Huma Siraj
The journey from working alone as a solopreneur to leading a team as an entrepreneur is more than just a career move it’s a profound shift in mindset and responsibility. When you work by yourself, the wins and failures rest entirely on your shoulders. But the moment you hire your first employee, everything changes. Suddenly, you’re not just responsible for your own success you’re also accountable for the livelihoods, growth, and well-being of the people who choose to work with you.
A New Level of Responsibility
Being in charge of employees and, indirectly, their families is very different from operating as an independent contractor. This is crucial to understand if you have been a “solopreneur” and intend to make the leap to entrepreneurship, or if you have already done so.
The Courage to Take the Leap
You have to have a certain amount of fearlessness to be an entrepreneur. Making something out of nothing and persuading others to join you requires guts and a natural drive. Nothing is more both exhilarating and nerve-racking than launching a company and then having to deal with sentient humans (your staff) later on.
From “I” to “We”
Making the shift from “I” to “we” involves more than just paperwork and payments; it involves a fundamental shift in how you approach and manage your company.
Shifting Perspective: Control, Perfectionism, and Fear
First and foremost, you will need to change your perspective on control, perfectionism, and fear. You have demonstrated that you have the courage to leave the corporate world in order to pursue independence and greater control over your life. However, what about recruiting, supervising, and occasionally terminating employees? That is a whole different situation.
The Risk and Reward of Hiring
Hiring staff is how just two out of ten small business owners transition to actual entrepreneurship. Why? It entails letting go of the safety net of handling everything yourself and putting your faith in other people to complete the tasks you have engaged them to complete. People’s anxieties that the people they’ve employed won’t be as good as they are are the main reason I see them struggle to jump the chasm.
Letting Go of Perfectionism
It all comes down to perfectionism and the need for control, which are tightly linked. The cause of each of them is our fear of failing and letting go. You must be prepared to acknowledge that you will not be perfect when you initially launch your firm, especially if you are a bootstrapped entrepreneur. You have to let go of your need to be in control and let your employees grow, even if they aren’t perfect. The more you allow people to grow on their own, the more you can grow as a company.
Reflect Before You Transition
Making the transition from independent contractor to employer is a difficult emotional process. Therefore, pause before making this big move and ask yourself:
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Are you prepared to put your trust in your staff to produce the caliber of work your clients demand?
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Can you let them develop and learn?
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Do you possess the mentality and abilities necessary to lead effectively as opposed to only being a talented individual contributor?
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Are you ready to take a break from working directly with clients so that you can concentrate on strategic business growth?
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Can you give up the satisfying rush of dopamine that comes from helping your clients personally and finding solutions to their issues?
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Are you prepared to focus more on your team’s accomplishments than your individual tactical triumphs?
The Rewarding Transformation
Making the transition from solopreneur to entrepreneur is challenging, but the benefits are enormous. You will feel the excitement of construction and the impact you will have on your employees, clients, and consumers. Additionally, you will develop both professionally and emotionally as you step outside of your comfort zone.
Writing to Lead with Clarity
The transition from solopreneur to CEO might be daunting, but I’ve discovered that writing down your thoughts helps you focus and control the many emotions that come with running a human business.
