Confessions of a soloprenuer who hasn't figured it all out. Yet.

And just like that one year rolled on by.

A moment of bliss on my 2-week solo trip through France last summer after leaving my corporate job, spectacular views from my desk at Cornell, one of many networking coffees at Ole and Steen in Union Square and impromptu mid-week hikes with my bff Leo

And just like¹ that one year rolled on by.

I’m pretty bad at celebrating myself. I come from the Midwest after all². I’ve been taught not to take up too much space, to be polite and focus on being easygoing.

In some ways, it’s boded well for a transition into my current roles: I’m a coach, consultant and teacher. I get to hold space for other people all day by celebrating their wins and wallowing in their struggles.

It bodes less well for running a coaching business.

When you’re the coach, you’re the business, the face of the brand! and you’ve got to talk about yourself a lot. You have to sing your own praises, talk about how others relied on you to transform.

Selling myself has been a necessary evil in this career chapter. Often, I joke that if I knew 90% of year 1 would be the worst kind of sales³, I’m not sure I would have ventured down this path at all.

But I did it, for lots of reasons. There’s lots of folks hawking that soloprenuership is THE way on LinkedIn⁴. It’s a path to freedom, deeper purpose and fulfillment.

Those are all true.

But what’s also true is the rollercoaster of the experience.

How one day…

one hour…

one meeting…

can derail the win you just had.

The highs are the highest you’ll ever feel - because you, and only you, made them happen.

But the lows are devastating, at times soul crushing, in ways a corporate job could never be. Because you, and only you, didn’t make it happen.

I’m celebrating⁵ 1 year of soloprenuership this month.

So, I’m marking the moment to reflect back on what this year brought me.

There’s been incredible months where absolutely everything has clicked into place, when all the leads and projects were ready for liftoff. I’ve had to pinch myself when I realize I’m doing all the things I naively set out to do last year. I set some ambitious goals and hit many of them in stride.

There’s also been bleak months. When everything feels stalled out and the crickets are loud. When it’s easy to blame myself. And I wonder if I’m really cut out for running my own business, because who am I to do any of this at all, really? Though I strive to speak authentically in public, you can’t always see the real struggle of carrying the weight of a business all by yourself.

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Of all the competencies, titles and experiences I’ve collected working at various companies as a product manager, it’s all paled in comparison to the most important muscle I’ve grown this past year: my mindset.

In the past, I’ve balked at the notion that I can do anything I put my mind to, because, come on, right?

Hard work, endless hustle and work ethic gets you what you want.

But hard work, endless hustle and work ethic gets you part of the way there.

Without a strong mindset, a strong and positive outlook, I can confirm that hard work, endless hustle and work ethic are just a part of the game.

There’s oh so much more to it.

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So, next week, I’m going out on a limb:

1. I’m celebrating myself (which we covered, is a challenge) and

2. I’m sharing my work-in-progress story instead of my “wrapped up in a pretty bow story.” I’m bringing honesty and pushing back on the popular LinkedIn narrative that everything worked out happily ever after. Because I’m still figuring it out.

It feels a bit risky, to share the draft while the book is still being written.

But, one of the reasons I was drawn to this path was the promise of living more authentically.

To show up in ways I never could at work - to talk about the good and the bad - and connect with people honestly. No corporate politics or LinkedIn toxic positivity here.

I found myself on this path because other people inspired me and told me I could do it too. I’m eager to share what I’ve learned, in both hustle and mindset, and to deconstruct the blueprints⁶ of the rollercoaster that is working for yourself.

Whether you’re a product person or just a casual reader, maybe I can give you some inspiration on taking risks too. Join me next Tuesday.

And thanks⁷ for letting me celebrate.

1. I’m watching Sex and the City for the first time. Don’t come for me.

2. We are a humble people.

3. aka selling yourself

4. I’ve probably done this too. I’m owning it it! And I’m partially sorry.

5. it’s really hard to use this word, but I’m working on it

6. Wow this metaphor felt far fetched. Did it work?

7. And a very special thanks to my family, friends and coworkers who supported me, cheered me on and made me feel less alone over the past year. Extra special shouts to Todd, my rock who weathers all my rolls. I love you.