Soloist Attributes

[LeelaCosgrove]

So, what do you think are the definitive attributes of successful soloists? If your BEST friend in the world was looking at flying solo, what would you tell them they would need (in terms of personality traits) to be successful?

I'll get us started ...

• High tolerance for risk: you have to be able to deal with no sick pay, no holiday pay, no super (other, of course, than that you put aside for yourself) - and not knowing where the next cheque is coming from.
• Self motivated: as a soloist, you don't have anyone to kick your butt - you have to be able to do it yourself!

[Carole]

You need to be :
self-disciplined
talented, experienced and qualified in your field
able to promote yourself and your business
open to new ideas
able to get help from the right people at the right time

[Rachel Reeves]

Mmmm, be good at setting goals and identifying priorities. Oh yes, and good delegation skills can also hold a soloist in good stead.

[Burgo]

Gosh, I dont think I have any of the above.

Most people that want to enter into soloism usually have good technical skills or good management skills. Not both, unless your very gifted.

If you have good technical skills then you need to do a Small management course say Cert 1V small business to develop and understanding of how to run a small business.

If you have already this understanding behind you you may need to learn some technical skills.

Getting the right mix, coupled with a desire to achieve your goals and being able to plan.

This is only my opinion

[LeelaCosgrove]

Originally Posted by rachelr

Oh yes, and good delegation skills can also hold a soloist in good stead.

OH! Good one!

This is something I had REAL trouble learning - how to delegate. Seems so much easier to do things myself. When I did learn how to do it, it changed my business COMPLETELY and increased my profits DRAMATICALLY. Great point!

[Geoff Kelly]

Troy White of Canada is a friend and mentor and always worth listening to. He recently wrote in a newsletter that perhaps the greatest skill is being able to get into massive implementation mode. This is being able to initiate and ride the momentum on several key projects at once.

I agree with him - it's teh one that gets results.

Best

Geoff

[Adam Randall]

I think running a small business changes you.

You may be one thing when you start, and come out the other end different.

I now employ people and thats a scary jump over making a few dollars to pay the bills (which is how I started off)

Risk
willingness to compromise
Lose sense of entitlement
High blood pressure
Highly rewarding
Massive sense of achievement
Sleepless nights
irritability
Never not thinking about ways to improve business
Feeling that the sky is the limit
Limited by your own ability
Nobody to blame ultimately if things go wrong
A grown ups game of monopoly

[Robert Gerrish]

Great post Leela. While this little quiz has been on the site for a while, I still think it's a nifty way of assessing whether soloism is for you. Worth taking a peek if you've not seen it.

[peppie]

Robert

I hadn't seen that quiz before and I am gratified that according to it I comfortably qualify to do what I do. Though there were some questions that didn't quite fit my situation, such as formal qualifications. In my type of work there really isn't any specific training available, just bits and pieces of clues and general direction.

Leela

I would add enjoying what you do, because if you don't you might as well go and work for someone else and after having a taste for working for yourself that option will become even less enjoyable. I call it being unemployable!

[Avatar Consulting]

Yes all those things are important to run a small business. Some facts i came across recently to why businesses fail show some interesting factors that business owners need to review when conducting their personal SWOT analysis.

Lack of management experience 60%
Inadequate record keeping 55%
Inadequate sales 18%
Failure to seek advice 12%

So using these figures i would say that business owners need to keep accurate control and understanding of cash flow/operational expenses.
In addition to getting help in the other areas of the business that the owner has less experience in until you have obtained qualifications or training in the area yourself.