So another week goes by and you haven’t left your home office? It’s an easy trap to fall into. You have a 5 second commute, you can work in your jammies, and before you know it, three days go by and you haven’t fixed up your hair or worn any deodorant. Such is the life of a home based business owner.

These stretches as a home office couch potato isn’t healthy. Not that you’re lazy, but sitting in one spot for an extended period of time, watching a screen isn’t the healthiest of habits. You need to get in the game and interact with other entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Here’s a video of my own experience after recently attending a marketing event held by Adam Urbanski called, Attract Clients Like Crazy.

How many live networking events and live training seminars are you attending?

Get in the game!

Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

 
Everyone is looking for the secret. That hidden knowledge … that answer… that one thing that if you knew, suddenly your whole life and your solopreneur startup would change for the better.


Well you can’t get the big answer if you don’t ask the big question.


And if you have any children or if you’ve spent time around children for any extended period of time, you’ll have been asked this question many times. It’s arguably the most important question in the human condition and subsequently in running a small business.


And that question is … “Why?”


Now if you feel let down by the answer thinking this is way too simple and obvious, stop and think for a minute.


Why do so many people have a tough time answering “Why?”

Why do people make millions helping others find the answer to this question … both in their personal and professional lives?

Why is “Why?” the most important question?


Because it really doesn’t matter what you do, or how you do it unless you have a deeply profound, clear understanding of why you are doing it.


If you are constantly thinking about what you need to do in your business or how you are going to do it and you don’t have a clear answer as to why, you are wasting your time. Sure, you can still achieve some success, but nowhere near what you are capable of.


You’ve probably heard the self-help expression, “Be, Do, Have”.

• Who you are being (with your thinking),
• Directly impacts what you do (the actions you take),
• Giving you what you have (your results from your thinking and your actions)

If you want to change what you Have, you have to alter what you Do. But before you can successful do that, you need to start be focusing on Be.


The what and the how of your solopreneur business is all about the Do. To get your Be squared away, you need to get centered on your Why.


Why did you choose to start your solopreneur business?

Why are you passionate about it?

Why are you the right person for your business?

Why do your customers benefit from choosing your products or services?

Why are you passionate about helping them?


If you’re feeling a little lost, confused or just plain stuck, get centered on your Why. Once you have focus on your why, many other aspects of your business will become clear as to what and how you should do them.


If you struggle to answer your Why, my Small Biz Break partner, Maria, and I can help. We offer a series of online webinars and coaching services focused on the 7 essentials for going from cruise control to crushing it in your business. Why is one of the essentials we focus on.


All the Best,


Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

Sounds like a bold title, doesn’t it? Is this just catchy copy or is it truly possible that there are just seven essential actions solopreneurs master for breakthrough success?


The truth is many of these top small business pros worked very hard to get where they are today. Their success didn’t happen overnight. The honest ones will tell you that they struggled and made mistakes along the way. Some big mistakes. Costly mistakes. I sure have. More than once … and in multiple industries.


These are all talented people that have the entrepreneurial DNA, but before they achieved their breakthrough success, they had certain patterns or habits that kept them just on the other side of success. They fought through frustration, confusion, procrastination, small results and some degree of self-doubt … all at a cost of tremendous effort, personal pride, loss of money and cashing in a few favors with the people that supported them most.


Does this sound like your current situation?


If so, we want to help you.


My Small Biz Break partner, Maria, and I are hosting a live webinar on Tuesday March 1^st at 2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST titled, “Discover the 7 Essentials for Going from Cruise Control to Crushing It in Your Business”. In this no-cost webinar, we’ll talk about the seven key actions that successful entrepreneurs mastered for breakthrough success.


You’ll discover the primary secrets of:

1. How to change your thinking to achieve bigger results

2. How to avoid procrastination, a lack of confidence and burn out while keeping focused on specific actions to achieve your desired success

3. How to attract more of the right customers

4. How to avoid multiple false starts

5. How to replace your busy work with results producing action

6. How to rally others to your cause to achieve greater success faster

… and …

7. How you can capitalize on your current achievements for greater future success


We don’t believe in taking up your time with fluff and only talking about theories. We are committed to introducing you to new ideas so you can see new possibilities. We will discuss why they’re important and we back that with practical, how-to steps so you can start taking action right away.


