5 Ways Solopreneurs Can Scale Their Business Through Collaboration

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Entrepreneurship Section | 2

5 Ways Solopreneurs Can Scale Their Business Through Collaboration

By Christie Horsman | Edited by Maria Bailey | Entrepreneur Magazine | May 15, 2024

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There’s no shortage of examples of successful solopreneurs who have forged their own path to grow ground-breaking businesses. They’re often held up as people who value autonomy and control and who approach business building like it’s a hero’s journey.  But the author believes we have blown the “solo” part of solopreneurship out of proportion, leading many would-be entrepreneurs and creators to feel like they have to go it alone. And while solopreneurs are solely responsible for making decisions about their businesses, it doesn’t mean they have toil away independently on every aspect of it. Doing so can actually be detrimental.  

Many successful entrepreneurs find ways to involve others for support and guidance and to create a shared journey and that can be transformational.   A few of the ways individuals take a collaborative approach to solopreneurship – and reap the benefits are: 

1. Choosing tech platforms that offer community.  Whether it’s launching a course or implementing a payment system, you’ll find people rallied around platforms offering concrete solutions. Choose your platforms wisely, and you’ll end up with more than just tools; you may find new colleagues, collaborators and a wealth of shared expertise.
2. Working from a coworking space.  Beyond situating you among peers, coworking spaces offer rich gathering for solopreneurs who want to network, learn, and enjoy the creative energy of others. Research has shown that people thrive in coworking spaces thanks to the collective boost in productivity and creativity – and that they can also be a great antidote to burnout.
3. Attending in-person conferences and events.  There are benefits to immersing yourself in a room full of strangers – particularly the opportunity to forge deeper connections. Sharing new experiences with other people in person can lead to the kinds of bonds you just don’t get over Zoom (and making that in-person investment can open up other ways to maximize your returns there, too.)
4. Teaming up with a partner.  Collabs are still having their moment, but they can be more than just a trendy way to build an audience. Great collaborations can effectively fill business gaps. Plus, good partnerships can also uncover new opportunities, boost revenue and even fuel innovation. Sure, there can be risks to collaborations too, but as long as you stay true to your goals and your brand, you stand to benefit.
5. Finding a mentor.  Much like peers, mentors offer business advice based on their lived experience, but they also bring the wisdom of seniority. But if the intimidation factor of approaching a mentor is holding you back, you can always start more informally. Many solopreneurs give back to their communities by sharing their learnings through courses or live events. Start by following people you admire and see what it can lead to.

3 key takeaways from the article

1. There’s no shortage of examples of successful solopreneurs who have forged their own path to grow ground-breaking businesses.  But we have blown the “solo” part of solopreneurship out of proportion, leading many would-be entrepreneurs and creators to feel like they have to go it alone. And while solopreneurs are solely responsible for making decisions about their businesses, it doesn’t mean they have toil away independently on every aspect of it. Doing so can actually be detrimental.  
2. Many successful entrepreneurs find ways to involve others for support and guidance and to create a shared journey and that can be transformational.
3. A few of the ways individuals take a collaborative approach to solopreneurship – and reap the benefits are:  choosing tech platforms that offer community, working from a coworking space, attending in-person conferences and events, teaming up with a partner, and finding a mentor.

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Topics:  Startups, Entrepreneurship, Collaboration, Community,