How To Hustle Like A Soulpreneur
The word “entrepreneur” paints a picture of a go-getter.
They are someone who is strong, self-assured, and confident in their work; all positive and desirable traits. Yet, we may also see this person as obsessed with their work; unyieldingly driven, money- focused, and bent on success, no matter the cost. These people live to hustle; they eat, sleep, and breathe their career.
It’s a stereotypical vision of an entrepreneur, and one that doesn’t allow for a lot of dreaming or spiritual consideration. As a heart-aligned entrepreneur, is that really the lifestyle you want? Likely not! But just because you aren’t slogging away 80+ hours a week doesn’t mean you don’t care about you work! And it definitely doesn’t mean you can’t be a success!
What it does mean is that you do things at your own pace. You have a vision. You know when to put in the work and when to take a break. You have created a business and can take pride in running it the way that is best suited to you and your lifestyle. There is no point in working yourself to the bone if you are going to burn out. External sources often tell us we are meant to work in a certain way in order to succeed in the business world, but the most important thing you can do is trust yourself. In trusting your own intuition, you stand at the same level as any other entrepreneur. The difference? You chiefly follow your heart.
So how does one “hustle” like a soulpreneur?
Well it isn’t so much about hustling, and more about designing a future that serves you, through confidence, clarity, and self- investment. This isn’t about a brand. This is about you and the steps you can take to gain confidence in yourself.
Creating routines and rituals that allow you to live and work in a heart-aligned manner is a large part of the ongoing process, and of benefit to both you and your clients. But there are some big (and I mean BIG) actions you can take that will help you build your own self-confidence while also levelling up in business.
Set Your Intention
One of the most valuable things you can do for your business is know yourself. Understanding what motivates you allows you to see the fire in your own heart. There is a reason why you’ve chosen to walk the path of an entrepreneur. What is it that you want to put out into the world? What unique gifts can you offer?
Recognizing the why behind your actions allows you understand your values. These are important parts of what make you you, and when you put yourself into your work, it creates something unique and spectacular. Think of what values are most important to you? Community? Integrity? Family? How do these values influence your work?
If you are struggling to recognize exactly what values are intrinsic to you, try grounding yourself. You can do this through meditation or simple breathing exercises. Or perhaps you need something concrete in front of you. Try writing a list of things that you value and see what really resonates with your heart and your work. Applying these values to your business plan brings in a deeper level of care and passion. Rather than seeking only to make profit, you are focused on putting good energy out into the world.
For example, if you value creativity, you may seek out fellow creatives to work with. You may listen to more ideas and explore innovative options with clients, instead of focusing on what’s popular or what will sell. You aren’t simply looking to churn out a bunch of product; you want to celebrate the creative process and produce only the highest-quality output.
In focusing on your values and setting intentions based around them, you are able to work from both the mind and the heart.
Clarity On Your Ideal Client
Knowing your client is key! If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Know your audience and know them well, so you can cater to what they want. But what about what you want? What is it that you want to put out into the world, and for whom do you intend it?
Part of knowing yourself as an entrepreneur is knowing your ideal client. You are an innovator, carving your own path. So why can’t you manifest your own client? Well… you can! But this isn’t about wishing really hard and willing someone into being. Manifestation is more than just visualising and believing. It’s about understanding what you want and why you want it, and then taking action to get it.
When you understand what kind of person you are and what values you hold, it becomes much easier to recognize other individuals whose values match you own. That is the heart-aligned client; the one who is looking to achieve the same goals as you, in the same manner. Chances are, neither you nor your client are looking for a rush job or easy fix. You are looking to build a relationship based on trust, shared intention, and mutual understanding.
So how does one find their dream client? First, take a look back at the values you’ve come to observe in yourself; the ones that are intrinsic to who you are. Make those key beliefs known. Share your hopes and dreams. Present yourself and your intentions in an honest and open manner. This allows potential clients to get to know you, not only as a business, but as a person.
Manifestation as a practice is complex and layered, and may seem alien to those who don’t understand it or only see it as airy-fairy woo nonsense. But as a concept, it is honestly quite simple: Like attracts like. This is manifestation in its most basic terms. Like energy attracts like energy. Like people attract like people. We gravitate towards those who are like us, those who share our beliefs, those who make us feel at ease.
When you express your true self, letting the world know exactly who you are and what you’re all about out, you put your energy out into the universe, and attract like-energy back. In taking deliberate action to put yourself out there, you are creating an opportunity to attract those whose values and hearts align with yours.
Invest In Yourself
Self-investment can take many forms. While financial investment, which is indeed important, may be the first thing that comes to mind, there are so many valuable ways you can invest in yourself and your business. Investing in yourself – your health, your happiness, your own growth – can have a ripple effect that benefits your work, while investing your time and energy in key aspects of your business can allow for optimal output, ease, and success.
Of course, we can’t completely ignore the financial side of investment. It is vital to your business that you invest some funds into it. Whether you offer goods or services, there will have to be an initial investment, in order to produce the product or hone your skills and the services you offer. In those regards, their are some big-ticket items that stand out as important things to invest in.
One in particular is your website. Making your own site can work when you’re jut starting out, but once you have built a following, a simple Wix site just won’t cut it. Your website is the home base of your business. This is especially notable in our current global climate, as things are progressively moving online. Research has shown just how valuable websites are for businesses, and this is only increasing. Further research illustrates just how quickly internet users are to judge websites, and by proxy, businesses. A poor website, or lack of one altogether, can send the wrong message to potential clients, as it signals a lack of professionalism.
