Fractional Resources

Just read an interesting article about someone’s journey to freelancing success. Two years to first client. Six months to second. Six weeks to third.

Familiar story. I hear versions of this multiple times a week.

Here’s the thing though - it doesn’t have to be this way. You don’t have to figure this out alone.

Every time I talk to a fractional who’s struggling, the conversation goes something like this:

• “I don’t know how to price this”
• “Not sure how to present myself”
• “Can’t figure out where to find clients”
• “Nobody understands what I do”

And every time I tell them the same thing: There are literally thousands of us out here. We’ve all wrestled with these exact problems. Many of us have solved them.

Some folks hire coaches. Some join communities. Some find mentors. Some just reach out to other fractionals on LinkedIn.

The point isn’t HOW you connect - it’s THAT you connect.

Stop trying to pioneer this path alone. Reach out. Talk to people. Share your struggles. Ask for help.

The fractional community is incredibly generous with their time and knowledge. We all remember what it was like starting out.

Remember: You’re not looking for work, you’re building a business. And successful business builders know that community matters.

So reach out. To me, to others, to anyone. Just stop trying to do this alone.

Where to start? Here are some places to find your community:

• Join the Rands Leadership Slack (https://randsinrepose.com/welcome-to-rands-leadership-slack/). Check out the #fractional-cto-and-vpe and #consulting channels. Tons of experienced fractionals there sharing knowledge daily.

• Talk to your local Small Business Administration (SBA) and SCORE chapters. Free mentoring and resources from people who understand business building.

• Your local Chamber of Commerce often has great networking and resources for independent business owners.

• Search Meetup for fractional, consulting, and startup groups - both local and virtual. Some of my best connections have come through virtual communities.

• LinkedIn - yes, really. Search for other fractionals. Most of us are happy to chat, share experiences, even grab virtual coffee.

• The Rands Leadership Slack #coaching channel has a pinned list of experienced coaches.

Consider working with coaches who specialize in fractional and consulting businesses:

• Jonathan Stark - value-based pricing expert
• Rochelle Moulton - authority positioning
• And yes, I help fractionals too, but find someone who resonates with you

The point isn’t which path you choose - it’s that you choose one. Stop going it alone. Your future self will thank you.

Want to continue this conversation? Drop me a note on LinkedIn or join us in the Rands Leadership Slack. And if you’re finding value in these discussions about fractional leadership, consider joining my mailing list - I share thoughts like these weekly.