I understand. You’re a solopreneur.
You’re proud of the fact that you’ve bootstrapped your business from the ground up, tackling every task that comes your way. You built your first website, dove in and learned how to edit and upload videos to YouTube, figured out how to format your email newsletter, and even wrestled your shopping cart into submission.
But that feeling of pride that comes from doing the work yourself comes with a price. Too many small business owners are working too many hours, suffering from burnout and frustration—not because they’re not good at what they do, but simply because they’re unwilling to truly invest in their business.
I was one of these solopreneurs – I spent waaaaay too long trying to do #allthethings myself. In fact, I felt like I had to all the things myself, otherwise I wouldn’t have truly ‘made it’ on my own.
I was letting this mindset prevent me from taking the steps—and making the investments—that would have a massive impact on my business. And maybe you are, too.
If you’re ready to step away from the mindset of having to do everything yourself, here are three areas you can focus on in your business that will help you get to that next level.
Automation
Most online business owners start out using low-cost tools with limited features. For example, you might be using PayPal exclusively for product sales, or going back and forth via email with a potential client to find a suitable time for a meeting.
While that’s an acceptable solution when time is easier to come by than money, you’ll quickly outgrow it. The problem is, too many entrepreneurs fail to recognise the benefits of true automation.
Not only is trying to “make do” with a pieced-together system costing you sales, but it costs actual dollars, too. You (or your VA) will spend extra time simply getting it all to work, rather than letting the tools do the heavy lifting.
Recognise when it’s time to uplevel your marketing tools to include automation, and watch your time free up and your income increase dramatically!
Outsourcing
By far the biggest objection to outsourcing I hear is “I can’t afford it.” Perhaps you’ve heard—or even said it.
But the fact is, if you’re a serious business owner, you can’t afford not to outsource.
The time you free up by not doing those mundane, everyday tasks is time you’ll spend more profitably, by:
- Creating new coaching programs.
- Upping your content marketing game.
- Recording video and audio content.
- Connecting with your audience through email and blogging.
- Working with clients either one on one or in a group setting.
- Or just enjoying your life!
Outsourcing should never be looked at as an expense. In fact, if you’re not getting a return on your outsourcing investment, take a hard look at what you’re outsourcing and to whom, because there is likely plenty of room for improvement.
Coaching
It is possible to build your business solely on your own. You can pay attention to what others are doing and reverse engineer their systems. You can read books and blogs and maybe invest in a few carefully chosen training programs.
But there will come a time when your growth will flat line, and you’ll struggle to reach that next level. That’s when it’s time to invest in coaching. And yes, even coaches have (and need) coaches. A coach can help you see past your own blind spots, work through the blocks that are holding you back, and build a business you love—on your own terms.
Don’t be afraid to invest in your business. Wise investments such as coaching, automation, and outsourcing will pay for themselves many times over.
Are you going to be implementing any of these strategies in your business soon? And if you already have – what has had the biggest impact? #enquiringmindswanttoknow
