Transcripts
1. Introduction: Your 1-Page Solo Strategy: If you're like
most solo prenurs, you probably feel like
you're wearing all the hats, doing everything from product
development to marketing, to customer support,
bookkeeping, shipping, and every other
task under the sun. I've been there, and I know
how overwhelming it can feel. That's why we're here today
to make things clear. My name is Tamara Jensen, and I'm an
entrepreneur, business and brand strategist,
and educator. I help aspiring and established
creative professionals, purpose driven
entrepreneurs, and mission focused leaders make a meaningful impact in
their work and communities. This class, you'll create
a one page strategic plan, a powerful streamlined roadmap that helps you
clarify your vision, set priorities, and focus on what matters most
for your business. I've seen firsthand
how strategic planning has been essential for
every business I've built. From a gourmet food truck to a fine dining restaurant and now business and
brand consultancy. Each one started with a
strong plan that made it easier to make big moves
and pivot as needed. By the end of this class,
you'll have a tangible, actionable plan to guide you through your
business journey. You'll gain clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense
of direction. So let's dive in
and start building a plan that aligns with
your vision and values. Throughout the class, share your thoughts or questions
in the class discussion. It's a great way to connect with others and get feedback
along the way. If you're looking for extra
support with your strap plan, book a one on one session with
me for personalized help. Ready? And the next
video we'll get oriented and dive into the first component
of your strap plan, defining your mission
and vision. Let's go.
2. Class Orientation: Before we get started,
let's go over what's ahead. This class is structured
into bite size videos, each focusing on one core component of
your strategic plan. I'll guide you through exercises that will help you get
clear on your mission, target audience, goals,
core activities, and how you'll make
money, and more. All you'll need is
a digital template linked in the class
resources section. Or you can use pen
and paper if you're like me and prefer to
scribble things down. Throughout this class,
we're building what's called a one page
strategic plan. Think of this as your
business blueprint, a single page that
summarizes your vision, goals, and how you'll bring them to life in a
sustainable way. We're going to do
some in depth work, but we're keeping the end
result simple and focused, so you can refer to it anytime without
getting overwhelmed. Set yourself up for success, set aside uninterrupted
time to work through each exercise.
Try not to rush. This plan will be your
guide for a while. Try to reflect deeply
on each component. These exercises are here to give you clarity, so take
your time with them. Remember, you're not
alone on this journey. If you need any clarification, please ask in the
class discussion. And as you complete
each component, feel free to share your progress in the class project. All right. In the next video, we're jumping right into defining your
mission and vision. This is where we set the stage for everything else.
I'll see you there.
3. Exercise 1: Mission & Vision Statements: In the first lesson,
we're tackling the guiding principles of your business, your
mission and vision. These statements help you define why you're here and what
you aim to achieve. For solopreneurs,
having a clear mission and vision brings
focus and purpose, especially on those busy days
when you're doing it all. Your mission statement
explains what you do and why while your vision paints a picture of the future
you're working toward. They're important
because they help attract like minded clients, customers and partners, keeping you aligned with
what matters most to you. As you grow, maybe you'll decide to bring
on collaborators, contractors, or even
in house staff. Having your mission and vision
mapped out will help you attract the right kind of people you want to work
with along the way. When I launched my gourmet
food truck way back in 2010, my mission was to
offer people a unique, high quality food experience
at an accessible price. My vision to expand
people's pallets and create a lasting community experience where people could enjoy
great food together. My food truck was a
stepping stone to my larger goal of
building a restaurant, and I saw it as a lower risk way to build a brand
and a community of supporters and
collaborators before taking on the risk of a
brick and mortar space. Even though it was
a smaller risk, I knew I needed
to keep an eye on the bigger picture and long
term vision for the brand. Get started on your
mission statement. Take a few minutes to brainstorm why you started your business. What drives you to
show up every day? Ask yourself what's my why? From this brainstorm, write a one or two sentence
mission statement that captures the
