ling any pitfalls that come your way as a solopreneur... Let’s face it: life happens. You can never plan for that unexpected car accident or taking care of someone who is seriously ill (maybe even yourself!). One of the best things you can do, as a solopreneur is to have someone you can entrust your clients to, who can provide an equivalent level of quality and customer service, as well as deliver on the promises you made.
This can be a very challenging task for people, as essentially you are entrusting your business into someone else’s hands. They have to step into your shoes and fill them well, but obviously this can’t happen the day after you are sick with the flu, right?
While it’s tempting to think that your schedule isn’t likely to be disrupted, and that creating a plan B is a waste of time, consider this: nearly everyone eventually faces some type of problem that has the potential to disrupt his or her work schedule and ultimately their business.
1. Way before the disaster hits, find someone that can step into your shoes and think like you think. There are tons of assistants out there and very creditable organizations to go through as well. Hire them for even a couple of hours a month. They should take the initiative to dive into your branding and business and start learning all about your business. When the time comes you won’t have to shut down production.
2. This will save you time and money but more importantly it will save your personal branding and reputation. If others know you have a disaster or illness happen and you didn’t prepare, This does speak volumes about how you work with their important details, right?
3. When preparing your Plan B, give the assistant that you hire a different part of your business each time they work for you, so that they can get familiar with all components of your business. Trust is the key here so start out with smaller areas like a Twitter or a blog post.
4. You have to be honest with your clients — explain the situation to them, and what impact it will have on meeting the agreed deadlines. This is especially true if the deadline has not already passed.
5. Make preparations to execute your backup plan. You can call colleagues or people in your business and give your clients away. This is an important step, as your clients will be even more appreciative if they write back and can’t fudge their deadlines — you can then provide an alternative solution proactively, taking the burden off their shoulders. Keep communicating! Sometimes, your situation is constantly changing, and while you prepare your clients for the worst scenario, you may find you are able to meet some or all of their needs. Typically, your clients would prefer to stick with you to finish their project — so if you find you might be able to meet their needs, let them know. But most importantly, keep your clients posted on your ability and time to do work for them.
The moral of the story here is to always have a plan B. If you ever get stuck, that’s when it’s too late. I hope I have given you a good reason as to why you need to back up your business, and have a Plan B, of course if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to find me on twitter @MsHoverfly or email me Michelle@MsHoverfly.com
Michelle Gutierrez is both a virtual assistant for solopreneurs and a career consultant for teachers. A married mother of 2 and a former educator, Michelle left the classroom to peruse a small business when her children were born. Michelle has had a few small businesses and knows the importance of getting help, and she offers her advice for free and focused help or assistance affordably! She is the founder of the Teacher’s Next Step, and Mom Entrepreneurs SA as well as the owner of Ms. Hoverfly Virtual Small Biz VA. Michelle is a speaker, author, certified teacher and administrative assistant. She lives in San Antonio, Texas with her family and speaks to other educators and solopreneurs across the state.