Solopreneurship: How to Create Your Dream Job from Scratch | Joshua Lisec | TEDxErie

Joshua Lisec’s journey as a Solopreneur began at the urging of his first boss after college: “Your skills are bigger than your job here. You’re a great writer; try freelancing!” Although his first freelance writing project earned a face-palming $1.67/hour, the gauntlet of self-employment soon forced Joshua to develop complementary skills, from customer service and bookkeeping to negotiation and selling. Six and a half years after that painfully small beginning, Joshua is now a #1 International Bestselling Ghostwriter and is the Marketing Communications Consultant and Partner at Bold Move LLC in Dayton, Ohio. To help other aspiring Solopreneurs skip the difficulties he faced early on, Joshua now shares his best strategies for transforming your skills into a viable one-person business through outlets like The Huffington Post, Side Hustle Nation, The Freelance to Freedom Project, Freelance Transformation, The Write Life, and his own uncensored blog Beyond Freelance. Joshua Lisec’s journey as a Solopreneur began at the urging of his first boss after college: “Your skills are bigger than your job here. You’re a great writer; try freelancing!” Although his first freelance writing project earned a face-palming $1.67/hour, the gauntlet of self-employment soon forced Joshua to develop complementary skills, from customer service and bookkeeping to negotiation and selling. Six and a half years after that painfully small beginning, Joshua is now a #1 International Bestselling Ghostwriter and is the Marketing Communications Consultant and Partner at Bold Move LLC in Dayton, Ohio. To help other aspiring Solopreneurs skip the difficulties he faced early on, Joshua now shares his best strategies for transforming your skills into a viable one-person business through outlets like The Huffington Post, Side Hustle Nation, The Freelance to Freedom Project, Freelance Transformation, The Write Life, and his own uncensored blog Beyond Freelance. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@joshualisec]

Nearly 3 years later, and this talk is still changing lives. I'm stoked for you all! 🙌

[@Nickporter17]

Give this man his flowers

[@yousefmajednayef1987]

ur talk was exactly what i wanted to hear! thank u so much for the encouragement, Joshua💜

[@maryamm8379]

Love this millennial (ftom gen z)

[@noname-nu6oo]

👍🏻👍🏻excellent talk

[@joshualisec]

Thanks@@noname-nu6oo

[@rileyramsey5797]

After jumping from job to job for 15 years trying to find that place I could just “stay”. I realized I wasn’t meant to “stay” anywhere. Started working for myself 6 years ago. As long as I have a computer, WiFi and phone, I can work anywhere.

[@joshualisec]

Good for your Riley!

[@SparQz]

That's what I need to figure out how to do. Is it sales?

[@LonjeMarie7]

Riley Ramsey Congratulations I’m just like you

[@yumyumkitty2104]

Riley Ramsey Well, can u tell us what kind of work u do? Desperate person here! 👈🏼👈🏼👈🏼

[@Purple9721.]

What is your job?

[@NetSkillNavigator]

So happy to watch this.. As someone who has been freelancing since '14, I wholeheartedly regret going to college.. :'( The time and energy I put in college could've better spent on growing my online career/skills & building my e-com business.. At that time, I was so un-aware of the vast opportunity in the digital world.. I was so blind. I get emotional every time I think about my past mistakes.. It was very costly. I mindlessly went to college primarily because of the desire to be accepted in society's eyes.. The fear of people's opinions was so strong it's hard to unlearn it. When the pandemic hit, I was enlightened. A college degree isn't the only gateway for you to bring value.. The biggest lesson I've learned so far is: Do not design your life according to someone else's OR society's expectations. You craft your journey and take full responsibility for it.

[@writerswrite473]

Tena koe. I am in uni to improve on my writing but yes, I agree with what you are saying. Too many people with papers, not enough with financial freedom.

[@joshualisec]

Thanks for sharing

[@stewarthunt3563]

Thanks for that - because I believe some of us will become solopreneurs out of absolute necessity ...

[@joshualisec]

stewart hunt Sure thing! That's how it was for me. No light at the end of the tunnel, so I picked a different tunnel

[@vanshuhaibhai8241]

Hi my contact number is 9599477138 seema

[@seaweedglob]

Moral: Work hard to be good at something.

[@joshualisec]

Amen!

[@lori_its_time]

Great points! I work harder and longer hours being an entrepreneur than I ever did at any job. When people ask me what I do, I tell them that I'm a business owner. Some people don't understand what it takes to run a business. That's what entrepreneurship is. Lot's of hats involved.

