The Search for the Missing Yang: A Solopreneur’s Quest

Let’s get one thing straight from the get-go — being a solopreneur is tough. The “Where the **** did all my free time and sanity go?” kind of tough.

If you’ve started this journey, you know what I mean — days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months of relentless hard work. With plenty of drive and a solid set of skills, you might start gaining traction and even hear a few “wows” from others, which makes you and your ego feel like you’re on the right path. But soon enough, you might start to sense that something is missing.

Ladies and Gentlemen (Am I still allowed to say that? … oh dear, CANCELLED), welcome to the club. It’s called the “Missing Yang” problem, and it’s a struggle every solopreneur faces at some point — if they’re paying attention— if they’re lucky.

Lucky, you ask? Well, if they don’t feel like something’s missing, they’re in even more trouble. But more on that later.

Yin and Yang of Solopreneurship

You’ve probably heard of the concept of Yin and Yang (the Tiger and the Goat) — a balance of opposites, each needing the other to function in harmony. In business, this translates to the two sides — the creative, visionary side (Yin) and the practical, operational side (Yang). As a solo founder, if you are truly gifted you may excel at both — but hey, I have never met anyone (successful that is) that has shown this to be true. On the other hand, and more likely you might excel at one and stumble through the other. And that’s where things start to get messy.

Let’s say you’re a creative genius, a person with a vision, someone who can design and perhaps even create and market products or services that make people go wow. That’ll be your Yin, and hopefully, it’s strong.

But then comes the Yang — accounting, sales, and all those essential nitty-gritty details that make a business work. If you’re missing the Yang, you’re not just working harder — you’re working against yourself.

Why Solo Founders Lose Their Yang

Being a founder is difficult enough even when you are surrounded by co-founders. But when you’re on your own it’s easy to lose your Yang. After all, you’re juggling everything on your own. You’re not just the creator — you’re the accountant, the tester, the customer service rep, and probably the janitor, too. The real issue then shows itself — you can only stretch yourself so thin before things start to snap. And guess what? They usually snap right at the point where you’re weakest and just when you feel you’re about to break into the big time.

Many solos get stuck in what I like to call the “Missing Yang Trap” Because you’re good at it, you spend so much time perfecting your product or service that you neglect the less glamorous parts of the business. You think, “If I build it, they will come.” Then after the initial bunch of early adopters/enthusiasts start waning you realise — no one else is coming, well not at the numbers you need to survive, let alone win. Not unless you find a way to bring some Yang into your operation.

Real-Life Struggles of Solo

Take Jane, for example. She’s a hobbyist designer who decided to strike out on her own. Her designs? They’re wow. Her client base? Teeny tiny, almost nonexistent. Why? Because Jane’s missing Yang is business development, cold calling and marketing. She hates it and avoids it like the plague, and as a result, her dream of being her boss seems distant and getting further away each day.

Or look at Tom. He’s a marketing whiz who decided to start a business consulting service. He’s great at attracting clients, but when it comes to developing actual coaching materials? That’s where he’s missing Yang. Without a fully developed, solid product, any clients he manages to attract simply won’t stick around, and his business — well, it’s going nowhere fast.

Finding Your Missing Yang

So, how can you as a solo solve this Missing Yang problem? First and foremost you need to admit to yourself that you can’t do it all — not well, at least. That’s the first step to recovering your business aspirations — you have to admit you have a problem. Once you’ve done that, here are a few ways to find your Missing Yang.

Get Help. Hate accounting? Hire a bookkeeper. Struggling with social media? Bring in a marketer. Outsourcing isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a smart move that lets you focus on what you’re good at. And then Automate. There are tons of tools out there designed to make your life easier. From accounting software to social media schedulers, automation can help fill in the gaps where you’re struggling.

But what if you need other skills? Collaborate. Sometimes, it’s not about outsourcing but finding someone with complementary skills. Partner up with another solopreneur who has the Yang to your Yin, and you’ll both come out ahead.

Finally, Seek Guidance. If you’re not ready to delegate parts of your business, consider finding a mentor or coach who can help you develop the skills you’re missing. Look for someone with real-world experience — not just an academic, but a professional who has been in the trenches. Their experience and insights can be invaluable in helping you strengthen your Yang.

So you think you’re the lucky one who can do it on your own.

Let’s be realistic — you need to be. Maybe you’re not feeling the Missing Yang just yet, but believe me, as a solopreneur, it’s bound to catch up with you. There’s no quick fix for this problem. It’s an ongoing battle, and the balance will shift as your business grows and evolves. The key is to stay alert and recognize where you’re lacking.

Of course, if you are uniquely gifted, you might not experience this issue right away, maybe not till you’ve reached some traction, but eventually, you will see issues developing and that will be when realize that your Yang is missing.

Trust me, I am someone who has previously made the mistake of waiting too long to fix issues. That’s why I know, you need to be proactive about finding the solutions, about finding that Missing Yang.

Schillaci is a professional mentor with over 25 years of experience and eight startups under his belt. For more information www.SchillaciConsulting.com