Solopreneurs, Freelancers and Growth
Reading through articles about the differences and similarities between freelancers, solopreneurs, and entrepreneurs reveals distinct differences and a lot of gray areas, especially when it comes to freelancers and solopreneurs. While I chose the word "freelancer" for my project because it signals my intention more quickly, I prefer the phrase "independent professional."
I'm not particularly fond of the word solopreneur.
Why?
I find it a bit confusing because it has always felt like a stylized way of saying "freelancer." I've read the articles, and while the authors make clear distinctions between freelancers and solopreneurs, these distinctions are not consistent between authors. So, the phrase "independent professional" wins again.
I recently read a paper that makes solopreneurs and freelancers more similar than different, at least based on my observations of how freelancers work. I share it today because it highlights solopreneurs' relationship with growth. The title of this article, One-Person Enterprises and Business Growth, immediately made me think of the freelance professionals I've been speaking with, the initiatives they've started, and the services they provide. It also made me think of their common challenge: business growth.
Faculty at the University of Oulu in Oulu, Finland, designed an investigation to understand solopreneurs' relationship to business growth. Through interviews with solopreneurs, the authors found that "professional know-how" (Belt, Paloniemi, and Janne Sinisammal 2015) matters most to solopreneurs. They discovered that, unlike typical entrepreneurs, solopreneurs do not leverage their networks to expand. The authors discovered in their interviews that the feedback solopreneurs receive about their professional abilities encourages them to spend more time developing these abilities. The feedback from clients or peers motivates solopreneurs to work alone to strengthen their "know-how." Because the feedback they receive does not address business skills, solopreneurs do not develop them, impacting their ability to grow their businesses. Belt et al. (2015) explain this makes solopreneurs different from other entrepreneurs who actively think about their networks, who they know, and what they might accomplish by working with others.
Belt et al. (2015) also learned from their study sample that working alone on "professional know-how" is how solopreneurs manage uncertainty. Given the uncertain nature of independent work, it is understandable why they would focus on what they can control best: content knowledge and skills.
This article made me reflect on my independent path and the decisions I've made and didn't make. It also made me think about what I've observed during The Freelance Project.
Think about the solopreneurs (or freelancers) you know or follow online.
Do they prioritize their professional development over business growth?
Do you see this pattern in yourself?
_____
Literature Cited
Belt, Pekka, Kaarlo J Paloniemi, and Janne Sinisammal. 2015. "One-Person Enterprises and Business Growth." ResearchGate. World Scientific. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298338528_One-Person_Enterprises_and_Business_Growth.
