Strategic Exercises For Soul-Centered Entrepreneurs
It’s time to put pen to paper. Or stylus to tablet, in my case.
As I’ve been figuring out how to set up freelance services, how to build a freelance website, how to define a niche, I’ve summoned a slew of freebies into my inbox that promise to walk me through the process, which I occasionally scroll through—most of which, however, fall victim to burial within my inbox, never to be seen again.
But this month is about taking action, so I actually took the time to go through some exercises, and they ended up being, lo and behold, extremely helpful.
I was recently recommended “Business Model You” A One-Page Method for Reinventing Your Career by Tim Clark, in collaboration with Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur. The authors have generously released a free PDF sample of the book, which I highly recommend. Throughout the sample, there are some key exercises that I completed that helped me refine my business model for my freelance career.
I thought I’d share with you the messy, scribbled versions I put together in Procreate, and gift you some sleeker versions for you to download and write on yourself. If you have a tablet, this is easy to do. If not, you can print them out and do it the old fashioned way. To see all the reasons I suggest any freelancers invests in an iPad (or similar tablet), keep an eye out for an upcoming blog post…
WHERE SHOULD I EVEN BEGIN?
First up, we have this useful venn diagram, which Business Model You refers to as a Lifeline Discovery, which is (quite literally) centered around the idea that work satisfaction is based on the confluence of three areas: your interests, skills, and personality.
Of course, not only does it takes some self-knowledge to know your own skills and personality (interests typically come more naturally), but these spheres can change throughout our lives. And that’s okay. You can revisit this exercise at any point in your career to gain clarity on your next step.
So, I present you my first draft (tucked below to save you the eyesore).
While it looks a big mess, this exercise affirmed that a 1:1 service based freelance career suits me, and that I want to help others find agency over their careers and lives by starting or strengthening their businesses. I want this process to be joyful and liberating.
2. WHAT WILL MY BUSINESS DO?
The second exercise is inspired by Simon Sinek’s ‘Start With the Why’ model, which says that all too often, businesses start with the ‘what’, the details of their business operations, rather than the ‘why’, the impact on the customer and the world. The most crucial advice I’ve read and received as I’ve started my business is to focus on the customer—the client who you are serving. In other words, instead of basing my services around what I can do, I should shape them around how I can help people, asking what my customer needs and basing what I offer around solving that for them.
So, here’s another messy scribble showing my thought process through the “Why”, “What”, and “How.
EXERCISE 1
EXERCISE 2
I initially thought the ‘How’ meant the processes or services I was offering that would lead to the impact of the ‘Why’. Had I not taken the time to reflect and do this exercise, I would’ve missed the step of what the ‘How’ actually is, which is the way that those services (the ‘What’) are effective.
I discussed this model with Betsy from Lantern College Counseling to explain why it was important to focus on the impact her company is making in students and families’ lives first and foremost. The ‘How’ in this client’s case is through their decades of experience in counseling and admissions as well as the compassion and empathy that set them apart in their approach. The ‘What’ is the comprehensive counseling process they offer clients through 1:1 sessions.
3. HOW WILL I DO IT?
While the “Why, How, What” exercise is a useful start, in order to get a clear picture of your business model you obviously need to spend time developing (and refining, refining, refining) the services or products that make up the ‘What’. But don’t forget about the importance of the ‘How’!
The ‘How’ is the link between your services and the impact you’re aiming to make.
Your offerings are not guaranteed to have the effect you intend, especially if your desired impact is lofty and personal or intangible (rather than strictly focused on data and KPIs).
To further develop my ‘How’ section, I outlined some of the ways in which my personality and experience help me to inspire vision and confidence in my clients.
A brand assessment that spurs reflection on a personal and professional level
A smooth process that provides assurance and demonstrates high-quality, professional expertise
Heart-centered, collaborative workshop sessions or 1:1 conversations, taking the time to listen
Grounded, purpose focused brand development and language that centers the impact a brand is making
Social media content that generates authentic, connected community through thoughtful inspiration
As an exercise to round out the previous two, I suggest brainstorming how you can deliver your services or products in a way that aligns with your values and intention. What are the direct and indirect (for example, the subconscious messaging delivered through your visual branding) ways you create value for your customer?
↓ Try these exercises out for yourself ↓
