7 Critical Characteristics for Solo Business Owners

July 19, 2010 - Written by Trish
 

I have coached hundreds of solo business owners. Although each took a different road in terms of business model, services, and target market, I have found common skills and characteristics that all share.

These seven characteristics are critical to your solopreneur success: 

  1. Responsibility
    There are many benefits to owning and operating your own …

Setting Client Expectations in Your Solo Business

July 12, 2010 - Written by Trish
 

There will be points in your business when you need to get revenues kicked into the next gear. At points like these, it can be almost irresistibly tempting to ease up: Lower prices, agree to different terms, take on clients that would make it past your normal filtering mechanisms. This …

Flying Solo: In the Beginning

July 5, 2010 - Written by Trish
 

Deciding to fly solo in your profession can be scary. Whether you’ve been laid off, want time with your family, or just had enough of the 9-to-5 grind, the idea of not having a regular paycheck can be …

Work / Life Balance – The Impossible Dream?

June 28, 2010 - Written by Trish
 

One of the most common reasons that people choose the solo business ownership route is that they want to spend more time with family. Often, though, once work begins to build up, solo business owners can find themselves facing exactly …

Saying “No” – Overcoming the Struggle

June 21, 2010 - Written by Trish
 

It always seems to be about the time that you’re completely full and wondering how on earth you’re going to get everything done in time that a client gets in touch with a crucial rush project that …

Remembering How to Relax

June 14, 2010 - Written by Trish
 

As a solo business owner, in spite of your best efforts you may find that you can’t stop working.  You may have forgotten how to relax or feel guilty for taking time away from your business.  It is …

Building Your Solo Foundation

June 7, 2010 - Written by Trish
 

You have taken that big step and started your own solo business. Congratulations!!

Now what?

One of the biggest omissions (perhaps THE biggest) that I see over and over again in the solopreneurial world is the lack of a …

Living a 360-Degree Life

May 13, 2010 - Written by Trish
 

Question: Why did you start your own solo home business?

I struck out on my own for two reasons: freedom and wealth. For me, and for many solo business owners, freedom means the ability to steer my …

Big O #4 of 4

April 16, 2010 - Written by Trish
 

Listen to the episode
The fourth pitfall of solo home business ownership is probably the biggest one to avoid: OVERTRAINING. Becoming a solo home business owner, and achieving the goals that made us decide to go that route, can be pretty overwhelming. We question ourselves, wondering if we’re doing the …

Big O #3 of 4

April 16, 2010 - Written by Trish
 

Listen to episode
The third “O” of four solo home business pitfalls is about OVERCOMPLICATING. When we start our own businesses, we often look to models we are familiar with to design our operations. For many of us, those models come from the corporate world. Even if we think we …