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August 04, 2007

"Tip of the Week" - Success. It Starts and Ends With You.

In Rick Georges' Sololawyer, contributing author Chuck Newton gives us the equation for solo success - sense of self.  While it is a little tongue in cheek, Chuck claiming everything he learned about being a solo he learned from his beagle, Mandy, there is actually significant truth to the equation presented:

"We live in a world where massive international corporations can grow bigger than a country.  Yet many yearn for the freedom and personal responsibility of running their own operation.  Given the number of different places the average person will work, the life-time commitment of company to employee is a thing of the past.

Even if you never step out on your own, however, you will be making significant decisions about where you want to work and what you want to do.  Accept personal responsibility for these decisions, and prepare yourself for the potential opportunities of the future."  David Niven, PH.d.

I think it is fair to say without first having self-awareness, you cannot conceive of taking personal responsiblity for your actions.

"The ability to accept personal responsibility for  work outcomes and to thrive under individual scrutiny improves your chances by 65 percent of successfully making the transition from working for a traditional large company to succeeding in a job at a small firm or as an independent consultant."   Peiperl, M., and Y. Baruch, 1997. "Back to Square Zero: The Post Corporate Career." Organizational Dynamics 25: 7-22

Becoming a solo practitioner, a business entrepreneur, requires you to have full self-awareness and take full responsibility for all your actions as they relate to clients' goals and your own personal and financial goals.  You must have this self-awareness and the ability to accept personal responsibility for work outcomes and thrive under client, colleague and judicial scrutiny.  There is no other choice.

Therefore, Chuck is right...going solo is not for everybody.  But for those who have the ability to look in the mirror and recognize the reflection is theirs, if going solo fits your long term goals, you are one step closer to achieving it.

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