Running a business as a solopreneur can be really difficult. Not only are you a business owner, but you are also wearing all of the hats – marketer, HR, content creator, PR – the list goes on and on. This long list of responsibilities can leave you feeling a lot of ways, and it can be tough to tell what’s what.
So, how do you know if it’s time for a pivot in your business?
Coming to this understanding is not easy! You have to know whether or not you are truly ready for a change in your business, or if it’s burnout – hint: it might be both. Here are a few tips I use in my own business to help me understand just what I am feeling, and what action steps to take!
What exactly is a pivot in business?
Pivoting in your business should be fun! I’d like to say never to pivot your business from a place of lack or negativity, but I myself have done exactly that in the past. I had a bakery a long time ago, and I had a horrible experience with a bridezilla (yes, they are very real) and instead of powering through it, I decided to stop my business altogether. Though I did learn a lot, I couldn’t take the stress, high stakes, and long hours with minimal sleep any more – this bride was the straw that broke the camel’s back (I was the camel). Learn from me! I wish that I would have handled things differently, maybe eased out of weddings, then shifted that business while creating my new one. Instead, I finished out my season and never looked back.
How do you know if you have burnout?
I know myself pretty well, and even I struggle with knowing whether I am reaching burnout until I’m already there! It’s important to note that we all have different capacities for what we can handle. I also like to implement Human Design practices, and my energy type (Projector) requires copious amounts of rest in order to perform at its best. All of that said, if you are finding yourself very stressed or anxious, having difficulty making decisions, and removing yourself from your social circles, you are probably flirting with burnout. Take some time away from work in whatever ways you can: nights and weekends away from social media, finding a virtual assistant to help your full plate, or scheduling a weekly coffee date with your closest friends.
Now that we have that covered, here are a few questions I ask myself in my own business to help me decipher between burnout or time for a pivot:
There you have it! Use this list to dig deeper into your feelings before taking action – I wish I did before I quit my first business cold turkey! I’d like to leave you with a final thought: it’s allowed to be easy. A lot of us were taught by our family and society that if something isn’t hard, it isn’t worth while. I think that’s a load of bull. If you are thinking your business is ready to pivot a little, or maybe a lot, I encourage you to explore that hunch. And if you find yourself wanting some help, you can email me at uprootedtable@gmail.com to schedule a discovery call. The world needs more solopreneurs!
Love love love,
Sam