Are You an Entrepreneur?
Are you an Entrepreneur? Are you a problem solver, an innovator, are you someone who recognizes economic opportunities, then yes… you are an entrepreneur. You might think you’re not a ‘real’ entrepreneur because you don’t have employees or business cards or an accountant, but the truth is you don’t need any of those. If you have the desire to start a new business, an idea you believe in, and the initiative to act, then you are an entrepreneur.
Are you a Solopreneur? Are you afraid of a large financial risk? Do you want a low startup cost, operate on a shoestring budget, have no employees, and have only one or two small clients? Then yes… you are a solopreneur. Solopreneurs often begin by working from home, only on weekends or evenings, and plan to let the business grow organically. Unfortunately, the five year survival rate for a new small business is about 50%, and solopreneurs will fail far more often than that. I can’t tell you the exact percentage because no one knows.
As I’m sure you heard, starting your first business is a daunting task. It can be a very stressful time for the owner, even with an experienced team on their side. But for you, starting your first business as a solopreneur, this time can be completely overwhelming. But here’s the good news, you can reduce your stress level by planning. Planning your day in blocks of time, filling your time with blocks of tasks, and planning your tasks by necessity, and value. This is all part of Time Management. Effective time management provides structure, which reduces procrastination, and limits distractions, and that provides a sense of control. All of which increases your productivity, and decreases your stress.
As you can see, effective planning is an essential part of surviving as a solopreneur, but how do we make effective plans? For solopreneurs like us, the answer is Work Management software, and picking the right software is essential. Trello, Asana, Ryver, and even Google Workspace all have aspects that appeal to specific audiences, with specific needs. At one time or another, and depending on my IT role at the time, I’ve used each of these products. And now, as a Solopreneur, I’m using a combination of Clickup and Trello. Clickup for its versatile business management tools, and Trello as a note taking/workflow testing tool. For a solopreneur just getting started, and not comfortable with complicated tech, I’d recommend using Trello + Google Calendar. It’s free, very visual, both have great mobile apps, and it’s easy to get up and running.
Final thoughts… if you want to start a business, then start a business. Because everything I presented in this article is free, all it will cost you is time and effort. Good luck.
