Solo Entrepreneur Guide: Key Habits and Top Apps for Success

Solo entrepreneur habits and apps for success

The New Year is here, and all of us are ready to take on it with all the force! If you are a solo entrepreneur, it’s a great time to rise, take the challenges head-on, and focus on growth. But as we all know, this is easier said than done! But if you create certain habits, it can seriously transform the way you work.

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So, for solo entrepreneurs like you, it’s a great time (in fact, a perfect time) to kick things off! It’s time to get into certain habits, identify opportunities, self-improvement, and self-care. In this blog, I will share some helpful tips and habits that can help you get the best out of 2024.

I will also share a list of the apps that can help with learning, grooming, and getting ready for explosive growth. So, let’s begin.

Habits to master in 2024 for Solo Entrepreneur

Habit #1: Wellness First – Sleep, Exercise, and Nutrition

Wellness - First sleep, exercise and nutrition
Wellness – First sleep, exercise and nutrition

You know the drill – all work and no play isn’t just a recipe for a dull life; it’s a straight path to burnout city for solo entrepreneur. Let’s break it down:

  • Sleep: Ever noticed how a crappy night’s sleep turns the next day into a zombie movie? Setting a regular bedtime isn’t just for kids. It’s about giving your brain the rest it needs to keep those entrepreneurial ideas flowing.
  • Exercise: You don’t need to be the next fitness influencer. Moving around, taking walks, or doing some stretches can kick your brain into high gear. Plus, it’s a great way to brainstorm or unwind for a solo entrepreneur.
  • Nutrition: We’ve all been there, grabbing fast food because there’s no time. But here’s the deal: throwing in more fruits and veggies isn’t just healthy; it’s like premium fuel for your entrepreneur engine.

47% of Solopreneurs work more than 40 hours per week. (Source: MBO Partners, 2023 State of Independence in America)

Habit #2: Continuous Learning – Expand Your Knowledge

If you want to succeed as a solo entrepreneur, never stopping the learning train is the key. It’s about staying sharp and relevant with necessary information and cut the clutter.

  • Conferences & Books: Grab a ticket to a conference or pick up a book that’s buzzing in your industry. It’s not just learning; it’s networking and getting new perspectives.
  • Podcasts: Perfect for multitasking. Listen while you jog, drive, or cook. It’s like feeding your brain some tasty snacks of knowledge.

78% of solopreneurs consider continuous learning essential for success. (Source: Incfile, 2022 Solopreneur Survey)

Habit #3: Vision and Goals – Align and Review Regularly

Align vision and goals and review regularly.
Align vision and goals and review regularly.

Remember why you started this whole solo entrepreneur journey? Keeping that vision clear is key.

  • Stay True to Your Vision: It’s your business’s compass. Lost in the daily grind? Revisit your vision. It’s your ‘why’.
  • Regular Goal Check-Ins: Goals shift, and that’s okay. Regularly checking them keeps you from veering off track. Adjust as you go – it’s all part of the ride.

Habit #4: Customer-Centric Approach – Serve Your Customer

Your business is nothing without your customers. Period.

  • Get in Their Shoes: For every decision and strategy, think about how it affects your customers. Will it make their life easier? Better?
  • Solve Their Problems: Your business should be the answer to their headaches. Keep tweaking your services or products to make them say, “Wow, they really get me!”

Habit #5: Employee Well-being – Happy Team, Happy Customers

Employee well being, happy team and happy customers.
Employee well being, happy team and happy customers.

Got a team? Their vibe is your tribe’s vibe.

  • A Happy Team is Everything: It’s simple. When your team is happy and feels valued, they’ll pass that positivity on to your customers.
  • Culture of Excellence: Build a culture where people feel supported and appreciated. Remember, a little empathy goes a long way.

Habit #6: Create Margin – Balance and Boundaries

Being a solo entrepreneur doesn’t mean saying yes to everything.

  • Learn to Say No: It’s tough but necessary. You can’t do it all. Focus on what matters.
  • Create Space: Carve out time for yourself, your family, and things you love outside work. It’s about finding that sweet spot between hustle and having a life.

Habit #7: Embrace Failure as a Stepping Stone

Embrace failure as a stepping stone.
Embrace failure as a stepping stone.

Nobody hits a home run every time. In the entrepreneurial world, flops and failures are part of the journey.

  • Learn from Mistakes: Every setback has a lesson. Missed a target? Figure out why and how you can avoid it next time.
  • Resilience is Key: Brush yourself off and get back in the game. Resilience isn’t just bouncing back; it’s coming back stronger.

