Why staying solo is a strategic decision

"At one point in my life, I managed a team of seven. My days consisted of 1:1 calls, performance reviews, and running interference between the team, other departments, and customers. I thought that's what I wanted: the perceived power and responsibility of being a manager. But in reality, it was very stressful. Today, I have been a solopreneur for three years. The assumption is that solo businesses are a starting point. You launch alone, build momentum, hire employees, and scale. That's the entrepreneur's playbook, right? Thoughts on the future of work, career pivots, and why work shouldn't suck, by Anna Burgess Yang. To learn more, visit workbetter.media."

"But over 80% of small businesses in the U.S. have no employees, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. For many of us, that's not a limitation. Staying solo is a deliberate strategy that prioritizes control and flexibility over growth for growth's sake. The "grow or die" mentality makes sense for companies that have dreams of becoming large, enterprise organizations. And some small businesses may have that dream. The cultural assumption is that a solo business is Phase One: something to outgrow. But many solopreneurs are choosing to stay small permanently. Hiring employees fundamentally changes what you do every day. You stop being a practitioner and become a manager. Some people want that transition. Many don't - and recognizing that isn't a failure of ambition. It's simply prioritizing a different way of working."

Managed a team of seven where days consisted of 1:1 calls, performance reviews, and running interference between the team, other departments, and customers. The managerial role carried perceived power and responsibility but proved very stressful. Been a solopreneur for three years. The common career script assumes solo businesses are a starting point that lead to hiring employees and scaling. Over 80% of small businesses in the U.S. have no employees. Staying solo is a deliberate strategy that prioritizes control and flexibility over growth for growth's sake. Hiring employees fundamentally changes daily work by shifting practitioners into managers. Choosing to stay small is a valid strategic choice, not a failure of ambition.

Read at Fast Company