It’s a funny word, Solopreneur. By definition it suggests a solitary, unaided endeavour but, in my experience, it can be anything but. The independence that comes with being your own boss is exciting — you get to come up with the ideas, make the decisions and say goodbye to any office politics. You are the master of your own destiny!
However, with that independence comes a great deal of responsibility: it may be tough at times, and the journey towards growing your business could feel like a solitary mission. Yet this is not a journey that you have to navigate alone — one of the most beneficial and rewarding aspects of entrepreneurship is embracing the support that a wider business community can offer.
Mix, Mingle and Connect — Get Networking!
Government figures show that, at the start of 2023, 74% of UK small businesses had no employees other than the business owner. Given that there were 5.6 million businesses, that accounts for 4.1 million solopreneur business owners. 4.1 million people just like you who are ‘going it alone’. Except the most successful ones are likely not really going it alone!
You might find when discussing your business with friends and family that you are not getting the support or feedback that you need. In short, they want the best for you, but may not fully understand your business and what your concerns or challenges are. So, imagine surrounding yourself with a group of like-minded businesspeople, who are facing the exact same issues and hurdles as you. They understand the concept of juggling all the plates, or needing a sounding board, and can offer valuable insights and perspectives. It’s a two-way street, and they would likely relish your support and feedback too as you build connections in your network.
Joining a local networking group such as BNI (other brands are available!) not only offers you an effective way to generate business referrals but allows you to get to know other people, learn how each other’s businesses work and decide what kind of people you want to work with. You will make genuine connections that can help you build your ’tribe’ and become real friends and confidantes.
Alongside face-to-face networking events, there are countless online opportunities to network — with forums, webinars, workshops, social media groups and communities dedicated to various industries and niches. Platforms such as Meetup, Eventbrite and LinkedIn Events have tailored virtual networking events for specific industries or interests. Joining these more distinct communities allows you to build relationships with peers facing similar or related challenges and to seek collaborative opportunities.
Networking can have a profound effect on both your business and your everyday life — you will meet potential clients, suppliers, friends, and maybe even a reliable plumber to fix the boiler if it breaks down!
Outsourcing and Collaborating — Stick with what you are good at
As a solopreneur it is important to find the things that are your sweet spot — that you want to do more of and are why you came into this business in the first place — and not let yourself get held back or bogged down with the things you don’t like or can’t do. If you are able, outsourcing the tasks that don’t float your boat affords you more time to focus on what you are good at, and in my experience, can open doors to more collaborative working.
I first met Tracy Franz SmartPA when I joined BNI. About 6 months after we met, I started using her for help with invoicing. Until then, I was just keeping a note of my numbers on a spreadsheet! It was obvious keeping track of the figures did not fall into my sweet spot — so I outsourced! I knew from others in our BNI chapter that Tracy was the one to ask — she set up Xero and got to work on my invoicing, reconciliations and bookkeeping — such a weight off my shoulders!
Our working relationship grew very naturally over time, and I now have Tracy and a wonderful small team working behind the scenes helping me keep my business on track!
We also became firm friends — perhaps one of the more unexpected but welcome bonuses of networking. By building a network for your business you are likely to connect with people who share the same values, interests and passions — this common ground lays the foundations for genuine friendships to form.
I also met Deborah McCombie of DXDMedia through BNI – the marketing whizz who takes such good care of my marketing and communications. Our connection and, again, firm friendship led us to collaborate on the Operations Mastery programme we offer for business owners wanting to scale their business.
The more open you are to making connections and growing a support network for you and your business, the more opportunities for collaborations arise. Last year I joined forces with Gillian Fowler of Usana Mindset to create a 6 week ‘Transform Yourself, Transform Your Business’ course for business owners, playing to our strengths to offer attendees a self-guided life and business plan. These types of collaboration then open a wider circle of contacts — in this instance those attendees who were already familiar with Gillian’s life coaching were then able to consider the benefits of a business coach too.
Business Coaching — a nudge in the right direction
Some might say I am biased, but having a business coach is so valuable — and can be a wonderful boost to a new business owner — and a good start towards making those all-important business connections. I have a saying about business coaching that I often use: “This is not a business hospital; it’s a business gym”.
It can be all too easy to think that business coaching is aimed at business owners who are struggling, who need “fixing” in some way. I think of business coaching like going to the gym. You go to the gym to feel healthier, fitter, stronger. To work on yourself and be the best you can be. Coaching is the same. To continue the gym analogy, when you are at the gym you look to the fitness trainer or your PT for advice, support, motivation and that nudge in the right direction, just as you would a business coach.
I find a similar level of team spirit and support from being a part of the ActionCOACH franchise. As a global enterprise there is a wealth of information, tools and support for the coaches, and I find attending the regular meetups with the other UK coaches incredibly valuable. Even business coaches like the support of a business coach! And I love the fact that my colleague Rupert and I pair up to run our GrowthCLUB together. Another example of not flying solo at all! We are each other’s co-pilots.
So, you see, you don’t have to be alone to go it alone! While you may be solely responsible for your business, you will find that there is a large community of like-minded individuals ready to support, inspire, and collaborate with you. By tapping into all available opportunities, you will soon have found your support crew.
