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If you’re thinking of becoming a solo-preneur, one of the biggest obstacles to overcome can be your own mindset. As a corporate employee, your days are defined for you. Yes, they can be long, and no doubt, they can be intense. They can even drive you crazy! You may even take your “work” home with you — literally and figuratively. But the key difference is that they are finite and there is a structure set for you. And you get paid regardless - perhaps with overtime and bonuses added on.

New solo-preneurs quickly prosper or perish when it comes to time management. Some have difficulty with their freedom, others try to impose an “employee” structure on their own workday. Neither has been that useful for me. I don’t lack discipline, I am guilty of spending too much time at my desk, and I like getting up early.

The biggest “a-ha” moment I had was during a teleseminar I listened in to, when the speaker said the role of an entrepreneur is to turn time into money. Now that made sense, and the most expedient way to do that is to work smarter, as well as faster. It’s in your best interest, as well as your clients’. With this mindset, you tend to focus more acutely on what is most important.

Many solo-preneurs will try to do what they can themselves, as inexpensively as possible. I do not subscribe to this model - if you have available work, for example, that is charged at $100 an hour, does it truly pay to enter names into your contact list, learn how to use various software and other tasks yourself? Within the first six months of starting my business, and after one all-nighter spent fixing charts and stuffing sheets of paper into sheet protectors, I decided getting help was no longer an option. And as excited as my seven-year old assistant is to help me, the time spent supervising outweighs the benefit of delegating. Since that time I have used a variety of virtual resources for tasks like setting up databases and shopping cart systems, editing and formatting, and technology support. The best part about virtual assistance is that the people you are working understand being self-employed, and have a vested interest in ensuring your projects are completed to your satisfaction. Business depends on it.

Tip: If you want to get a handle on how much time you are spending, use this free tool  to track your projects and task. I set up projects and tasks for each client, as well as time spent on blogging and other business-related tasks. It also allows me to bill to the minute, so I know I am neither undercharging or overcharging clients.