Through the Eyes of a Solopreneur by Jacqueline Jones

Jacqueline Jones, owner of Crystal Eikcaj ™Skin and Hair Care, LLC 

While we are all quite familiar with the term, “Entrepreneur”, there is another word that has been slowly gaining momentum, especially in a world where we are so digitally connected. “Solopreneur ship is the ability to own, work and run your business all by yourself.” The term solopreneur has been around for a long time, even though the idea of being one has only recently gained popularity. Being an entrepreneur requires hiring the right people in places that you can no longer focus on while your business is growing. Having a team spreads the work duties among people who like or are experienced in those roles. The solopreneur business model means that everything falls on you, and for some people and their businesses, the less they must depend on others to get the job done, the better off they are. However, the pressure to succeed in their chosen industry is always there, for solopreneurs and entrepreneurs alike. The question you are left to ask yourself is, which one is the right fit for your career aspirations?

An Executive Assistant to the CEO of a company once told me that her job was to manage the little things so her boss could focus on the bigger things. As an entrepreneur, you probably know the feeling. You do not want to be inundated with multiple tasks that keep you distracted from the bigger tasks at hand. Being surrounded by a dynamic and motivated team can truly move your business into another realm of success that you may have never dreamed of in the humble beginnings of your business. At the same time, being a solopreneur means that you have sole control of all that you do in your business. There are no worries about if someone will complete the job correctly or at all. You can pick your own hours, clients, and procedures, without the hassle of being met with resistance or apathy. There is no ‘passing the buck’ on whose fault it was should an issue arise, as the only person who must answer is yourself.

As a solopreneur, we must honestly examine ourselves by asking the following questions:

1. Can I handle taking on my business alone?

2. Are you in a position to bootstrap your business initially?

3. How are other people in my line of work running their businesses? 

4. Am I willing to keep up with the social media, website, and financial aspects of my business all by myself? (Which is basically impossible.) 

5. Where do you see your business in the next five years? (KPIs)

6. Am I okay with making all the big decisions on my own? (Mentors are desperately needed)

7. What and how do I raise funds to sustain the business without going into debt? (Securing Investors)

8. What is the pressure point that will make you throw in the towel?

Learn more about Jacqueline at www.crystaleikcaj.com

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