7 LESSONS WRITTEN IN LATE NIGHTS
Ahead of hosting next week’s RDA Central West Solopreneur’s Roundtable, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons I have learned am still learning about running a business.
And I know it’s not just me - these are the same themes and conversations I keep having with clients and peers, and the very reason why Kirsten and I cooked up this idea to begin with.
Fun? Yes.
Fulfilling? Most days.
Challenging? Every day.
Regrets? None.
Worth it? We bloody hope so.
So, in the spirit of transparency (and to exercise my courage muscle) ahead of next week’s event, here are 7 lessons from Mannpower:
Charge Your Worth (and Then Some):
I’ve realised I was often undercharging compared to market rates, especially given the scope and impact of my work. Raising rates isn’t (just) about money, it’s about valuing your expertise and setting standards for yourself and your clients.
Strategy Before Execution
Diving straight into execution without a clear strategy will cost you more time and energy later. Strategy-first has become one of my mantras and so unless I know the client reaaaaaallly well, a deep dive brand strategy session is a mandatory first step in working with Mannpower.
It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know
Most of my opportunities, be they collaborations, contracts or cool event invitations, have come my way through word of mouth, referrals, and connections. Cultivating trust and goodwill in your community makes picking up the phone a whole lot easier, and I'll never not prioritise cheering other people on and showing up for them.
My Brand Is My Best Case Study
Instagram, this newsletter, speaking gigs - they’re not vanity projects, they’re proof of concept. Investing in my own visibility fuels credibility, brings leads, and gives me space to make mistakes and a testing ground for ideas, skills and opportunities before I take them to clients.
Boundaries Protect Creativity
I know I’d be a lot less “busy” if I was simply more organised (story of my life), but I’m learning to be clearer with clients about scope, process, and availability. Boundaries protect the creative spark that makes the work valuable.
Personality Before Polish
People connect with people before they connect with fonts, graphics, or trending audio. The content that lands best is when I show up with my voice - not the posts that played it safe, took hours to perfect, or looked like they came from a social media template graveyard. Sometimes that gets me in a bit of hot water, but I'm a big proponent of ‘Say what you mean, mean what you say’ and as a solopreneur without the insulation of a team around me, you've got to be prepared to wear it.
Say Hello to Your Little Friend
Imposter Syndrome is real and it never fully leaves. Even with award nominations, high-profile clients and a packed project schedule, I’ve felt the wobble. I’ve learned it’s not something to “fix” - it’s a signal you’re growing and stretching.
This piece first appeared in Excessive Consumption - a weekly dispatch on culture, branding, politics and whatever other modern internet brain rot the algorithm has emotionally assigned me that week.
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