When you become a solopreneur, you also become your own boss. This means that you are the one calling the shots and making all the decisions. It’s up to you to set your own goals and find the motivation to succeed; there is no one else there to support or motivate you along the way. However, being your own boss also means that if things don’t go as planned, there is no one else to fall back on – no HR department to take up your concerns or office manager to complain about. Instead of seeing this as a downside, it can actually be seen as an empowering opportunity. When we no longer have anyone else to rely on but ourselves, we are forced to find our own strengths and build up our inner confidence so that we can tackle any challenges head-on…

Finding motivation to succeed as a solopreneur

When you’re a solopreneur, you have no one to motivate you – no manager to set deadlines or employees to whom you can delegate work. Instead of seeing this as a negative, you can use it as an opportunity to find your own motivation and drive. When we look for motivation, we usually look for ways to inspire and encourage ourselves to take action. There are many ways to do this, and here are some ideas you can try out:

• Find Your Passion – Finding your passion can be the best way to get motivated. When you find something that truly inspires and excites you, it is much easier to get motivated.
• Read Inspirational Quotes – Reading quotes is a great way to get inspired and motivated. There are many websites that offer an abundance of inspirational quotes or follow #InspirationalQuotes on Instagram for a daily fix.
• Surround Yourself With Success – Watching videos and reading articles about successful people can be a powerful way to get motivated. When you let their stories and success become part of your daily routine, you begin to absorb some of their positive energy.
• Create A Vision Board – Building a vision board is a great way to get inspired and motivated. You can create a vision board to help inspire your future and where you want to be in 5 years.

Build a support network

When you’re a solopreneur, you don’t have a team or a group of coworkers to go to for advice and support. Instead of seeing this as a drawback, you can use it as an opportunity to build and grow your own support network. When you first start out as a solopreneur, it’s important to let people know you’re now working alone. This will give you the chance to let people know how they can best support you. Here are some ways you can start building your support network and finding the support you need to succeed as a solopreneur:

• Join your local Chamber of Commerce – This is a great way to not only bring exposure to your business and network but to also meet others experiencing the same things as you.
• Join Co-Working Spaces – Co-working spaces are the perfect place to find support from others who are also working alone. You can meet like-minded individuals and people who will become great connections and mentors for you. You can also join online communities where you can interact with people and ask for advice or support.
• Join a Mastermind Group – A mastermind group is a group of like-minded people who come together to support and challenge each other to succeed. A mastermind group is usually made up of people who have a similar goal or career path, and who can help and support each other along the way.
• Build Relationships With Influencers – Connecting with and building relationships with influencers in your field can be a great way to get support. You can reach out to people who are already successful in your industry and ask them to get coffee or lunch with you. This can be a great way to get advice and support from people who have been in your shoes.
• Write Down The People You Want To Reach Out To – When you first start out as a solopreneur- you don’t have to go to each person and ask for advice. Instead, make a list of people you would like to connect with, and when you have time, send them an email saying who you are and why you are interested in connecting with them.

Find an accountability partner

When you work with clients, you have someone you have to report to and an obligation to get the job done. However, when you work for yourself, there is no one else to report to, and it can be easy to procrastinate and not get anything done. When you find another solopreneur to partner with and hold each other accountable, you can move past the temptation to procrastinate and get your work done. Here are some ways you can find an accountability partner and hold yourself and each other accountable:

• Contact Local SBA – Most small business administrations also encourage you to partner with another solopreneur who is trying to go into business for themselves. The program will help you get your business up and running, and connect you with resources to help you stay motivated and get the job done.
• Partner With Someone Who Is Going Through The Same Journey – If you don’t find a mentoring program, you can partner with someone who is going through a similar journey as you. You can help each other stay motivated, and you can also help each other stay accountable.
• Create A Contract – It is always best to put everything in writing so there is no confusion. When you create a contract with your partner, you can specify how often you will check in with each other, what you will be checking in about, and what the consequences are if you don’t follow through.