Habit #8: Networking – It’s Who You Know

They say it’s not what you know but who you know. There’s truth to that.

  • Build Relationships: Attend industry meetups and join online forums. It’s about making connections that could open doors.
  • Give and Take: Networking isn’t just about what you can get. Offer help, advice, or a listening ear. It’s a two-way street.

Habit #9: Time Management – Master Your Day

Time management to master your day
Time management to master your day.

Time’s the one thing we all wish we had more of and for solo entrepreneur, it’s even more important. Managing it wisely is crucial.

  • Prioritize Tasks: Tackle the big, tough tasks when you’re at your best, usually in the morning. Leave the small stuff for later.
  • Avoid Multitasking: It might feel productive, but it’s usually not. Focus on one thing at a time.

60% of solopreneurs struggle with time management. (Source: Incfile, 2022 Solopreneur Survey)

Habit #10: Financial Savvy – Watch Those Numbers

Being good at what you do isn’t enough when you are a solo entrepreneur. You’ve got to keep an eye on the finances.

  • Budgeting and Forecasting: Plan your finances. Know what’s coming in and going out.
  • Invest in Growth: Be smart about where you put your money. Sometimes, you need to spend money to make money.

58% of Solopreneurs reinvest their profits back into their business. (Source: MBO Partners, 2023 State of Independence in America)

Habit #11 Self-Care – Don’t Forget to Unplug

Self care don't forget to unplug.
Self care don’t forget to unplug.

All work and no play? That’s a recipe for disaster. Remember to take care of yourself.

  • Hobbies and Interests: Have interests outside of work. It keeps your mind fresh and prevents burnout.
  • Relaxation Time: Whether it’s a weekend getaway or just a night off with a good book, make time for it.

72% of solopreneurs experience burnout at least once a year. (Source: Incfile, 2022 Solopreneur Survey)

Habit #12: Adaptability – Go With the Flow

The only constant in business is change. Being adaptable is a superpower.

  • Stay Open-Minded: New ideas, new technologies – be open to them. The world’s always evolving.
  • Be Flexible: Plans change, and that’s okay. Being rigid can hold you back. Learn to pivot when necessary.

Habit #13: Regular Reflection and Self-Assessment

Regular reflection and self assessment.
Regular reflection and self assessment.

Taking a moment to reflect on your progress as a solo entrepreneur and challenges can provide invaluable insights.

  • Set Aside Reflection Time: Whether it’s weekly or monthly, take stock of where you are versus where you want to be.
  • Self-Assessment: Be honest with yourself about your strengths and areas for improvement.

Habit #14: Community Involvement – Give Back

If you are a solo entrepreneur, getting involved in your community can provide a sense of fulfillment and new perspectives.

  • Volunteer or Sponsor Events: Not only does this give back, but it also can provide networking opportunities.
  • Be a Mentor: Sharing your experiences with up-and-comers can be incredibly rewarding.

Remember, being a solo entrepreneur is more than just a job; it’s a lifestyle. These habits are all about making you a well-rounded, resilient, and successful individual. But wait! Knowing about these habits is one thing, but to include them in your routine?

A bit of a daunting task, of course! Thankfully, there are a lot of apps available out there that can help you integrate these habits into your life. Sometimes, these apps nudge you, while sometimes, they can even push you to follow these apps.

Top 9 Apps for Solo Entrepreneurs

There are literally thousands of apps designed to help individuals and business professionals. So, picking the best one that suits you is a bit challenging. But don’t worry, I’ve done that heavy lifting for you! Here’s the list of apps that can help your business and professional journey.

  1. Greatness App
  2. Trello
  3. Headspace
  4. LinkedIn
  5. Audible
  6. Todoist
  7. Mailchimp
  8. Pocket
  9. RescueTime

App #1: Greatness App – Time to Revolutionize

Greatness App
Greatness App – Daily Habit Tracker and a Personal Coach

Well, as the name suggests, this app is designed to help you achieve greatness! It’s an app that will nudge you towards better habits daily. The Greatness App is a complete lifestyle overhaul tool. It perfectly fuses science-backed habit formation techniques and practical daily routines for a solo entrepreneur.

The best part? The app’s interface is user-friendly and can track your habits effectively without much fuss. If you are an entrepreneur looking to focus on personal and professional development, it’s “THE APP for you! Honestly, this app is my personal favorite due to its sleek interface and wide range of customization options.