purpose of your work. Think about the impact
you want to have. Now that I offer business
and brand consulting and education for
fellow entrepreneurs, my mission is to empower creative entrepreneurs and purpose driven leaders
to build resilient, authentic brands and businesses through strategic guidance, innovative tools, and
transformative storytelling. I inspire and equip individuals and organizations to
pursue meaningful growth, embrace adaptability,
and lead with purpose in a constantly
evolving world. My mission statement
reflects my larger purpose, my why, and defines who I serve and how I serve
them with my business. Take a moment and draft
your mission statement. Next, we want to think long term and craft our vision statements. First, imagine your business three to five years from now. What's your vision
for the future? Write this down as a
powerful vision statement. Try to think of the big
picture and keep it ambitious, but also keep it realistic and rooted in what you do
as a solo printer. Your vision statement
should be aspirational and inspire you and steer your
efforts as a solo printer. My vision statement is to become a leading
authority and trusted resource for creative
entrepreneurs and mission driven
leaders worldwide. Offering innovative,
accessible tools, mentorship and
educational experiences to transform how they
approach business, branding, and personal growth. In the next three to five years, my goal is to build a dynamic, scalable platform that
fosters community, nurtures resilience, and
empowers a new generation of value oriented leaders to
make lasting positive impact. Another way to approach this
exercise is to ask yourself, what change do I want to make in the world
with my business? If you've taken my
previous classes, you'll probably notice that
my mission statement has evolved along with my business.
This is perfectly fine. With each iteration,
I've developed a clear picture of
what I'm striving for. N. Write a vision statement that resonates with
where you are today. It's important to
start somewhere. Once you're happy with your mission and
vision statements, transfer them to the top of
your one page strategic plan. If you feel comfortable, share your mission and vision
in the class project. It's inspiring to see
everyone's unique purpose. Okay, great work.
In our next video, we'll identify your target
audience so we have an understanding of
who you want to reach and serve. Let's
keep moving forward.
4. Exercise 2: Identify Your Audience: Now that we know your
mission and vision, let's talk about who you're here to serve, your
target audience. Identifying the right
audience is key to making every marketing effort
effective and impactful. When you know your
audience well, you're able to design products, messages, and services
that resonate with them. You'll attract the clients who are generally excited
to work with you. Again, your target
audience might change over time
as your offerings are refined or the market shifts with trends
and larger forces. Don't worry too much
about that at this point. Opened my fine dining
restaurant in 2019, my customer was very different
compared to when we had to pivot to offer takeout
during pandemic closures. But having a target audience defined helped guide our
offerings, messaging, collaborations, and
more, and helped us adapt with intention when
the world went sideways. To get started on defining
your target audience, brainstorm your ideal
customers traits. This could include their age, profession, values, or
problems they need solved. If you have existing customers, try to identify some
commonalities among them. Think about their behaviors
and lifestyles to really paint a clear picture
of your target audience. Then create a simple persona, write down their
challenges, motivations, and how your business can
uniquely meet their needs. Let's say you're a
freelance graphic designer. Your ideal client might be a local small business owner in their 30s who values
minimalistic, modern branding, but doesn't have the time or skills
to do it themselves. They want to work with a
local designer because they value supporting their
local business community. My consulting business,
my target audience is a blend of aspiring and established
creative professionals, purpose driven entrepreneurs,
and mission focused leaders who seek to make a
meaningful impact in their work and
their communities. These individuals
prioritize authenticity, strategic thinking, and values
driven business growth. If you have more than one
distinct key audience persona, create a profile for each one, but don't try to
please everyone. The more specific you are, the easier it is to position your brand and
market effectively. You'd like feedback on
your target audience, persona, feel free to share
it in the class discussion. The community here
is a great resource. Okay, great job outlining
your target audience. Next, we'll set some
specific actionable goals to guide you forward.
Let's jump in.
