I Intentionally Built A 'Tiny Business' That Makes 6-Figures Per Year [Update]
This is a follow up story for Screw The Cubicle. If you're interested in reading how they got started, published over 4 years ago, check it out here.
Hello again! Remind us who you are and what business you started.
I’m Lydia Lee and I’m a Work Reinvention Coach and Solopreneur Strategist at Screw The Cubicle. You can read more about my original Starter Story here. I work with mid-career professionals to repurpose the skills they have into a meaningful business they love through my flagship program, the 90 Day Launch Academy.
My business continues to grow as a 6-figure business, but what I’m most excited about is maintaining this revenue with half the hours I was working before. I now work about 25 hours/week, take off several months a year to travel, and have a cozy business that aligns with the lifestyle I want.
Tell us about what you’ve been up to. Has the business been growing?
Since my last feature on Starter Story, the growth I’ve experienced in my business isn’t just about a revenue increase, but how I’ve redesigned my business to be a minimalist model - more simplified, streamlined, and easy for me to run.
Being an entrepreneur is often associated with hustle, growth, and doing more to feel successful. After getting tired of the relentless pursuit of “more”, I wanted to redefine what was my own version of success. What’s enough money, enough clients, enough work?
After my burnout in late 2015, I was determined to build a different kind of business. One that fit my life, not one that consumed it.
I was a minimalist in my personal life, but somewhere along the way, I became a maximalist in my business. Isn’t it funny how you can take on a different mask sometimes when it comes to who you are in life and work?
That’s when I started wondering, what if I applied the same minimalist principles and more of who I am into my business?
I’ve stopped having full-time or part-time staff that’s on the payroll. Instead, I work with high-level contractors on a project basis…I’ve realized how much I don’t enjoy training or being responsible for someone’s livelihood.
That’s when the seed to pursue a Tiny Business was planted. So, for the last few years, I’ve simplified my business to 1-2 core offers, marketed in ways that are focused on building relationships and intimacy, and designed a way of operating in my business that feels cozy and just right for me.
I stopped trying to be everywhere and for everyone. I chose marketing platforms that work with my strengths and personality type. I focused on one core offer instead of launching several things every year. I implemented systems that helped me do things more efficiently. I created more spaciousness in my work life and white spaces in my calendar to simply read a book, walk my dog, or daydream.
When I figured out what was “enough” for my own version of success, I felt more content, without the pressure of making more money and putting in more energy. Bigger is not always better, and the process taught me to stay true to what feels good to my life.
The Tiny Business model has helped me to make intentional choices that are ideal for my life and business, and then I can show up to have even more of an impact on my clients.
What have been your biggest challenges in the last year?
The biggest challenge I faced last year was choosing the right technology to support me in streamlining my efforts in my business. It was tempting to buy all the tools and software. But the most important thing was understanding the process of how I like to work in the sales, marketing, and client maintenance areas of my business, and then picking tools that make it easier for me to do those things.
I’m a big fan of Notion (it’s replaced the majority of my previous tools) and use it to run my entire business operations. So much so that I give the entire system for my Notion Biz Headquarters to students in my Tiny Business Revolution program.
I’ve also stopped having full-time or part-time staff that’s on the payroll. Instead, I work with high-level contractors on a project basis. I love this way of working with others because I’ve realized how much I don’t enjoy training or being responsible for someone’s livelihood.
Now I get to work with talented people who do things better than I do and can manage specific projects on a short-term basis. Most importantly, it’s allowed me to be free of unnecessary meetings and onboarding processes, releasing time for me to travel more and focus on my hobbies!
What’s your personality like? How do you want to work with clients? What marketing strategies make you feel human and real? How do you want your business to give you time for your life? What’s enough money to live that very life you want?
What have been your biggest lessons learned in the last year?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to stay true to my path for the version of success that’s right for me. I used to think that success was doubling my income each year, launching more products, or having more clients.
It got me stuck on the “bigger is better” mentality. It never truly sat right with me, to begin with. I love having a cozy business where I have the time to be intimate with my clients, a small audience who love my work, and activities I enjoy doing to grow my business.
I’ve also loved collaborating with partners and my own clients to grow each others’ businesses together. Solopreneurship isn’t necessarily a “solo” game. We need each other. And I just have more fun doing things with other like-minded people. Prioritizing community and relationships IS an effective way to market while feeling good doing it. No algorithm in social media can do that for you.
A healthy habit I’ve enjoyed implementing is carving out consistent Thinking Time into my weekly schedule. We can get so busy doing all the things IN our businesses and not enough time to revisit our purpose and see if we’re still heading in the right direction (and in a way that feels good to us). Thinking Time has helped me to pivot things that are no longer serving me and space to come up with new ways to do things better.
To me, it’s such an important thing to have as business owners.
What’s in the plans for the upcoming year, and the next 5 years?
In the upcoming year, I’m completing the first beta program for the Tiny Business Revolution. It’s been a great learning experience working with business owners to test out my teaching concepts and tools to help solopreneurs build a better business, on their terms.
I want to continue maintaining my cozy business while finding creative ways to work with clients. I’ve been experimenting with fun ways to coach clients without it being a Zoom call where we are chained to a desk. It’s called the Walk & Talk sessions and it’s been super fun to walk a trail with my dog while working with clients.
I’m excited about projects in my personal life. I’ve loved exploring unconventional ways to retire and be part of communities, which is the opposite of the nuclear family structure. In the next few years, I hope to build community homes with my peers and friends to live communally and share resources. It’s something that makes my heart sing!
What’s the best thing you read in the last year?
I just recently re-read Essentialism by Greg McKeown, which is still one of my favorite books for life and business. It teaches me to focus on what matters, instead of taking on 100 things on my plate.
I also love the Ten Percent Happier podcast with Dan Harris. A great show I listen to every single week to sustainably do one small thing to make ourselves happy every day.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who might be struggling to grow their business?
As a new entrepreneur, it can be tempting to take on the latest trends or fall into the trap of believing you have to do more things to be successful. Instead, take the time to figure out how you want to experience your business.
What’s your personality like? How do you want to work with clients? What marketing strategies make you feel human and real? How do you want your business to give you time for your life? What’s enough money to live that very life you want?
When you understand what you need in your own version of success, it’s so much easier to design a business to align with those values.
Are you looking to hire for certain positions right now?
I’m not looking to hire but I’m always open to connecting with contractors and freelancers who work with coaches and course creators. Connect with me here on LinkedIn!
Where can we go to learn more?
If you have any questions or comments, drop a comment below!
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
