CORRECTION: Getting Work Done as a Solo Entrepreneur
Knowing when to move from solo to two
Upcoming Dates for your diary
Tomorrow is our Moving Forward Group Call for all previous graduates of Startup School for Seniors. Come along, share your wins and challenges, or simply say hello! We’d love to see you there. It starts at 10 a.m., and here is the Zoom link. Pop in your diary now, and we’ll see you there.
Our next Power Hour session is on Saturday, October 6th. It's free to paid subscribers, and you can spend a dedicated hour working on whatever you’ve been putting off!
Book your next GWDC 1:2:1 session with Suzanne or Mark here.
Mark’s Office hours are on the 20th of September.
Mark has organised a quarterly Goal-Setting and Review session on Saturday, 28th September, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., to which GWDC members are invited.
This interactive session will help you stay on track and motivated. Whether you're a seasoned goal-setter or new to the process, this event is for you. Don't miss this opportunity to boost your productivity and achieve your dreams. Register now and get ready to crush your goals!
Remember that now is a great time to set New Year Resolutions that stick.
For some light relief, I will be appearing with my pianist George Webster at Crazy Coqs, Zedels, Soho, with my new show, The Dirty Blues: Hot Dogs & All, on Tuesday, 24th September, at 7 pm, with special guest clarinettist Lana-May Hodge. Tickets are only £20.
You can look forward to a riotous night of dirty songs, funny stories and a sing-a-long.
Moving Beyond One
Do you work alone or as part of a team? How do you consider when to spread your wings beyond being a company of one?
My first business was a TV production company I started with two friends who shared a passion for astrology. At that time, I was working as a production manager for a corporate video company, responsible for managing budgets and booking crews.
One friend freelanced as a researcher for various TV companies, while the other focused on costume and art direction while studying astrology. Every weekend, we gathered to brainstorm ideas for our show until we finally landed a meeting with Channel 4's youth commissioning editor, Steven Garrett, who later produced Spooks and other notable shows. After two years of meetings, Garrett approved funding for a pilot.
He granted us £250,000 (back in 1990) to produce a series, but on the condition that we find an Executive Producer, as none of us had enough TV experience for him to trust us with such a significant budget.
As you can imagine, many TV companies were eager to collaborate with us. I took on the responsibility of finding the best fit—someone who understood our vision and had the resources to support us.
I met everyone from the producer of Spitting Image to those from Countdown and many others. Eventually, we chose Lino Ferrari (Nick's brother), who ran a company in Oxford Circus and produced the Frank Bough Show. Lino was a larger-than-life, kind man with a gentle demeanor, and we all liked him immediately. We settled into his office—three young women wearing red lipstick—and got to work booking guests, studios, sets, and everything else needed for our show.
Everything was going smoothly until an unexpected tragedy struck, affecting Lino deeply and impacting our production. He took time off, leaving us without a producer and with a director we barely knew.
Although we completed the show, it was never recommissioned, which was disappointing. However, we learned a valuable lesson about the importance of each person's role in a business. Losing Lino not only left a gap in our production but also diminished our morale.
As a solo entrepreneur, you may wonder how to delegate tasks that you don’t have time for or don’t feel confident handling alone. It might seem straightforward to find an accountant or a social media manager to whom you can offload some responsibilities. You might even consider hiring offshore to save money for other areas of your business.
However, there are several challenges to consider when making your first hires:
1. Time Zones: Will you be working with someone in a different time zone, and how might that affect emergency situations?
2. Language Skills: Is good spoken and written English essential for your business?
3. Industry Familiarity: How familiar are they with your sector? In my PR experience, I always advised clients to seek agencies with specific specialties, as they often have pre-existing relationships that can be beneficial.
4. Experience Level: Will you be training a junior employee, which may take time, or working with someone who requires little direction?
5. Performance Measurement: How will you assess their work? Will it be based on completed tasks or hourly rates?
6. Personal Relationships: Are you considering delegating tasks to a friend or someone you know personally? While working with friends can be productive, it might strain your relationship. Consider how a deteriorating business relationship could impact your friendship.
Learning how and what to delegate can significantly enhance your productivity and help your business grow.
If you're considering subcontracting, here are some places to look:
Upwork - This is my favourite for general admin work. I find the reviews to be genuine and the prices fair.
People per Hour—We found our accountant using this famous site, and I have continued to recommend people from there over the years.
Fiverr—Quality can vary, so look at the reviews—they aren’t always real! In my experience, it may take a bit of trial and error to find someone reliable.
LinkedIn - We discovered our PA Beth by placing a free ad for admin assistance.
Until next time,
Suzanne & Mark