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Working Solo
Meet Terri Lonier, Working Solo, Inc. Ms. Lonier advises companies on how to communicate with and access the growing small business and SOHO (small office/home office) markets. Terri Lonier is a consultant, speaker and author of the best selling Working Solo series of books, including Working Solo and the Working Solo Sourcebook (John Wiley & Sons, 1998.) You can also visit Working Solo on-line at http://www.workingsolo.com--a resource for independent entrepreneurs: the self-employed, home-based businss owner, telecommuter, virtual office worker, consultant or other independent professional --Visit Working SoloToday!
Favorite Quotes or Words of Wisdom:
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.--Confucius
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What kinds of traits / skills / characteristics will a person need to be successful in your industry / company?
Solo entrepreneurs need to be self-directed, innovative, outgoing, and curious. They’re not afraid of asking questions, and they’re committed to life-long learning. Self-motivation is the most important trait a solo entrepreneur can have, because the entire success or failure of the business rests on their shoulders.
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Are there any emerging trends in your industry/company that will impact your hiring criteria?
We’re in the middle of the biggest revolution in this country since the industrial revolution--people are leaving corporations in ever increasing numbers to strike out on their own. There is no longer job security, only skills security. Solo entrepreneurs know that more control over their work = better quality of life.
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Has higher education been important in your career path? What educational advice would you give to viewers? Tell us the path your took to where you are today!
I hold a BFA and a MFA. These degrees taught me the value in being a creative problem-solver--an essential trait to have in building an entrepreneurial venture. Education does not stop with the university. The most successful people are those who are always eager to learn more.
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What influenced you to choose your career field, and how did you get started in your business?
Like many solo entrepreneurs, my business has evolved to stay in synch with my personal and professional interests. I started my first business in 1978 as a studio potter. While running the pottery business, I also acted as an administrative and development consultant to arts organizations. I bought my first computer in 1981 and have been involved in the high-tech industry (as a consultant and speaker) ever since. Currently my business focuses on the intersection of the three fields of technology, marketing and small business.
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Why do you get up and go to work everyday? What inspires you?
I’m inspired by the excitement of meeting new people and exploring new opportunities. I’m also inspired by the avenues my business gives me to offer guidance to people starting their own businesses. It’s also exciting working with our corporate clients--helping them understand how this new work-place revolution impacts their businesses; and then helping them target and reach this growing market of solo entrepreneurs.
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Describe a day in your professional life.
Everyday is different, though they all start early (by 6:30 AM) and end late--sometimes after midnight. The other commonality is that most of our clients are over 1,000 miles away, so we spend a lot of our time each day in exchanging information via phone, fax and the Internet.
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What women have inspired you on your career path?
My women colleagues who have shown me through their own businesses how to have a successful business and meaningful life. And my Mother and Father, who taught me at a very young age "You can be anything you want to be."
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What challenges have you faced in business because you are a woman? Share your strategies for overcoming them.
The challenges I’ve faced came not so much from being a woman but were the challenges all new business owners face--establishing credibility and a financial track record. Fortunately today, women-owned businesses are much more common--and that makes the growth curve easier for all of us.
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How do you maintain balance in your life? or, Do you?
This is not your traditional 9 - 5 enterprise. We work very intensely on projects and then take an extended period of time off.Since my business has me on the road quite a bit of each year, my husband often travels with me so that we can spend a greater amount of time together.
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Working Solo Insights
Solo entrepreneurs are responsible for the most compelling growth of American business -- growth that is redefining the American workplace. Here are some interesting statistics to help you better understand the dynamic world of the solo entrepreneur. Independent workers now comprise 1/3 of the U.S. labor force. By the year 2000, they are projected to be a majority of the nation’s total workforce. (Source: Independent Worker’s Association)u000du000a The total number of home-based workers is 47 million, an increase of 50% since 1989, and of these over 14.2 million are self-employed. (Source: FIND/SVP, Success Magazine, 1996) Today, the SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) market sector is growing at an annual rate of 5%, compared to just 3% for the overall American economy. (Source: Income Opportunities, IDC/LINK Resources, 1996) The Wall Street Journal estimates that home-based businesses will spend more than
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Thank you Terri Lonier for sharing your insights and experience!
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