What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Business After a Layoff: Simplifying the Solopreneur Journey

When I got laid off, I didn’t waste any time. I went straight into building my business. No break. No clear plan. Just pure adrenaline and a vague sense of, “I’ll figure it out as I go.” Looking back, that was a huge mistake.

It wasn’t that the idea of starting my own business was wrong, far from it. But the way I approached it, especially in the early days, led to chaos, burnout, and a lot of wasted time and energy. If I could go back and start over today, I’d do things way differently.

Here’s what I wish I had known before launching my business, and the lessons I’ve learned since then.

1. The Chaos of Trying to Do Everything at Once

In the beginning, I said yes to everything. If someone wanted to collaborate, I said yes. If a new opportunity presented itself, I jumped on it. I built too many things, tried to copy what the “gurus” were doing, and changed directions every time I saw a shiny new tactic.

At first, it felt like momentum. But it was actually chaos. And not the kind that leads to success.

I didn’t have a clear plan, so I ended up spreading myself too thin. I wasn’t making progress in any one area because I was constantly hopping between new projects. It felt like I was working hard, but I wasn’t getting anywhere.

Lesson:
Don’t try to do everything at once. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of starting a business, but jumping from one thing to the next only leads to confusion. Focus on one thing at a time, and give it the time and attention it deserves.

2. Keep Things Stupidly Simple

If I had to start over today, I’d keep everything ridiculously simple. That’s the key takeaway from my first couple of years in business: Simplicity leads to clarity, and clarity leads to momentum.

Here’s how I’d approach things differently:

• One ideal client: I would choose a specific type of person or business that I could help the most. Trying to serve everyone leads to watered-down messaging and scattered efforts.

• One painful problem: I would focus on solving a very specific, painful problem. The more niche and targeted, the better.

• One clear solution: Instead of offering a bunch of different services, I would offer one, clear solution. This keeps my message consistent and easy to understand.

• One place to show up: I’d focus on one platform to build my presence. Trying to be everywhere at once is exhausting and doesn’t yield the best results. Pick one platform where your ideal clients are, and show up consistently.

• One offer to sell: I’d create one core offer and perfect it. Offering too many products or services can be overwhelming for your audience and for you.

Lesson:
Simplicity brings clarity. When you have clarity in your business, you’re able to focus on what truly matters. Simplifying your business helps you gain momentum and get results. It’s not about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things, consistently.

3. Stop Comparing Yourself to the "Gurus"

I spent a lot of time trying to replicate the success of other entrepreneurs. I looked at what the “gurus” were doing and thought, “I need to do that, too!” But here’s the thing: their business was shaped by their unique experiences, and mine is shaped by mine. Copying their exact tactics wasn’t going to work for me, and it just left me feeling frustrated.

Instead of blindly following others, I wish I had spent more time reflecting on my strengths, my ideal clients, and the type of business I wanted to create. That would have saved me a lot of confusion and missteps.

Lesson:
Don’t get distracted by what others are doing. Focus on your own unique strengths and how you can serve your clients in the best way possible. Your path to success will look different from everyone else’s, and that’s okay.

4. Momentum Comes from Consistency, Not Overwhelm

Once I simplified my approach, things started to fall into place. I realized that success wasn’t about doing more—it was about doing the right things consistently. The trick is to keep things simple, and then show up every day to do the work. That’s when the real momentum happens.

Momentum is what pushes your business forward, but it only happens when you stay consistent. You don’t need to launch a new product every month or overhaul your website every other week. Instead, focus on delivering value consistently. Over time, you’ll start seeing the results of your efforts.

Lesson:
Focus on consistency over perfection. It’s better to do a little bit each day, showing up consistently, than to try to do everything at once and burn yourself out. Momentum builds over time, and consistency is key to creating long-term success.

Final Thoughts: Start Simple, Stay Consistent, and Build Momentum

Starting my business was an exciting journey, but I learned the hard way that simplicity, clarity, and consistency are the real keys to success. If I had kept things simpler from the beginning, I could have avoided a lot of the chaos and burnout.

If you’re starting (or restarting) your solo journey, take it from me: Keep it simple, stay focused, and build momentum, and you’ll find success far quicker than you think.

If you’re looking for guidance on simplifying your solopreneur journey and building momentum, check out my Solopreneur Playbook course. It’s packed with actionable steps to help you get started, stay focused, and grow your business with ease.

Click here to get started today or book a coaching call with me if you’d like personalized guidance on how to simplify your business and accelerate your growth.