Kelly McCausey

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Dedication

I dedicate this book to my son, Sean – who I hope to inspire to be a Solopreneur someday ;)

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Dedication ................................................................................................................................................. 2

Foreword .................................................................................................................................................... 4

Praise for Solopreneurs are Smarter .............................................................................................. 8

About the Author .................................................................................................................................... 9

Why I Had To Write This Book ........................................................................................................ 10

Solopreneurs Can Own Their Niche .............................................................................................. 14

Solopreneurs Don't Have To Live By the Clock......................................................................... 15

Solopreneurs Leverage Technology ............................................................................................... 17

Solopreneurs Are Light On Their Feet .......................................................................................... 19

Solopreneurs Create Their Own Business Culture .................................................................. 20

Solopreneurs Don't Have A Boss.................................................................................................... 22

Solopreneurs Don't Have To Go To College ................................................................................ 25

Solopreneurs Seek Out Wise Advice ............................................................................................. 27

Solopreneurs Don't Employ – They Outsource ......................................................................... 28

Solopreneurs Partner with Other Solopreneurs ....................................................................... 30

Solopreneurs Can Creatively Work With Interns ..................................................................... 34

Solopreneurs Can Fill Their Time with Variety .......................................................................... 37

Solopreneurs Can Take It to The Next Level When They Want To ................................... 39

Foreword By Nicole Dean, NicoleontheNet.com.

Schools aren't in the business of teaching us how to become entrepreneurs. In fact, I managed quite well to get through High School and College without learning a darned thing about how to start or run a profitable business. I wasn't required to take any courses about being an entrepreneur and I certainly wasn't going to voluntarily sign up for any.

I fully intended to pursue a career where I would work for someone else my entire life, getting paid well, having nice benefits and a 401K.

Start a business? BAH. I didn't want no stinkin' business! That was for other people. It sounded way too overwhelming and frightening to me. I knew people who ran businesses and they always seemed tired and overworked. They had to deal with employees and drama and customers and complicated taxes and payroll. I certainly didn’t want that.

Then a few things changed in my life. I got a new and wonderful name. I was now also known as "Mommy". That was the good news. The bad news? My husband soon after lost his cushy job due to downsizing. All of a sudden I wanted to figure out how to make money - without having to leave my house or get a job!

So, what are the options for someone who wants to make money from home, without getting a job? That was the question that I was on the hunt to answer. I wanted SIMPLE, but was willing to put in a lot of work.

To me, simple meant that I didn’t have to have employees, payroll, or drama. I wished and prayed that I could figure out a way to form my own destiny and make money – while somehow helping others – if only such a thing existed.

The term I was looking for at the time was “Solopreneur”. I just didn’t know it.

Through a lot of trial and error, I started to put together some pieces and dabbled a bit in various areas, but I wasn't making much money at all. I was pretty much failing - with occasional bits of success thrown in. I was spending hours and hours on my new business and was making very little money. (Pennies per hour.)

I knew that I was on the right track, but a lack of confidence in both myself and in online business as a business model held me back. Yes, I had voices in my ear from family and friends who were telling me that all work at home businesses were scams and I let that infiltrate and tackle my momentum.

Thank God I found Kelly McCausey... or that she found me. I'm not even sure how we initially connected. But the result of that interaction was that I realized this lady was quite a ways ahead of me and was actually willing to teach me what I needed to

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do in order to make real money. I had no concept of why she would do this, but I, without a doubt, knew that I wanted in.

I took a leap of faith and joined Kelly's mentoring group SoloMasterminds.com in February of 2005 (it was formerly known under a different name at the time, but is the same mentoring group). Kelly officially became my mentor, and immediately filled that "Big Sister" role that I was searching for. She instructed, advised, and encouraged me.

And yes, sometimes she even scolded me for not doing what I needed to do to succeed. On occasion, I would turn to her with tough issues because I know that Kelly’s moral compass always holds true. I knew that I could turn to her and openly and honestly discuss my issues – and she would be honest with no holds barred in her response. But, she did it all with love. And, my business (and my income) grew.

Kelly helped to turn me from struggling Solopreneur to successful Solopreneur - just by being available to answer my questions - and being a step ahead of me in the process. I was (and am) a fan for life.

But... that's not the whole story that I want to share today. The story that I want to share gives me goosebumps.

I feel that this book is extremely helpful – but that Kelly missed writing one chapter in this book, most likely because she’s a humble person. So, I feel it's my job to share it. Solopreneurs Give Back! The biggest blessing that I have had as a Solopreneur hasn’t been the income or the amazing lifestyle that it brings.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the income and I love the lifestyle. For instance, I spent five weeks in Europe this summer with my family. Yes, that's great and I'm extremely thankful for the joys and opportunities that my business has brought me. Being a Solopreneur has allowed me to LIVE life more than if I didn't have my business. That is true.

But - that's not my biggest blessing.

The most amazing gift that I have gotten from being a Solopreneur is the ability to GIVE to others. And, Kelly has lead by example to show me what that looks like.

There are many examples, but I will share just a few....

For me, I have several causes near and dear to my heart, but my biggest joy comes in helping children and animals.

Specifically, I work with orphans through a program called New Horizons for Children. I also volunteer for a rescue that specializes in saving Golden Retrievers.

And I give to Children's Hospitals and families in need. I also try to bless people randomly as I have the opportunity.

My business makes it EASY for me to give of my time and resources because of the way that I’ve built it.

One of the people who has most inspired me in this way has been Kelly.

When she was a leader in the Work at Home Mom Community – she would raise funds for moms in need. Kelly is a pro at blessing people who have run into a wall for reasons outside of their own control – and in helping them overcome and move past their struggles.

I’ve seen her do this time and time again in SoloMasterminds.

When a member of our community lost her 2 year old son to a genetic disorder, Kelly jumped into action. She rallied and raised $7000 to help that family pay for hospital and funeral expenses. This is a mutual friend of ours, who we both got to know in SoloMasterminds.com – which Kelly has turned into a family. It’s so much more than just a “networking group”.

What I admire about Kelly is that she doesn’t just talk about making a difference “some day”. Some day is today.

Kelly Goes Bald.

Kelly’s most recent demonstration of giving back was the most shocking and the most admirable to me. While up late one night, as Kelly was watching her four little great nieces and nephews, she saw a commercial on TV from St. Baldrick’s foundation.

I’ll insert Kelly’s own words here to share her story…

“The actress from Rescue Me was talking about fighting childhood cancer and the camera moved out to reveal that she was pregnant. She shared that many children who manage to survive childhood cancer treatment never have children of their own because the treatment renders them infertile.

The thought broke my heart! I went to the web to learn more about St. Baldrick’s.

