Going "Solo" in a Connected World
If you're anything like me, "going solo" actually means you are dealing with MANY, MANY people, clients, and companies to create your "solo" living.
Initially, my dive into adult-league entrepreneurship was a jumbo juggling match of learning to balance a LOT of different projects and people at once.
My strengths lie in my versatility, my enthusiasm, and my creativity.
As one of the most prolific mentors of my young life nailed on the head many years ago: I am a classic Myers Briggs ENFP.
Enthusiastic
Outgoing
Spontaneous
Changeable
Impulsive
Energetic
Free Spirit
It has taken me years of building relatively streamlined systems to own being an entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurship is self-love lived out loud, in a way.
You have to really believe in yourself to take such a wild risk.
You have to at least like yourself and your offerings to the world a LITTLE to think others would also find what you bring to the table beneficial.
So, these are my musings on how I got to where I am today: the founder of my beloved company Peace to the People, LLC and my continual partnerships with people that I love.
No brainer musing #1: you want to be working with people you ENJOY!
Imagine: you have gone on your own, you are living out your long planned dream at last and now you have your own clients.
Do you want these to be with people you genuinely love and like to be around and work with? I sure do.
Ever encounter someone consistently quite petty, nasty, or condescending? Get them out of my space.
Like attracts like.
I've worked with a lot of people from a lot of backgrounds. I love people and love to learn.
But I will strongly advise: genuinely find people who you would do anything for because you love and trust them that much.
Hence why I joyously represent my best friends and mentors: Velma Garnes, Charles Gibson, and my family's business, Pavilion Insurance Agency, Inc.
I've worked for many incredible companies, but ultimately, as a solo entrepreneur my goals have been to invest my time and energy mostly into my own business, and help those I most love do the same.
And the whole point of this was that I was going to take screenshots of using Google Calendar to stay on top of your stuff.
Right, the boring to the philosophical and emotional. All are relavent!
The point was two-fold: an inspiring essay and blog post, a matter-of-fact manual on how to use simple tools.
Who are these targeted at? My sweet thirty-three-year-old fiancé who kicks my butt at a lot of things, but not definitely not organizing.
To my fifty-three-year-old dad who is the owner of a great company and a super smart and competent man, but could use some seriously simple guides to spruce up his ease of using a computer.
Many of these manuals will be ririduclously easy / simple / basic to most of my generation. Really? That's your advice?!
But really: I know a LOT of people who have no idea these simple tricks exist.
Why leave them in the dark?
As with social media guides, manuals, and how-to's, I plan on breaking down the basics and advancing in as many subjects as I feel comfortable commenting on.
I'll start with the basics of several different subjects and attempt to teach people small skill sets that might make a large difference in their day-to-day lives.
Most of this stuff is free or fairly affordable (because let's face it, your narrator is a born and raised thrifting queen with a start-up business and a serious budget. Ain't nobody got time for too-expensive programs.)
Before I started all of this I used to twiddle my thumbs and not know where to begin.
There were so many avenues I could go. Like staring at a blank canvas or sitting at a piano in silence: to create something you either have a vision and execute it, or you improvise and play your way to the end result.
Creating Peace to the People and my entire life up to this point has been a bit of a blend of all of passions. And finally, I feel ready to own that. What other choice do I have?
This is the bed I've made for myself, and it's time to start lying in it with a big smile.
THOUGH I AM A SOLOPRENEUR, I BALK AT THE IDEA OF CLAIMING TO BE "SELF-MADE."
Nobody is solely responsible for their success (and to claim so, in my opinion, is the quasi-confident move of the overly-inflated ego.)
It truly takes a network, an interconnected community, and support system to succeed in this world.
I would not be where I am today working on my Peace to the People dreams without a great deal of collaboration, encouragement, and help from SO MANY PEOPLE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THANK MY LATE GRANDPA SCHAFFTER FOR EXUDING A LIVING, BREATHING REALITY OF SUCCESS, STABILITY, AND HUMBLE CONFIDENCE AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND BUSINESSMAN FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF MY LIFE.
Watching my grandfather, father, and mother run our family insurance agency was one of the greatest, most tactile inspirations of my life.
Observing my elders build a life of stability, security, and success while being humble, honest, and awesome people undoubtedly shaped my outlook on my future.
When I was born, I was immediately brought up with my parents in our cozy apartment above my grandfather's agency.
My mom was able to take on part-time work, and as I approached kindergarten, my family bought a home across the street from my elementary school (the same brick school my grandmother had attended as a young girl.)
I lived the reality of my mother being able to work most every day of her life, but revolve her entire schedule around her lucky daughter (me.)
She walked me across the street each day to school and was back in time to walk me home.
I GREW UP SEEING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A FEASIBLE PATH TO TRUE FREEDOM.
Though there is great responsibility attached to creating and owning your own work, there is a freedom I was fortunate enough to bask in the entirety of my life.
