MSL 212 - Solopreneur Mindset: Dale L. Roberts on Early Struggles, Coaching, and Book Publishing Success (part one)

In this first part of my two-part conversation with Dale L. Roberts, I talk with Dale about how he got started as a solopreneur and self-published author. Dale shares how a challenge from his corporate wellness coach led him to write his first fitness book—something he’d always dreamed of but never pursued seriously until that moment. Dale talks honestly about those early days: the influence of his wife Kelly (also a solopreneur), the leap from a steady job, making that first $21 in royalties, and the tough reality of struggling in the first couple of years—draining his savings and doubting his path.

Dale reflects on the mindset shifts required, from initial optimism (and what he calls “delusional belief” that success would be instant) through the hard lessons of spinning his wheels until he sought help from a coach. He explains how coaching and humility helped him focus, stop “spraying the firehose everywhere,” and finally build real traction. Dale’s story is full of honest insights about what it really takes to leave a job and make your big idea happen.

If you’re contemplating your own solopreneur start or stuck in those difficult early years, Dale’s journey is a candid reminder that persistence, self-awareness, and asking for help are all part of the process.