They raise money to fund research that build better childhood cancer treatment and their unique approach is to encourage fundraising groups to make a bold statement by getting their heads shaved.

At first I was shocked – who would do that? Then I was inspired – I want to!”

And, in true Kelly fashion, she did. She rallied and raised funds and then, on the scheduled date, she went bald for childhood cancer.

So, in a nutshell, this is why I love and respect Kelly McCausey, both as a business mentor and as a personal mentor. You could not ask for a better person to learn from. And, yes, I do thank God for putting Kelly into my life.

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In the pages of this book, you will learn all about what being a Solopreneur means through Kelly’s eyes.

If you’ve already started your own business as a Solopreneur, you’ll nod in agreement for a few chapters and then you’ll realize your eyebrows have moved down towards your eyes… in deep thought.

Personally, my favorite chapter is “Solopreneurs Create their Own Business Culture”. It made me rethink what my own personal business culture is currently and what I’d like it to be.

If you’re not yet in business for yourself, you will get a good overview of what can be – if you choose the path of the Solopreneur. Being a Solopreneur isn’t for everyone, so this book can help you to assess what it takes to succeed and whether or not you wish to pursue this path.

The most important thing – is to read this book from cover to cover and then give it to a friend, to read, as well. In true Kelly fashion, I ask you to gift this book to a friend or Woman’s Organization when you’re done reading it so that we can inspire more women to take control and become successful Solopreneurs.

My work here is done. I will leave you now to enjoy the pages that follow.

Warmly,

Nicole Dean

Praise for Solopreneurs are Smarter “If I wasn’t already a solopreneur, your book would have convinced me to become one – fearlessly – because you gave an honest account of how freeing and wonderful this career can be.” - Tiffany Dow, @tiffanydow

“I read Kelly's book while spending time in Europe with my family. I had one of those 'Aha' moments where I realized that I am definitely a solopreneur! Kelly has a refreshing approach to describing a lifestyle that makes sense for anyone who desires the ability to time shift their working life to be able to spend time with the people and activities that matter most, without having to ask permission.” - Connie Ragen Green, @conniegreen

“Reading how you've chosen to live your life & pursue your passions intentionally & with focus has given me great hope as a budding solopreneur. You've described the flexibility and freedom that can be found as a solopreneur so clearly that anyone reading this can't help but start thinking about how they're going to get started on the same path.” Tracy Roberts, @tracy_roberts

“Finally, someone diagnosed what I've always been - a Soloprenuer! I loved this book. Every person with a nagging nausea from cubicle life will find the cure here. A few important attributes popped into my mind as I was reading it: Transparency. Crisis. Change. Growth. Support. Thanks.” David Perdew, @drperdew

"Solopreneurs are Smarter is Kelly at her finest. It's a real-life look at how we run our businesses - without time clocks, bosses, or dress codes - and what that can mean for our lifestyle. There's no airy-fairy, feel-good theories here, just solid advice from someone who is running a business she loves and is living her life her way, and clearly loving every minute of it.” Cindy Bidar, @cindybidar

“I feel this book is a snapshot of my year's one-on-one coaching with Kelly. With her guidance, I now own my niche and schedule. I know how to leverage my profitable duties, technology, and the power of human resources (partnering and outsourcing). And, I love the business culture I created which thrives on never facing a predictable day. Like Kelly, "I plan to push hard this year." Why? Because, Kelly convinced me that I am a Smarter Solopreneur; and through these pages she can do the same for you!” Ponn Sabra, @ponnsabra

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About the Author In early 2002 I bought my first domain and jumped into the

online business world with both feet. I only wanted to make a few extra bucks to pay the bills and not have to send my son away to a babysitter to do it.

In the beginning I traded meager web and graphic design skills for dollars. I like to write and thankfully that's a skill

that can take you a long way on the web. I also like to talk, ask questions and help others succeed. That

turned out to be a powerful combination that led to a business I never imagined.

Today I blog, podcast, design, partner, create information products, run a membership site and coach other Solopreneurs. I love what I do and feel so grateful for the opportunity! - Kelly McCausey

My Guest Authors: Alice Seba

With a focus on using content to create relationships, loyalty and sales, Alice loves helping online business owners get more results from their content. With a passion for writing, she considered it a tremendous blessing when she was able to turn it into a career. Whether it’s through her ghostwriting service, private label rights content service or her content marketing blog at Contentrix.com, Alice is always available to help you turn words into profits.

Lynette Chandler

Lynette is a geek who loves marketing. Lynette is actively developing tools that help businesses grow. She also trains freelancers so they too can provide technical support services and get paid well doing so. Learn more from Lynette by following her blog: TechBasedMarketing.com

Christina Lemmey

Christina is a Virtual Assistant who has specialized in multi media support services, helping clients make the most of audio and video elements in their businesses. Learn more at MultiMediaVA.com

Why I Had To Write This Book I have a message to share.

Actually, I have something to prove.

I intend to prove that Soloprenuers are Smarter.

What is a Solopreneur?

I didn't coin the term 'solopreneur' - I don't know who came up with it – but I think they're smart ;)

It's one of those terms people argue about. “Do we really need the term? Does it really say anything?”

It's a mash up of ideas:

The concept of a business run by one single person (solo) and the concept of a creative business starter (entrepreneur).

I think we do need the term.

Entrepreneur can be used to describe anyone who starts a business. The guy who opens a Subway restaurant down around the corner is an Entrepreneur - but I have almost nothing in common with him.

A Solopreneur is someone who by choice is running a business on their own. No boss. No employees.

Does that mean a new entrepreneur who hasn't grown their business to the point where they can hire employees is a Solopreneur?

Nope.

If it is their intention to grow their business into some sort of organization involving partners or employees - they're not a Solopreneur. They're a new entrepreneur doing it on their own for a bit.

I'm pretty particular about the definition and there are a few reasons for this.

First, I'm just like that. I appreciate firm definitions wherever they are possible.

Second, this past year I went through a big business identity crisis.

Since I first began building my business in 2002, I had focused everything I do on my chosen market - the Work at Home Mom. (WAHM)

I chose this market because I was in it. Sean, my son, was eleven years old. I was working full time as the office manager at my church. It was flexible. It played to my strengths. I felt I was doing what I was supposed to, but I couldn't pay my bills.

Like many others, I was a single mom who needed to earn extra income from home.

I fell into and fell in love with the WAHM Community.

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I wasn't just part of it - I was crazy about it. When I had learned enough to make the extra money I needed, I wanted to turn around and show others how they could make it happen too.

I wanted to promote everything that was good about the WAHM world -Great business opportunities, excellent resources, powerful success stories.

I wanted to expose and crush everything that was bad about it - Scams, illegal pyramid schemes, auto surf programs, time wasting activities promoted by those who misrepresented their own success.

