Are These Statements True or False for You?
These questions (and your ‘true’ or ‘false’
answers), can be used as guide to either evaluate your ability to be a
“Solopreneur” or to determine where you currently are at in your life/business
balance health.
1. I have readily available resources of
time, budget, technology, knowledge and a wealth of ideas at my disposal.
2. I have no problems asking for help when
I need it, and am always open to working with others to achieve an ultimate
goal. I have in place an “Emergency
Back-up”-just in case I’m too sick to think!!
3. I
excel at using my own initiative to complete tasks without the need of direct
supervision.
4. I'm
willing to make short-term sacrifices (even if it’s my health, sanity or
clients!) to gain long-term rewards.
5. I
seldom have a problem being creative (when I’m feeling great!)
6. I
realize that I will make mistakes but I try to learn from them…Read on!
If you find that you are
uncomfortable with answering some of these questions with a resounding “Yes!
That describes me exactly” attitude, then you may need to work on these
specific areas to face the fact that life happens…Balance IS the Key!
We’ve all
heard the “doom and gloom” stories of businesses that have started off with big
dreams of success, only to fail in less than a year after opening their
doors. Why do some businesses fail to
launch yet others soar off into the stratosphere seemingly with ease?
As a recent
entrepreneur/solopreneur who longed to "be my own boss", here's what
I learned about balance after being down with a flu/virus, then, a head
cold/stomach thing …out of commission for 3 weeks!! As a solo-entrepreneur, being too weak &
sick to move, I now can look back and share my “wisdom” learned the hard way! J
Here are
sure-fire ideas to have balance in your business, but, more importantly, your
life! J
- Ignoring your health-how AM I
feeling? I’m a coach-I always check
in with my clients & how they’re doing…Aren’t you as IMPORTANT?
I would slog over to my computer-hardly
able to hold up my head…and APOLOGIZE to a client that I’m too sick to have a
session that day! Sheesh-luckily, I have
great clients who said ok and called me to see how I was!
It occurred
to me that when I was employed, the boss would tell a sick coworker to go home,
get better & don’t come in to spread germs & make others sick! J
Now, I’ll
hardly spread my germs across phone wires, but, not trying to ignore you’re
sick-even when you’re a solo-entrepreneur, makes sense! Give yourself time to get better. Denying you’re sick-I mean chills, fever,
nauseous-(really ill!) won’t keep you
paying the bills-you won’t be at your best & tough to convince anyone to
have confidence in you!
Now, being
a solo-entrepreneur means no sick leave, no benefits! But, not paying attention to your body has
far worse consequences!
Now’s the
time to cash in on that “own boss” mantra-the Flexibility Factor!
Here’s what
I’m NOW doing-DON’T learn the hard way!!
***Mondays-are
now Marketing Mondays! This is my
writing and all my Marketing Activities-preparing email blasts for my VA to
send out, writing ads, contacting vendors & 1-2 clients IF I want! Now, Tues, Wed & Thurs are client days
and I may start 8am, after working out, lunch-2pm, back to work 3-7pm or later
if I have a PST client! But, my
choice! Fridays-Fun Fridays, I have a
morning Networking group…This is the day to read my novel, have lunch with a
friend, have 1-2 clients, if I choose!
This is my
first full week back. I know learning to
balance my time IS a learning experience!
2. You are a "salesperson". Regardless of whether you are operating a
product or a service based business, you're in sales.You are the
"product" and your packaging is how you appear.
So, how DO
you appear? Do you conduct yourself so
others feel comfortable with you and want to work with you? Listening closely to what your potential
customer has to say will allow you to tailor your responses to fit their needs.
***Tough to
sound interested when you’re huddled in a blanket, teeth chattering & weak
from not being able to drink water!
3. Keeping to yourself. Now, usually, for a solo-entrepreneur, this
can be a mistake…”No man or solo-e is an island!” ***But, now-you’re a sinking ship! Everyone for him/herself! DO NOT go to that networking event! Everyone will thank you!
4. Staying cooped up.
***It’s
important to take short “time outs” for you! BEFORE you’re too sick to enjoy
them!
5. Working for a tyrant.
Don't be
your own "employee"! Don't spend 24/7 on the business! Don't do these
things! Learn from my mistakes
instead! I know I made this error. I was exhausted and NOT having any fun…so,
the universe made me stop-completely!! I
got sick-why is it solo-entrepreneurs & women, in particular, have to
literally be too ill to move…to STOP??
***I had a
“job”. I was the "employee" with a tyrannical "boss" -
me! But, now, my tyrant of a
boss-me! DEMANDS fun & balance!
6. Trying to do it all is just not realistic
& BAD for your health!
As a new
solopreneur, it feels like you and ONLY you must do everything! But when you're stressed out and juggling so
many balls in the air, some of them are bound to drop!
I learned
not only can't you do everything, why would you? Is it a good use of your time trying to learn
to do something and spend hours doing it when you can pay an expert and
concentrate on doing what you do best?
I hired a
Virtual Assistant. She is a solopreneur like me and works from home. We communicate by email and phone. She maintains my databases and my shopping
cart; submits my articles; researches various software programs; and makes
knowledgeable recommendations.
I got
smart! She is now my “Emergency Back Up
Plan”! I’d talk/email her & she
calls my clients, cancels appts,(we share calendars) and, in general, handles
things-so I can focus on getting better!
Do you
remember why you went into business in the first place? You believed in your
product or service and that it would be successful. This belief is essential, and it goes a long
way to achieving success, but this alone is not enough. You need to also be
willing to invest your time and financial resources, to learn and do the
necessary things that will help your business to thrive. Enlist experts when needed.
***Have an
EMERGENCY BACK UP PLAN!!
"We do
not remember days, we remember moments" - Cesare Pavese.
***It is my fervent hope that by heeding my “wisdom through experience” you will be able to enjoy owning your business and watching it grow and flourish WITHOUT sacrificing YOU!
In Abundance!
Marcia the Transition Chick
www.eCareerCorner.com
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