Top 10 challenges faced by sole traders – Page 2 of 10 – StartupSmart

2. Staying accountable

 

 

As the one and only boss, employee and opinion-giver in your business, you have a large amount of freedom to move your venture in whichever direction you choose.

 

However, this can be an issue if your more outlandish or misguided ideas aren’t subjected to the checks and balances you get in a well-populated workplace.

 

While you might not enjoy having your ideas challenged, it’s an important part of any business. Your concepts need to be tested and analysed for flaws and solo operators often find this tricky to achieve due to their isolation.

 

The solution?

 

Get an ‘accountability’ buddy. Cas McCullough, founder of home-based business network group Support a Work at Home Person, says: “Sometimes it really helps to have others to check in with. So how can we stay accountable and on track when we work at home? Find an accountability buddy.”

 

“An accountability buddy is someone you can bounce ideas off, help you stick to your weekly goals, encourage you (and vice versa) and to collaborate with.”

 

“A few months ago, a colleague and I decided to give this a try and the results have been amazing.”

 

“When we started out, each week we’d email each other our goals for the week and talk via Skype twice a week to check in and see how we’re doing. Now, we seem to talk on Skype almost every day. Skype has become a virtual coffee machine.”

 

“We’ve both learned heaps and it really has helped us stay on task and we’ve started working together on some new projects.”