Solopreneur, Mompreneur, and Solo-Creator, why do I differentiate between the three? Especially when one can belong to more than one category, and solopreneur is broad enough to contain both moms and creators, so what stands them apart? - the strategy.
The personal branding strategy represents not only the product or service, but also the person standing behind it. Your specific type of Solopreneurship can have an influence on the message and values you choose to represent.
What all types of solopreneurs have in common is that they all need to accommodate the solopreneur lifestyle.
WHAT IS A SOLOPRENEUR LIFESTYLE?
Some of us always wanted to be on our own and some of us went through several jobs before realizing it's probably worth a shot. Some are brought into this lifestyle by choice, and some as a last resort. Either way, you wouldn't even consider this if you haven't felt on some level that this is the right path for you.
A solopreneur essentially means a ‘one man operation’, being in charge of all aspects of one's business.
A solopreneur lifestyle is being exactly that, in charge of every aspect, knowing your business from the inside out, and functioning as the head of all departments, from management, operations, production, and all the way to HR, finance, IT and logistics. It's all you.
If you are a control freak or a perfectionist, this is a match made in heaven. But even if you're not, there's always an opportunity to learn and improve until you nail it. And once you are more profitable, you can always find ways to outsource your weaknesses to other professionals.
A SERVICE PROVIDER OR FREELANCER
Solopreneurship is quite acceptable in various industries and usually includes professions that have proven training qualifications or recognizable experience. The more popular term for professional service providers is 'freelancer' and it stands for a self-employed person that is hired for a particular assignment or period of time.
The relationships between freelancers and their clients are often confused with the relationship between employer and employee and setting the boundaries between these types of relationships is not only important for the appropriate communication, but also for legal reasons.
The Freelance-Client relationship
If you are being treated like any other employee on a contract, for example by getting employee benefits or gifts, then your status as a freelancer might not apply. For more explanation on the terms of being a freelancer, search for a formal definition at your local tax authority website or contact a professional accountant.
Your professional relationship with your client should not be mistaken for boss and employee also because you, as a self-employed provider, should not feel demotivated or pressured into a different work frame than the one you develop by yourself. Your client should hire you for your skill and experience and not expect you to adhere to their management style.
In other words: you are the boss of you.
PRODUCT DEVELOPER OR SELLER
Being a solopreneur is not necessarily a service provider freelancer. You may also be the developer of a product that you either manufacture by yourself or function as a seller only. In this case, you might need to play even more roles than the average solopreneur, and become knowledgeable not only about the development of your product, but also about the logistics, marketing and the taxation aspects.
As a product seller, you may also need to develop a strong network of vendors and other service providers to work with, negotiate with, and learn how to maintain good relationships with everyone involved in the process of creating, marketing and delivering your product to the customers.
SO, WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY?
Get ready to answer the most annoying question you will be asked repeatedly by curious (and sometimes nosy and even jealous) hired people who will look at you with disbelief that you are actually making a living by yourself, and more than that, making up your own schedule.
But on a more important level, figure this out for yourself first, because the lack of method, organization, and management can quickly get your business off of the right track and your brand could suffer from lack of consistency and lose its credibility.
Find your very own routine that serves your brand in the most productive and consistent way. Be loyal to your schedule and capacity, learn methods that make your work more efficient, and build your brand according to your very best abilities.
ADMIN WORK
For all solopreneurs, the greatest challenge is the work outside the work. Meaning, learning the admin side of the business and making the time for it while doing the actual work you set out to do, the one that actually pays the bills.
Many solopreneurs find this the most difficult part to adapt to when switching from hired employee to self-employed. But this is the very definition of being economically independent, so learning how to manage this is just a bump in the road to becoming free.
Adding to your list of new responsibilities that you took for granted as a hired employee, is setting up your own pension scheme, professional liability insurance, occupational disability insurance and other benefits you may want to consider, and being more involved in it now that you are on your own and might not be entitled to the social benefits in your country as employees are.
Admin Work
How do you deal with all that and still find the time to do all the work you wish to do? If possible, you can always hire professionals to take over the finances and find insurance policies for you. But not everyone can afford professional help at the beginning of their solopreneur journey, and sometimes we get our things in order only after the business is already up and running.
If you decide to handle the financial side of your business, be sure to do good research and consider advising a specialist on your specific needs and framework. There are many affordable apps to support you and a lot of information available at your local tax authority.
DEVELOPING A WORK METHOD
As a solopreneur, you are your own boss. You get to decide when, where and how you will spend your working hours. Creating a routine that suits your personality and schedule will contribute to your productivity and make your communication with your clients a lot better.
A work method should take into account your work environment, a work day schedule, and a list of your achievable goals.
While a working method takes time to learn, and mostly from experience, everyone has their preferences regarding the way they like to get things done.
You can learn these preferences about yourself by paying attention to your personal needs and professional abilities.
Read more tips on work habits and rituals here.
CREATING YOUR OWN WORKING SPACE
As most solopreneurs will start their journey in front of their personal laptop, or even smartphone, it is very much advised to create a physical space dedicated to work that will allow you to focus and organize your thoughts.
It's a bonus if you can maintain this space and design it yourself, with elements that bring you motivation and inspiration.
If working in the comfort of your home brings you joy, or a noisy café, or maybe you have your own studio, take advantage of the freedom you have to choose the ideal working space for you.
If you are an artist, doing crafts or any other work with your hands, you will need to pay close attention to the way you design your workspace and the process of preparation you need before starting your work and after you finish it.
More tips on the working environment here.
DEVELOPING YOUR UNIQUE LIFESTYLE
Being a solopreneur doesn't end when you're off the clock. You shouldn't be working after hours, but your mind is always running. It is a blessing and a curse at the same time, but at the end of the day, that is what makes you a solopreneur.
You will find that being an independent self-employed entrepreneur is not just an employment choice, but a part of your personality as well. Your ability to look at things from an entrepreneurial perspective will grow and become an inseparable part of who you are, and what you bring to the world.
You can always find more ways to nurture and develop your entrepreneurial skill set and independent perspective all the time, by acquiring more knowledge in your field of expertise, or by enriching your soft skills through classes and workshops.
Enjoy the solopreneur lifestyle to its fullest and embrace it in your personal life as well.
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