Key Features:

  • Personalized Habit Programs: They’re tailored to your specific goals and lifestyle, perfect for maintaining wellness routines.
  • Daily Coaching: From experts to keep you motivated and on track with your learning and development goals, it has everything for better learning.
  • Habit Tracker and Reminders: Staying on top of your daily routines is crucial for maintaining work-life balance. The Greatness Apps habit tracker and reminder does exactly that.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs:

  • It aligns with wellness habits by promoting healthy routines.
  • It supports continuous learning with educational content.
  • It helps in setting and tracking progress toward business goals.

Greatness – A habit tracker and personal coach

Build habits that stick, crafting your ideal routines with the Greatness daily habit tracker and lifestyle management app.

Greatness App QR code

App #2: Trello – Organize Your Projects Effortlessly

Trello boards
Trello boards

Trello stands out for its simplicity and flexibility in project management. It’s highly customizable and allows a solo entrepreneur to create a workflow that mirrors the unique processes of their business.

It has a very user-friendly drag-and-drop interface that makes project visualization easy. This facilitates better planning and execution. It can help keep all your entrepreneurial projects in check with the visually intuitive.

Key Features:

  • Customizable Boards: You can manage different aspects of your business with ease.
  • Integration Capabilities: It Syncs with various apps for seamless workflow management.
  • Offline Functionality: It can access your tasks and projects even without an internet connection.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs:

  • Ideal for setting and revisiting business goals.
  • Enhances time management by organizing tasks efficiently.
  • Promotes a customer-centric approach by tracking customer projects and feedback.

App #3: Headspace – Mindfulness and Meditation

Headspace offers guided meditations and mindfulness exercises, which are key for improving focus and reducing stress. Its sleep sounds and nighttime meditations are excellent for a solo entrepreneur needing quality rest.

Headspace is ideal for those prioritizing mental wellness as part of their overall business strategy. You can recharge your entrepreneurial spirit with calming meditation through Headspace.

Key Features:

  • Guided Meditations: It offers multiple guided meditation options. Ranging from stress reduction to focus enhancement.
  • Sleep Sounds and Nighttime Meditations: It also has a lot of options for improved sleep quality.
  • Mindfulness Exercises: This app is designed to improve concentration and mental clarity.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs:

  • Supports the habit of wellness, particularly mental health.
  • Enhances focus and productivity, key for successful entrepreneurs.

App #4: LinkedIn – Network Like a Pro

LinkedIn is a rich resource for industry news, professional development, and thought leadership. It allows a solo entrepreneur to establish a strong personal brand, which is crucial in today’s digital marketplace. The platform’s regular updates and features keep users at the forefront of their industry. Using LinkedIn, you can expand your professional network and stay updated with industry trends.

Key Features:

  • Professional Networking: You can use it to connect with peers, mentors, and potential clients.
  • Job Recommendations: You can expand your team with like-minded individuals or find new opportunities.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Engage with content relevant to your field.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs:

  • Enhances continuous learning through industry insights.
  • Ideal for networking and building relationships beneficial for business growth.

App #5: Audible – Continuous Learning for the Busy Entrepreneur

Audible provides a vast library of audiobooks and podcasts, allowing entrepreneurs to learn on the go. It’s perfect for those who want to expand their knowledge but have limited time for reading.

Audible aligns with the habit of continuous learning, which is crucial for staying ahead in business for a solo entrepreneur. You can expand your knowledge without putting your busy schedule on hold with Audible.

Key Features:

  • Vast Library of Audiobooks: The library covers a wide range of audiobooks, including business, self-development, and more.
  • Podcasts and Originals: It has exclusive content for diverse learning.
  • Offline Listening: You can learn anytime, anywhere, and without the internet.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs:

  • Ideal for continuous learning and staying informed in your industry.
  • Perfect for entrepreneurs who are always on the move.

App #6: Todoist – Task Management Simplified

Todoist managing projects
Todoist managing projects

Todoist allows entrepreneurs to easily manage tasks and projects, offering features like reminders, priorities, and project organization. It helps break down big goals into actionable steps, aligning perfectly with the habit of regular goal setting and review.

Todoist is a go-to app for a solo entrepreneur seeking better task organization and time management. You can keep your tasks, projects, and goals neatly organized and manageable with Todoist.

Key Features:

  • Task Management: It helps you organize tasks with priorities, labels, and deadlines.
  • Project Organization: You can break big goals into manageable steps for better output.
  • Reminders and Notifications: You can stay on top of your to-dos.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs:

  • Supports goal setting and tracking, which is crucial for maintaining vision.
  • Enhances productivity and time management skills.

Todoist – The to-do list app

Tracking your productivity and upcoming tasks becomes easier with Todoist.

