How to be an entrepreneur
5 Hard-Earned Lessons from being a solopreneur
Becoming an entrepreneur is a bit like deciding to paint a masterpiece without ever having picked up a brush. You start with grand visions of a serene, balanced life—perhaps sipping coffee in a perfectly curated home office, effortlessly signing dream clients, and finally feeling like the boss you were born to be.
But in reality? Your business often looks more Picasso on a bad day than Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.
If creating, growing and scaling a business was like painting by numbers, everyone would do it! But its not, it is a creating journey, that requires many skills, both strategic and personal. One moment, you’re the visionary CEO, mapping out an empire. The next, you’re the IT department trying to figure out why your website has disappeared into the abyss. Then, you’re the accountant wondering where all the money went (and if you’re legally obligated to pay that unexpected tax bill). You’re also marketing, sales, customer service, admin, social media manager, and, depending on your industry, possibly even the cleaner.
Welcome to solopreneurship. It’s thrilling, exhausting, and—if you can survive the chaos—more rewarding than anything you’ve ever done.
Now that I’m further down the road, let me share my top 5 hard-earned lessons as a solopreneur—so you can build something extraordinary without feeling like you’ve lost your mind in the process.
1. Confidence is Built, Not Required
When I first started, I thought confidence was a prerequisite. Turns out, it’s a side effect of taking action. No one wakes up feeling like they have all the answers (if they say they do, they’re lying). Confidence comes from surviving the wobble, making the mistake, and realising you’re still standing. Take the step. The confidence will follow.
2. You Can’t Do Everything (Even Though You’ll Try)
For a while, you will be doing all the things. But the sooner you stop wearing busy as a badge of honour and start outsourcing, the better. Time is your most precious resource—protect it like your business depends on it (because it does).
3. If You Wait Until You’re Ready, You’ll Be Waiting Forever
There’s no perfect time to launch, scale, pivot, or show up. At some point, you have to accept that messy action beats perfect inaction. Your first offer won’t be your last, your first post won’t go viral, and your first website might make you cringe in a year—but you have to start.
4. Charging Your Worth is an Inside Job
It’s easy to think pricing is just numbers, but it’s deeply connected to your self-worth. The fear of charging ‘too much’ is real, but undercharging leads to burnout and resentment. If you don’t value your work, no one else will either.
5. Your Future Self Will Thank You for Playing the Long Game
Quick wins are great, but sustainability is better. The success you want isn’t built in a frantic 30-day sprint—it’s created by the daily habits, decisions, and mindset shifts you commit to consistently. Invest in relationships, in learning, and in yourself.
What This Means for You (Yes, You—The One Reading This, Wondering If You Can Really Do It)
Right now, your business might feel like abstract art—chaotic, unpredictable, sometimes brilliant, sometimes baffling. But if you keep going, keep learning, and keep backing yourself, that masterpiece will start to take shape.
I’ve been there, and I’ve built a business that allows me to work with clients I adore, create real impact, and still have time to enjoy my life. And you can too.
👉 If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and build something sustainable, let’s talk. Book a Strategy Session and let’s map out your next steps.
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