Solo entrepreneurs, or ‘solopreneurs,’ are brave souls. They throw caution to the wind, step out of their comfort zones, and pursue their passions. They answer to no one, control their time, and do things their own way. However, it’s a lot less romantic than it sounds. The truth is solopreneurs really do have their work cut out for them, and for pretty much the same reasons.
Indeed, starting and running a business on your own can be a thankless exercise that requires all your time, energy, and resources. To put it plainly, it’s exhausting and back-breaking hard work—but one with rewards so great that make it completely worthwhile. Thankfully, modern technology has made it so much easier for independent entrepreneurs to thrive and succeed. So if you’re looking to join the millions of brave solopreneurs striking out on their own, you need the right weapons in your arsenal to make your mark in the world.
Use apps.
It’s been said that these days, there’s an app for everything under the sun. As a matter of fact, there’s an app for every one of the known challenges that solopreneurs face.
For example, you might find that there’s a lack of real structure in solo entrepreneurship compared to a traditional work setting which can greatly affect your focus and productivity. So consider the countless productivity apps, like Asana or GSuite, which can help you manage your projects and workflow as well as schedule everything from your meetings to web content.
There are also apps designed for the many tasks you need to get through to keep your business going. These can be anything from invoicing to email management to photo editing to customer relationship management—the list could go on and on.
It goes without saying that taking advantage of these apps as tools for your venture will not only firmly keep you on the path to success but also keep you sane, too.
Invest in tech.
Of course, apps work best with reliable devices. While desktop computers and laptops are the norms, portables like tablets and smartphones are also becoming essential as more people embrace telecommuting and remote work. Smartphones—and, by extension, service providers with excellent data coverage—are particularly useful as they make it possible for on-the-go solopreneurs to stay in constant touch with customers, as well as easily take pictures of products to create content for social media, your website, or email proposals. When choosing a wireless provider, consider their reputation, coverage they offer, and their track record.
Delegate.
Despite the solitude automatically associated with solopreneurship, there are actually no rules against getting help. Indeed, as much as you might like to do everything yourself, you will probably come across small tasks that are better delegated to other people.
Fortunately, it’s easy enough to find freelancers over the internet these days. Sites like Upwork and even your local Craigslist allow you to tap people of various skill sets to do certain jobs for you. This then frees up precious time for you to really focus on the nitty-gritty of running your business and do the things you really care about.
It’s true: Often neck-deep in to-do lists and with cups that almost always overfloweth, solopreneurs unavoidably struggle more than most people. However, by simply employing the right tools and finding the right kind of help, you can make it easier on yourself which, in turn, makes it easier to achieve your inevitable success.
Image Credit: Pixabay.com
