HOW2 Launch a Successful One-Person Business
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Transcript of HOW2 Launch a Successful One-Person Business
Reluctant-Entrepreneur.com
5 signs you’re a solopreneur
You love what you doPerformance reviews make you illYou’re comfortable making
decisions and taking actionYou’re open to new ideasYou tolerate ambiguity
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Solopreneur Traits test
SmartCreativePersistentSelf-startingStrategic, client-focused perspectiveCan handle annoying clientsDon’t need to always be right
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What is your solopreneurscore?6-7: Why haven’t you launched your
business yet?
4-5: Yes, you can!
2-3: This might not be your bestchoice
0-1: Keep your job!
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Entrepreneurial skills
Tolerance for risk and uncertainty
100% client-focused
Move out of employee mind-set100% responsibility for all aspects ofyour business
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Entrepreneurial skills
Strategic perspective
Self-discipline, self-confidence
Admit you don’t know what youdon’t know
Willing to live outside comfort zone
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Business skills
View yourself as a business
Take steps needed to succeed
Close a sale
Talk about money
Wear many hats
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Professional expertise
Keeping your skills sharp and fresh
Network of colleagues
Investing in prof development
ID opportunities to add value
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The ThrillsFlexible scheduleWork from homeYour clients love youYou love your boss
24/7 scheduleLive in your officeYou have to find clientsYou make all the decisions
The Chills
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The ThrillsYou can try anythingYou can fire clientsCan be lucrativePride of ownership
You only have X hrs/yrYou have to find clientsCa$h flowLife-long marketing
The Chills
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Learn to love uncertainty
Your clients will NOT value whatyou did as an employee
100% client-focused means open toanything
Embrace ambiguity
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Self-management
Time managementOnly 1.000 billable hours/yearProcrastination management
Project managementPerfection is the enemy of good(enough)
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Cash flow insights
Have 6 months’ living expenses
Don’t fund operations with credit
Set your rates as someone inbusiness, not just starting abusiness
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Finding the dog whistle
“My housecleaning company cleansyour house very well”
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Why?
Get past the obvious answer to thereal value
Learn how clients describe theirneed
Become competition-proof!
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When?
Conversations, not interviews
Create opportunities to talkGo to local events your clients are atMeet for coffee/teaTalk with everyone
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Who?
Whoever you think will be yourclients
How?Ask and listen; no selling!
See the world from their eyes
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Conversation goals
What’s their biggest need?
What happens when that need isn’tmet?
What would they pay to meet thoseneeds with your product /service?
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Conversation goals
How do they look for {people whoprovide your service/product}?
How could you have the most funmeeting their biggest need?
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Ask yourself
What surprised me from theseconversations?
How do they describe the biggestneed I can address?
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Ask yourself
What do my clients NEED,VALUE and are willing toPAY me for?
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Are you a business owner or afreelancer?
Freelancers focus on getting theirnext gigBusiness owners focus on keepingclients happy
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What are you?
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When you describe yourself...
Is it a WHAT or HOW?
or is it a WHY?
“We offer bookkeeping services forsmall businesses” or
“We help small businesses get morefrom every euro they earn”
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HOW or WHY?
“We help you plan your next event” or“We make your events stand out”
“We develop mobile apps” or“We put your business on every client’s
smart phone”
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Then practice and refine!
Test out your description oneveryone
Blank look? Try another approach
Goal: “Ah ha! I need you now!”
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It’s our job to sell, not their job to buy
It’s our responsibility to communicateour unique value effectively
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The Imposter Syndrome
If they only knew how scared I am...
Once they find out I don't knowthis...
99 compliments, and you hear the 1criticism
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Defusing the Imposter Syndrome
Take feedback gently
Treat yourself as you would a friend
What’s easy for you isn’t easy forothers!
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Defusing the Imposter Syndrome
Let go of being perfect
Act as if you’re brave!
Promise yourself you’ll have fun!
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Solopreneur Checklist
Set a launch date
Get an accountability buddy
Check your finances – do you have 6months’ living expenses?
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Solopreneur Checklist
Conduct 5 successful reality-checkconversations
Write up 3-sentence stories abouthow your product/servicemade a big impact on clients
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Solopreneur Checklist
Decide on your rate/price
Decide on a business name,corporate structure
Register domain, start using bizemail address
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Solopreneur Checklist
ID where your clients congregate
Write a marketing plan to attract,not chase after, clients
Set outcome-related metrics
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Solopreneur Checklist
Print high-quality business cards,with social media URLs
Get a lawyer and accountant
Set up an accounting system
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Solopreneur Checklist
Set up a monthly savings plan soyou can attend prof dev
Set up web page & social mediawhere your clients are
Reach out to everyone you know
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Solopreneur Checklist
Join your clients’ prof association
Evaluate your computer setup
Evaluate your office setup
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Solopreneur Checklist
Start your marketing efforts
See my 20 Ways to Kick-Start YourMarketing
(reluctant-entrepreneur.com)
Plan a 6-month strategic review
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Find Mary Ellen at:
[email protected]: @mebsLinkedIn: maryellenbatesFacebook: maryellenbatesReluctant–entrepreneur.com
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