STEAL THESE TIPS TO SUCCEED AS A SOLOPRENEUR
There’s a growing trend of solopreneurs as more people are leaning towards becoming financially independent on their own terms. What makes a successful solopreneur differ from other entrepreneurs.
There are a lot of pro and cons to being a solopreneur and the kind of person you are plays a large part in determining if you can succeed as a solopreneur.
Here are some tips every solopreneur requires before they get on the path to calling themselves a successful solopreneur:
Don’t ever feel inferior – BE CONFIDENT
“Confidence comes naturally with success, but success comes only to those who are confident”
-Unknown
Clarity is Power and is a breeding ground for confidence. If we are walking around in the fog we become unsure of where we are going and what is ahead. This in-turn takes our confidence away. As you get clearer about what you want and where you are going your confidence in your business will develop.
Confidence is just like a muscle, it gets stronger the more you work on it. Instead of only using your confidence when a need arises, practice being the confident version of yourself through out your day.
You have to know what you can do and trust in your abilities. If you don’t believe in yourself, potential clients won’t either. Confidence is not a given and can definitely be learned by doing your job to the best of your abilities and being able to realize what you have achieved so far.
When you have confidence in your business, your friends, family, investors & clients will have confidence too.
React Quickly to NEW OPPORTUNITIES
One of the main benefits of running a solo business is that you don’t have other people to consult with when making important decisions. So if an opportunity comes about that seems right for your business, jump on it quickly. Take advantage of that ability that could potentially set you apart from other businesses.
Being a solopreneur means being the sole person in charge of all aspects of your business. It’s impossible to go into a new venture as an expert in everything. So you’ll have to be open and willing to learn about new business aspects as you go.
Be an Avid Collector of SKILLS
Most solopreneurs start a business because of an existing skill set. You might have a talent for creating art or providing Web/graphic design services. But to be a successful solopreneur, you also have to know things like marketing, accounting and more. You’ll have to work hard to build those skills that don’t come naturally.
No matter what business you choose to pursue, there’s going to be a set of relevant fundamental and complementary skills. The fundamental skills serve as the core—that which you need to learn and master at the bare minimum to get your idea off the ground. In order to stand out, however, you need to offer value to customers and clients.
This entails broadening your skill set. Yes, it’s an investment of time and effort, but it will ultimately aid in your success. Invest in educating and improving yourself as a professional so you can offer more to your customers and make yourself more valuable.
BE CONSISTENT: Follow your MISSION towards your Vision.
“Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.”
—Anonymous
This is where most of the Freelancers & Solopreneurs won’t consider its importance in the world of business. Having a Vision gives a far sight on where we want to reach and gives a firm understanding on what values as an entrepreneur or as an individual do we yield. Most of the freelancer consider values are ethereal. Having a principles & guidelines tells them what to do without the constraint of policies. The role of mission makes sure that through our current strategic planning we are reaching our goal towards the VISION.
Have a Big Vision but implement small, keep up with all the small in the industry, but make sure the Big still holds.
Be wise in choosing your OFFICE SPACE
The work space you choose has the ability to produce business connections. Successful entrepreneurship is about making connections, taking advantage of unexpected opportunities, and getting second opinions on the best way to accomplish things.
Choose wisely what type of office best suits your requirements. You’ll be in direct contact with other professionals from unexpected fields, sometimes completely unrelated to yours.
If you prefer working in isolation prefer then find a shared office near your location who respects your need for isolation in terms of individual privacy. If you are in an extroverted business then find a co working place which provides you with unexpected business opportunities. Consider whether you will be psychologically comfortable working in a co working Space.
Co working Space will not have traditional quiet work ambiance where work & fun goes hand in hand. So as a solopreneur you need to be deal with the bustling activity going around you. But finding a co working with a quiet ambiance for privacy is hard. Bangalore being the startup capital of India, witness high demand in Co working space within the city. So be wise in choosing your Office space.
Embrace the FEAR
“It doesn’t matter how far you might rise. At some point you are bound to stumble. If you’re constantly pushing yourself higher… the laws of averages, not to mention the Myth of Icarus, predicts that you will at some point fall. And when you do I want you to know this, remember this: there is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction.”
-OPRAH WINFREY
Being a solopreneur is going to be filled with challenges. Sometimes though, the only way to know is to try. Stop making up scenarios in your head based on assumptions.
You have one job, focus on it. Don’t let the fear of the unwanted outcome control how you manage the job or task at hand.
Realize what is stopping you from reaching what you want and concentrate on how you can overcome it. If you don’t see the hurdle, you can’t jump over it. Embrace the barrier to break free from it.
Finally..!! LIVE LIFE & Enjoy the little things.
It is okay to take a moment and catch your breath. You’re only human and you have a breaking point. One of the best ways to put a screeching halt on all business progress is by burning yourself out. You don’t need to take days or weeks off, but be sure that when you do achieve milestones, you take a step back to celebrate your hard work. Enjoy the little things around you. One day, you’ll realize they are actually the big things.