[@joshualisec]

Thank you, Lori! Entrepreneurship is the art of wearing the right hat at the right time

[@writerswrite473]

Tena koe. I'd rather work hard but for myself than to work for someone else.

[@princealjas1190]

Let's go, let's get it! Freelancing is really the future.

[@joshualisec]

Yep, the future is freeeeeeeedom

[@yigallupo1627]

A few generations ago we were presents with our little garden, then the industrial revolution made us tied to our factory job. Now we can be independent again.

[@joshualisec]

Amen!

[@belgenlogin]

I'm a Yolopreneur

[@joshualisec]

Oh dear that's hilarious

[@anastasia7227]

Thank you so much Joshua Lisec. I loved your speech.

[@joshualisec]

My pleasure, what did you take away from the talk?

[@JAZJ]

I enjoyed this presentation. Really inspiring. Great motivation.

[@priyashkadu3985]

DECIDED.....I wanna be a Solopreneur💪

[@LizBrousseau]

i love it myself.....

[@Nickporter17]

You're half way there, you just have to sell the skill you have

[@ImpatientEntrepreneur]

Love this video. There's so much nonsense out there about solopreneurship, it was lovely to come across this sensible video with relatable, down-to-earth advice. Thank you!

[@joshualisec]

Sure thing and thank you

[@Blessing_or_Curse]

I LOVED this!! As a fellow millennial, I definitely relate to this. I always found it challenging working for others and not "being my own boss". I didn't follow the traditional college path and have always educated myself.

[@writerswrite473]

:)

[@joshualisec]

Thanks!

[@Frogger1995]

4:40 is where he gets to the point

[@joshualisec]

Lmaooooooo

[@inferconsulting]

Beautiful speech Joshua

[@joshualisec]

Thank you :)

[@gillianbeharry9077]

Quite engaging, very animated, saw some acting skills there too. Your conviction and passion are very inspiring. I'd never heard about Solopreneurship until seeing this. Really puts freelancing into perspective, as a business that needs to be marketed. Good luck!

[@joshualisec]

You're welcome, Gillian! I wish you luck on your ghostwriting journey as well

[@LizBrousseau]

yes!!!!! i am in it!!! sending you bvibes!

[@User-qn1fz]

Thank u man, an ispirational speech for fututre generations.

[@joshualisec]

My pleasure

[@gracew7460]

Its very true about experience one wonders how and when. Its like we need to aquire it before getting work

[@LonjeMarie7]

Very very nice speech very well done I learned a lot ,you’re very correct thank you very much

[@joshualisec]

You're super welcome! What did you take away from the Talk?

[@mr.anfieldfootball]

Loved it buddy, loved your confidence and persona! Goodluck and thanks for the inspiration

[@joshualisec]

Why thank you! What did you take away from the video?

[@vanshuhaibhai8241]

@@joshualisec my contact number is 9599477138

[@joshualisec]

@@vanshuhaibhai8241 That's cool. My contact number 8675309.

[@lorenamilian7653]

Really inspiring. Thanks for the lesson :-)

[@LizBrousseau]

go get it sis!!!

[@yeehaa85]

Really good talk, it’s 2022 and per google currently only 7% of Americans are self-employed…but 70% want to be

[@joshualisec]

Indeed!

[@jfcarpio]

Excellent.

[@TheRay1227]

makes sense!

[@joshualisec]

Thanks!

[@vibmeetup1355]

Today you have to be your own boss. You can have a degree and experience and still working for McDonalds.

[@joshualisec]

Amen

[@syncstudy8792]

heartiestThanks 👏👍! I'm on the way to solopreneurship! Going to build my own brand!!😁

[@joshualisec]

Way to go!

[@angelagilesklockeYT]

Yes! This was great. Thank you, Josh!

[@joshualisec]

You're welcome, Angela!

[@Tintin-em6uc]

The best way to solopreneuer it!

[@joshualisec]

"Yes"

[@CarolinaBonfada]

😃Nice ideas!

[@joshualisec]

Thanks Carolina!

[@ZeinabeeM]

learned a lot. Thank you :))

[@joshualisec]

Sure thing and thank you

[@davidsphone8449]

Thank You

[@joshualisec]

You're very welcome. What's your #1 takeaway?