5. Exercise 3: Setting SMART Goals: Now that we have a clear vision and an understanding of
our target audience, let's set some concrete goals
to keep you moving forward. These will be the
milestones that help you measure your progress
and stay motivated. Setting clear, measurable goals gives you direction and a
way to track your success. They also give you something
to celebrate along the way. Start by writing down one to three goals you want
to achieve in the next year. Think about growth,
revenue, or client targets. For each goal, make it smart. Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant,
and time bound. For example, if you're a solo purer, social
media marketer, maybe one of your
goals is to secure three clients on monthly retainers within the
next four months. For my business, my goals are tailored to help me focus
on scaling my impact, expanding my offerings, and increasing my visibility
over the next year. One of my goals is to secure three paid
speaking engagements, workshops or collaborations
with universities, conferences, or
industry associations within the next four months. When you're writing your goals, try to keep them manageable. Focus on goals that align
with your mission and vision. Don't forget to
celebrate small wins. Each step forward is progress. Transfer your goals to your
one page strap plan so that they're front and
center as you're working toward your
mission and vision. As always, if you'd like
feedback on your goals, feel free to ask
in the discussion. Now that you've set goals, let's look at the core
activities needed to achieve them in the
next video. See you there.
6. Exercise 4: List Your Core Activities: Now that we've got
your goals set, let's talk about the core
activities, the daily, weekly, or monthly actions that will help you
reach those goals. Think of core activities as the heartbeat
of your business. They keep everything
moving forward and ensure you're
always progressing. Identifying these
core activities is important because they give structure to your
day to day work. It's very easy to
get distracted, especially when you're
managing everything yourself. But when you know what actions
will drive your success, you can stay focused and use
your time more effectively. To begin, take a look at the goals you wrote down
in the previous exercise. For each goal, ask yourself what activities
will help me get there? List these as your
core activities. Write down three to five actions that you'll need to
prioritize regularly. For instance, if one of your goals is to grow
your client base, a core activity might
be dedicating time each week to networking or reaching out to
potential clients. If you're a freelance
photographer aiming to book five
new clients a month, a core activity might be maintaining an
active presence on social media or scheduling weekly follow ups
with your leads. To achieve my goal,
I might set aside 15 to 20 minutes
each day to connect with decision makers and
industry influencers on LinkedIn or other
professional networks. Each week, I might
create and share content that highlights my
expertise in leadership, strategic planning, or
creative entrepreneurship. At the beginning of each month, I can research upcoming
conferences, workshops, and university programs
in my niche and prepare tailored proposals or pitches to two or three organizations. That's three realistic
and specific activities I can do to bring me closer
to achieving my goal. The core activities
are important because they're the actions you're taking in your business. So we want to make sure
our core activities are actionable and specific. Instead of network more, attend one local
event per month and connect with five new
people online weekly. If an activity doesn't
contribute to your goals, it might be a distraction. This exercise can
help you cut out non essential tasks and
focus on what matters. Transfer your core activities to the corresponding goals on
your one page strategic plan. You can easily see how your actions are bringing
closer to achieving them. If you're feeling
stuck on the kinds of activities that might
support your goals, ask for some help in
the class discussion. Next, we'll take a look at our key marketing channel
so we can connect with our target audiences and manage our limited resources as solo
printers. Join me there.
7. Exercise 5: Manage Marketing Channels: In this video, we're diving
into our marketing channels, which are the bridges connecting our businesses with
our audiences. As solo prenurs, we
have to be smart about where we show up
because every hour counts. So today, let's uncover
the best ways to reach your audience and
get your message across without stretching
yourself toothin. Choosing the right channels
is critical for two reasons. First, it helps you
avoid burnout by focusing only on platforms that work best for
your business. Second, it ensures
that your message is reaching people who are likely
to engage with your brand. With a clear plan for
your marketing channels, you're not only
saving time but also connecting more effectively
with your audience. Imagine launching on one
or two key platforms, seeing results, and then
building from there. That's the goal
here. Let's work on identifying the most effective marketing channels
for your business. Start by listing out all the
possible marketing channels. Think social media platforms,
email newsletters, blogs, YouTube, and even
physical spaces like pop up shops
or local events. No need to limit yourself
here, just brainstorm. Now that you have
your list, focus on where your target
audience hangs out most. Are they active on LinkedIn because you're targeting
professionals, or do they love Instagram
if you're more visual? If you're not sure, look at similar brands in your field.
