Being a solopreneur can feel like you’re riding a rollercoaster. There are emotional highs and lows, peak income months and slower ones. Your business life impacts your personal life, and vice versa.
Along the may want feedback on your pricing, your business goals, expanding your services or target market, navigating client relationships, or insight on your branding, website and marketing.
Sometimes you need big picture and vision support, while at other times you need super detailed and specific feedback.
You can get caught in a decision making loop. And while you’d love to be able to bounce your ideas and problems you’re facing with people outside of your friends and family, you’re worried about people will think.
It can be very lonely and isolating being a solopreneur. I know because I’ve been there and done that.
As a brand new solopreneur in 2004, I started out clientless and clueless. I made countless mistakes. I definitely felt incredibly isolated and alone.
My ego prevented me from discussing what was really happening behind the scenes in my business. Ever heard of “fake it until you make it”? Turns out it’s surprisingly ineffectual.
I spent time and energy trying to make it look like I had it all together, while quietly behind the scenes I really needed feedback and guidance.
Today my experience is totally different.
No, I didn’t hire a team, find a business partner or go back to working in an agency. I started letting people in. Each of these has been super helpful.
- I worked with a coach
- I hired an operations team to look inside my business for what’s working and what can be improved
- I have a contractor I bring in to help me with business naming and taglines
- I’m a member of two business mastermind groups
Joining those masterminds has proven to be one of the most impactful and positive choices I’ve made as a solopreneur. I get the ongoing feedback and ideas I need to feel connected and supported. I also have peers I can have confidential conversations with when I need it.
No matter the situation, together is better.
Learn from my mistakes and let people in. Here are 3 tips:
- Be willing to be vulnerable – it’s actually a sign of courage and strength
- Identify what would be the most supportive – is it a one-off item you need help with or is it ongoing feedback and input?
- Choose who to let in
- You could create a feedback exchange with a trusted peer.
- You could identify one item you want to tackle and hire a subject matter expert to help you solve it
- You could hire an entrepreneur coach for 1:1 for a specified length of time to work on several items
- Or you can join a group of like minded solopreneurs to gain ongoing support and feedback as you ride the rollercoaster together
If you’re not sure where to find a group like that, I’ve created The Solopreneur Mastermind. It’s perfect if you’re craving a place for connection and confidential conversations about your business. It will be limited to 5 people so everyone has ample time and attention over a 6 month period. Get the scoop at https://speerheadsolutions.com/mastermind/
No matter what you choose, I hope you’re letting people in so you can grow and flourish.
And remember, solopreneur doesn’t mean going it solo. Together is better.