[@davidsphone8449]

My #1 take away: We are in deep sh1t in a few years from today. The most important factor in a successful venture is timing, Timing of your message is Perfect! You will have a positive life changing impact on a few thousand people. We Thank You for That Gift. I'm being optimistic when I predict 1/10 of our population can be successful at Solopreneurship. (Less than 1 in 99 are successful at entrepreneurship) I totally empathize with the people who just want to do their focused Job and have fun on the weekends. I believe that a large portion of our populations does not have the traits or desire to enjoy 'Solopreneurship'. We can drastically increase the success rate of our 'Free Agent Nation' (Fast Company Mag 1998) with a proper business infrastructure "platform". Perhaps build on blockchain contracts. We require a system that will do all the things we don't do for us at a price that allows everyone in the system to profit. It must be a simple and easy as using electricity, turning on a light. I do not want to do sales, accounting, marketing, taxes, law, inventory, customer service, add omitted tasks. I want to make widgets and have activities that inspire me to envision even better widgets. Although I am a man of very modest means, I am worried. Not the kind of worry that would keep me up at night. More like compassion and empathy for the hard opportunities we will be facing soon. In the next few years, more than 40% of our "Work Tasks" will be done better by smart systems that will impact 99.99% of the jobs, varying greatly across the businesses. Yet even the buggy whip makers will be impacted, slightly. It is unclear to me if independent workers will be able to afford these systems to enable them to be competitive. For now, I am hoping that as the cascade of under-employment floods our communities, we will focus our talents locally first then globally in a distributed method that fulfills our life styles. [Note: I did not want to nor did I enjoy typing this comment. But I do not have reliable STT software, an administrative assist, or a Alexa/Google to do this for me] *Aloha*

[@joshualisec]

@@davidsphone8449 Aloha David! Man, what a good reply. Can't believe I just now saw it. In fact, it sounds like you've got a book in you on this exact topic. More to come?

[@amazingproducts1165]

This video needs more attention

[@joshualisec]

100%

[@PianoHeal]

Thanks ☘️☺️❤️🎹🙏

[@joshualisec]

You're welcome!

[@Xavier148xav]

I really relate, yet I'm stuck with pure pressure of my family and friends finishing my degree, I'm still a student and I love doing video,graphic editing and designing. started freelancing a year ago and earned only about $5000. I'm not sure what to do next....

[@joshualisec]

Create a high-ticket offer. Sell a $5,000 package to people whose needs merit that level of service.

[@NetSkillNavigator]

Same experience .. I was also in the same position as yours.. If I could turn back time, I will definitely stop going to college for a while and focus on making more money online.. And once I have assets generating passive income, then it's now optional to go back to school.

[@abbylebaddie]

Start a KZbin channel

[@hobbyrx2267]

Timely

[@joshualisec]

Glad to hear. . .

[@HammitCreates]

wow

[@lildiamond6235]

Why did KZbin only recommended me this now? 5 years later? Just why?

[@joshualisec]

This is what they do

[@KeriKavali]

Hologram? Either way… he delivered! 💗✨

[@joshualisec]

No I am real

[@motionmuse5684]

I feel I have to be because the moment I get into a job someone decides to feel intimidated and jealous of my mind and my experience and my expectations of quality and I get used and abused. And they know they got you by the neck because that's your source of income for your bills. You obery and play their games or else they make life miserable till you quit. Rinse and repeat. Well I'm sick of being jerked around. A client relationship is something I can choose to continue or not. So I like the dynamics better. Might yank your chain a little but only for a little while. You have the choice.

[@joshualisec]

Well-said.

[@gigglezgoham]

I want to be one of those people

[@joshualisec]

The water's warm

[@GardenHomie]

Well, even if your not a millinial, you can still have this experience

[@LizBrousseau]

so true!!!!!!

[@MissPopuri]

No ceiling and no floor? No walls or artwork either? You need to build your house, and everyone starts with a firm foundation. I laughed when the first example was a carpenter.

[@EricCampbellUAV]

i’m a dropout that delivers fast food and i’m my own boss

[@joshualisec]

I mean...

[@yumyumkitty2104]

Yeah, but he should’ve kept it real by mentioning the EXORBITANT COSTS OF PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE for those who are single! 🤔🤔

[@joshualisec]

Private health insurance is affordable if you're single, you go with catastrophic insurance only, and you go with a lesser-known yet reputable insurer (e.g., NOT Geico)

[@AchillesofAchilles]

Your numbers are wrong.

[@joshualisec]

Nice.

[@williammaldonado6132]

Yes I'm all for it! 🦸‍♂️