The Accidental Entrepreneur
How I stumbled blindly into the world of sole-proprietorship (and how I’m making it work)
This isn’t a story about someone who had a brilliant idea, fleshed out a business plan and perfected a sales pitch before taking the leap into starting a business. This isn’t even the story of someone who poured her passion into a sidegig before taking a similar leap.
This is the story of a woman who found herself unexpectedly transitioning a career in the middle of a pandemic and said “ok, let’s try this” to a bunch of different ideas.
When I was unexpectedly restructured in February 2021, I managed to avoid questions about what to do next by telling people I was still processing. The truth was, I had a million ideas bubbling under the surface but lacked the confidence and business training to know how to make them into plans.
I sought the help of a career counsellor and let the question I had dodged so many times land square in my chest and spoke openly for the first time.
I want to do a bunch of things. I want to learn new skills. And I want to get back into writing.
What followed was a whirlwind of learning how to activate my network, write in a more formal, business-like manner, and learn on the job. I have very little business experience. In fact, until recently the only “business” document I ever wrote was my resume, and even then I used a template.
A responsible choice would be to sign up for a business class, maybe read a book on starting a new business. Even filling out a templated business plan. But I didn’t do any of this. I knew, at this moment in time, I needed to set things in motion. If I waited for things to be perfect, I would never make a move. Instead I took advantage of a time that was just right to pivot.
I did a deep-dive into the world of side hustles, business-building and productivity advice and just kept trying. Everything but writing a business plan. I just keep saying yes to ideas that pop up in my head. Some things are on hold, others are enjoying a “soft launch”. But all of it fits my initial plan of doing a bunch of things, learning new skills and writing.
In the spirit of so many entrepreneur articles I’ve read this year, here’s a list of what’s working for me (and might work for you).
1. Keep Journals
The plural is key in this case. I have a journal for the half-thought-out ideas, a journal for the client notes I need to refer to, and a journal for my stream-of-thought writing when everything seems to build up.
I’m not one to rely on a lot of market research or formal business planning. I operate on instinct and take calculated risks. I also sit with my ideas, taking in advice and examples before I make a decision. It’s important to get these thoughts and ideas down on paper. Once it’s written, it’s official. And can either spark a to-do list (also known as a plan) to make it a reality. Plus you have a written record to go back to when you’re looking for something new to pursue.
It also helps to track your learning opportunities (also known as mistakes). Processing these by writing them down helps you pivot, improve and work towards your goals.
2. Get a Bridge Job
This is the best piece of advice I got from a friend of mine who has been running her own business for almost as long as I’ve known her. The key is to find something you can do part-time, or casually, but it might be below your skill set or pay grade.
It’s a very diplomatic way of saying find work to pay your bills, but won’t take over your life. It takes time to build your business. You want something you can live on, but will still give you enough time to focus on other things.
Right now my bride job is taking up a lot of my time. Covering vacations in a very busy news cycle is leading to a lot of overtime. But I’m in a position to do this. The other projects I set in motion don’t need as much of my time and attention as they did a month ago. When I need to, I can dial back the hours of my bridge job and tend to things that need more of my attention.
It’s the magic of “doing a bunch of things”. Not every income stream requires an 8-hour shift.
3. Do One Thing Well
Admittedly, this one I’m still learning. I’m a strong writer. I’ve been paid as a writer my entire adult life. And now I’m learning how to write in different ways and for different income streams.
I write the news for my bridge job. I write blog posts for joy (and now a bit of money). But there are new platforms for ‘writing’ that are new to me and it’s taking some time to get good at them.
As a media coach I write and help rewrite talking points. I also write pitches and sharpen personal brands. Right now I have one client and I’m slowly adding more services to this relationship. I don’t want to promise something I can’t deliver. So everything new I provide, I need to take my time to really think it through. Until I have a solid catalogue ready, I’m not entirely sure I’m ready for a slew of clients to work with and manage.
This is the real reason (I think) successful companies take time to grow. If you come out too strong out of the gate, promising a bunch of things you can’t deliver, you’ll only be left with an unhappy client list and a damaged reputation. I can offer skills and experience. I can’t guarantee fame and fortune. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that.
4. Activate Your Network
I have zero experience with any professional or business documentation. I’ve prided myself on being a creative type whose business jargon was reserved for resumes and cover letters. But I know I need to look and sound more professional when dealing with clients.
This was an early weakness I admitted to friends and family, who luckily have all kinds of experience in this department. My dad, himself a consultant for the last (and most lucrative) years of his working life shared some templates with me for client proposals and contracts.
For one, these templates include sales techniques I never would have thought of, like expiry dates and deadlines to agree. An outline of what the client needs and step-by-step instructions of what I can do to help. A cost-out section being transparent with what I’m bringing. Everything is clearly laid out, which helps manage client expectations right off the bat.
Now my network is in the position of telling people in their circles about my services. Word of mouth is key for a business like mine. It establishes trust because a shared contact is vouching for me. Plus, it’s free marketing, also great at this stage.
5. Set Goals. Then Reset Them
This is a trick I learned the year I trained for a marathon. I’m not an athlete by any stretch, but I love a good training plan. And the coach I had advised us to set three goals at the start of the 9-month training session.
Then throughout the marathon training, we would check in on these goals. Were they still realistic? Are they serving the training program? Do they reflect my priorities right now?
Nine months is a long time, just ask any pregnant woman. Your body will go through major changes over the course of that training. Injuries could occur, forcing you to slow down or take a break. When you commit to moments of resetting, it helps take the pressure off when you set your plan or training in motion.
It’s especially helpful to plan check-ins to make sure what you’re doing is, in fact, working. Sometimes a goal you set at the beginning of a project doesn’t end up being a high priority, or helps drive the project forward. You don’t have to force it or power through. Sometimes it’s better to reset and move on.
My goals right now: work with three clients by the end of my first year (deadline is June 2022); develop a more thorough online course (right now I have a one-hour mini course on how to have a more professional shot on Zoom); maintain my existing income streams.
September will mark the fourth month of my self-employment — a perfect time to revisit my goals. And maybe write a business plan.
The information in this is for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as financial or business advice
