Why Solopreneurship Means Anything But Riding Solo
People become solopreneurs for a variety of reasons.
Some people want the freedom from having someone else dictate how and when they make a living.
Some want the ability to market their service and themselves directly to their audience, sharing a vision and mission that is uniquely their own,
Others have other priorities in life that they want to be able to focus on alongside their business. This could be family, travel, or passions that exist outside of their main career.
Motivations like these are especially true for solopreneurs who are also wellness practitioners.
People who help others on their wellness journeys often realize that their own wellness comes from a variety of sources, not just spending their time putting energy into others (for more on that, read our recent article on the Symmetry Massage blog about why caring for others is a two-way street.
But there is a trap to becoming a solopreneur.
It comes when you focus too much on the “solo” aspect.
It’s easy for this to happen, even when you are trying to avoid it. It’s something that we see so often with our fellow business owners.
Here’s how to recognize the signs, and how to reach out to the benefits of a community to help grow your business.
The Four Walls: Isolation in Solopreneurship
Think about the last “normal” job you had.
How often would you reach out for help from coworkers or managers for everything from mundane tasks to complex problem-solving?
Most would answer at least once per day.
When you begin your solopreneurship journey, you no longer have this option.
For wellness practitioners, this means you are on your own with learning the core functions of your business. This includes setting up your social media accounts, doing your taxes for the first time, and offering constructive feedback to the designer you hired to create your logo.
Everything becomes a trade-off between the time you spend while doing something for the first time, and the money you could spend hiring someone else to do it.
And let’s face it, most solopreneurs in the wellness space aren’t flush with that kind of cash.
The stage is set: it’s you, your laptop, and four walls.
This scene is glamorized by the entrepreneurship world. It’s textbook hustle culture, sleep under your desk-type stuff.
But we are in the wellness industry, aren’t we? There needs to be a better way.
And we think that way is community.
Finding a Community
There are many places to find a community for solopreneurs just like you.
In larger urban centers, this means in-person opportunities like:
- Networking events
- Mentorship and coaching groups
- Groups for solopreneurs from marginalized communities
- Groups for female solopreneurs
- Groups for solopreneurs in your niche (wellness, massage, counseling, etc.)
If you live in a smaller town, your options may be more limited. You can opt for virtual versions of the same opportunities, or seek out general entrepreneurship groups.
If you are hesitating about taking the first step towards expanding your community, remember these key points:
- Many solopreneurs face the same challenges. A general solopreneurship networking group is better than none at all.
- Meeting up in person to “network” can seem daunting. Luckily, you will have something in common with many of the people you meet. You won’t have to listen to someone else talk about golf, or their vacation – bring up booking software or cheap digital marketing hacks, you will find someone ready to talk shop
Another option involves more commitment, but also offers a greater reward: a membership-based coworking community like Symmetry Collective.
Dedicate time to explore all your options, and build a list of all groups and events in your area.
Challenge yourself to attend at least three group meetings or events to see if it works for you. This is a good goal to set during your “slow” season.
Now, more on what to expect from connecting with your community.
Building Community for Support
The first function of community is the exchange of support – sharing the tidbits of information that save hundreds of hours of time in the long run.
To be clear, this isn’t about asking someone to draw up your business plan or craft your mission statement for you.
It’s about keeping you on track, and sharing your mistakes with others. As solopreneurs, we are forced to either spend time figuring out what to do next, or trying something out and adjusting based on the results.
Remember last article, where we talked about running your business is like a never-ending experiment?
If we are going to act like real scientists, then we need to share our findings. This could look like:
- Why you think your organic social media content is doing better on Instagram than Tiktok
- Which online booking system has a 50% off annual membership offer if you try to cancel after the first month
- Where to find free downloadable Excel templates for easily keeping track of your books (without paying for bookkeeping software)
Some call these work or productivity hacks.
We call them better shared than kept secret.
Because you can only learn so much on your own, with your four walls.
But the amount you can learn from your community? That’s almost limitless.
Watch What Everyone Else is Doing - Expanding Your Community
Beyond the types of communities that we already mentioned, there are other types of communities you should be treating as an asset.
Your client base is a great place to start. Ask them what they do for a living, and what makes them passionate in life.
You may be surprised to find that many are small business owners and side-hustlers.
The key to growing your community is to watch what everybody is doing.
A community of wellness practitioners is a great thing to have, but who’s to say you can’t benefit from talking to electricians, artists, and caterers about how they run their businesses?
This is where you find novel ideas. It’s where you challenge your assumptions and gain the ability to view your business from an outsider’s perspective.
Remember those four walls?
When you leave the room for a little while and come back later, you start to notice little things that need changing.
So don’t stay in there for too long.
Build your community. Be a solopreneur, but don’t ride solo. Share your knowledge with others, and enjoy the benefits of what comes back.
Do you live in the Denver area? Interested in being part of a community that lives the values of community while providing spaces and support for wellness practitioners?
Come check out the Symmetry Collective space and learn more.
