The first rule of solopreneurship (and why you need to break it)
Why staying quiet about your solo business is holding you back.
The first rule of solopreneurship is you do not talk about solopreneurship.
To anyone.
(Imagine it’s Brad Pitt saying that while waggling his finger in your face)
At least, that’s how it so often seems to be for solo business people.
We don’t talk about being solopreneurs because… what? It’s awkward? People won’t understand right away? Or ever?
I’ve been in that exact situation before.
We were chatting with friends about our work situations, and I mentioned I was a solopreneur. And they just stared at me like I had two heads and hair made of Playdough.
Most of them had never even heard the word before.
I think we shy away from telling friends and family we’re solopreneurs due to the underlying fear that this exact scenario will occur. We fear we won’t be able to adequately explain it, and even if we can, they won’t understand what we’re on about.
The unspoken first rule of solopreneurship is you don’t talk about it… and that needs to change.
If you want to grow your solo business, you have to first kick off the process in your own head by owning it, laying claim to it, planting your flag in it.
When someone asks what you do for a living, the words “I am a solopreneur” need to roll smoothly off your tongue.
You have to get comfortable with acknowledging that in public, and then learn to deal with the questions that will inevitably follow:
What the heck is a solopreneur?
What does that involve?
How do you even make money that way?
Trust me, I’ve been there. I’m often still there. It’s probably going to be a lifelong challenge.
But if you and I can get good at identifying positively with what we do and learn how to convey that to others in the clearest way possible, it makes actually being a solopreneur on a daily basis so much easier.
That’s where it all begins.
So next time you’re in front of a mirror thinking to yourself “Good heavens, that’s a fine-looking human being!”, don’t forget to also look yourself dead in the eye, take a long, slow breath, and say the magic words:
“I am a solopreneur.”
And if you’re still not sure if solopreneurship’s the right path for you, take my free email course and find out.
PS. The Solopreneur Stack helps solo-business people become (and remain) successful and sustainable through quick tips, in-depth guidance and personal experience stories. Become a paid subscriber for just £8 a month and unlock every article and resource in our archive.
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I love this David. As someone who works exclusively with solopreneurs, I have been saying this for a long (LONG) time. I even advised on a government APPG on micro business a few years back. In short, I am obsessed with solo businesses. What can we do to give them even more of a platform David?! Good to connect with you.
Absolutely. I own the term. Thanks for giving permission and adding credibility. @Brian Clark would give you a high five for that, too. He's a champion of the one-person business model.