From 2002 through to the beginning of 2011, everything I did online was focused on serving WAHMs.

I never got tired of working with WAHMs, never felt like I'd run out of things to say or write. Always had an abundance of vision and direction.

One small problem.

Sean grew up.

And moved out.

I was no longer a 'Work at Home Mom'.

It didn't hit me in the moment that he moved out. It took close to two years for my change in WAHM status to truly sink in - that's how entrenched I was in my market!

Looking back, I see why it took that much time.

Being a mom isn't all about having kids 'at home' - being a mom is a state of mind, a role of the heart. Sean moving out changed my daily mom responsibilities - but I didn't feel all that different at first.

The changes came slowly. The way I spoke about my life goals stayed much the same for quite awhile. I was still 'one of them' because I still thought along the lines of 'working at home'.

What made me realize I was no longer 'one of them' - no longer a 'WAHM'? It was when I started to share my dreams about buying an RV - and maybe even living in it full time.

I got emails.

Concerned emails from those who wanted me to realize how dangerous that could be.

Technical emails from those who thought I should know how complicated it could be.

I realized - oh my goodness - my market is freaking out because it can't relate to what I'm dreaming.

That had never happened before.

In the past, whenever I shared my dreams and goals, my readers responded with total understanding and a great 'we're with you' attitude.

Now I was getting a 'you're crazy' attitude.

I did get some wistful emails from those who wished they could think about something like that - maybe someday when the kids were grown.

Enter the identity crisis.

I'm not a WAHM anymore. Not even in my heart.

This wasn't my first clue - but it did bring it into focus.

With 20/20 hindsight I remember that I had been having some trouble with interviews and writing projects. I had moments where I felt silly talking about 'balancing business and kids'.

I'm a single woman with a grown son. I can't remember the last time I had to think about juggling my role as a business owner with my role as a parent. Not in ages!

Talking about those things was starting to feel unauthentic.

How can I continue writing, speaking and creating for a market that I'm not IN anymore?

Oh no! If I'm not a WAHM, who am I?

The days of muddled confusion that followed is why the definition of the term 'Solopreneur' is so important to me.

I didn't want to call myself an Internet Marketer or Affiliate Marketer - I am both of those things but neither term can cover everything. I'm not just a Blogger or a Podcaster or a Web Publisher. I am a Coach and an Information Product creator too.

I'm a serial Entrepreneur but like I said earlier, I didn't feel Entrepreneur was descriptive enough.

Then I spotted the term Solopreneur.

Hmm...

An entrepreneur who by personal choice wants to build a business that stays 'small' in so much as it can be managed by one owner - you.

That is exactly my goal.

As I thought about it - that is exactly the sort of person I'd been working with over the years. WAHMs are almost always solopreneurs.

I took some time to soak in the pool of 'solopreneurism' and decided, yes. This is who I am and this is who I want to serve.

My private business identity crisis was over - whew!

Next I had to introduce my new identity to the world.

Carefully.

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It was important to me that people realize I didn't feel like I had 'outgrown' the WAHM market.

I wasn't pursuing change in order to go after a larger market. I didn't see Work at Home Moms as a 'starter market' like newlyweds who look for a 'starter home'.

I know others who do see the WAHM market that way. They view Work at Home Moms as 'newbies' or ‘baby marketers' that they could test out their products on.

That always annoys me.

I decided the best approach was to be 100% transparent and simply share my heart.

I shared about my identity crisis. I shared how I was starting to feel like I was talking TO my market, not WITH my market.

I cast vision for my new brand and explained why I felt an affinity for Solopreneurs.

I expressed my love and appreciation for the WAHM community - and invited all those who felt like they could - to follow me into my new brand.

The good news is that the transition was AWESOME!

I rebranded my Work at Home Moms Talk Radio website to Solo Smarts in June 2011. In September the same year, I rebranded my membership site, Mom Masterminds to Solo Masterminds.

In January 2012 I threw the last switch and moved my catalog/cart from Mom's Talk Biz over to the Solo Smarts site.

I'm not a WAHM anymore. I'm a Solopreneur.

The whole idea of being a Solopreneur, what it means, how it impacts a business - is a bit undefined for many people.

I want to spread awareness about who Solopreneurs are and help folks see that being a Solopreneur is a great choice.

At the heart of it I'm out to prove that Solopreneurs are Smarter.

I want to encourage you to shed any ideas you have that you have to build something big and complicated with lots of employees in order to consider yourself truly successful.

And that's why I had to write this book.

Solopreneurs Can Own Their Niche As you can see from the first chapter, I chose my niche and threw myself into it with all of my strength.

When I focused on the WAHM market, I built a multifaceted business that served the community in a variety of ways.

When I changed focus to Solopreneurs, I carefully redirected my products and projects to focus on them.

When I choose to focus on something I can get to the point where I 'own it'. It's 'MY niche'. I become known for it and respected for my knowledge of it.

Single Niche or Multi Niche?

When someone uses the term 'niche marketing' on the internet you have to dig a little to know what exactly they're referring to.

I consider myself a niche marketer because I have focused tightly on one niche and will do all I can to know and be known by everyone else who chooses to serve the same market.

I'll cooperate with others, build projects that compliment others and compete with everyone to be the best known Solopreneur expert there is.

That's my personal definition of being a niche marketer.

There is another way to define it though and that is this: a niche marketer is someone who builds multiple web projects each focusing on a different niche.

I think of what I do akin to planting an oak tree, it starts small but grows mighty, strong with a long life.

Someone working in multiple niches is more like an apple orchard tender. Many trees, all needing a bit of attention to thrive. If one tree performs poorly, it's no big deal. The orchard as a whole pays the bills.

The orchard tending style of niche marketing doesn't appeal to me. I've tried and it doesn't hold my interest.

When you're single niche focused it's usually because you have a strong passion for the topics and the people – and that I have plenty of.

Owning a niche involves creating a lot of content and putting yourself out there as a thought leader.

If this is something you want to do, I recommend Gary Vaynerchuk's book, “Crush It!”, for further reading and inspiration.

Kelly McCausey

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Solopreneurs Don't Have To Live By the Clock The absolute favorite reason I love being a Solopreneur is this: I set my own schedule.

I sleep in, take naps and often work late at night.

The clock doesn't rule my day; in fact I rarely set an alarm.

My business exists to serve my life, not the other way around.

The flexibility of the Solopreneur lifestyle stood up and showed itself off for me almost five years ago.

Sean was 17, in his final year of homeschooling and we had moved downstate to be close to family and the college he'd soon be attending.

Timing for our move was so fantastic! Shortly after my niece announced she was pregnant and expecting quadruplets! Sean and I realized right away we were in a unique position to help them out when the babies arrived.

Unlike everyone else in the family, we could set out own schedule and be available at a moment's notice.

