Member Spotlight
Deb Pilgrim helps small business owners start, grow and lead their business, so that they can create the life they want. Read more
| Marketplace |
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What say you?
Do you take on friends/family as customers?
14% - Sure! The more the merrier.
57% - Sometimes, but tread with caution
28% - No, best to avoid wherever possible
Live smart | Working alone
In this section, fellow soloists share what they love and hate about being self employed, as well as providing tips and tricks on how to get the most out of
working alone.
From balancing work
freedom and discipline and coping with the
loneliness of working alone to survival tips for working from
home and the benefits of having an unofficial business support team,
you’ll find a range of insightful articles about the pros and cons of self employment.
You shouldn’t keep it a secret
06 Dec 11Robert GerrishThere you are, blissfully working away with no boss, no timekeeper and your own unique sense of personal style, deeply immersed in the joys of solitude. But are you forgetting someone? Read more
Comments: 18We are the soul traders
22 Nov 11Peter CrockerDescribing a ‘typical’ solo business owner is like trying to describe an ‘average’ person. But as diverse as we are, those in the flourishing soloist movement share many tribal similarities. Read more
Comments: 61Celebrating success – soloist style
03 May 11Jayne TancredWorking on your own raises many challenges, not the least of which is handling the highs and lows without having anyone around to share them with. Read more
Comments: 41Small is the new big
15 Jun 10Sam LeaderWhenever I’ve seen soloists tout their business in an overly corporate style, it’s made me want to weep. But never more so than now. Here’s why. Read more
Comments: 27Getting feedback: Why every soloist needs a bouncer
24 May 10Lucinda LionsIn the rough and tumble world of the soloist, it’s important to have protection from the biggest threat to your business: you. Yes, it’s time you got a bouncer! Read more
Comments: 8Coping with isolation
24 Sep 09Robert GerrishIn this video I talk with prolific writer & small business expert, Andrew Griffiths. He shares tips to handle the dreaded feeling of isolation that can permeate our work. Using experiences from the big end of town, Andrew shares some practical advice. Read more
Comments: 3Preventing professional isolation
14 May 09Roz HowlandOutsiders may wonder how you can feel isolated when you've got clients and suppliers to talk to and the family upstairs. But professional isolation is a soloist’s occupational hazard. Read more
Comments: 21Ever pondered pulling the pin?
05 Jun 08Karen MorathThere were many days when I was a full time solo business owner that I thought I would pull the pin, throw in the towel, get a proper job and really do something with my life. Read more
Comments: 11Are soloists just corporate misfits?
08 May 08Karen MorathSince trading in being a full time soloist to become an institutional employee, I have been reflecting on why I decided to fly solo in the first place and wondering whether soloists are just corporate misfits. Read more
Comments: 19The soloist’s business support team
28 Feb 08Trish WestonHow many of us would achieve what we do without our partners, friends, peers, family and pets who make up our unofficial business support team? It's time these silent partners got due thanks for the part they play in making our businesses a success. Read more
Comments: 5The downside of being your own boss
04 Feb 08Peter CrockerYou stroll into your boss’ office, flick your resignation letter nonchalantly onto the desk and explain precisely what they can do with their stinking job. Then you swan out to cheers of your workmates. Or so goes the fantasy of being your own boss. Read more
Comments: 31The best things about being my own boss
09 Sep 07Trish WestonI bounced out of bed this morning. No alarm clock, no “just five more minutes”. It was my first day of freedom after spending eight months working for someone else and I am once again able to appreciate the great things about being my own boss. Read more
Comments: 16How to overcome boredom when working alone
30 Jul 07Sam LeaderWorking alone, means soloists need to know how to overcome boredom if their business is to prosper. Not being able to cope with being alone is one of the key reasons solo businesses fail, plus it puts people off going it alone in the first place. Read more
Comments: 25Small business versus solo business
24 May 07Jess TylerRecently I went from solo business to small business and back again to solo life. It's been an interesting experience and one that's reacquainted me with my inner solopreneur – thank goodness! Read more
Comments: 5Celebrating Christmas solo
08 Dec 06Linda AndersonCelebrations are an important part of life, but are there ways of enjoying the festive season if there's only you in the office? Absolutely! Read more
Comments: 13The Solopreneurs' DNA
07 Sep 06Paul J. MorrisSpouses, families and friends of the solopreneur and even budding solopreneurs themselves often wonder, what are the qualities that ensure success when going it alone? Read more
Comments: 1Being a sole trader can be fun!
11 Apr 06Grant HymanAre you one of the sole traders who responded to the recent poll by saying that your own business is a fun free zone? If you're not loving being a sole trader, try asking yourself these questions. Read more
Comments: 8Survival tips for working from home
14 Mar 06Barb ClewsNo-one is more in need of survival tips than those working from home. When the time comes for you to start out on your own, you feel excited and frightened at the same time. You're inspired, though, by other self employed people. Read more
Comments: 8The realities of being self employed
19 Dec 05Karen MorrisIf you are enticed by the idea of being self employed, you need to be realistic about what it entails. If you’re just starting out, or you’re wondering why on earth you thought this was a good idea, read on. Read more
Comments: 6Six rules to help you love your work
17 Oct 05Karen MorathIn many ways, 'Six rules to help you love your work' is a terrible title for this article as many soloists - including me – come out in a rash when they see the word ‘rules’. Read more
Comments: 3Working alone and coping with loneliness
31 Jul 05Barb ClewsLoneliness is usually one of the least talked about elements of working alone. Here are some strategies for handling this common phenomenon. Read more
Comments: 3Working for yourself: Balancing freedom and discipline
28 Jul 05John RaymondA strong sense of freedom is undoubtedly one of the key appeals of working for yourself, and discipline helps us keep it all together. Read more
Comments: 2Are you really a business entrepreneur?
07 Jul 05Karen MorathIs bigger really better? More and more soloists are challenging the traditional definition of a business entrepreneur and appreciating the benefits of keeping things small and doing it their way. Read more
Comments: 1
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Small Business is Australia's fastest growing sector – this business community site was created for those running a small business of one to five people. Here the solo and micro business owner will find small business forums, a small business directory, free resources, help, tips and advice on: starting a small business; working smarter when working from home; effective small business marketing; small business networking; the solo psyche; staying balanced as a small business owner; small business technology advice and small business finance tips.
