A great entrepreneur cannot be found, he or she can only be crafted through hard work, risk-taking and repeated failure. An entrepreneur is a person who keeps going, even when the odds are stacked high up against them. All of this goes double for solopreneurs. While an entrepreneur spends his time in conference rooms and meeting rooms trying to motivate his team, the solopreneur works in solace. A team has each other’s backs, a solopreneur can only blame themselves. Here are a few lessons from solopreneurs who have survived the toughest situations and lived to tell the tale.

• Set boundaries

Being a solopreneur comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Being your own boss makes it tempting to take longer lunch breaks and stepping out of your fully furnished office to take a walk on the beach. While three-hour lunches and going home early is one of the perks of being a solopreneur, this can lead to your business suffering. Coach solopreneur Mary Kruger explains that it was only when she started setting regular boundaries around her business hours that things started happening for her. She made clear deadlines for when to work, not allowing herself to stray from this schedule, thus meeting deadlines, growing her business and feeling happier and more productive in the process.

• Network

Whether you are knee deep in work and deadlines or on a much-needed vacation, networking is always an essential task. It is a tool that allows you to make connections within the community, helping you get hire and bring in new business. Simply speaking with other entrepreneurs can give you a better understanding of how to tackle the hurdles that you are facing. Resources like coworking office spaces in Mumbai will give you the opportunity to find and meet other solopreneurs like yourself. Setting aside a few hours every week to the network will pay off huge dividends over the years, even in the later stages of your business.

• Everything takes longer than you think

Running your own company is filled with contracts, proposals, sales cycles and delays. When there is so much to do, something as simple as finding an office for rent in Mumbai can seem like an impossible task. The lessons all solopreneurs learn throughout their career is that nothing goes according to plan, and everything takes longer than you think. It is only the ones who develop a thick skin and learn to adapt to the changes who survive and succeed.

It is easy to get overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done and everything you need to remember. The essential tip is - do what you think is right. Being a solopreneur facing rejections and setbacks means that you are the only one who can overcome them. Resources like AccessWork make the process easier, giving you the choice between renting a virtual office in Mumbai or a fully serviced office space based on your requirements. You are the only one who understands and knows what the company needs. Your journey is your own and the best way to chart a course is to believe in your business and trust your gut through thick and thin.