The term solopreneur and entrepreneur seem interchangeable to a lot of people, but they are not. A solopreneur is someone who is not looking to add people to his/her company/work practice. They are looking to build a sustainable career for themselves. Entrepreneur describes them as 21 years or older individuals who regularly work more than 15 hours a week independently.
Their career choices can range from anywhere to contractors, consultants, social-media strategists etc. In terms of independent working (which includes both solopreneurs, freelancers etc.) the market is set to grow to 40 million independents by the year 2019.
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Power to the People
If you are one of the many who are looking to make it big in the world of solopreneur ship, be warned that everything comes at a cost. The major reason that a lot of people are moving towards independent working/solopreneur ship is because there is a sense of empowerment in being your own boss. But with independence and the prospect of being solo there is the problem of a missing delegation layer; meaning you are in-it alone! This means that to scale/build a sustainable income, organization of efforts is essential.
So, without further ado – lets dive into our 5 tips that can help you branch out and organize this bad boy.
Tip 1# Make a list and check it twice
Tis the season and no one’s a better solopreneur then good old Saint Nick (not counting his elves though). The first thing you have to do as a solopreneur, is make a schedule. Humans are horrible at multitasking and as such the best advice that I can offer you is to build a schedule template to organize your work week.
A schedule helps you feel organized and grounded. Formulating a to-do list will help you keep a track record of what is done, and what needs to be done. As a solopreneur, checklists and to-do lists are life savers, because when you are in the service of others, their deadlines matter.
Tip 2# Build for the best, but plan for the worst
Another way to keep your solopreneur career going is to build options. If you are part of the gig economy like me, you would know that certain gigs are seasonal/cyclical. That being said it is always a good option to have options when you are working for yourself.
When you have a task that goes south, or a client that flies the coup, keep calm and carry on!
Tip 3# Don’t overdo it
Work is stressful and gets the best of us down sometimes. When you are working for yourself it is only natural to succumb to work pressure and forget that small breaks matter. Create a work-life mantra for yourself that helps you take scheduled short breaks (during your routine) and longer breaks when you can just switch off and focus on what’s important. You!
Tip 4# Build your zone
When you are your own boss, sometimes you don’t provide yourself with the best environment to begin with. For you to be the best at what you do, you have to give yourself that room. Namely a workspace (this can be a coworking, work from home etc. space), but it is something that is completely yours and devoid of other distractions. You also have to provide yourself with good tools of the trade. A horrible laptop off of eBay that switches off when you need it won’t cut it – be fair to yourself!
Tip 5# Keep records
Keeping records is essential for monitoring your progress and helps in planning what’s next in the future. Your records will give you a clear sketch of what’s ticked off and what needs reassignments. Having a better insight, you will be able to make calculated decisions in the future.
Conclusion
The life of a solopreneur can be an uphill battle, but some serious management can help take a the load off of you. Incorporate these five tips in your every-day life and see how much of a difference it will make!
About Carson Derrow