Todoist logo

App #7: Mailchimp – Master Your Email Marketing

You can keep your customers engaged and grow your audience with Mailchimp, an all-in-one marketing platform. Mailchimp’s strength lies in its comprehensive approach to email marketing. Its user-friendly design templates and automated marketing tools make it accessible for solo entrepreneur of all skill levels. The platform’s advanced segmentation capabilities allow for highly targeted marketing campaigns.

Key Features:

  • CRM Tools: Manage customer relationships effectively.
  • Campaign Insights: Track the success of your email campaigns.
  • Custom Advertisements: Create ads for social media platforms.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs:

  • Enhances customer engagement through targeted marketing campaigns.
  • Provides insights that help in making customer-centric decisions.

App #8: Pocket – Never Miss Important Content

Pocket is a valuable tool for content curation and knowledge management. With Pocket, save and manage articles, videos, and stories that matter to your business. Its tagging and search features help entrepreneurs organize and retrieve information efficiently.

The app’s focus on a distraction-free reading experience makes it a favorite for busy professionals looking to stay informed.

Key Features:

  • Content Curation: You can save content from various sources for later consumption.
  • Offline Reading: This app lets you access your saved items without internet connectivity.
  • Personalized Recommendations: You can discover content based on your interests.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs:

  • Supports continuous learning by allowing you to save and revisit educational content.
  • Helps in work-life balance by enabling offline reading during downtime.

App #9: RescueTime – Insightful Time Management

RescueTime tracks how you spend your time, offering insights into productivity patterns. Its detailed reports and focus sessions help solo entrepreneurs identify areas for improvement and avoid distractions. RescueTime is ideal for those looking to optimize their daily routines and work more efficiently. You can discover where your time really goes and optimize your productivity. 

Key Features:

  • Automatic Time Tracking: it monitors time spent on apps and websites.
  • Detailed Reports: It helps you gain insights into your daily habits and productivity patterns.
  • Focus Sessions: You can block distracting sites to stay on task.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs:

  • Ideal for managing time effectively and setting boundaries.
  • Helps in identifying areas for improvement in daily routines.

Now that you know the habits you should have as a solo entrepreneur and the apps you can use, it’s time to understand things you should avoid.

Things to Dodge in 2024 for Solo Entrepreneurs

Here are nine things to avoid if you are a solo entrepreneur:

  • Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket: Diversify, diversify, diversify! Don’t rely on just one client or a single stream of income, especially if you are a solo entrepreneur. Spread out a bit to keep things stable.
  • Chasing Every Shiny Object: It’s easy to get sidetracked by the latest trend or tool. Stay focused. If it doesn’t align with your goals, it’s just a distraction.
  • Skimping on the Network Game: Don’t be a lone wolf. Building connections is key. Whether it’s online networking or hitting up local meetups, get your mingle on.
  • Ignoring the Feedback Loop: Don’t ignore customer feedback or constructive criticism. That stuff’s gold for improving your game.
  • Skipping the Self-Care: Take care of number one. That’s you, by the way. Regular breaks, hobbies, and ‘me time’ aren’t just nice-to-haves but must-haves.
  • Winging It with Finances: “I’ll just figure it out as I go” doesn’t cut it with money matters. Budgeting and financial planning are your best buds.
  • Being a Perfectionist: Perfection is a myth, whether you are a solo entrepreneur or an established business. Aim for progress, not perfection. Iteration over obsession, always.
  • Falling into the Social Media Black Hole: Social media is a double-edged sword. Use it wisely for marketing, but don’t let it gobble up your precious time.
  • Forgetting the Why: Don’t forget why you started your solo entrepreneur journey. Keep your passion alive. It’s your rocket fuel.

Wrapping Up

As a solo entrepreneur, the New Year is a golden opportunity to establish habits that propel you toward success. While the journey as a solo entrepreneur requires commitment and discipline, integrating the right apps can provide the necessary support.

I hope this guide will help you better optimize your 2024 and tackle all the challenges it throws! For more such informative content, feel free to explore our website.

FAQs

What key habits should solo entrepreneurs adopt in 2024?

Focus on wellness, continuous learning, goal alignment, customer-centric strategies, team well-being, and effective time management.

How do apps like the Greatness App benefit solo entrepreneurs?

They offer personalized habit tracking, motivational coaching, and tools for balancing personal wellness with business goals.

What should solo entrepreneurs avoid in 2024?

Avoid overworking, financial mismanagement, chasing trends, neglecting networking, and losing sight of your core mission.

Images generated using Dall-e powered by GPT4.

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