How to Thrive as a Solopreneur

Image Source: Photo by Garrhet Sampson on Unsplash

Sometimes, I miss the fixed routine that a day job gave me. At least, I knew I stopped working post 6 pm!

I’ve been a solopreneur for more than a year now. I’ve been leading a flexible life, but a chaotic one at the same time.

As a solopreneur, you don’t know when your work day ends and when it starts.

You ‘believe’ your work and life are seamlessly blending into each other…but you soon realise it’s a myth — you’re actually just about surviving, unable to maintain any semblance of work-life balance.

What’s more, you stop knowing which role you play when, and you’re probably talking shop the whole day long, and networking even in your sleep.

To top it all, you’re looked upon as someone ‘glamorous’, who can afford the luxury of working at your own time… When in fact, you are actually working on everyone else’s schedule, and barely managing to keep your own.

So, this blog’s for all of you solopreneurs, who are juggling so much without showing it… Here are some hacks to help you ace your game… More power to you! And feel free to add your own hacks in the comment box below.

Rise Early

Yes, the only way to get more into your day is by rising early… I’m the kind of person who can sleep all day, but when I’m thrown at the deep end of the ocean — read, when I’m a solopreneur — I know the only way to cross to the other end is by waking up early…

It gives me more hours in the day, makes me more energetic, and allows me to conduct the various activities I need to finish.

Keep a schedule

However loose and sketchy your day ahead may be, have some idea of what you would like to achieve by the end of it. When you have a goal in mind, the likelihood of focusing on that task and achieving it is much higher.

Also, create a schedule keeping in mind your body clock… So, for instance I can focus more on writing before lunch, hence I schedule meetings and any other admin jobs post lunch.

Continue to Collaborate

As solopreneurs, we tend to get wrapped up in our cocoons…we believe we can mange our shows alone. But it’s important to keep working in collaboration, so as to not lose your ability of working in teams.

Working closely with clients at their locations will expose you to people in different team functions. This will also keep you abreast of the current work culture, even though you’re outside a company.

Make your network your team

As a solopreneur, you may feel you have limited resources, especially manpower…but that’s not true…

When I launched my recent publication on Medium called Pink Pinjra, someone asked me, ‘Who’s your team’, and I instantly answered, ‘The world!’ Because technically anyone can be a co-creator on the platform.

The same principle applies to your work too. You will be amazed by the number of people in your network who you could collaborate with. The key, though, is to stay in touch, reach out, and make your ask… And, of course, don’t forget to repay the favor, and help them find the same support in you.

So, dear solopreneurs, the journey is not a lonely one, and you needn’t struggle to find a balance. All you need to do is organize yourself, tap into your multiple resources, know you’re not alone, and reach out to the world when you need to!

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