Where are they most active? For my business consultancy, I probably want to
be on LinkedIn, but I also love working
with creatives. Instagram might be a
good choice as well. I also really enjoy writing, so I'm considering starting
a newsletter on Substack. Pick just one or two channels where you're most
likely to reach your audience and where you feel most comfortable
posting consistently. Remember, you can
always add more later, but starting with one or
two keeps it manageable. Lean into your creative
superpowers here. If you're a natural on
video, try Instagram, Tik Tok or YouTube if your target audience
is on those channels. If you're better with
writing, make a newsletter, blog or long form pieces on LinkedIn to showcase
your business best. Next, jot down some ideas for content types
for each channel. For example, if
you're on Instagram, think about whether
you'll post stories, static images, reels, or a mix. This is your space to experiment
and see what resonates. You want to dig much deeper
into content planning, check out my Skillshare class on creating engaging values
based marketing content. As you go through these steps, keep in mind your
audience's preferences, the platform style,
and importantly, what you enjoy doing because you're more likely
to stick with it. Let's say you're a
solo preneur with a handmade jewelry business
and you've identified Instagram as the
main platform for your audience of young
fashion forward women. Instead of juggling several
social media accounts, you decide to focus on
Instagram stories and reels for showcasing your
creative process and designs. You can later expand to other platforms once Instagram is running smoothly for you. To get the most out of
your marketing channels, you could repurpose
your content. Once you create content
for one channel, consider how you might
repurpose it for others. A blog post can be broken
down into social media posts, a video snippet, or
an email teaser. Focus on being consistent
over being perfect. When it comes to content,
consistency beats perfection. Set a schedule you can manage, whether it's once a week or
bi weekly and stick with it. Showing up regularly builds trust with your
audience overtime. Transfer your key
marketing channels and content ideas to your
one page strategic plan. You can clearly see how
your marketing efforts are connecting with
your audiences and supporting your cools and where you can incorporate them
into your core activities. As always, if you have questions or need advice on
specific channels, feel free to ask in
the class discussion. If you're comfortable, share the channels you've
chosen and why. This can be super helpful
for others in the class too. Now you have a starting point
for reaching your audience. In our next video, we're talking about your
revenue model. This is where we'll look at
how your business will make money and make sure
it's sustainable. See.
8. Exercise 6: Map Your Revenue Model: Now that we've talked about
reaching your audience, let's get into the heart of
any business making money. As solo pernurs, having a clear revenue model isn't
just about surviving. It's about building something sustainable that
can grow with you. Whether it's a service,
product or mix of both, we'll map out a plan for
steady, reliable income. Why is defining a revenue
model so important, especially as a
solo pernur Simple. It gives you clarity on how
you'll generate income, and it also helps you project
your potential growth. Without a clear model,
it's easy to feel directionless or spread yourself thin with too many projects. Having this in place
allows you to make informed decisions on where to focus your time,
energy, and resources. Here's how we'll start
creating our revenue models. First, list all possible
revenue streams. Think about all the ways your business could
generate income. Common streams include
direct product sales, wholesale or bulk orders, subscriptions, equipment
rental, consulting services, online courses, affiliate
marketing, and more. Go ahead and brainstorm every possible option that
could work for you. Next, choose your
primary revenue source. Select one or two
revenue streams that you'll focus on initially. For instance, if you're
a service provider, this might be your one
on one client sessions. If you're product focused, it might be direct online sales. By narrowing it
down, you can refine your offering and dedicate your energy to making
it profitable. Next, estimate your pricing
and projected income. For each stream, decide
on your pricing and estimate what you
could potentially earn in a month or a quarter. If you're new, start with a modest goal to see
what's achievable. This can help guide
how you manage your time and
prioritize projects. Lastly, identify
opportunities to scale. Once your primary revenue
stream is established, brainstorm ways to scale it. This might mean adding
passive income like an eBook or online course or creating tiered pricing
options for your services. The goal here is
long term growth. Let's look at a
hypothetical scenario. Say you're a graphic designer offering brand design services. Initially, you focus on custom brand assets for local businesses
charging per project. After you gain some traction, you might add a social media template service and eventually develop an online course on basic design principles
as passive income. Each revenue stream supports your main goal a steady income while gradually freeing up time. For me, skill share is a source of income for
my consulting business. From the materials I develop
for in person workshops and retreats and from the processes I use
in my client work, I've developed
classes to empower other entrepreneurs to build their brands and
achieve their goals. As you set up your
revenue model, start simple and then scale. You don't need multiple streams of income right off the bat. Start with what feels
most achievable, build it, and then expand. Consider passive income options. If you're offering a service, think about ways to create
passive income from it. Digital products, courses or subscription based content are great options that don't require your constant involvement.
