Success tips for the solo entrepreneur

The September Dish "Ask a Director" is written by Stacey Shipman, Writer and Speaker, and DWC-Boston co-director.

About 2.5 years ago I left the corporate world, a victim of workplace burnout. Perhaps it’s no surprise when I tell you that I now specialize in writing and speaking about stress related topics, including workplace burnout. What was a surprise was all I didn’t know about being an entrepreneur. I had never traveled this road before and 2 things soon became clear:

• I felt “exposed”. Success and mistakes were mine to own. No more hiding!
• My darkest fears rose very quickly to the surface, creating a barrier to my success.

I knew that if I wanted to reach my professional goals, I could no longer push those fears aside. I needed to let them surface and face them. With the help of some very trusted supporters, I took the following steps:

• Work on myself first – Awareness has to be the first step. I needed to find out where my fears were coming from so that I could recognize them when they surfaced. Talking, journaling and taking action were helpful activities. I realized my business started with me.
• Get Rid of the F Word – Successful business leaders do not let the fear of failure get in their way of taking action. How could I build a successful business if my fear was keeping me from taking action? Learning to remove this barrier was very freeing.

• Build Resilience - Mistakes happen and bouncing back was critical to achieving my goals. Resilience is about seeing mistakes as learning opportunities rather than an excuse to give up.
• Have patience – A successful businesswoman once told me, “I feel like a 20 year overnight success.” Building a business takes time, which requires patience. Celebrating baby steps and taking a look at where I started was a big help. I found I achieved more than I thought.
• Get Support – Networking provided me with new friends, collaboration partners, and a group of trusted colleagues I can call on for help. You don’t have to travel the road alone and DWC is a perfect place to find the support you need!

Posted by Nancy Loderick, DWC Dish editor

Comments

[Heidi Danos]

I too, am a solo entrepreneur. I cannot tell you how important it has been for me to network which has provided me with a great group of trusted colleagues that I can call upon for advise and assistance. This has been invaluable to me! To simply know that I'm not the only one out there in this huge virtual world keeps me grounded and focused.

[Diane K. Danielson]

I wouldn't have been able to take the Downtown Women's Club to the next level without having my "Buzz Club" of other "solopreneurs". They served as business development help, mini-focus groups and a support system that kept me accountable and moving forward.

Diane

[Kathleen Kingsbury]

Support is the key to making it as a solopreneur. That and a good healthy sense of humor. I have been in business for myself almost 15 years and I have learned so much about me, how to fail gracefully and how to laugh along the way. I would not trade it for all the benefits and status the corporate world has to offer. It is a ride and a wonderful journey. Glad you are along for the ride too.

kbk

[Lance]

“I feel like a 20 year overnight success.” -- what a great way of looking at it. Success doesn't happen overnight, but when you get there -- oh what a feeling! And it feels so great because of the journey you took to get there.

The F word is a big one for me. Fear of Failure. Dealing with this one can be difficult. Will I be looked upon less because I failed? What will others think? Will I bounce back? Of course, the answer to these is easier said than done. I applaud those who have made the commitment to take chances, and to live their dreams.

[Susan Hammond]

Stacey,
This is a post that I will share with any new solopreneur I meet. I echo all your sentiments. Solopreneurship is running the race to be your personal best. You don't see it at the time but we get better and better each day.

[Carrie]

I am excited to read the above article and the blogs afterward. After being downsized yet again, I have come to realize that corporate may not be for me. The thought of my career and the path it has taken has really weighed heavily on me and I must say I have thought about starting my own business often. But I have been moving at a snails pace and haven't figured out why...now I realize how scared I am; and have been over the years. Thank you for the inspiration.