Nicholas Robb: Designing Success Beyond Revenue as a Solopreneur
Disclosure: We might receive commission on purchases made through links on this page. Learn more.
Welcome to another edition of the BizStack Solopreneur Spotlight! Today, we’re diving deep into the world of Nicholas Robb, also known as “The Design Hero.” Nicholas runs not one but two businesses, all while maintaining a balance that many of us dream of. He operates a multi-award-winning micro agency for startups and runs “Life by Design,” where he coaches frustrated freelancers on how to build their ideal lifestyle without burnout.
Understanding Nicholas: A Day in the Life
Nicholas walks us through the design of his typical week, distilled from his philosophy that solopreneurship is all about lifestyle design:
- Mornings are for deep, big-picture tasks.
- Afternoons cater to shallower, maintenance work.
- Mondays are reserved for tasks that stimulate business growth.
- Tuesdays focus on fulfillment work.
- Wednesdays are dedicated to “Life by Design,” his education business.
- Thursdays are for calls and wrapping up the loosened ends of the week.
- Fridays are his critical “self days,” where strategies are born, and energy is replenished.
He elaborates on this methodical approach in a detailed guide for solopreneurs aiming to reverse engineer their business around their lifestyle.
The Toolkit of a Lifestyle Entrepreneur
When asked about the tools and technologies pivotal to his operations, Nicholas insists the essence lies not in the specific apps but in the foundational systems he employs, which include:
- Policies & Boundaries
- Templates
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Reduction Strategies
- Automation
- Scheduling
- Delegation
- Systems
These enable him to maximize profit and freedom while foregoing the traditional business scaling model of hiring and managing a team.
Growth: A Personal Journey
Nicholas shares his mantra that personal growth equals business growth. He posits that wisdom, a function of knowledge plus action, is the definitive path to success. He emphasizes the importance of consistent reading and applying newfound knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Productivity with a Purpose
He credits building a “second brain” on ClickUp as a significant productivity booster, helping him to manage ideas and repurpose content efficiently.
Challenges and Triumphs
Nicholas reflects on his journey, highlighting both the challenges faced and the achievements unlocked. He candidly discusses the years it took for his side hustle to sustain him and stresses that real success lies not in revenue but in how one spends one’s time.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Solopreneurs
His advice to those considering the solopreneur path is practical and heartfelt. He urges them not to rush into quitting their day jobs but to start side hustling as soon as possible. He highlights the prevalence of side hustling as a strategy for financial security and increased freedom.
Nicholas Robb’s Lightning Round
In this lightning round, I asked Nicholas Robb to answer 12 rapid-fire questions:
What’s something that’s in your pocket right now, besides your phone?
I rarely carry my phone. I have dog poo bags and a small police notebook. *lol*
Artificial intelligence: hope or dread?
ambivalence lol
Your favorite place to think big?
swinging in the hammock on the deck under the silver birch trees
If you were out of business tomorrow, what job would you pursue?
I would build garden offices or landscape design lol
One object from your childhood you could never throw away?
A little wooden landrover my grandad made
One feature you wish your phone had?
ability to queue up and run through calls in a list
Your favorite mobile app?
The off button
The book that most influenced you?
“Happy” – Derren Brown (yes the magician lol he’s also a huge stoic)
Messy desk or clean desk?
Clean. except when it’s messy
One thing you always have in your fridge?
Scotch eggs
Your favorite time-saving hack?
Commit to less
Best movie ever?
“Interstellar” on repeat
Take Action: Design Your Life
Nicholas invites you to pause, reflect on your daily routine, and engage in a lifestyle design exercise to start making immediate adjustments for a better life. He stresses the importance of this exercise for anyone looking to put life first. Dive into his Lifestyle Design Masterclass to begin your journey.
In closing, Nicholas Robb’s journey speaks volumes about the power of intentional living, both personally and professionally. By prioritizing lifestyle design and sharing his methods with others, he exemplifies the essence of a successful solopreneur in today’s world.
Connect with Nicholas and follow his journey on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
I’m founder of BizStack at Cagri Sarigoz LLC and a passionate advocate for entrepreneurs.
With over 14 years in tech, marketing, and AI, including my role as Head of SEO at CitizenShipper and co-founder of TaleBot at Intale AI, I’m dedicated to sharing genuine, useful product insights and tips.
At BizStack, I aim to cut through the digital noise to provide clear, actionable advice.
And more than all else, I’m a father to a (always) little girl and a husband.
Contact me at [email protected] for assistance.
