As regular readers will know, in my coaching and speaking business I put considerable emphasis on who is an ‘ideal client’ for me.
It’s only by recognising who that person is and being certain that the services I have to offer are relevant and needed that I’m able to tailor my marketing messages and actions.
Soloists who […]

If there’s one thing that can get in the way of a smooth running solo enterprise, it’s the lack of an organised back office. Sadly it’s not unusual to see a business that fronts up well yet is a disaster behind the scenes.
Here are my Top Five back office essentials, see how you stack up:
1. […]

If there’s one thing that makes me feel overwhelmed and tired, it’s the sense I’m going to be struggling to get the day’s work done. In my view, few feelings contribute so negatively to our ability to work effectively. This weekend, the sense spilled over to my home life and maybe that’s why I resisted […]

It would be lovely to think we only ever attracted dream clients to our businesses, but unfortunately we also get the occasional stinker.
Examples include those who ask us to undertake work that’s beyond (or beneath) our expertise. In these cases we have to weigh up ‘income versus annoyance’ and ensure we are mindful of the potential risk […]

This week - in our final missive until January - I’d like to explore the topic of gifts.
I’m not talking about what we should or should not give to our clients, friends and supporters, as I rather hope you’ve already handled that one. (He said, smugly).
No, the gifts I’m talking about are the ones you […]

It seems to me that we’re well and truly at that time of year where things become a tad hectic and otherwise sane clients and colleagues go a bit wobbly. I think it’s directly related to the incessant broadcast of Christmas carols in shopping centres, but as I have no proof to back-up this theory, […]

If you’re forever hearing great things said about your work, yet not seeing these translate into sales and revenue, it could just be because you’ve fallen into the innovator trap.The innovator trap is where we can end up if we confuse educating with marketing. Going out and telling the world about something completely new and […]

A while ago, I had a meeting with a fellow business owner who I was planning to use on a project I was developing. This person had a high degree of expertise in the area and was aware that I do not.A meeting was set-up to begin exploration of a working arrangement.
On both sides the […]

This topic generated lots of interest when I mentioned it in the leader column, so I thought I’d write a full-blown article on making space for ideas.While running a workshop earlier in the year, I was talking about the topic of ideas to the assembled group of soloists. I began by asking the simple little question:
“What’s so good […]

In the busy, noisy world of solo business it can be a challenge to be heard and get noticed. One thing is for sure - it’s far better to be heard well by one person than ignored by thousands.Our solo ventures stand the best chance of growing by word of mouth when those around us […]

Don’t we just have it all at our fingertips these days? Mobile telephony, satellite monitoring, wireless go anywhere internet connection, SMS and ‘always on’ email straight to our palm devices.As soloists, there’s no excuse for failing to stay in touch with our work (and our clients) regardless of where we are or when. The marketers […]

In our book Flying Solo - How to go it alone in business, Sam and I talk a great deal about the role and importance of holding a vision.

Exploration on the topic of visions is often done in the context of a start-up business, but to dismiss visions as something solely useful to newbies is to […]

Disconnected? Get involved!
Ironically for a number of novice soloists the very thing that appeals - the vision of working alone - becomes a major reason to quit.
Working solo doesn’t suit everyone. Without planned habits and behaviours, isolation and loneliness is extremely destructive.
The trick is to engage in ‘purposeful participation’.
If you’re running a business, you’re clearly […]

New solo ventures require plenty of planning. Here are five questions that all aspiring soloist’s need to consider.

1. Have I done the right amount of research?
The excitement of starting a new business can cause new soloists to be too hasty. Often driven by the mistaken belief that some imaginary boat will be missed if the […]

1. Specialists have opinionsAs you become immersed in your area of speciality, so you develop strong opinions. These opinions may be about a particular area within the scope of your work or they may be about the circles within which you operate.
For example, if you’re a retailer, your opinion may be about the products you […]