It’s Time To Bet On Yourself. And Prove Yourself Right.
At many moments in my career—first as a photographer, then as a designer and builder—I’ve felt underestimated by others. I’ve been labeled things like “too delicate,” either because I’m a woman, because I’m not always the loudest voice in the room, or just for being myself.
And for a long time, I felt fueled by a drive to prove others wrong. To show them I’m capable of so much more than they assumed. But… I started to realize that by doing that, I was still looking to other people to allay my fears and validate my worth.
And I wondered: what if my voice was the one that mattered most? What if I could believe in myself deeply enough to turn the volume down on even the most skeptical outside voices, and keep taking the next step, even when it’s terrifying?
When I started my own business, I did it not because other people said I couldn’t, but because deep down, I knew I could. Once I started letting go of the need for external validation, I stopped trying to prove other people wrong. And instead, I wanted to prove myself right.
“Prove yourself right” is still a motto I live by. It helps me show up for that part of myself that truly knows what I’m capable of, even when no one else gets it. And it keeps me from waiting for permission or “ideal” conditions to take the next leap that will help me grow. Because I now know that growth comes from taking the leap—not the other way around.
So, what’s your big bet?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: starting a business is an adventure. When Jake and I started Dubsado, the conditions were by no means perfect. We had two young children, day jobs, side hustles, a mortgage, and bills to juggle. But we also had an idea we believed in, and a community we knew we could serve by putting our specific skills and experience to good use. I’m grateful every day that we took the leap exactly when we did. “Ready” or not.
If there’s an idea you can’t let go of—for a new business, a new service you want to offer, a new skill you want to learn, or even a new logo—don’t wait. Just start. Bet on yourself now and make what you want to make. Because if you wait for everything to be perfect, you might be waiting forever. Moving forward, even when it’s messy, is a lot more fun.
When you bet on yourself, you won’t be doing it alone.
As more and more people start their own businesses using online tools, “solopreneurs” are powering an ever-greater percentage of the national and global economy. Here’s a snapshot of some key solopreneurship statistics in the United States.
Solopreneurship in the U.S., by the numbers
In 2020, 84% of U.S. businesses were run by a single person—up from 76% in 1997 (1)
Between January and June of 2023 alone, people filed nearly 2.7 million applications to start a business—a 5% increase from 2022 and a 52% increase from the same period in 2019 (2)
As of 2024, there are roughly 28.5 million solopreneurs in the U.S. (3)
And, according to one 2024 survey:
65% of solopreneurs reported making more money working for themselves than they did as employees
50% of employed people surveyed were interested in starting their own business within the next year (4)
Solopreneurship with Dubsado
Just here at Dubsado, we have a community of more than 39,000 people who have taken the same leap you’re considering, many of whom started their businesses just within the last 5 years. And those businesses have processed nearly $2.6 billion since 2020.
So dream big. Make your bet. And when you do, we’ll be in your corner cheering you on.
Check out our new landing page and follow us on social @dubsado for resources to help you build confidence, and tools to help you build your business.
Sources:
“The year of the solopreneur: 2024 trends in self-employment,” Intuit QuickBooks
“Small Business Statistics in 2024,” NAWBO
“More and more solo entrepreneurs are raking in $1 million. Here are the industries where business is booming.” Yahoo Finance
“Solopreneurs are quietly building 6-7 figure empires. Here’s how.” Entrepreneur