When I was asked as a first grader to successfully spell "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" in front of my entire elementary school, you can bet my parents were in the crowd on a random afternoon to cheer for me.
There was never an anxiety-inducing boss to stress about; will I be able to get the time off for what truly matters in life?
There was always an assurance from my grandfather that family came first, and it was from this solid foundation that allows me to say: I cannot recall a single event, performance, or imperative moment of my life that my family was not there to support me.
Did I mention that my grandpa had a sense of humor?
I admired his ability to take his professional life quite seriously while also being a commendable joke teller, the wild leader of many great men, the sweet man that was my grandfather.
WHEN HE PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A GREAT JOLT IN MY LIFE—A SUDDEN SPARK TO STOP MESSING AROUND AND START BELIEVING IN MYSELF AND MY ABILITIES.
After all, I had spent years working with many brilliant MBA's, entrepreneurs, and business owners who had wild imaginations, marvelous inventions, and millions of dollars of success.
But what they say is of course true: you either spend your life building your own dreams or helping someone else build their's.
MY GRANDFATHER DYING CHANGED MY ENTIRE PERSPECTIVE ON TAKING MYSELF SERIOUSLY AS AN ENTREPRENEUR.
It wasn't until his calling hours and the days that followed that my choices seemed obvious.
As reality settled in that my parents had not taken a vacation in over three years of his declining health and were now left to run the agency by themselves, I found myself pressing pause on my own life, which at the time looked like teaching fourteen yoga and fitness classes a week all over Columbus, working thirty hours a week at a studio, and helping several other gyms and small businesses as a marketing strategist and social media manager.
Though I was paying my dues and hustling hard, I suddenly found myself freaking out; how would I find subs for 14 classes at the drop of a hat? How would I get home to my family when they needed me most?
WHERE WAS THE SUSTAINABLE SENSE OF FREEDOM I SO LONG WISHED TO BUILD?
My grandfather's calling hours were a wake up call as the hall buzzed with an unexpected levity, as the line grew longer and longer with people who waited over an hour to pay their respect.
Light laughter could be heard from those looking at the many hilarious pictures we displayed as crowds reminisced about the highs of his life.
THOUGH THE ROOMS THROBBED WITH SADNESS AND LOSS, THERE WAS ALSO AN UNMISTAKABLE CRACKLE OF JOY PRESENT THAT I HAD NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED AT SUCH A SOLEMN EVENT.
We looked around a bit wondrous at each other, a little amazed by the overwhelming sense of celebration for this man's life and what he contributed.
An uncanny amount of successful businessmen shook my hand and told me if it wasn't for my grandfather, they would have never had the guts to start their own businesses.
Just a few days before, my uncle from Orange County asked me what I was doing in the present to build my business. He suggested I really go for it. He said it was in my blood to be an entrepreneur.
FINALLY I FELT IT WAS INEVITABLE: IT WAS TIME TO STEP UP, HELP MY FAMILY, CONNECT TO MY ROOTS, AND BELIEVE IN MYSELF.
After all, I had once upon a time been the nerdy president of my high school Entrepreneurship Club—funded by successful CEO's in the community as a local artist to sell my work at arts and jazz festivals. I was featured in several local papers looking like a total doofus.
As an article reported:
"Kelli Schaffter, who starts her senior year in the fall, shared a booth, the banner of which read 'Wooster Student Entrepreneurs,' a newly formed club at the school.
'I've been selling a lot today,' she said, adding, 'I think it's great experience. It will give me more background to do other shows.'
Still young, Schaffter said her goals are to make a career out of her art.
'It would be awesome to have my own business and be able to do this for a living,' she said."
Looking back at seventeen-year-old me, I was trying so hard to transform into what I am still learning to become—at last, self-sufficient as an artist and entrepreneur.
And thus stems the foundation of Peace to the People, LLC—my first real company that I am ready to pour my heart and soul into.
AS I WORK ON BUILDING AN AUTHENTIC BUSINESS, I THANK THE MANY AMAZING PEOPLE AND COMPANIES IN MY LIFE THAT I BELIEVE IN AND ALLOW ME TO LEAD A LIFE THAT IS FLEXIBLE, MEANINGFUL, AND PRETTY AWESOME TO BE A PART OF:
Thank you to Yoga on High, the heart and soul of my community in Columbus, Ohio. Thanks for being a sanctuary and springboard for finding my voice and truth in this beautiful city.
A big thank you to the many amazing places I am lucky enough to teach for: Grow Yoga, Arena District Athletic Club, The Athletic Club of Columbus, Holistic Health, and Wellness Collective!
And of course, thank you to my amazing parents and Pavilion Insurance Agency, Inc. for going strong since 1985 and showing me the way.
It is in the spirit of collaboration and gratitude that I will keep building upon Peace to the People and see how together, we can all make a difference.
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