Interview: Founder and CEO Beth Lawrence on Her Journey as a Solopreneur
In case you haven’t heard, next month BLME & Friends are launching the Solopreneur’s Guide, a crash course about setting yourself up for success as a self-employed entrepreneur. Ahead of this launch, BLME Associate, Brooke Weidenfeld, sat down with founder and CEO, Beth Lawrence, to learn more about her solopreneurship journey. Read on to discover Beth’s advice, reflections, highs, and lows of entrepreneurship, and how the Solopreneur’s Guide can help others navigate this themselves.
Interview: Founder and CEO Beth Lawrence on Her Journey as a Solopreneur
Brooke Weidenfeld: Did you always know you wanted to be a solopreneur? Or, was it something you slowly realized?
Beth Lawrence: I grew up in a very entrepreneurial family; my parents always had side businesses in addition to their full-time jobs, and my grandparents were farmers in South Jersey. I have always had larger-than-life dreams for myself and, when I finally reached a place in my career that I could apply an entrepreneurial outlook to my full-time role, I was hooked. I actually co-founded a networking and referral group for women in 2013, which eventually grew into my second business, The Industry Formula, in 2018. I think the success of that group, and with Snap Kitchen (my last in-house, full-time role) was what gave me the confidence to pursue it.
BW: What made you take the leap and decide to actually “go for it” in terms of owning and running your own business?
BL: I always say I was “pushed out of the nest!” I started my business after being laid off from my full-time role at Snap Kitchen, and my husband was the one who said, “you’ve always said you wanted to start your own business. They gave you a gift, and you should take it!”
BW: What is the most difficult part of being a solopreneur?
BL: When I was first starting out, the cycle of perfectionism (especially involving putting myself out there) was pretty crippling. Additionally, I was in a place where my income was 50% of our household income and contributed equally to our bills. We had bought our first home that same year, and looking at my upcoming mortgage payments, student loans, and other expenses, I was scared. Thankfully, having built up my network strategically over the course of my career, I had a support system that was actively helping me to spread the word about my new business. That sense of relief gave me the confidence to keep going, and to take the time to establish a solid foundation for my business. The Solopreneur’s Guide was born from that idea—establishing a foundation so that your business is poised to grow.
BW: Conversely, what is the most rewarding aspect of solopreneurship?
BL: The most rewarding part is the knowledge that you can design a business around your life, not the other way around. Though it has taken me a few years to be able to establish my preferred schedule, method and cadence of communication, and pricing structure, I learn more and more about myself and what I am capable of each day. When the pandemic first hit, I was close to rock bottom emotionally. There were days where I did not know what to do, or how I would continue, and I am incredibly proud of the fact that my business is—and I am— still standing.
BW: Looking back, what are some things you wish you had known when first entering your solopreneurship journey?
BL: I wish I had known that every entrepreneur (and solopreneur) has times of struggle. Everyone struggles with imposter syndrome, and with that one aspect of their business that they don’t connect with, or don’t love to do. Everyone has moments, hours, days or weeks where they feel like they’re not cut out for it. Those are the moments that test your strength and prepare you for the next big thing.
BW: What advice would you give to someone who is considering making the career shift to become a solopreneur?
BL: Listen to your gut, above everything else. That isn’t to say you have to be on an island all by yourself! Bring your support system along on your journey. There are people in your life who will support you no matter what—whether that means sharing your first business Facebook post or recommending a client—and they are the beginning of your personal board of directors. There also will be people who will not understand, or who will think you’re choosing a difficult path. They may have your best interest at heart, but are not the right people to hear all of your ideas or to be part of your inner circle at that time. Through entrepreneurship, you will meet some of the best people who truly understand what you’re going through and who will become part of your Board of Directors.
BW: How will your upcoming Solopreneurs’ Guide course benefit current and future solopreneurs?
BL: The Solopreneur’s Guide course came to be, when myself and a few of my “Board of Directors” wanted to create an offering for those disproportionately affected by the pandemic: womxn who have left the traditional workforce; individuals across industries who are unemployed or underemployed as a result of the pandemic; and those who are looking to venture out on their own and launch a product or service-based business. It will take you through all aspects of a business launch, including personal branding/networking; branding and web design; legal considerations; social media and marketing; HR-focused entrepreneurship; healthcare considerations, and of course, accounting. Students will also receive a Program Guide for further reflection, and have access to discounted office hours with each instructor for further questions. We really want to prepare anyone to launch a successful freelancing career or small business!
Interested in being a part of the Solopreneur’s Guide? Check out more information and let us know what you want to learn here.