Get Your Boat to Float

Solo business undocking checklist

In any new endeavor, the first steps are the most intimidating. You may feel scared, out of your depth, unsure of your survival. Starting a solo business would be right in that territory.

Steady employment is like having your own apartment in a large building. You don’t need to worry about a roof and a foundation. Someone is taking care of the grass. Big trucks regularly remove the garbage. The elevators are running, and service crews come when anything breaks down.

Solopreneurship is like a houseboat. All your infrastructure is onboard your vessel. Your supplies run out if you forget to resupply. It only moves if you make it move. Now what?

Now that you’ve made the big decision to go solo, it’s time to get your boat into the water. What do you need to do?

Every vessel needs an undocking checklist. Yours will include:

If you have checked this off, you can undock and test the waters.

Prepare that your first month, or two, or three, may be uneventful or less than spectacular. Finding the first few clients will be the hardest unless you’ve already had them lined up even before you launched.

The main danger in the beginning (and I’ve experienced it myself) is that you will try many things, follow lots of advice, and none of it may produce results as soon as you want. There will always be market conditions, personal circumstances, family changes, and events that will impact you. In my case, one month after I’ve officially launched my business, the COVID pandemic has closed down offices around the world…

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