EP75: Top Ten Takeaways from Five Years as a Solopreneur
IT’S BEEN A ROLLERCOASTER!
The kind that both excites you and freaks you out - but leaves you wanting to ride again. I’ve learned a lot from the twists and turns!
Enjoy!
Listen Here:
(The notes below are only a brief summary of what is discussed in the podcast. Be sure to listen to get all of the goodness! If you would like a full transcription of the episode, please send an email request to: angie@angie-robinson.com. We’d be happy to provide that!)
I’ve just hit 5 years of my business and I thought it would be fun to share 10 of the lessons learned that have helped me along the way. 5 years as a soloprenuer is significant to me! When I first started my business, I heard many times that a lot of entrepreneurs fail in the first few years and that years 3-5 are the toughest. So - I thought that if / when I hit 5 years - it would mean “I made it”. Things would get easier. I realize that is an unhelpful thought - but it is one I believed. And - I’ve made it! (According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20 percent of small businesses fail within the first year. By the end of the second year, 30 percent of businesses will have failed. By the end of the fifth year, about half will have failed.)
Some of you have either started your own business or are thinking about it – so I wanted to share my takeaways and lessons for you. However, these takeaways are applicable for any situation where you are making a significant change or taking on something new. Some examples are: taking on an elevated role, climbing the career ladder, changing companies or even changing careers completely. I’ve definitely had several of those experiences over my career. Honestly – I wish I would have had some of this advice then!
And spoiler alert – I have self-awareness to thank for these takeaways I’m going to share.
Top Ten Takeaways:
To hear all of the detail behind the takeaways, please listen to the full episode.
Knowing your natural style and constantly acting on the data and revisiting it is a game-changer.
Be clear on your values and keep them top of mind.
Know your relationship with comparison.
The people around you matter and have your own back.
Use learning to grow, not to buffer.
You don’t need to know the ‘how’ in order to take action.
Make decisions from your future self.
Your thoughts have power.
Right now is the right time.
Everyone needs a coach.
Notice that I don’t really have anything on this list that is about how to attract clients (or employees), how to inspire or how to do marketing or identify your ideal customer. I could do another post/episode on those areas – because I certainly have learned a lot. But my belief as that it’s an inside out job to become who you want to be and accomplish what you want to accomplish. When you take time on self-awareness (the inside), the rest of it becomes “easier”, more impactful, sustainable and less confusing.
And it’s probably no surprise that much of this is what I coach on.
I hope that these takeaways and lessons spark a little something in you!
What do you think?
Do any of these takeaways resonate with you? What takeaways do you have?
Links
Song Referenced at beginning of episode: You Are The Magic
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