Being a solo operator can be lonely, and it can feel like your work is your life. We have caught up with a solo operator who has been through the stress and isolation that comes with running a business alone. Find out how this businesses owner overcame this by connecting with others and sharing in his experience.
[Audio: Soft instrumental guitar music plays.]
[Visual: The camera opens on a wide shot of a business owner sitting on a stool centre frame in a mechanics garage area.]
[Visual: He is placed at an angle, looking toward the right of frame. Behind him is an array of tools, cables, work surfaces, cabinets, draws and products. He is wearing navy blue overalls and dark green outdoor jacket]
[Visual: He nods his head.]
Business owner: Running a small business you know,
[Visual: The business owner puts his hand to his chest and closes his eyes.]
Business owner: and especially working by myself
[Visual: The camera cuts to a medium close up. The business owner shakes then nods his head.]
Business owner: mate, it can be stressful. Sometimes I’d often feel like there’s just not enough hours in the day to do the jobs I need to do.
[Audio Instrumental guitar music continues.]
[Visual: The camera cuts to a medium shot. The business owner sits in profile waist up and faces the right side of frame. He lifts his hands and counts on his fingers as he lists off each task]
Business owner: Things like the accounts, the taxes
[Visual: The camera cuts to a medium shot. The business owner is centre frame. He continues to count on his fingers as he lists the final task]
Business owner: the work orders
[Visual: The business owner rests his hands down on his lap, then lifts his left arm to gesture as he speaks]
Business owner: I would take the stress home with me.
[Visual: The business owner shakes his head]
Business owner: I would.
[Visual: The business owner gestures with his hands]
Business owner: I would lie awake at night just thinking about work the next day.
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the medium profile shot. The business owner is facing the right side of frame]
Business owner: I was like that for years.
[Audio: Instrumental guitar music continues.
[Visual: The camera cuts to a close up of the business owner resting his right hand on his lap.
Business owner: I was having a korero with
[Visual: The camera cuts to a high angle. The business owner is sitting slightly left of frame and on a slight angle looking to the right of frame]
Business owner: one of the bros and he was telling me how stressed he was getting at work. I thought to myself ‘damn man’
[Visual: The camera cuts back to medium shot. The business owner is now in the centre of the frame waist up]
Business owner: ‘this fella is reading my mind’ you know but
[Visual: The business owner puts his right hand to his chest and pats himself twice]
Business owner: I wasn’t the only one feeling it.
[Visual: He takes his hand off his chest and gestures outward]
Business owner: There’s others out there that were feeling it too.
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the medium profile shot. The business owner is waist up, facing the right side of frame]
Business owner: There’s actually a bunch of us that get together and we talk about these things and we listen to each other.
[Audio: Instrumental guitar music continues.
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the high angle looking slightly down on the business owner. The business owner is in the same seated position but is positioned on the left side of the frame]
Business owner: And it feels really good to spill it all out.
[Visual: The business owner shakes his head]
Business owner: You know, there’s no shame. No shame at all. Because
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the medium wide profile shot. The business owner is facing the right side of frame]
Business owner: it feels good to talk to other people about it.
[Audio: Instrumental guitar music continues]
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the opening wide shot. The business owner sits on a stool centre frame. We see him from the knees up. He looks down and waves his fingers in a pointing motion]
Business owner: One of the boys you know, we were sitting there and he says ‘Hey, have you ever thought about a business mentor?” And I thought,
[Visual: The business owner puts his right hand to his chin]
[Visual: The camera cuts to the medium shot. The business owner is positioned centre frame from the waist up]
Business owner: oh bro
[Visual: The business owner shakes his head]
Business owner: nah, not at all because
[Visual: The business owner lifts his right hand up to eye level and gestures as he speaks]
Business owner: I don’t want to build a big business. But
[Visual: The business owner puts his hand out]
Business owner: when I met him,
[Visual: The business owner brings his hand toward his chest]
Business owner: and he got to know me and what I wanted
[Audio: Instrumental guitar music continues.]
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the high angle looking slightly down on the business owner. The business owner is in the same seated position but is slightly left of frame. He nods his head]
Business owner: he really gave me some good pointers.
[Visual: The business owner looks down]
[Visual: The camera cuts to the medium profile shot. The business owner is shown in profile, facing the right side of frame]
Business owner: There’s a few things that I do in my routine now.
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the wide angle. The business owner is now placed in the centre of the frame in the same seated position from the thighs up. He looks down and waves his fingers in a pointing motion]
Business owner: I always make sure that I stop for lunch. And sometimes I’ll even finish work early
[Visual: The camera cuts to a medium shot. The business owner is in the same position and smiles]
Business owner: and I’ll go home and I’ll get my waka ama and I’ll go for a paddle in the evening.
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the wide shot. The business owner is seated on the stool and we see him from the thigh up. He gestures with his right arm]
Business owner: One thing I’ve also started doing is I’ve really started connecting to my church community.
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the medium shot. The business owner puts his hand on his hip and gestures with his left hand]
Business owner: You know, it feels really good to be a mentor and help younger ones, guiding them along.
[Audio: Instrumental guitar music continues.]
[Visual: The camera cuts to the high angle.The business owner is in the same seated position but is slightly left of frame. He smiles.]
Business owner: You know, I’ve still got a few years left in me.
[Visual: The camera cuts to the wide profile shot. The business owner is facing the right side of frame]
Business owner: Work is busier than ever, that’s not going to change
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the high angle. The business owner is slightly left of frame]
Business owner: but I’m handling it much better these days
[Visual: The camera cuts back to the medium profile shot. The business owner is facing the right side of the frame. He nods his head and smiles]
Business owner: and I feel really good.
[Visual: The frame transitions into a white screen and reveals the words centred and in pink - ‘Helping businesses succeed’ with the business.govt.nz logo sitting directly underneath in blue.]
[The music fades.]