Does Sole Proprietor = go it Solo, as in Alone?

Before i hung out my independent consultant shingle, in 2002, i had to confront what I thought it would be like to be ‘on my own.’  Could I do it? I didn’t like it, but it seemed like it might be ok, if only … i didn’t have to be by myself. dilemma.  Then, i got this idea: i don’t have to be alone, I’ll have clients, they can be ‘in my company’, sort of. Somehow that worked. I launched myself.

Lately,  with the number of clients dwindling, and the proposals that looked really promising getting pushed to Q2 or Q3,  I’ve been spending way too much time by myself.  I’m good company, except when business is slooow. like now.

I’ve been experiencing what my clients come to me for: a need to change. To change my view, to get out of the rut of the downward spiral, to change my attitude and actions. Know what i’ve learned big time?

Change is not easy.  And if it’s not easy for me who is in the business of “change”,  imagine what it’s like for people who don’t have my background or knowledge.I am imagining. The lesson of  ‘feeling the pain of change’ is not lost on me. The experience of  having what used to work, not work (read:  not produce the expected result & revenues) is a shock to my system, to my view of myself.

So, I’m reaching out to other ‘solo-preneurs’ , other small business owners and saying, what can we do together? what’s can we bring to market? I’m getting some traction. The movement is coming from reaching out, not wallowing, and from being willing to give and get help, to try lots of things, to fail and get up again. I’m sure there are more lessons on the way … this school’s in session for us all.

~ thanks for listening.

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