Step 1: Identify Your Energy Sources

Who are the individuals you aim to serve? For me, they typically fall into these categories:

• Impact-driven entrepreneurs
• Creative individuals
• Side hustlers

I realized this by reflecting on my connections—friends, family, colleagues, past clients, and admired influencers. I asked myself: Who inspires me? Who drains my energy?

The consistent theme emerged: I thrive around optimistic, ambitious people who are striving to create meaningful solutions to real-world challenges. Conversely, just a short interaction with negative, overly sensitive individuals can be exhausting.

I also examined my content consumption patterns on platforms like Medium, where I primarily engage with topics on business and self-improvement. My reading habits lean towards non-fiction, focusing on entrepreneurial autobiographies and self-help literature. This data helped me connect the dots.

Surround yourself with those who invigorate you.

Step 2: Commit to Solving a Specific Problem

What issue are you particularly equipped to address?

Starting a one-person business means dedicating yourself to solving a problem, not merely providing a solution. Many entrepreneurs fixate on making their solutions work, but often, they are merely educated guesses.

Forget the traditional business plan; focus on gathering real-world insights. After identifying the group I wanted to support, I brainstormed their challenges, conducted interviews, and sought their input on the problems I could uniquely resolve.

It’s crucial to ensure that the issues you choose to tackle genuinely resonate with you, as there are numerous problems you could address but may not want to. For example, I often help with:

• Book recommendations and self-improvement strategies
• Implementing productivity hacks and mental frameworks
• Establishing positive habits while dismantling negative ones
• Facilitating mindset shifts and nurturing creativity

Interestingly, I already engage with all these areas, making them a natural extension of my capabilities.

Step 3: Define Your Life’s Purpose

What lifestyle do you envision for yourself? My goal is to be a full-time digital nomad by June 2024, giving myself a year to accomplish this.

With this aspiration in mind, I evaluated whether my target audience and the problems I'm addressing align with this life purpose. The conclusion? Absolutely. Many impact-driven individuals share values similar to mine: freedom, continuous learning, adventure, and making a difference.

Consider how you wish to spend your time. What does your life look like in five years? I can almost guarantee it won’t involve a cubicle.

A one-person business lacking a purpose is no better than a standard 9-to-5 job.

Step 4: Release What Holds You Back

What obstacles are preventing you from taking action?

Through a period of deep introspection, I identified three main barriers:

1. People: The clients of my consultancy, who I no longer wish to serve indefinitely.
2. Problems: While I can address their needs, these issues don’t align with my passions.
3. Purpose: The industry’s traditional approach conflicts with my long-term goals of flexibility and innovation.

After striving to expand my consultancy for over a year, I decided to pivot. I’ll maintain the business on a contract basis but won’t invest further in its growth. Instead, I’m choosing to let go of the burdens that weigh me down.

This is a process of trial and error. You’ll likely experiment with various roles and adapt as you go. Be open to reinventing yourself repeatedly.

I understand that I don’t have all the answers. By articulating my thoughts in writing, I gain a deeper understanding of my own aspirations.

Experiment, act swiftly, gather insights, reflect, and continue to learn. The success of your one-person business will directly correlate with your willingness to experiment and adapt.

Thank you for reading! Here are two ways I can assist you:

• Download your FREE copy of my e-book: "50 Short But Practical Life Lessons From 100+ Self-Improvement Books."
• Subscribe to my Living a Limitless Life Newsletter for weekly insights on generating side income alongside your 9-to-5 job.