I’ve been my own boss for 7 years. Here are 5 things I do every month to stay organized.

Jen Glantz says taking new skills workshops and meeting regularly with mentors helps her be productive as a solo-entrepreneur.

Jen Glantz is an entrepreneur and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. Photo: Gaby Deimeke

By Jen Glantz

I’ve been an entrepreneur for over seven years and while being your own boss comes with perks, it also has its downsides. I’m the only one responsible for generating income, figuring out how to innovate and when to pivot, and making big financial decisions.

When I worked full-time at a startup, the company encouraged our career development by offering workshops, hosting networking events, and encouraging time off to go to conferences. I enjoyed this networking, so when I left to go out on my own, I decided to be strategic about spending time bettering my skill set and my connections.

Now, I set aside time each month to do five things to ensure I’m growing, learning, and staying sharp as the sole employee of my business.

1. Take a course or workshop

I’m self-taught in many of the key skills I use daily for my business, from SEO to video editing, so there’s always room for improvement.

Every quarter, I map out four topics I want to learn more about and then sign up for one workshop per…