Set SMART Goals

When setting goals for yourself, it is important to set SMART goals. This stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. This will help to ensure that your goals are specific enough to be actionable, but also attainable.

For example, if you want to double your revenue within the next year, but you have no idea how to do that because you have never worked that way, this could be a lofty but not-at-all attainable goal. Instead, you could set a goal to work on improving your sales copy by a certain date. This will lead to you doubling your sales, but in a way that is specific to you and your business. This will help to keep you focused on the things that are within your control and will help to prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.

• Pick Your Top Three Goals – When you are first setting your goals, it’s important to keep it manageable. Choose three goals that will help you get your business off the ground. These goals should be related to your business goals and what you want to achieve for the future. It can be helpful to write these down and put them somewhere where you can see them every day.
• Make Time For Your Goals – Now that you have your goals set, it’s important to make time for them. When you write your goals down, also write down when you plan on making time for each goal so they don’t fall by the wayside.
• Be Realistic With Your Goals – Although it’s important to set goals, it’s also important not to be too ambitious. When setting your goals, make sure they are realistic so you don’t get overwhelmed.
• Follow Up On Your Goals – Once you’ve set your goals, it’s important to follow up on them. Make sure you are staying on track and meeting the deadlines you set for each goal.

Learn how to be productive on your own time

As a solopreneur, you are the only person who knows what your work day looks like. No one is giving you a set schedule, and you are probably working from home. This means that you need to learn how to be productive on your own time. This does not mean that you need to be sitting at your desk for 8 hours straight every single day. Rather, you need to learn how to be productive during your own time of day.

For example, you may find that you are most creative in the morning. This could be a great time for you to work on your most challenging tasks. Alternatively, you could work on administrative tasks in the morning, and then work on creative tasks in the afternoon when you are a little bit more tired. The key to being a successful solopreneur is finding your own rhythm and being comfortable with it.

• Write Down A To-Do List – A to-do list is a great way to keep track of all the tasks you need to get done. Writing down your to-do list will help you stay focused and engaged with your work. Our Priority 3’s Notepad is great for this!
• Designate A Certain Amount Of Time To Work – When you work on your own time, it can be easy to let yourself get distracted. To avoid falling into this trap, it’s helpful to designate a certain amount of time to work on your tasks. Set times that work for you! If you’re not an early bird that’s fine. Don’t get swept into traditional schedules; do what works best for you.
• Get Outside Help When You Need It – Although it’s important to learn how to be productive on your own time, it’s also important to not be too strict with yourself.

Dont be afraid to ask for help

When you are working as a solopreneur, it can be easy to feel as though you have to do everything on your own. This can be incredibly overwhelming and can lead to you burning out if you are not careful. Instead, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

This could mean asking your partner to take over cooking duties for a week so you can focus on your business. It could also mean asking a friend to watch your children so you can focus on your work. It is also important to remember that asking for help does not make you any less of an entrepreneur. Asking for help and also look like knowing when to outsource tasks that are not your expertise and cause you a lot of anxiety.

In fact, it shows that you are aware that you are human and that you need help from time to time. This will help to prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and will allow you to focus on what you do best: running your business and providing great products and services to your customers.

Take care of yourself

Last but most important, it is important to take time out for yourself and to take care of yourself. Working from home can be incredibly isolating, especially when you are first starting out. This can also be a very stressful time as you are likely learning new skills and may be dealing with some self-doubt.

This could be as simple as taking a walk outside on a daily basis or meditating for a few minutes every night before you go to sleep. It could also be as simple as making time in your day to eat a healthy meal or to take a bath. These small changes will help to keep you focused and will allow you to deal with stress in a constructive way instead of letting it take over your life.

Conclusion

Being a solopreneur can be a challenging and rewarding experience. This can be especially true if you are transitioning from an office job to a more hands-on entrepreneurial venture. The key to success in this situation is to find the motivation to succeed and to build a support network that you can lean on when things get tough. It is also important to learn how to be productive on your own time, to take care of yourself, and to make sure that you are taking time to care for your relationships as well.