We had the chance to be helpful before the babies arrived, my niece had to be on strict bed rest and since they lived 20 minutes outside of town the doctor wanted her to find a way to stay closer to the hospital – or he'd just put her in a room there.

Our place was in the city and we just happened to have a third bedroom so she came to stay with us.

Sean played endless games of Upwords with her and I made her meals. Together we tried to be her hands and feet so she could rest and focus on keeping those babies 'in the oven' as long as possible.

On September 5th 2007, at 29 weeks they would wait no longer and all four babies were born by c-section – remarkably healthy and strong. (Thank you Jesus!)

They stayed in the NICU until just before Christmas.

My niece had exhausted her maternity leave and returned to work while they were still in the hospital. (Because her job had the best insurance, she was keeping her job and hubby was assuming the stay at home dad role.) She was able to take a few extra days off thanks to friends who donated leave hours to her – but almost right away she had to fall into the rhythm of a working mom.

Sean and I flipped our schedules upside down. We slept during the day and spent our nights at their house on 'Quad Watch'.

We ended up moving from the city to their small town to cut the 20 minute commute out of our days.

It was without a doubt the most exciting, exhausting and wonderful season of our lives. We made such a team juggling four babies through multiple feedings, diaper changes, snuggles, sniffles, giggles and crying spells.

I only worked on my business about four hours a day for most of ten months. In the beginning there was no hope of getting anything done while we watched over the babies, towards the end I sometimes found quiet moments to write while snuggling a boy or a girl close.

Despite the extreme limitation on my work schedule, my business thrived and grew that year. Between relying on my VA and being strict about prioritizing the time I did have, I made it work and loved every minute.

If I could give you one critical piece of advice right now it's this:

Even though you can control what you do, don't pack your schedule too tightly.

I learned an important lesson about this last year. One area of my business was growing more and more and while I enjoyed the extra income flow it was taking up a lot of my time.

Enter a family crisis: The quad's dad had to be hospitalized for a frighteningly aggressive infection.

When the call came in, there was no doubt for me – I dropped everything, packed a bag and went to stay with the kids. We didn't know if it would be a few days or a few weeks – the doctors weren't making any promises.

I can run quite a bit of my business from a smart phone – but not all of it and not the part that was currently demanding a lot of my time.

It was a wake up call for me. I can make an income in a lot of different ways, with all of the 'remote friendly' and 'passive' income streams that I could devote my time to, so why was I spending time on something that required my 'at the PC' presence?

When I see the light I act quickly and I did then. I wrote emails, apologized to clients and referred to other able service providers.

With that, I flipped off the smart phone and focused on the kids with a clear conscience.

Solopreneurs are smart like that.

Kelly McCausey

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Solopreneurs Leverage Technology Guest Chapter by Lynette Chandler

What would solopreneurs do without access to the technologies we enjoy in abundance today? It lets us shape creative, joy-filled businesses and amazing lifestyles that were never quite possible before.

The truth is, most of us readily admit we aren't technical geniuses. I don't even consider myself especially gifted but know that the online business I love so much can quickly become a problem if not properly managed – and technology is the friend that makes it all so much easier.

Solopreneurs get that technology helps make businesses run smoother.

They use tools like Trello, GQueues, Toodledo, Evernote and Wunderlist to manage it all.

(Google any of those names you don't recognize.)

When our teams grow and outsourced help is brought in, we leverage web based collaboration software like BaseCamp and 5PM so everyone is on the same page no matter what time zone we are in or hours we keep.

That's why we use web conferencing technologies to create live, web based classes and even full fledged conferences spanning days or weeks to teach and share our knowledge.

We package it all up in a manner that customers can watch, listen or read using their technology of choice anywhere, anytime.

We also learn to leverage gated membership site software so like-minded customers can get together, discuss and help each other use our products, while encouraging consumption and loyalty.

We know customers want to be able to talk to us openly as if we were chatting like old friends at a coffee shop. They want to be involved, kept in the loop of the going ons of our businesses and even a little bit of life.

So we use blogs and social networks that allow us to reach out to prospects and customers, opening a channel of communication and conversation like never before.

As solopreneurs we appreciate the value of testing and tracking because they have direct impact on our bottom line which lead to growth. We realize the faster we figure out what is not working, the sooner we can emphasize what IS.

So we use tracking tools like Crazy Egg & Google Analytics to help us figure out what people are doing on our websites, how they use it and what they are interested in.

The coolest part – we can leverage all of that on the go with our smart phones and tablets. Business owners and smart phones get a bad rap – people think we can't let go of work or we're working too hard.

In truth, thanks to technology we work less than most realize and in the end accomplish more.

Do leverage tech but don't get addicted!

It's easy to fall in love with every new tool that a friend mentions. I can imagine you chasing down every tech website I mentioned in this chapter ;)

If you're not careful, the very thing that saves you time can end up filling your time in ways that will never add to your bottom line.

So be smart – when you find a tool that suits your needs, learn it well and stick with it.

Kelly McCausey

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Solopreneurs Are Light On Their Feet Ever try to explain what you do to someone outside of the internet marketing world? It's not easy.

We all have this one person in our lives who stands ready to nix every idea we come up with. For one of my new coaching clients, it's her mother.

When she explained her online business plans, her mother shook her head, did this 'tsk tsk tsk' thing with her mouth and launched into why her ideas were all wrong.

Her primary reason was this:

"Honey, do you know how many websites there are out there on the web? Do you realize how much money these big internet companies have to spend?

Do you know how many employees they have? How are you ever going to make a dent in the internet? You're just one little person. You don't stand a chance."

My client came to me, absolutely crushed. All the wind taken out of her sails. As she shared her conversation with her mom, I wanted to reach out and give her mom a pop upside the head.

I listened, I considered... and I told her (with all respect) her mom was full of bull.

Sure, the internet is massive. There are millions of sites. It is populated by massive companies with big bankrolls and large staff counts.

It was true back in 2002 when I got started and it has been true every year since.

Yet, here I am. Making a living on the internet.

The whole idea that one person can't accomplish much on the internet is simply ignorant.

We solopreneurs actually have advantages over these giant companies.

We're light on our feet. We're in the midst of our market. We can see things big companies can't and we can take action faster.

Yes, on a tiny scale compared to what they could do - but that's okay!

I can't guess how tiny my business is percentage wise in the grand scheme of the World Wide Web, yet I have carved out my corner and profited nicely.

Don't let people rain on your parade or make you feel like you can't do it.

Without a single exception, every person I've met who TRULY wanted to support themselves online and was willing to do what is necessary, has done it.

Solopreneurs Create Their Own Business

Culture Because I am a Solopreneur, I get the opportunity to work within my own unique business culture.

