Who’s the boss in your solo business?
Based on my experience working with thousands of solopreneurs over the past three decades, here’s the biggest mental hurdle: Who’s the boss?
Most solopreneurs revel in the idea that they are working independently and get to call the shots and make all the decisions.
Yet many still struggle with wanting someone else to tell them what to do.
Should I expand this part of my business?
Is it worth it to go after this audience?
Am I doing _________ right?
It’s only natural. Growing up, we turned to parents, then teachers, to tell us what to do (and they were happy to oblige).
In teen years, peer pressure kept us conforming—even if we thought ourselves radical at the time.
During college we found our tribe, and followed the group’s unspoken rules of attitude, conduct, and beliefs.
We moved on and found our first job, followed by others. Each workplace had a culture to which we adapted.
The torment of freedom
Then, one day, we decided to go out on our own. Freedom! It was time to make all the decisions.
The freedom was intoxicating. And terrifying.
Who’s going to tell me what to do?
So we end up listening to the clamor of outside voices.
Be on social media!
Scale your business!
Let this be the year you get a Virtual Assistant!
Generate a 6- (or 7- or 8-) figure revenue!
Raise your prices to signal what you’re worth!
In reality, you’ve traded a traditional boss for the bossiness of the Advice Crowd.
The self-discovery alternative
One of the best parts of working solo is the journey of self-discovery. Every solopreneur is unique, just as their businesses are, too.
While there are business principles that can guide you, your heart and gut are far better indicators of what to do.
Instead, set up a filter for the external bosses. You can consider their opinions, but choose for YOU.
Yes, it’s scary.
Yes, it’s sometimes risky.
But heck yeah, it’s much more empowering.
This is what the solopreneur journey is all about. You have to make all the decisions. and you get to make all the decisions.
It all comes down to one question to ask yourself:
What do I really want to do?
In the end, remember that it’s a one-person business. And that one person is you.
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It’s not too late to get your year off to a solid start. If you missed my Money-Fun Framework, it’s a great way to quickly discover where to invest your time and energy this year.
