Using lived experience as a differentiator

Using AI as a thought partner for business development

Ana also shares how Claude changed her business plan, website, ideal-client thinking, and approach to growth.

Unfiltered Solopreneur is a podcast about solopreneurship and the realities behind building a business on your own.