You’re in charge, yes. It carries with it some (possibly unfamiliar) weight, yes. That there is a plethora of responsibilities for solo operators cannot be denied. But these added responsibilities don’t have to feel “heavy”, just embrace that they are part of the privilege of being free to do your own thing. Furthermore, there are several strategies and tools that can “lighten the load” to a negligible inconvenience. 

Firstly, maintain work-life balance through boundaries (that you defend vigorously), and take care of yourself physically and mentally. Eat healthy, maintain a regular exercise regime, get enough sleep ... Old hat advice, we know, but true. Pre-emptive self-care will enable you to handle potential challenges with resilience, keep burnout at bay, and help you deliver when you truly need to deliver. 

Make dedicated down time a “holy” part of your schedule, and don’t be available for work at all times; use scarcity to your advantage. Retire intermittently throughout the year, with weeks and months blocked and earmarked for you-time and R&R. Consider adhering to Rebel U’s ON / AMP / OFF™ framework (part of CARTE BLANCHE). ON-mode is dedicated client work; AMP-mode is active rest, including working on your own brand, biz and new ventures; OFF-mode is dedicated you-time, down-time, chillaxing and play. Approach all modes with focus, zest and relish.

When the going gets tough – as it will from time to time – reflect on why you started this brand and business in the first place. Revisit original motivations and purpose (or re-read your CARTE BLANCHE) during “heavy” times, to maintain perspective – chances are, it’s not really that bad. And as a nimble one-person act, you can always iterate or shift focus without approval or buy-in. Everything you do, ultimately benefits you. You are no longer a tiny cog in someone-else’s machine; you are the machine.  

During ON or work mode, break intimidating large projects and goals into smaller, actionable (and ideally adorable) steps. Use tools like Asana or Trello to map out tasks required to complete each and every step and milestone, or even better, get that SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) or MO (Modus Operandi) in place already. Crossing small items off your list, in aggregate leads to big items being crossed off your list. Measurable (and repeatable) progress is nice and keeps things “light”.

Identify specialists i.e. lawyers, accountants, virtual assistants, marketeers and advisors to offload areas outside your skill set and expertise. Delegate or outsource tasks when possible and avoid taking on things that you don’t know or don’t fully understand. Also, say “no” to anything and everything that is not within your particular niche and out of scope for the service(s) you provide. Automate repetitive tasks like billing, data entry and social media updates when possible, and instead use this time on high-value tasks i.e. what you should be doing.

Lastly, don’t fret about things beyond your control. Be honest and transparent with your clients, and indeed with yourself.