The first action you need to take is to register for this event. At the bottom of our Small Biz Break Events page, you will see a registration form. When you sign in your name and email address, not only will you reserve one of the limited spots to:


1. Our live 60-minute free webinar on Tuesday, March 1^st

… but for a limited number of take-action entrepreneurs who register early, we will give a complementary bonus  …

2. A one-on-one 30-minute private strategy session. We are only offering this for a limited number of people, so take action now before the other action-oriented entrepreneurs beat you to it!


We’re excited to get the opportunity to help your business reach its full potential!


All the Best,


Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

 If you’re like me, one big reason why you decided to become a solopreneur was you were tired of being tied to someone else’s vision … whether a boss’s or a partner’s.


You had a passion, a vision that no one else seemed to share with the same intensity, dedication, and desire that you did. So, why should you marginalize your solopreneur startup by having to answer to someone else, right?


But then, somewhere along the way, you got a case of the lonelies. You missed the energy, the brainstorming, the creativity that others contributed.


For the most part, we are social creatures. We thrive when we interact with other people. In business, interaction keeps our energy up, our competitive nature strong, our accountability in check, our focus laser-like, and our creativity pumping.


So as a solopreneur, what can you do to be part of a group without sacrificing your individuality?


Build your support system.


1. Loved Ones
Always start with your loved ones … and primarily your significant other. Nothing will drain your focus and motivation faster than a partner that is non-supportive. It isn’t that you need your partner to take an active role in your business, but you do need to know that they are willing to give you the time, support and space to accomplish your goals at a minimum. This may include your partner bearing the brunt of the financial burden until you become self-sufficient.


2. Mastermind Groups
If you aren’t familiar with mastermind groups, they typically consist of a handful of other entrepreneurs who have a common energy level and commitment to achievement. The group meets regularly (in person or online) to discuss everyone’s current projects, the problems they’re experiencing for achieving their goals and what they are committed to do about improving their situation. The other group members will share their perspective, provide their insight, and hold each other accountable for their action items. Often, members of a mastermind will pick a project or projects that they can work on together as a joint venture.


3. Networking Professionals
Hopefully, you have set a goal or networking with other solo professionals and small business owners. There can be people that you meet at live events or that you connect with in online forums. People you network with can be an additional source of feedback on your vision, your strategies and your tactics, plus they may become people you partner with on a joint venture or outsource some of your less-than-favorite tasks.


4. Mentors
Mentors give you insight, knowledge, and an additional level of accountability. They provide you with an example of what can be possible if you make the appropriate adjustments to your business model, strategies and tactics.


When building your network of support, you’ll look for people who fill the following 4 roles:

• Motivators
• Teachers
• Partners
• Cheerleaders

And here’s a key to remember: if you want to attract the right people to you and get them to invest their interest, time and energy into your vision you need:

1. A clear vision
2. A passion or your purpose and the people that you are helping
3. Strengths and experience that support why your vision has the likelihood of succeeding
4. Clearly defined, objective goals
5. To give back
6. Clearly communicate the previous 5 element to your support system

Being a solopreneur is an extremely rewarding journey. But if you are struggling along the way, invite the motivators, the teachers, the partners and the cheerleaders to get involved.


All the Best,


Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

I’m excited to let you in on a New Year’s resolution that I’ve been working on for the past two weeks. It’s the start of a new coaching program my Small Biz Break partner, Maria, and I are putting together. I apologize that I haven’t had a post up here in that time, but this resolution is a priority.


It isn’t that we are focused on us and not you, quite the opposite. We are passionate about helping you grow your business. One of our resolutions is to provide you with a greater service.


Since our desire is to put together the best program for you that will give you the greatest transformation in your business that you seek, we are asking for your feedback. No sense in putting together a program that doesn’t solve your biggest problem, right?


Based upon the status of your business today and what holds you back from achieving the level of success you desire, which of the following programs sound like what you want or need:


1. Thinking Like the You of Tomorrow
How to change your thinking to achieve bigger results


2. Discovering Your Shortest Path to Success
How to avoid procrastination, a lack of confidence and burn out while keeping focused on specific actions to achieve your desired success


3. Finding Your Market’s Sweet Spot
How to attract more of the right customers


4. Creating Your Blueprint for Success
How to avoid multiple false starts


5. Going from Ordinary to Extraordinary Through Massive Action
How to replace your busy work with results producing action


6. Why Do it On Your Own When Others Want to Do It for You
How to rally others to your cause to achieve greater success faster


7. The 4 Rs for Perpetual Success
How you can use your success to create greater success


You can vote for one program title or multiple titles in the comments (and any other comments you may have on the help you want).


Thank you in advance for your participation.


All the Best,


Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide