Seven Ways to Emerge Boldly Beyond the Covid Era – Plus an Extra

Are you responsible for the entire process of managing your business, from evolving your service offering to the associated (often long) process of getting new clients? I certainly am for my practice. Some days the weight of having to maintain a business for nine years followed by 14 months of sheltering-in-place leaves my frame of mind a bit sluggish. By writing this post, I am energizing fellow solopreneurs so that we can all emerge boldly from the COVID era. Based on my experience over the last year, my seven recommendations are to:

1. Explore New Business Partnerships – For many of us facing a tough business climate, we have successfully forged some new referral or subcontracting relationships this past year. Those of us who are seasoned solopreneurs likely have the respect of colleagues whom we haven’t seen or spoken to since before the pandemic. Which potential business partners should you recontact? Do you have a system for staying in personal touch with valued colleagues or is your approach haphazard?
2. Invest in Your Business – Perhaps due to the changes brought on by COVID, your business model or mix may no longer be as successful. You may need to identify and then invest in new ways to position and market your business. If you are a consultant to other businesses, you would advise your clients to invest. Your attitude towards your own business needs to be the same, so that you commit to your own success.
3. Start a New Business Line – In addition to investing in your current business, you may find that a new world requires a shift. In my case, after years of providing outsourced marketing primarily to for-profit companies, I have decided to refocus on the nonprofit sector. I am also open to learning from fellow solopreneurs, and not just those with businesses like mine. For example, my colleague Pam Moskowitz recently launched an extension of her 100% Beads business for a younger audience. 
4. Resume In-Person Networking - While some of us have thrived on Zoom networking, the relationships I've developed via Zoom are more unidimensional. As I have started to meet colleagues in person again, I find that the process of cultivating and deepening a relationship unfolds more naturally this way. Other than golf outings, finding events to attend outside can be challenging. But I continue to search!   
5. Stay on Track – Following the same daily routine of WFH has challenged my creativity. To stay fresh and energized, I recommend something that I did a year ago - join a weekly Mastermind group. This has been an immensely helpful way to remain disciplined and focused during a period when distractions abound. I have combined the Mastermind group with an accountability partner, with whom I meet weekly to review deliverables specific to our businesses. Thank you, Amy Jo Neill and Laurie Schulz.
6. Get Personal – With so many of us working remotely, we need to find new ways to Connect with our network. The definition of what is appropriate to say in a business situation has changed. Since the pandemic, many professionals are becoming more vulnerable on social media. Vulnerability is tough for me, but I did find an effective way to combine personal and business in this post.
7. Revisit Your Written Collateral - As a solo business owner, you hopefully know to rethink your Elevator Speech periodically. On the other hand, you may have labored hard on the copy for your new website, and then barely look at the site over time. The same can hold true for sell sheets or LinkedIn Profiles. Look at these touchpoints periodically and schedule time to update the language.

To round out a list of 10 tips, here are some things to AVOID:

8. Having Blinders On – Over the last 15 months, I have often looked at the Shelter at Home period as something to just “get through” until things return to “normal.” I now realized that things won’t be like before, so it is time to adjust and move energetically forward to the “new normal” (whatever that might be).  

9. Quantity over Quality – Please don’t emerge from this time by bombarding your network with posts, emails and messages that contribute to online clutter.

10. Saying “Yes” to Everything – Business owners can get distracted attending webinars, participating in online networking, volunteering for organizations and much more. Your time is likely your most valuable resource as a solopreneur. So be careful how you spend it. 

As business owners, we cannot rely on an improving economy to grow our business. Instead, we must constantly rebirth and reinvent our businesses. What’s your secret for reinventing yourself every few years? Please share in the Comments.