Then and Now:
A Decade of Solopreneurship

Tired of reading all those recap stories of the "aughties"? The glut of media stories looking back at the past decade inspired me to assess how much solopreneurs have changed since 2000. Here are three areas that provide context for the evolving world of working solo.

Then: You have a home office?
Now: You have an office?
In 2000, it was still somewhat unusual for individuals to have jettisoned corporate life and be working independently at home. Now, even the home office has been left behind, as technology enables soloists to operate without the constraints of a physical office at all.

Then: It's a good time to start a business, since unemployment is low.
Now: It's a good time to start a business, since unemployment is high.
For much of the past decade, unemployment was low and thousands of individuals embarked upon the solo worklife as a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream, confident that if everything fell apart they could always find a "real" job. These days, the rush to self-employment remains high, but the driving force is more circumstance than choice, as traditional employment options fade.

Then: Networking is important because information is scarce.
Now:Networking is important because information is ubiquitous.
Ten years ago, networking was the way to stay informed about news and important changes in specific industries and the larger business world. Today, in-person networking helps us make sense of change, providing a human connection in our digital tsunami of information.

I'm sure there are many more shifts that veteran soloists recognize from a remarkable decade of change. As you move through these first few days of the New Year (and new decade), take a few moments to look both ways. Chart your achievements of the past year, and establish some goals (with specific metrics!) for the 12 months ahead.

-- Terri Lonier
Founder, WorkingSolo.com