This is one of those non tangible things that can be hard to define - but it's important.

What do I mean by the term, 'business culture'? It encompasses the way I do business, how I treat people and what I value.

I don't want to be called a 'professional'. Something about that word irks me.

Some elements of my business culture:

I don't care about perfect grammar. Some people freak out over every little typo and mistake. Sorry folks, I'm a high school dropout and I never did take English during my short time in college.

Somehow I still manage to get my point across.

I like newbies.

In some circles the term 'newbie' is spoken like an insult and people with experience act like newbies are an annoyance. That's not happening on my watch.

I don't do black hat. Building a business online is not about gaming the system.

I don't automate social media. I wouldn't send a robot to a conference and I'll always be myself in social media.

I don't do MLM. I love a great product focused direct sales company but consider most MLM programs a lot of sludge sucking scams.

I don't do 'Get Rich Quick'.

I don't do 'Law of Attraction' or other airy-fairy stuff.

I believe a Focused business is the best kind.

I stand by my guarantees. Refunds are given when asked for, as fast as possible.

People are important. Money is just a pleasant side effect.

Giving is fun.

I never recommend a product that I don't 100% believe in.

There's this thing I say: "If I wouldn't recommend it to my sister, I won't recommend it to you - and I love my sister." I say it and I mean it. If you see me plugging a product, you can know that I really believe it's useful and worth the cost.

All of these things come together to create the culture of my business.

What sort of culture do you want to create?

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What values do you bring to the table that you want to convey to others through your content and actions?

Solopreneurs Don't Have A Boss How many of you have had a job where you enjoyed just about every part of it - except for your boss?

It's a common complaint among those who work for others. A bad boss can make your life a living nightmare. Even a mediocre boss can give you enough of a headache that you lose heart and begin to dread work.

There are also really good bosses out there, we've got to be fair and admit that, right? Of course there are, but even great bosses are bosses - and in our heart of hearts we wanna be our own boss!

We are creating a business that lets us do just that, and that's why we're Smarter than the rest!

Since we do get to be our own boss, we need to take good care of our employee ;)

One way to do that is to give yourself good equipment to work with.

One thing about going to work at a job, someone else makes sure you have what you need. Now that you're on your own you're on the hook for all of that.

Do yourself a big favor. Create a budget and calendar for replacing your important business equipment. I know I need a new PC every two years so I plan for it.

I started using a dual monitor set up a couple of years ago and I love it - it has made me so much more productive.

Give yourself learning opportunities.

One of my past jobs was in insurance. The company put a high value on having knowledgeable employees so we were all given an opportunity to pursue education. If we decided to take classes, we were given time for study and rewarded when we passed exams.

Now, as a solopreneur I do the same. I save out time for learning every week. This takes a variety of forms. I subscribe to many good business podcasts, I read business blogs, and I do invest in a few select learning products.

I don't go overboard and I always work to apply what I already know before looking around for something new to absorb.

Give yourself a good working environment.

I spent $250 on a nice big corner unit desk a few years back. I know some who have spent a lot more - but for me at the time it was a large investment. It has been worth it! I love my work space. I feel like I'm in my 'cockpit' when I sit down there.

My office chair was $99 at Staples and it's been faithfully comfortable for years now.

I keep my desk neat and I use the wall space around me to inspire and encourage me with positive visuals.

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I need light! I don't work well in a dark space - so I have an extra lamp on my desk to keep it well illuminated.

I love nice smells so I have a Scentsy warmer nearby.

All of my books are handy in a bookcase next to my desk.

My computer is as well organized so I can find anything anytime in a few clicks.

Give yourself breaks!

Truth is, many of us do have 'bosses' - they are our clients! (A client is anyone you're selling to, providing services for, coaching, consulting, etc.)

The good news is, if we play our cards right, we get to hand pick them.

Good Clients

Good clients appreciate your talent and experience, treat you with respect, are considerate of your time and are simply good to you.

Reward good clients and do everything you can to keep them - they are worth their weight in gold.

Bad Clients

Bad clients think they know more than you, treat you like a grunt employee, make inappropriate demands on your time and are generally a stinker to work with.

As soon as you realize you have a Bad Client on your hands - do something about it. Don't let income desperation keep you in a bad client relationship.

Some Bad Clients can be turned into Good Clients just by standing up for yourself and holding firm to your boundaries.

If a Bad Client shows no sign of improvement, quit! You didn't come this far to end up hating your boss again.

Use Contracts Whenever Possible

This is probably one of my hardest learned lessons in business. I resisted having written contracts for so long!

This past year I experienced a short run of unruly design clients. Clients who caused delays or expected extra work not discussed when they hired me were giving me such a headache that I threw my hands up and refunded their money just to be rid of them.

It burns my butt to have wasted time and effort - and the pain it caused finally spurred me to write up a simple client contract. Just having it seems to nip these issues in the bud and keep things moving forward nicely.

Too Many Clients

You can have too many clients, even when they're all good clients - if you overbook yourself you will start to resent them - or let someone down.

As soon as you realize that you're coming close to having too many clients, it's probably time to raise your prices.

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Solopreneurs Don't Have To Go To College If you want to score a great paying job in America you have to have a college degree, right?

Do you know what a college degree means to most solopreneurs?

Nuthin'.

Of the truly successful solopreneurs I've gotten to know well over the years, about half have a degree they're not using at all and the other half didn't go to college or didn't go long enough to earn a degree.

When I read 'About' pages I rarely see anyone talk about their degree.

Because nobody cares!

Exceptions?

Yeah, there are solopreneur professionals who do need a degree, like your CPA, Investment Advisers, Lawyers... but they're rare. Most in these professions have staff or partnerships that take them out of the solopreneur sphere.

There are a few who DO break the mold though.

Meet Solopreneur CPA: Carol Topp

Carol Topp could be running a big corporate accounting firm, or she could be on staff for someone else.

Instead, Carol is using her CPA training to run a business from home, almost entirely remote in nature.

Carol has no staff. Instead she works with Virtual Assistants and other specialized skill providers.

She has found a niche for herself by choosing to focus on non profits. Home school groups are her specialty.

She loves the flexibility of her career. It's far from what most CPA's experience of course.

Carol has taken great advantage of the internet and spent time learning about creating multiple income streams. She's put this learning to good use and has released several information products and self published a few books.

I'm not anti-education. I love learning and if a college course can provide the learning I need, I'll take one.

I'm not anti-degree. If you want a degree - get it. If you think that having it will make a huge difference to your business, think again. It probably won't.

Solopreneur Project Manager Cindy Bidar never got a degree and while she was still working full time she often considered going back to get one.

Once she was working for herself full time, the idea of getting a degree faded away though she admits she has thought about taking some design classes. For her own personal gain though, not because she believes it would benefit her financially.

