The Question Every Solo Business Owner Dreads… Until They Do This

You know how it goes. You’re in a social setting, meeting someone for the first time, when the focus shifts to your work, and they ask that dreaded question… “So, what do you do?”

You know they haven’t got a clue what it’s like to be in business for themselves. They’ve got a cushy job with a clearly defined title and probably a written description of what that entails somewhere, so how do you describe what you do in a way that they will understand, without underselling yourself?

This frustration is more common among solo business owners than you’d think.

You might find yourself stammering, fumbling for words, or even deflecting attention away from your business altogether. That awkward silence can feel heavy. You might fear that you’re not interesting enough or, even worse, that your services aren’t valuable. It can be disheartening when you know you have something wonderful to offer but can’t convey it in a way that resonates with others.

A huge mistake I made was trying to be too different from everyone else. I was treating sports injuries, but in an unconventional way. I tried to describe the difference before people had the chance to relate to the topic I was talking about. Over the years, I cycled through a wide range of job titles and descriptions, trying to figure out how to describe what I did.

The result was that I simply confused people. I would be met with a polite smile and a nod of pretend understanding, followed by a swift change in the topic of conversation.

I even resorted to describing myself in the same way as others in my field, which helped the people around me, but I felt like I was selling myself short. I knew that what I was doing was exciting and innovative, yet I couldn’t convey that when people assumed my approach was the same as whatever version of sports injury treatment they had in mind.

Many years passed before I realized that my inability to clearly convey my approach and my message didn’t come from the words I was using; it came from a deeply hidden doubt within myself.

I’d figured out something that felt utterly unique to me. As far as I knew, nobody else was doing it exactly the same way as me. It didn’t help that it went against everything that the fitness industry had been teaching for decades.

On the surface, this felt exciting and something that I should be proud of, yet somewhere deep down there was this voice of doubt (I call her “Wreck-It Rose”) making me believe that what I had developed couldn’t possibly be more effective than conventional methods - even though I had hundreds of clients proving otherwise, or making me question if I was worthy of disrupting such an established industry.

Looking back now, I can see that being disruptive isn’t in my nature, so while I was happy enough treating people and using my methods with people I knew and their referrals, when it came to expanding my message beyond that circle, I just couldn’t bring myself to do what was necessary, even though I tried everything to push myself to do it.

It was this mismatch that led me to play small, either avoiding the dreaded question of “what do you do?” or being so vague that people could fill in their own ideas about what I meant… and I know I’m not the only one!

Once I realized that my frustrations and feelings of overwhelm were coming from somewhere deep inside myself, something clicked, and everything became so much clearer.

Now, I help other solo business owners to figure out where their overwhelm is really coming from so they can truly be the force of nature they were made to be… and I love telling people that when they ask what I do!

When you can ditch the overwhelm at its deepest level, you will notice a profound change. There’s an inner settling feeling that comes over you, conversations flow more smoothly, and you’ll find yourself feeling more confident, authentic, and empowered. This easily translates into clearer communication and the sense of relief that comes with knowing you can clearly articulate what you do is liberating. It totally changes how you interact with others.

Ultimately, gaining clarity in describing your services is not just about business; it’s about understanding yourself, eliminating doubt, and creating an unshakeable sense of authenticity. By overcoming the frustration of unclear communication, you’ll create an incredible space where understanding flourishes, paving the way for lasting success in your solo venture.

By the way, if you’d like to learn more about where your overwhelm is coming from, I’d like to invite you to join me at https://potentproductivity.com/overwhelm for a FREE on-demand training session that will help you finally ditch the overwhelm and skyrocket your productivity.

Don't let the overwhelm hold you back any longer. Take a step toward clarity and confidence today by visiting https://potentproductivity.com/overwhelm. You deserve to shine in your business, and I can’t wait to see you thrive as you embrace your journey ahead. Let's make this adventure even more rewarding together!