Embracing the fog
Defining your unique offering is a messy process. Here is what can help you navigate this part of the journey.
Hey there,
Yesterday we had our fourth Seed session where we delved into crafting your offering and exploring different business models, especially in the climate and impact space.
Embrace the Messiness
Getting clarity on your offering is one of the hardest steps. It's a messy, foggy process filled with questions. But that's okay. Feeling confused and uncertain is part of the journey.
When startups develop their value propositions, it can take up to 18 months to achieve product-market fit.
For freelancers and solopreneurs, this period might be shorter, but it still takes some months and structured experimentation.
Experiment and Iterate
You don't need a perfect offering to start. Begin with conversations, see what resonates, and iterate from there. Sometimes, it's about finding a client willing to experiment with you.
This is what Christina from Workculturati and I did over the last month. We got a B-Corp client who invited us to do a taster workshop on bringing a reflective practice into their company. Together, we took this opportunity to build a new offering over a delicious breakfast in Paris:
You don’t need 100% clarity before launching something. Sometimes, you can even get paid to gain clarity.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
Many solopreneurs struggle with confidence when reaching out to potential clients. If this sounds like you, remember that your not alone. It's essential to overcome these internal blockers and put yourself out there. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Sometimes, accountability helps.
Find someone and share your weekly outreach goals. Check in and celebrate your achievements together.
Leave the ‘should’s’ Aside
Breaking away from traditional roles and conditioned expectations can be daunting, but it also opens up new possibilities. Figuring out what you truly want to do and creating a space for that may take longer than you expect, but it’s worth the wait.
Caroline, who recently finished Seed, shared how going beyond doing what we ‘should’ is the hardest de-conditioning. Once she overcame that, she felt empowered. Caroline is a true role model, moving from banking to helping people with their own career transition and guiding purpose-driven founders to strategic clarity.
Practical Steps to Define Your Offering
Draft a One-Pager: Write down your offering in a clear, concise format. This helps in gaining clarity and provides a base to get feedback.
Seek Feedback: Share your one-pager with someone unfamiliar with your work. Their questions can help you refine and clarify your offering.
Iterate and Improve: Use the feedback to refine your one-pager. This is an ongoing process, and your offering will continue to evolve.
Celebrate Clarity
We often celebrate tangible progress but overlook the energy and effort it takes to get clear on what we do or want to do. Take time to reflect on your journey and celebrate the clarity you've gained.
If you look back, how were you writing about your idea a year ago? Where are you now?
Defining your offering is a vital first step in your journey. It involves planting the seeds, experimenting, and allowing your ideas to grow. Give yourself the permission and space to iterate.
If you want to do it together and not alone, we are now accepting applications for new and aspiring solopreneurs in the next cohort of Seed, starting on July 31st:
Spotlight
Let’s shine a light on some of the amazing things IMMA members have been up to:
Phillipe Arnez ran his first paid workshop with a team of 20+ people, helping them with giving and receiving constructive feedback. Check out more here.
Cecilia Scolaro together with Tiago Vilas Boas launched Design Reparations—a program to foster relationships of understanding, care, and reciprocity between the design community and traditional, indigenous communities around the world.
Joshua Stehr introduced his new offering: Customer Research Coaching for Climate & Social Impact Founders. It’s for those who have launched something but aren't getting the traction they hoped for and want to figure out the WHY.
Manon Loison organised an event with 300 guests in Manila on how to build responsible finance ecosystems, bringing together regulators, consumer associations, and financial service providers. Read more about it here.
10 opportunities for you
We comb through numerous job boards to find freelance opportunities, saving our members hours of time. Here is a selection:
Social Media Manager - Creative Circle
📍Remote
💰$40 - $43 / Hr
🤝Part-time
Freelance Art Director - Wrong Creative
📍NYC/Remote
💰$100 - $150 Hourly
🤝Contract
AI policy researcher - Centre for Long-Term Resilience
📍UK/Remote
💰£50 - £70 per hour
🤝Contract
Call for a planning expert to explore reshaping local food environments - Nesta
📍UK
🤝RFP/Tender
🗓️August 4, 2024
Independent Evaluator - JRRT
🗓️July 11, 2024
Development Partner - Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wale
💰£525 per day
🤝Contract
🗓️July 22, 2024
Research Consultant: UN General Assembly Resolution on child, early and forced marriages - Girls Not Brides
📍Remote
💰GBP 5,000
🤝Contract
🗓️July 21, 2024
Research Lead: Gender and Climate Tech Investing
📍Remote
💰£1000 per month
🤝Contract
🗓️ ASAP
Mentoring -Women TechEU
📍Remote
💰100€ per session
🤝Contract
🗓️August 5, 2024
UX Designer - Sideways
🤝Contract
Found something interesting for a friend. Share the newsletter with them.
Behind the Scenes at IMMA:
IMMA is getting more support. Basim has joined us as an intern, and Christina is on her way to Verona right now. Our community members are becoming more involved, and it feels like we're entering a new phase. I’m excited and grateful!
We’re putting together a great group for our next Seed cohort. It includes a Sustainability & Degrowth Consultant, Circularity & Product Leader, Designer, Behavioural Science Consultant, and Community Manager. There are still a few spots open, so join us before we kick off on July 31st!
Also, don’t miss our monthly networking event, Impactful Connections, on July 17th. It's a perfect way to meet new people. And it’s free!
Thanks for reading,
Take care,
Lilli
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Whenever you want to stop working by yourself and want to build your purpose-driven solo business together, consider joining IMMA Collective.
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