An incredible business education can be found online through blogs, podcasts, newsletters, info products and memberships. You won't earn a degree but if you choose WHO you learn from wisely you'll get way more than you pay for.

Love learning but don't get caught up in it for so long that you never put any of it into action.

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Solopreneurs Seek Out Wise Advice Did you ever work at a job where you had to go to meetings?

Meetings get a bad rap. I know some will do anything to get out of a meeting but I actually enjoyed them.

I did grow to dread making decisions in these meetings. All the opinions, all the input, all the nonsense - it frustrated me to no end.

As a solopreneur, I make decisions on my own. I make them and I'm accountable for them - to myself and no one else.

That doesn't mean I can't seek out the counsel of others and I do.

This is a really good time to talk about the benefit of working with a business coach.

Wherever you are in your business, there's someone out there with more experience and wisdom. This is true when you're just starting out and it's still true years later.

All of those decisions you're making - some will work out great and some will fail with a thud. If you want to work towards more successful outcomes you would be smart to hook up with a good coach.

Skills Coach

This person can help you develop and improve a particular skill - like a Writing Coach helps you to become a better writer or a Wordpress Coach helps you to understand and work with the software.

Project Coach

This person has experience accomplishing a particular project well. They are focused on teaching you the same, like a Self Publishing Coach will help you through the process of self publishing and promoting your first book.

Mentor Coach

This person has overall business experience and a sound track record. They can help you develop or correct your business strategy and then execute the plan.

When choosing a Mentor Coach, I recommend finding someone doing what you want to do and if at all possible, someone who's serving a similar target market.

You can work with more than one coach at a time if the lines are clearly drawn but I believe you'll do best when you focus your time with one good person.

Too many cooks trying to toss their own ingredients into a pot will spoil the brew - so take your time and make a commitment to learn everything you can from one person you trust.

What kind of Coach am I?

As I wrote out the three quick definitions above I realized I can and have fit into each depending on the client and their needs.

Solopreneurs Don't Employ – They Outsource I haven't always been a solopreneur and I wasn't always someone's employee.

For eight years I operated a group daycare in my home. I provided care for up to twelve kids at a time and this meant having employees. I had to run payroll, pay in employee taxes, give out W2 forms, etc.

Blech! It was awful. I paid a local accounting firm to do everything. Even then, it was stressful to me.

I am so glad I don't have to do that.

As a solopreneur, I don't hire employees but I DO get the help I need.

Every overworked and overwhelmed solopreneur I have ever met are trying to do too much on their own and know that they should start outsourcing - but they feel like getting someone else trained to do what they do is too much work.

This is an understandable concern - but the extra effort is only for a little while! Only a fool avoids temporary discomfort when years of benefit can come from it - and we solopreneurs are NO fool!

When I hired my VA, I set aside time to train her and made myself available for follow up questions as needed. It was time consuming. I was basically downloading a big chunk of information from my brain to hers and there's no USB cable for that ;)

The first thing we tackled was email and customer support. I turned my support email address over to her and never looked back. For a week we went through every email together. I explained my response to each one; she asked questions and took notes. After the first two weeks, she was answering 95% on her own and only had to check in for the odd request.

By having my customer support managed for me, I'm insulated from unnecessarily crabby customers and I'm not spending time responding to every day odds and ends requests.

Next I turned over my schedule. We discussed what days and times were open for phone calls and what times I wanted kept for myself - and I send everyone over to her to book interviews, coaching calls, etc.

If I wake up one day feeling blah, I shoot one email to my VA and she takes care of rescheduling my calls. It doesn't happen often, but when it does - I love it!

Obviously having email, customer support and my calendar minded by someone else is liberating.

There are lots of other things I outsource - anything I don't want to do or simply don't know how to do. Most anything that has grown repetitive and boring goes on my outsource list.

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I've gotten so comfortable with outsourcing, I've actually over-outsourced a few times - which means I paid others to do things for me that I never used or if I did, it never led to any kind of income. That's not good!

My friend and solopreneur owner of Marketers Mojo, Angela Wills, is careful with her outsourcing dollars after a couple of rough experiences.

"I think I'm bad at outsourcing because I'm so worried that people won't get it right and that I'll waste my time training, critiquing and then redoing or not even using the work people do for me. I say this because it's happened to me more than once."

Angela hasn't given up on outsourcing though; she takes advantage of transcriptionists on a regular basis.

"I love outsourcing transcription because it can't really be done wrong, there's no training involved from my end and I end up with something I can use immediately and in many, many places."

My good friend, and very smart solopreneur, Nicole Dean, created a whole course about outsourcing.

It's called Outsource Weekly (outsourceweekly.com) and as the name suggests, it provides an entire year of weekly lessons designed to help you create systems and outsource the things you can't or don't want to do for yourself.

What about Partnerships?

As a solopreneur, my business is my own. But I do have several strategic partnerships.

Project partnerships are great – IF you choose your partners carefully.

Larry Keltto of The Solopreneur Life says:

“I think it’s almost inevitable that at some point you will face the opportunity or possibility to go into partnership with another person.”

Larry thinks it's important to know what both of you bring to the partnership.

“does 1+1=3 or does 1+1=1.5? In other words are your skills complimentary? Do they complete the whole or are you doubling up on each others abilities?

A good example would be if you’re both introverted types then who’s going to bring in the business and meet with clients and be the face of the company?”

Larry believes the more you evaluate your business plans and ideas of success with each other, the better.

Solopreneurs Partner with Other

Solopreneurs Guest Chapter by Alice Seba

One thing that has become clear through Kelly’s writing is that solopreneurs make very good use of the resources at their disposal. They don’t hire employees, but efficiently hire who they need for what they need by outsourcing. They leverage their time without getting stuck into the 9 to 5 grind. They also don't need any special education or training. They just do it. Well, one way solopreneurs can be leverage their time and the skills of others is by partnering with other like-minded solopreneurs. There is no need to do all the work yourself when you can enlist the help of someone who possesses skills and assets you don’t have at your disposal. The right partnership can result in a much more profitable and less stressful products. It’s a win-win for everyone. A Few Partnership Possibilities: Partnerships can be a short-term or a long-term thing and there are many ways you can work with another talented solopreneur. For example: Co-create a report, information product or print book. Content is a great way to showcase your expertise and build your audience. It’s even easier when you share the workload with somebody else and when you work with someone else, you can tap into each others audiences and share the responsibilities of promoting your work. Blog together. Blogging is another way to showcase your expertise. It also helps you grow and connect with your audience on a more personal level. Blogging with a partner or a group of partners makes it a whole lot easier to get regular content out to your readers.

