Hi there, Solopreneur! 

Happy Wednesday, and welcome to issue #29 of Solopreneur Doorway, a weekly newsletter that helps you turn your skills into solutions people buy. I’m glad you’re here. Was this email forwarded to you? Get yours here.

This week’s issue is a 4.0-minute read.

☀️ Extrovert or Introvert? Either Way, You Need to Hang with Smart, Fun & Positive People

The toughest part of starting, operating, and growing a solo business is accepting and overcoming the isolation.

As a solopreneur, you constantly have to be on the lookout for signs that you are:

*Having Trouble Staying Focused & Disciplined

*Feeling Lonely

*Feeling Overwhelmed

When you work at a corporate gig, there are colleagues in your space. Even if you don’t like all of them (or any of them), you gain balance and energy from collaborating with other humans.

This interaction is healthy.

After I left Wall Street, I thought my natural introverted style would help me soar. I was sick to death of working with people who made me cringe. I couldn’t wait to start my own solo finance business.

Alas. My euphoria over solitude soon faded.

I noticed 3 immediate signs that put a spotlight on my isolation and demanded I take action.

🔎 Do you notice any of these in yourself these days?

• You have less motivation to attract and retain new clients
  

• You have low energy for meeting deadlines and creating new products
  

• You have little to no interest in maintaining a social media presence and engaging with others across platforms

While it’s natural for your moods to have ups and downs in any type of work adventure, it’s vital that you know when you’re teetering off the balance beam.

🔑 Here are 3 ideas that I use to combat isolation and stay positive on the long solopreneur highway.

Create Your Own Board of Advisors

Companies large and small often have a Board of Advisors that oversees their progress and development. The board monitors new products, customer engagement, profitability, and market share.

Here’s how to do it:

• Ask 5 professionals from various industries if they would serve as your advisors and hold you accountable for reaching key business metrics.
  

• Meet once per quarter and give a brief presentation on the state of your business. Since each of your advisors will be successful in their own arena, you’ll strive to hit your goals and maintain positive momentum.
  

• In each meeting, discuss your wins and losses and where you believe the business might need assistance.

Your advisors want you to succeed. They will be in your corner whenever you feel discouraged or overwhelmed. I assure you that they will help you carry the weight and see around the blind curves.

Take a Vacation Day Every 6 Weeks

When you run a solo business, it’s easy to fool yourself and think you’ll have plenty of free time. Crazy, right?

When you try to balance your business with parenting or helping family members, it’s a wonder you have any energy left to brush your teeth at night. We solopreneurs work longer hours, shoulder more stress, and avoid vacations more than most full-time employees.

One way to give yourself a break and restore your energy is to take a full day away from the home office every six weeks.

Draw a circle around one day every six weeks (regardless of the day) and stick to it.

⛳️ This full day away from work gives you time to play golf, hike, visit friends, read, or work on a home improvement project.

When you look at your calendar and see vacation days scattered throughout the year, you’ll know you have plenty of time to recharge.

In my first year, I took no vacation days. In my second, I took 9, and in my third, I took 20. 😀

Vacation is imperative. Say “NO” to vacation guilt; take the days off and enjoy yourself.

Lean Into Your New Business Family

Your immediate family wants to support your solo adventure. In most cases, they are happy to give you positive encouragement and volunteer to test your new products.

My dad is a huge advocate of my solo adventure, and he’s always willing to offer his consumer input on my products and ideas.

Still, it’s imperative that you have a ‘business family’ of peers with whom you can exchange ideas and strategies. When I operated my finance business, I had three close ‘finance’ friends who understood the industry and how to address specific business issues in that sandbox.

Reach out to 3 or 4 friends and make time to meet for coffee, talk online, or have dinner. This extended business family is invaluable for you in the first few years as you move from a steady employee paycheck to the ups and downs of solopreneur revenue.

The solopreneur adventure is a maze, and there are plenty of dragons. 🐲 

If you want your solopreneur dream of wealth, independence, and impact to come true, try one or all three of my ingredients to stay happy when the loneliness clouds come your way.

• Create a Board of Advisors
  

• Take a Vacation Day Every 6 Weeks
  

• Lean In to Your New Business Family

Stay curious and keep opening doors.

-Erik

Time to Jumpstart Your Solo Business!

🙄 Do you feel like you’re taking all the right steps to expand your solo biz and you know there’s a missing piece?

When you’re ready, reward yourself with a dedicated strategy session.

Together, we’ll walk through your business, offers and find out what’s missing.

I’ll deliver to you a strategy solution that can simplify your approach, reduce your frustration, and streamline your revenue.