Not sure about pricing. Don't stress too much.
Pricing is part science. Try different price points, gauge the response,
and refine as you go. Remember, pricing is
also about positioning. Higher prices can sometimes attract more committed
clients or customers. Transfer your primary revenue streams to your one
page strategic plan, so you have a clear idea of where your energy
should be focused. If you're unsure about
revenue options or pricing, jump into the class discussion. I'd be happy to
share some advice, and you might even get insights from your fellow solopreneurs. If you feel comfortable, share your chosen revenue model
in the class projects. It could be a great reference
for others in the class. So you've mapped out how your business will
generate income, a huge step towards building
something sustainable. Next, we'll pull everything together to create your
one page strategic plan. I'll guide you through organizing
all your hard work into one cohesive document
and give you some tips on how to use it effectively.
See you in the final video.
9. Closing Thoughts & Using Your 1-Page Plan: Congratulations. You've made it to the final video of the class. I hope you're feeling proud of everything you've accomplished because creating a strategic
plan is no small feat, especially when you're juggling all the moving parts of
being a solo perner. I know I'm excited to
have everything laid out in front of me as I continue
to grow my business. Let's take a moment to reflect
on what you've built here, a mission and vision
that clarifies your purpose and understanding
of your audience, a set of meaningful goals, core activities to
reach those goals. A revenue model and a strategic roadmap to
bring it all together. You now have a clear focused
plan for your business, and that is something
truly valuable. Every component of this plan is designed to bring you
clarity and confidence. Your mission keeps you
connected to your purpose. Your vision points you
toward a fulfilling future. Your audience persona
and marketing channels help you connect with the
people who need what you offer, and your goals,
core activities and revenue model keep you
focused and moving forward. Altogether, this
plan is your guide, and I hope it brings
you a renewed sense of purpose
in your business. Remember, the journey
doesn't end here. If you'd like, share
your completed plan in the class project section. It's a great way to get
feedback and inspire others. And please don't hesitate to ask questions in the
class discussion. This community is
here to support you, and I'm just a message
away if you need help. You're looking for more
personalized feedback, you can always book a one on one class support
session with me. I'd love to dive deeper
into your plan and help you fine tune it to
fit your unique goals. Some final tips for using
your one page strategic plan. First, keep your plan visible. On your desk, in your workspace, or anywhere you can
refer to it easily. It's a reminder of what
you're working toward. Revisit your plan periodically. As your business
grows and evolves, your goals and core activities may shift, and that's
perfectly okay. When the pandemic hit a year
after opening a restaurant, we pivoted and
pivoted and pivoted. Each time I made sure
there was a plan in place to help guide us
through the uncertainty. And reduce the risk
of the unknown. As my consulting business
has grown and I found myself gravitating towards certain types of work
and opportunities, I focus my strategic
plan accordingly. Thank you so much for
joining me in this class. I hope you feel empowered, motivated, and ready to
bring your passion to life. Remember, being a solo
pernur is a journey, and you've taken an
incredible step today. Keep going, stay focused, and know that you're
never alone on this path. If you've enjoyed this class
and want to learn more, check out my other classes for solo pernurs and creatives. I'd love to see you
there. Until then, keep learning, keep
building, and take care.
10. Book a 1-on-1 Call to Dig in Deeper!: Hi, friends. Just popping on here to let you
know you can now book a one on one
mentorship call with me right here
on Skill Share. We can talk through building
your resilient brand, pursuing your biggest personal
and professional goals, and the obstacles that come along with being a
creative entrepreneur. I'm so excited to work
directly with you. You can book a call today
on my Skill Share profile.
Tamara Jensen, Entrepreneur & Brand Strategist
