Simple Tips to be a Sustainable Solopreneur in Challenging Moments

Wondering, what’s next?

Many people I know are relieved that 2016 is over and are now squirreling away “nuts” for the uncertain times ahead.

For many, “what’s next?” is a constant question. And sometimes, especially as solopreneurs, the first answer is fear about how to have a sustainable business and life.

Close on fear’s heels might arise a question….Should I give up and find a job, ’cause I’m feeling—

• Overwhelmed?
• Out of energy?
• Stuck?
• Hopeless?
• Burned out?
• Inadequate to the task at hand?
• Or other emotion unmentionable on a PG13 rated site?

As a solopreneur, it sure can feel like laying down the self-employed super-hero cape is the most appealing option at times. Yet even in our darkest moments, there are choices we can make to regroup, foster sustainability and continue to stand, cape fluttering in the wind.

Making clear choices that support growth

One of my heroes is Nelson Mandela. He had a long walk—I mean a really long walk—to freedom. Yet during his 27 years in prison, he continued, over and over again, to make sustainable choices.

He practiced forgiveness and studied human behavior, becoming a master listener and negotiator. While still in prison, his new skills helped facilitate the downfall of the Apartheid system in South Africa and start the journey toward healing a deeply divided country. After Mandela was released from prison, he was elected the first democratic president of his beloved country.

Given Mandela’s imprisonment, much of those 27 years probably moved rather slowly. In contrast, I think many would join me in wondering—where did last year go? It was mostly a blur.

Despite the blur you lived each day, and, consciously or not, you made decisions. Often multiple times a day. Each choice takes you in a direction. Sometimes the movement is subtle—almost imperceptible. Other times, the movement is massive.

Mandela’s sustainable choices changed the course of history. You may not be striving to change the course of history, yet your decisions, conscious or not, will change the course of your business.

Attitude is the most important choice any of us will make. We made it yesterday and we get another choice to make it today. And then again tomorrow. Seth Godin

Make clear sustainable choices to reenergize you and your business

• Focus on what’s truly important. Not necessarily what is calling you the loudest.

  Often our email inbox or social media call louder than the difficult task on the day’s to-do list. In those moments, the choice is ours—one option may bring momentary satisfaction. Yet the choice to tackle the difficult task will not only bring satisfaction, it will be uplifting, energizing and move you toward a more sustainable business.

• Keep your website fresh and updated.

  In today’s online-go-to world, your website is your home base. And just like the physical home you live in, it needs to offer your visitors a warm welcome and a clear path inside once they reach your front door.

  If your website is your home what’s inside is the furniture that supports your sustainable business. A home without the right furniture is an uncomfortable place to hang out. And a website where your visitor doesn’t know what to do next—a site without helpful content or a clear next step—is not a place your site visitor will want to get cozy and hang out either.

• Don’t go it alone. Get help.

  • On the solopreneur journey, you often need help before your moment of financial or time readiness.

    You’re likely familiar with wearing too many hats in your business. This mostly works in the beginning while your business is small. You are excited and learning. With growth, this rapidly becomes stressful and unsustainable. When the budget doesn’t appear to be there to hire help, hiring someone might seem like you’re trading one stress for another.

    

    While at a surface layer, this might be true when you first hire help, continuing alone, maintains the stress-level status quo. And while hiring help, even before being ready, might even increase stress in the short run, with a bit of time and growth, it reduces stress and reenergizes you. Allowing you to find your why and joy again.

  • Join or set up a dedicated support person or team—others you meet with regularly (for example, a mastermind group) who are not part of your immediate family. Even better, someone who is a step ahead of you in their business and can help guide you from their “front runner” vantage point.

  • Start or revitalize a meditation practice. Even 20 minutes a day of connecting to a source of inspiration, whatever you call it, muse, Self, spirit, higher power, and finding a quiet stillness, allows unconscious choices to become clear.

Stop Chewing over your Decisions

Choices, big and small, are a large part of what we do as business owners. Infact, we often start our own business to be able to make our own choices. So opt to make your decisions consciously. When we act from our preferences, we each know ours, (maybe spending time liking FB posts instead of preparing for a presentation you’ve agreed to give), we disempower ourselves, lose energy and the desire and ability to weather the challenges we face each day as solopreneurs.