How to Build Confidence as a Solopreneur
Let's be honest. The last three years have been brutal.
If you're employed full time, you felt the stress of workplace changes, finding childcare, and teaching at home. Your workplace evolved (or not) as people stayed home or went to hybrid schedules. If you're a solopreneur like me, you had to figure it out fast and all by yourself. I paid for 9 months worth of office space that I didn't even use. I had to quickly set up at home so I could do Zoom and phone calls easily. No one tells you what to do in case of a worldwide virus epidemic! We all had to slog through it and figure it out as best we could.
When I work with clients, the first thing they always want to work on is confidence. Building it. Fostering it. Sustaining it. Whoever you are, your esteem has taken a hit and you need a boost. I get it! I spent most of 2021 and part of 2022 trying to figure out the next logical step for my business - I looked at different strategies, key demographics and ideal clients. So, what helped me get my head screwed back on? A few things. Let me share them with you!
Three key things helped me get my shit back together and feel like a business owner again:
Community - We all need community in some way. Human beings are social creatures; we need to be around other human beings. I know that my introverted friends are saying, "No, I don't! I hate people!" Yes, even you, introvert. You need to be around other people - whether it's in an office or at home. I joke, but I do know many introverts who were thrilled to be at home by themselves. You still need to find your tribe. You might be surprised to find that you're not alone! Other solopreneurs are feeling lonely too. I highly recommend finding a mastermind group, working with colleagues at a coffee shop, or setting up shop in a co-working space. Just getting the energy from groups helps propel us forward.
2. Coaching - I'm not just recommending solopreneur coaching or finding a business planning coach because I am one! I truly believe that coaching gets us out of our comfort zones, holds us accountable, and allows us to express our business issues in a safe environment. After a year of going back and forth on my ideal client, I hired a business coach. Immediately, I felt forward movement. And action! She reminded me of my power and helped me figure it all out. I now have a direct path to exactly where I want to be. Hiring a coach is the best thing I've done for my business.
Getting a small business loan - You want to save money. I get it. You don't want to have to pay back a big loan. But I can't stress enough how my business has benefitted from an SBA loan. I didn't want to do loans. But the SBA loan I got had a really good interest rate and payback schedule. I decided to take the plunge. Man, I'm glad I did! I was able to hire a business coach and an SEO team for my new website. It felt good to have the money pay for services I so badly needed. Check out https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans to see if you qualify!