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Plus, you get to leverage the existing audiences of your blogging partners. Launch a full-scale business together. Running a business is a lot of work and having someone else on board to shoulder responsibilities and share work can be a lifesaver. As a solopreneur, you know how hard it can be to get away from the business. What happens when you’re sick or heaven forbid, want a vacation? When you have a partner, it makes all that so much easier. Those are just a few examples and throughout your business, you may come up with other countless ways you can partner with other people. The important thing is to find the right partner for the right project and that’s what we’ll talk about next. Finding the Right Partner for You A lot of people go into business together because they’re friends and they believe they’ve got a great business idea. This can be a good thing or it could very well be a bad thing. Just because you have a common interest, it doesn’t mean your partnership is meant to be. As a solopreneur, you already know that there are many responsibilities and tasks involved with any project you take on. There is content creation, product creation, marketing and administrative responsibilities to look after. And that’s barely scratching the surface, but you get my point. There is a lot involved and you need to think about that when you take on a partner. If you’re a great writer, but hate administrative tasks and aren’t much for marketing, you probably don’t want to partner with someone who also likes writing, but doesn’t care for the rest. In that case, you’re duplicating your talents, instead of maximizing on them. For me, my best partnerships came when I worked with someone who complemented my skills. I’m a writer and marketer. I loathe administrative type stuff and tending to the small details. And while I can make my way around HTML and install some scripts, I’m not a terribly technical person. Therefore, when I want to form any type of partnership, I want to find people who can fill those gaps for me. Of course, not every partnership will create a perfect whole and you’ll probably still need extra help and special skills. In that case, my partner and I have to be prepared to outsource whatever else we need. For example, for one of my private label content businesses, I have partnered with someone who covers the administrative part of

things, manages our writers and tends to those day-to-day tasks. I focus on the marketing and writing of promotional materials. While we can take care of a lot of the technical work, whenever we need something more complex done, we outsource to our tech-gal in order to fill in those gaps. This allows us to be a complete partnership that leverages everyone’s skills to the best of our abilities. Dividing the Work and Money Before you start building websites and setting up products, you have a number of things to consider and make clear between the two of you. Here are a few things to think about: Are they going to carry their own weight? Make sure the person you work with is reliable. They can be the best friend in the world, but until you’ve worked together, you won’t know what they’re like as a partner. Start by working on a small project and expand that into something bigger as you’re both ready for it. Are you both bringing valuable skills and assets to the business? How you determine the value of everyone’s contribution is up to you, but make sure your roles are clear and you’re both comfortable with the division of work and assets. In many partnerships, you may decide on a 50/50 income split, but if someone’s contribution is going to be smaller, adjust your income split accordingly. Just know this before you make an agreement. Who is responsible for which tasks? Not only do you need to decide which skills and assets you’re both bringing to the table, but you need to break it down into tasks. Write down everything that needs to be done for the business and who will be responsible for each task. Who is responsible for finances? Finances can also be tricky. You can both come to the table with a specific dollar investment. Or if you’re running a bootstrap operation and have low overhead, one person might be responsible for paying the monthly expenses and then profits would be divided after the responsible partner pays themselves back. There is no right or wrong way to arrange it, but it’s important to a full and complete

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understanding of how finances will work including how profits will be calculated, how often you will get paid and more. Of course, the most important thing is to have all this in writing and in a contract. It probably sounds more complicated than it really is, but it protects both of you and it also helps you ensure the success of your project. If you have all down on paper, you’ll both know exactly what you need to do to make your partnership work. Having a partner brings new possibilities to your business. It means you can take on new projects, leverage other people’s built-in audiences and skills. And the beauty of it all is that you can still do it all from home by communicating through email, phone and other modern day communication methods.

Solopreneurs Can Creatively Work With

Interns Guest Chapter by Christina Lemmey

Internships are a valued commodity for college juniors and seniors. This valuable experience places students into a work environment within their field of study and they learn from observing, mentoring and being immersed into the culture of the company. If the students are hard workers, there’s always the chance that their company will offer them a full time position after graduation, which is every graduate’s goal. It’s truly a win-win situation for all involved because the student gains valuable work experience (and possibly college credits) while the employer gets some cheap labor since most internships are unpaid. But internships aren’t just for college kids anymore. Savvy solopreneurs recognize the value of mentoring and training an inexperienced person which can turn into a win-win partnership. But instead of being limited to 20-somethings, solopreneurs can now choose from a different range of candidates, such as moms going back to work, people looking to change careers, or even high school grads who don’t want to go the traditional college route. With the internet, email, instant messaging and video conference calling, interns and mentors can be located anywhere in the world and still have the relationship work without ever meeting face to face. Even if the perfect intern is located half a world away, frequent communication and detailed mentoring is still possible. My Personal Case Study I always knew that when my youngest daughter was in school full time it would be my turn to go back to work. The million dollar question was, “What type of job do I want?” I had a degree in Advertising but hated the advertising agency setting. I also had worked in the magazine publishing industry but I didn’t want to commute into New York City where the big publications have offices. Plus I had stayed home with both my girls for 11 years so whatever computer skills or industry knowledge I had previously were very rusty.

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Then I heard about an internship opportunity with Kelly, who was looking specifically for someone to help with her podcasting and audio work. I was familiar with Kelly because I had been scouring work at home resources online for at least two years by this point and knew she was an expert. I was very impressed by this opportunity and surprised that she didn’t have a team of people working with her already, so I bit the bullet and sent a letter and resume. From my point of view, I had nothing to lose by applying for this internship. Even though I was shaking while I pressed the send button, I wanted to learn something new and brush up on my computer skills. I also wanted learn as much about working from home as possible because the idea of starting the interview process again terrified me. Kelly very quickly contacted me for an interview, which really stunned me because I wasn’t used to people moving so quickly! In the corporate world, I always had to jump through hoops to get interviews, then second interviews, and then wait for the decision to be made by a group of people. Solopreneurs don’t have those hoops. They can move quickly when they recognize a good opportunity without fear of breaking company protocol. During the interview Kelly explained what she needed from me, which was 10 hours per week for a 10-week stretch. She tailored the internship tasks to what her business needed and I was more than willing to learn audio editing, podcast production and to brush up on my writing skills. Again, a win-win situation except instead of being college-age, I was in my late 30s. Tips for Hiring An Intern As you can see, hiring an intern for your business can be mutually beneficial but not every experience is guaranteed to be a success. I’ve tried to “pay it forward” by hiring a couple of interns; one experience was great and one failed. There is some work involved in developing your internship program and in finding the right candidate but following these tips will help smooth the process.

