Lizzy Shaw

 

 

 

 

A lot of entrepreneurs who are the only full time employee of a business call themselves solopreneurs or solo practitioners. Is that you?

 

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I just really got it that it takes a village to launch and sustain a business, too.

 

I recently gave a workshop on Freelancing at the West Hollywood Women’s Leadership Conference. While creating the materials and worksheets, it became clear that even if you are mainly working by yourself, you are rarely alone in your business.

 

It really does take a village. And we drew the above chart to show it; it was a big hit in the workshop.

 

If you’re ever feeling alone in the trenches, or like you’re carrying the whole weight of your business, make a chart for yourself – you will see that you are actually the center of quite a fantastic universe.

 

In my PR business, here are some of the people I rely on to make my business bloom and thrive:

 

My sister Sarah (chief biz advisor)

CPA + bookkeeper

Entrepreneur/networking groups (friends, clients, advice, support)

Biz pals & peeps (informal advisory panel)

Business coaches (inspiration & direction)

Assistant, cast of interns & VA’s (research, Social Media help, reports)

House cleaner

Friends & family (love & kisses)

Clients

IT/Website

Graphic Designer (keeps it all looking great)

 

In my business as a publicist, I need to keep on top of what writers/editors/reporters are at what magazines, newspapers, blogs, etc. I need to stay on top of trends, styles, news, who’s in and out, which celeb just went nuclear, what movie is coming out or what TV show just got cancelled. I need to track contacts, sample requests, pitches, results and more. So the help I get from an assistant, interns and VA’s helps keep me knowing what I need to know.

 

My family and close circle of friends were the first people I reached out to when launching my business; they continue to provide all the love & kisses I need. I go to my sister Sarah Shaw – the Entreprenette – the most often for all kinds of business advice; I get help from two business coaches – Mike Michalowicz, the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur; I get so much great sales, marketing and business advice from him; and Gina Ratliffe, whose coaching circle gives me so much help, advice and inspiration.

 

I belong to several entrepreneurs’ groups including Savor The Success, The Entrepreneur Connection, North Hollywood Entrepreneurs and more; these groups and masterminds are sources of clients and invaluable help – I highly recommend you join some area groups and get some support.

 

Through these groups, I’ve met an incredible circle of friends and associates; these pals really keep me going.

 

Behind the scenes is the help I get with IT, my website, graphic design (the fabulous Nicole Lennol), finances and on the home front, my fabulous housecleaner, the goddess of my existence.

 

And last (but not least) are my fabulous clients and “Ask Lizzy” peeps; I love working with them every day. And of course, that’s where the dough comes from.

 

So – make your own list and make your own chart – maybe you’re not so “solo” either. Embrace your village – be grateful for all the peeps who keep you going.

 

Who did I miss on your list? Let us know who your peeps are!

 

Tags: Ask Lizzy, Coaches, entrepreneurs, Freelancing, Gina Ratliffe, help, journalists, marketing, micro-business, Mike Michalowicz, Networking, Nicole Lennol, NoHo Preneurs, PR, PR Tips, sales, Sarah Shaw, small business, solopreneurs, The Entreprenette, The Entrepreneur Connection, West Hollywood Women's Leadership Conference

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 14th, 2011 at 5:09 pm and is filed under Business Basics, Life, Networking, PR. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.