Being a sole business owner is both exciting and exhausting. You’re the one steering the ship—serving clients, delivering results, keeping up with marketing, sending and following up on invoices, answering emails, and somehow squeezing in all the admin too.
It feels doable when everything runs smoothly. But then life shows up—family needs you, your energy dips, or an unexpected curveball lands in your lap—and suddenly the business feels heavier than ever or downright impossible.
This is the reality of running a one-woman show, and it’s why finding ways to navigate these moments isn’t optional—it’s essential.
I’ve coached many women business owners through exactly this. I work with both solopreneurs and those who have decided it’s time to stop doing all the things alone and bring on a team. When life happens, it helps to have a plan for how you’ll pause, take a break, or scale back during a difficult period.
Back in January, my beloved Bernese Mountain Dog, Bruin, died—and he took a very large piece of my heart with him. If you’ve ever been loved by a dog, you get it. And if you’ve loved and lost a Bernese Mountain Dog, you may feel right now like a piece of your own heart is missing.
Bruin was sure of himself, happiest when surrounded by people, and welcoming to anyone who wanted to be with him. As a Certified AKC Therapy Dog, he brought light and love everywhere he went. I had the privilege of taking him back to my former high school, where he visited Life Skills kids and pretty much anyone who wanted a moment with him. He quickly became the talk of the school. You’d hear “Bruin’s here!” or “Here comes Bruin!” echoing from the halls.
It’s hard to put into words what it was like to watch him work his magic—bringing smiles to kids who couldn’t verbalize how they felt, yet lit up the moment he walked in. His loss wasn’t just mine; it was felt by everyone he touched. Telling people he wouldn’t be coming back was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
I can’t count how many times people said, “Everyone loves Bruin.” It was true then, and it’s true now. His legacy lives on, and for that I’m deeply grateful.
I tell you his story because in the end when he became ill, it was all I could do to do the bare minimum for my business. I wanted to spend as much time with him and truthfully, I did not have the energy to give to what I normally do to run, build and grow my business.
Regardless of whether you go through something small or big, any challenge is hard. But when you own your own business and you’re the chief cook and bottle washer, shutting down completely feels impossible. Clients still need support (though I’m grateful mine understood), bills still need to be paid, and people still need responses.
Recently, one of my clients faced her own “life happens” moment. As I helped her sort out the must-dos to keep her business afloat, I realized more people needed this reminder. I know these strategies can help you too.
Three Strategies to Stay Steady When Life Disrupts Business
- Prioritize Ruthlessly. Not everything on your plate is equally urgent. Focus on what’s revenue-generating and client-facing, and let the rest wait.
- Create Back-Up Systems. Automate where you can (invoicing, scheduling, email responses) so your business keeps moving, even when you need to step back.
- Build in Breathing Room. Don’t schedule yourself to the edge of capacity. Leave margin in your calendar for the unexpected—it’s not wasted time, it’s smart insurance.
Each of these should be set up before life happens. Building fail-safes into your business isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about resilience. When challenges come, you won’t have the added stress of scrambling to keep things together. Do yourself the favor of taking care of your future self now.
Moving Forward
Life will always bring surprises—both good and bad. Your job as a solopreneur isn’t to avoid them; it’s to prepare your business so you can bend without breaking. The more you treat yourself as both the CEO and the most valuable employee, the stronger your foundation will be.
If this makes you realize you’ve been running your business on sheer willpower instead of smart systems, now’s the perfect time to shift that. I offer focused Business Review Sessions—a 90-minute strategy session designed to help you spot gaps, streamline your operations, and set yourself up for sustainable success. That way, your business can keep running smoothly in both the good times and the tough ones.
Here is a photo of me and Bruin. It’s our official Therapy Dog image, taken by the very talented and amazing Darlene Woodward of Pant the Town Photography.
Just like I do with my clients, I created a mini marketing and content plan for Bruin’s work as a Therapy Dog. And of course, that meant he needed a headshot!
As you can see, he’s proudly wearing his Therapy Vest. What I loved most about this vest—besides the fact that it has his name on it—was the patch that says, “I’m a Registered Therapy Dog, Ask to Pet Me.”
Unlike a Service Dog, where petting isn’t allowed, a Therapy Dog’s main job is to be petted.
Your Business Feels Busy But Your Bank Account Doesn’t Show It. These 3 Keys will help fix will help you stop working hard for little return.
I want you to feel confident about the prices you charge, so that you do not discount or cave just to get a client.
With these 3 Keys you will:
- Get a simple formula to determine the prices needed so that you can be profitable
- Know exactly what your services are worth so that you charge accordingly.
- Solve those self-doubt beliefs so that you are confident with your offer
Click here to get your free download of 3 Keys for Effectively Pricing Your Services.
If This Spoke to You, Read This Next…
When you are running a small service-based business, there are two things you can’t afford to ignore clarity and confidence.
Without them, you end up spinning your wheels, second-guessing yourself, and wasting precious time and money on things that don’t move the needle. With them, you move faster, make better decisions, and see results that feel aligned and sustainable.
