On Memorial Day 2024, my dream job as COO of a social-impact technology company vanished overnight. After three years of pouring myself into the mission of the organization, our two co-founders were indicted on millions of dollars of investor fraud, our last paychecks bounced, and I went from "Having It All" to unemployed and terrified.

My first instinct was to find a new job, and fast. But there was a nagging thought I realized I'd been pushing aside that started getting harder to ignore. What if I was pouring all my energy into climbing the wrong mountain? I had made it to what I thought was the top, and yet there was always a part of me that wondered if this was "it".

Was the amount of time I spent helping build someone else's company worth the amount of time I was away from my family? Was my life really that much better now that I had the title and the salary I thought I always wanted?

About a month after the company folded, I realized my answers were no, and on a whim, I went through the process of starting my own LLC. I didn't have a grand vision or something I knew I wanted to build. All I knew was that I had to focus on moving forward, even if it meant taking just one small step at a time.

A year on, my consulting practice has grown, steadily pulling us out of the financial slump we found ourselves in last year. While not without its hurdles, I'm having a great time channeling my energy into crafting my own venture – a refreshing change after years of building other people's businesses.

And I'm not alone. According to a recent Forbes article that leans heavily into the research by the US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, there are "over 14 million women-owned small businesses, accounting for nearly 40% of all businesses in the country, generating $2.7 trillion in annual revenue and employing almost 12.2 million people."

Additionally, "women-owned micro-businesses provide the lion's share of family income, driving the economic recovery post-pandemic."

All of this in spite of huge challenges and hurdles women still face as entrepreneurs: "Black and African American women-owned businesses, who generate $98.3 billion in revenue and employ 528,000 workers, according to The 2023 Wells Fargo Impact of Women Owned Businesses report tells us that these entrepreneurs can do a lot with a little. If Black and African American women-owned businesses achieved the average revenue of men, they would add $1.5 trillion in revenue to the economy."

If you're considering making the jump from corporate to solo-preneurship and adding to this incredible movement in economic power, I'd like to share a few insights I have had in my own journey. Going from corporate to solo-preneurship is not without its challenges, but might be the path you’re meant to explore:

Don't overthink it!

As a recovering perfectionist, I can still get stuck in analysis paralysis, turning every decision inside out. But my experience last summer forced me to navigate the unknown instead of fearing it. That unexpected push turned out to be one of the best gifts I've ever received. I incorporated my LLC as Belden Strategies, which if you're into branding = "BS".... not exactly the message I was looking to send! I didn't (and still don't) have a perfectly complete website, a business plan or flawlessly articulated business offerings. I learned quickly that people don't care about this as much as you do.

By leaning into my skills and network, opening myself up to possibility and saying 'yes' to every consulting gig that came my way, my business started to mold itself. By allowing yourself to live in the 'experiment', you'll fast-track figuring out what lights you up, what drags you down and how you want to shape your path forward.

Look for support around you

Speaking of leaning into my network... guaranteed yours is there, ready to cheer you on in whatever you decide to build or create. As I pivoted to business ownership, I rediscovered the incredible power of reconnection. Old colleagues and peers transformed into cheerleaders, advisors, and door-openers.

Your network is a treasure trove of support, filled with people who'd be delighted to lend a hand or simply spend time catching up. Don't underestimate the power of these relationships you've cultivated, and don't be shy about reaching out. Sometimes just a casual chat can be what you need to infuse some energy into your week or to spark a new idea worth exploring.

Get your head right!

If it's accessible to you, consider working with a coach or mentor who understands the importance of mindset as a foundation for success. At my financial low point, investing in a coaching program seemed counterintuitive, but there was something in me that knew I needed help getting out of my own way and out of my own head. Could I have navigated this journey solo? Probably. But with support and a focus on shifting my mindset, I've reached my destination faster and with a grounding in what's possible rather than hypothetical pitfalls.

If coaching isn't in the cards, there is so much great thought leadership out there available for the taking. A few people's work I have found to be invaluable:

• Rachel Rodgers - her book We Should All Be Millionaires has been a game changer for me
• Mel Robbins - the lessons I have taken from this episode of her podcast have shifted the way I enter my day
• Simon Sinek - Start with why, an oldie but a goodie always worth revisiting
• Steven Bartlett - his conversation with David Epstein was a gift for me, someone who has always been more of a generalist than a specialist

Step into the you of today

Be willing to take a hard look at who you thought you were to get to know who you currently are and where you might want to go. I spent much of my life maneuvering my way to success, sometimes at the cost of my authentic passions. Whether in learning how to become a good test-taker in school or how to navigate corporate culture, I know many women (myself included) who have molded themselves to society's vision of what success looks like.

While I value all the lessons from my past, I needed to shed some of what no longer served me and revive what brings me joy. Building a lasting business means rooting it in work I actually enjoy doing, not just in work I have convinced myself has value.

Notice when your corporate lens is leading

The tension between my old work habits and new methods is an ongoing challenge. I'm still navigating the shift from familiar routines to a fresh approach. In corporate life, your title usually tells the story of who you are. When building your own business, you get to be anything or nothing at all! I have gone from calling myself a Consultant to a Fractional Chief of Staff to a Growth Strategist, all with the hope of landing on something that felt like 'me'. Over time I have realized that the people I work with now aren't looking for a title, they are looking for the outcome and value I provide. Building a business also brings a stark contrast to following a preset path. The rules of productivity and time management I mastered in my full-time role don't quite apply here, and I'm learning how to shift the way I look at my workweek.

Nourish what solo work might starve

The beginning months of going solo unveiled a glaring gap: the absence of collaboration and community I'd thrived on in my previous role. Isolation crept in, and I began to realize these vital elements didn't need to solely come from work. I quickly jumped into a community of fellow solo-preneurs, started volunteering at a local community center, and began seeking collaborative projects.

The lesson: Identify what energized you before, and actively cultivate it in your new reality.

Filter advice (including mine!)

In a sea of advice and information, take what works for you and leave the rest. It's so important to trust yourself amidst the noise of success strategies. There's no universal formula - the key is tuning into your instincts while keeping your critical thinking sharp as you forge ahead.

While the leap into solo-preneurship was born from a seismic upheaval in my life, at this point in my career I wouldn't trade the (at times challenging) path to building a business for any title I once coveted. Is there a whisper in your heart or a nagging thought questioning if your current path is your ultimate path? Don't ignore it. That quiet voice might be pointing you toward unexplored horizons worth discovering. For me, there's no going back. If all of the change and growth I have experienced can happen in one year, I can only imagine what might be possible in the next five.

If you’d like to connect and chat more about this, I’m happy to do so here on Elpha via DM or on LinkedIn.