Is that to say you are not a professional if you don’t have a website? Of course not! But the general public has come to expect that reputable businesses will have a website; one that is engaging, visually appealing, to-the-point, and easy to navigate. It is the norm, and for good reason. It allows you to present yourself to the world and allows the world to get to know you. Why wouldn’t you want to invest in that?
Aside from investing in your website, investing your funds in time-saving measures can greatly add to your business. Hiring an assistant (virtual or otherwise), a copywriter, a PR professional, or the aforementioned web designer allows you to save time and focus on the parts of your business that only you can oversee. It isn’t that you are shirking
these responsibilities. More so, it’s knowing when to take the lead and when to invest in support to execute those fundamental tasks.
Another form of investment, one that may or may not cost, is investing in self- development. This can be through courses, workshops, or personal study, just to name a few. Want to up your SEO game? There are amazing online courses that will help you hone skills that are both valuable and often necessary to the success of a online business. Feeling less-than-excited for another day of routine? Invest in a new hobby or artistic endeavour! Take up a new instrument, learn a new language, practice handstands. Again, you don’t necessarily have to pay in order to self-invest. There are countless, amazing free tutorials online. Whether you are looking to learn a new skill, advance your business know-how, or pick up a new hobby, investing in something that expands your knowledge and brings you joy is invaluable!
Of course, time itself is an investment. It is imperative that you invest your time and energy into the work you produce, as well as the oft-unseen, behind-the-scenes activities that allow your business to run smooth. It is a matter of deciding how much time you must put into your endeavours in order to produce a product or present a service that is true to you. If you are trading in quality for the sake of saving time, then you aren’t using your time well!
On the other hand, it is just as important to invest time in the world outside of your business. Your family, your friends, your health and happiness; they are all a part of what make life great. Taking time to focus on yourself and your world allows you to separate yourself from your business. It lets you recharge and rest, and gives you time to enjoy the life you have created for yourself.
Take a break, not just physically, but mentally. Spend time with you family and focus on them. Don’t allow your brain to wander back to work. Enjoy a walk in nature. Do some yoga. Whatever it is that makes you happy, that is something worth investing in.
Charge Your Worth
Part of building self-confidence is knowing your worth. In an abstract sense, it is about knowing that you, as a person, are valuable and loved. You are more than a worker bee, churning out goods and services in exchange for capital. Your dreams matter, your time matters. It is important that you recognize what you have to offer.
Subsequently, it is also important to recognize your worth in a financial sense. As a burgeoning entrepreneur, and even for those who have been at it for a while, there is a tendency to overwork and undercharge. There is this overarching notion that entrepreneurs and startups are worth less because they don’t have the same financial backing as a multinational corporation.
But that just isn’t true! You, as a professional, have an amazing and unique skill set that only you can offer to the world. You have invested the time and energy (and likely, funds) into the schooling and training necessary for your work. You have put all of yourself into your dream. Why wouldn’t you charge your worth?
Don’t sell yourself short, simply because you think people won’t buy in. If you present yourself and your business as cheap, that label can stick. We all love a good bargain, but when people see a high-ticket offer, they equate it with high-quality. This isn’t to say you should over-price yourself. If you overcharge, you are bound to lose the trust of your following.
Finding the balance is key. Research the national average price of the goods or services that you offer. Note the similarities and differences in your offer, compare and contrast. It can take a bit of time and effort, but that, again, is an investment in itself!
Trust Your Vision
Above all, trust yourself! Knowing yourself, knowing your client, investing your time and energy; it’s all for nothing if you don’t first believe in your vision.
It can be hard to find confidence when you are so used to second-guessing yourself. But every time you feel that twinge of self-doubt, remember: This is your story. You decide which path to take. You have the capacity to do so much! It’s a matter of recognizing this in yourself. I mean, look at what you have accomplished so far!
Don’t pretend like it’s nothing. You’ve literally created your own business. That isn’t easy! You’ve worked hard to get where you are. It had to start somewhere! There was an idea, a goal that you set out to meet. What was the idea? The dream? When you first imagined your own business, what vision did you have for your future?
Part of succeeding in business is knowing what your goals are. This is true whether we are talking in terms of numbers and KPIs or abstracts, like feelings of fulfillment. The latter plays back to the sentiment of knowing your intentions. As mentioned above, realising the “why” behind the “what” gives you a deeper sense of who you are and what values you hold.
But it is just as important to trust the “why”. Why am I doing this? Why am I going in this direction and not that one? Because it feels right! You can actually sense it in your body, whether it is that deep pit-of-the-stomach feeling that guides you to act or an electric giddiness that pushes you forward. You body is in tune with your mind and your heart. Your intuition is strong. There is a reason why people say “trust your gut”! Those intrinsic feelings are there to guide you. Your heart innately knows what is right, so trust that you know too.
Who Needs To Hustle?
Do you need to work hard be a success? Yes. Does that mean you have to work yourself to the bone? Absolutely not! A big part of success is enjoying it. Reaching your goals is important, but taking the time and doing things at your own pace is invaluable! It allows you to be present and find joy in the process.
If you’re pushing yourself beyond your limit, you’re going to burn out before you can reap the benefits. What’s more? If you start burning out, you stop functioning at full capacity, which can weigh on your business. And in the end, it isn’t just you who ends up missing out. Your clients and customers miss out too!
Pause. Take a breath. Centre yourself. This will allow you to focus on your inner voice. Trust it! Find what you value at your core and let it guide the way.
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