1. Be patient. Remember that an intern is inexperienced and relies on clear directions from you to complete a project correctly. 2. Hire carefully. Always interview your candidates instead of just emailing a few times. Because you will be interviewing your candidates by phone or Skype rather than in person, it will be more difficult to trust your gut and judge by first impressions. Always ask for references and don’t be afraid to ask questions. 3. Be clear about your expectations. Are you looking to place this person on your team when the internship is over? Or will you be saying goodbye at the end? Do you expect daily or weekly status updates? 4. Always set deadlines. Projects seem to get lost in the shuffle unless a firm deadline is set. Solopreneurs are very fortunate to not have the corporate red tape holding them back from success. They have complete freedom to hire interns and to tailor a program according to their needs. If the intern relationship is pleasant, then the solopreneur has a new and reliable resource to hire for projects.

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Solopreneurs Can Fill Their Time with Variety Today I had a quick chat with a few ladies who all work full time jobs. They wanted to know what I do online to make a living.

They listened, nodding politely as I ran through a light description of the work I do.

When I finished one gal commented, 'It sounds like you do a lot of different things – doesn't that get complicated?'

I smiled widely, ‘Yes!'

Variety is the spice of business for me.

Doing the same thing all day would drive me bonkers.

Some days I spend hours on the phone with coaching clients and podcast guests. I enjoy this time a great deal, but I never book phone time more than three days a week.

On the other days of the week I'm focused on other things. Maybe I'll write blogs posts, add a lesson to an information product, design web graphics or work on a Wordpress site for a client.

Having a lot of projects that call for different skills and business processes is complex – and I love it.

I know you might not feel the same way. You may prefer predictability and simplicity, doing something you do well on a regular basis. That's OK!

Building a business that fits us so well is what makes us so darned smart!

Juggling so many balls carries some risk. You can lose track of what you have going on if you're not organized.

I make ample use of Evernote.

I type everything into notes and file it by project. The day I trust something important to my own memory is the day that project is put in danger!

I also live by my Google Calendar.

I am a champion Time Chunker. While I love variety, I don't enjoy chaos. I've learned a lot about how I think and thrive and use that knowledge to plan out my week.

Examples of how I think things through...

The day I need to write 2000 words for an info product is not a good day for me to write guest blog posts. So I spread my writing tasks out on different days.

If I'm going to be knee deep in a client design project in the morning, I'm not going to be in good mental form to interview a podcast guest after lunch.

I have phone days and project days and unless the spirit moves me in a special way, I don't mix them up.

By chunking up time and taking care not to create mental conflicts, I am able to manage a lot of different things with confidence and satisfaction.

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Solopreneurs Can Take It to The Next Level

When They Want To In this, my final chapter, I want to cover what makes Solopreneurs very smart indeed:

They decide when and how they will grow their business.

Not every solopreneur is looking to build seven figure business – I know that doesn't come as a shock to you.

Yes some people seem to think that its everyone’s ultimate goal.

The last thing I want is hold up some ideal for you to strive toward. I don't want you to be like me – I want you to be you!

The smartest you possible of course ;)

There's no magic dollar figure that reflects success.

There's no perfect minimal work schedule that shouts freedom.

A smart Solopreneur isn't driven by someone's arbitrary benchmark, they plot their own path and choose their own goals.

In my first four years in business, I worked a full-time job and worked my butt off in my spare time!

In the six years I've spent as a full time solopreneur I've had seasons where I could push long and hard and seasons where I kept it light.

What does the future hold and how hard will I work from one year to the next? I, like you, get to decide as I go!

This year I plan to push it hard :)

Still, I've determined no matter what to keep a margin in my schedule and always be willing to drop work in favor of time spent with friends and family.

That means the time I do devote to work has to be strategic and focused.

I'm building in new income streams that will never hold me to my desk or make personal priorities difficult to judge.

The Next Level isn't always about making more money.

It could be about working less without a loss of income.

It could be about doing more of the work you love or doing it with more of the people you like.

What does your Next Level look like and what will you have to do to make it happen?

Some food for thought:

What area of my business is ripe for growth?

What's working now that I could do more of?

What needs do my market have that I haven't addressed yet?

Who would you love to work with on a new project?

Am I fulfilling the awesomeness I know I have in me?

Every so often I take a day to do serious brainstorming.

I start with a Brain Dump – spilling out all of the random business thoughts in my head, reading through all of the notes I've made about ideas that popped up over recent months.

Once it's all out there I go through a process of mashing them all together.

What fits with what?

How might this idea work with that?

What existing projects do I have that these ideas should be applied to?

Is there something new that warrants a new project?

This process is fun and a little frustrating. There will never be enough hours in the day to act on all of the ideas we come up with.

Thankfully, I've gotten better at dropping good ideas for the sake of great ones.

If you know that it's time to take your business to the next level – try your own Brain Dump (see the bonus resources on the next page) and I trust that your next steps will start to take shape in your mind.

And remember, if you ever need someone to help you come up with a plan to get there, please don't hesitate to shout out :)

kelly@kellymccausey.com

Phone: 517-301-2182

@kellymccausey

http://www.facebook.com/kellymccausey

http://www.solosmarts.com

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Topics on Target Membership

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Stretch Yourself Challenge Workshop

When your ready to expand your borders and put yourself in front of more of the people who need you! The Stretch Yourself Challenge is all about motivating you to be more visible by putting yourself out there with great content & a more social attitude.

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Know Your Blog Stats Workshop

When you know your stats well and know what do with the information you can please the search engines and make great decisions about new content. I love showing you how this is done. Learn more and sign up here: http://www.knowyourblogstats.com

Plan Your Offer Funnel Workshop

A planned out set of offers that pull perfect potential clients in and leads them step by step from opting into a mailing list to trusting us with their hard earned cash.

Learn more and start planning out your offer funnel: http://www.planyourofferfunnel.com

Smart Blogging Skills

My updated and expanded blogging course! I’m so proud of this one. Blogging is above all else a social activity and that’s the one element missing from most business blogs. My course teaches you powerful, positive habits that help you make your blog social and profitable.

Check out all of the topics here: http://www.smartbloggingskills.com

Smart Podcasting Skills

I’ve been hosting a show that promotes my business since 2003. My six week course that guides you through brainstorming and launching your own podcast. From recording to promoting, this is the help you need to get started.

Learn more about it here: http://www.smartpodcastingskills.com

42 Day Launch Incubator

I can’t tell you how many times I hear someone say, ‘I want to create an info product, I just need to find the time.’ The problem is, they never do find the time. I think they’re imaging that it’s going to be a big long process, months and months of effort – and sometimes it is.

But I’ve got a plan that takes just six weeks: http://www.42daylaunch.com

Solo Masterminds This is the private mentoring membership site that I run with the awesome Melissa Ingold. You’ll gain understanding of a fresh marketing topic each and every month with our Gold Membership or you can boost your experience by going Platinum and enjoy access to the forum, our personal business notes and other cool Platinum only perks.

Join me here: http://www.solomasterminds.com