This week I took my family to see a live play adaptation of The Hobbit at the Arden Theatre Company. The boys and I just finished reading the book together, and we were excited to see it come to life on stage – A surprisingly small stage.
We walked in to the theater to find a very minimalist set with just a couple raised platforms and a few stools. The cast was even smaller. There were only 5 actors listed in the program. If your unfamiliar with JRR Tolkien’s classic tale, it follows dozens of different characters as they adventure through dark caverns, spider-infested forests, treasure-filled mountains, and epic battlefields.
I was really curious – How were they going to pull this off?
Beautifully, as it turns out.
Through some clever costume changes, thoughtful sound and lighting design, and a lot of imagination, the actors in their brightly colored jumpsuits transported the audience to another world. It was joyful, inventive, and honestly the most fun adaptation of The Hobbit I’ve ever seen.
And it got me thinking (because I write a newsletter about self-employment and I’m always looking for creative object lessons)…
This is what small business owners do every day!
When You Don’t Have Much—But Make It Work Anyway
We’re not a big Hollywood studio or Silicon Valley Tech Giants. We don’t have endless budgets or big teams. Most of us are working from home offices, coffee shops, or shared workspaces—stretching our time, our tools, and our talents.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t deliver something powerful.
In fact, because we’re small, we can create much more memorable and meaningful experiences for our clients than the mountain trolls and Smaugs of the business world (to double down on the metaphor).
Small is Special
The theater probably held 200 seats, arranged in a semi circle around the stage. Even in the back row, my family was no more than 15 feet away from the action.
I felt immersive and personal.
Likewise, small businesses and solopreneurs can offer closeness and personal connection that larger companies simply cannot.
Also, this pared-down, close-quartered adaptation unearthed (or un-Middle-earthed?) new things in a story that I’ve already read, watched, and listened to countless times. Without big-budget special effects to capture most of my attention, certain themes and lines of dialogue popped in a way they hadn’t before.
Sometimes, simplicity lets the story shine.
You ARE a wizard. You ARE a wolf.
One actor stepped off the stage as a dwarf, quickly took off his knit cap, pulled up his hood, and returned to the scene three seconds later as Gandalf the wizard. All throughout the performance, the tiny cast shifted into different roles with small tweaks to their costume, their posture, and their voice.
Can you relate?
As solopreneurs, we’re often wearing all the hats. And as you jump in and out of different roles, you might feel like you’re faking it. “No one is actually going to believe I’m the King Under the Mountain.” But commit and have confidence!
An actress wrapped a feather boa around her neck and transformed into a giant eagle. The audience wasn’t fooled. We played along. We chose to believe because that’s what we needed her to be at that point in the story.
Your clients will believe you are who they need you to be, so long as you show up, own the role, and serve them well.
Sticks and Stools are Versatile Tools
Painted sticks became swords, firewood, arrows, and trees in the Mirkwood forest. Stools became dinner tables, treasure chests, spider legs, and barrels.
The way these simple objects were used gave them new meaning and new value each time they appeared on stage.
“What has it got in its pocketses, Precious?”
There’s a good chance, some of the tools and trinkets of knowledge you’ve collected over the years have a lot more magic in them than you may realize.
Reframe them. Reuse them. Reimagine them.
This very newsletter will probably become a blog post, or even a YouTube video. That’s not lazy – it’s smart and resourceful. The context, timing, and delivery can help help my audience connect with the same information in a new way.
The Takeaway
You don’t need a big budget or a big stage to make a big impact.
You just need a great story, a little creativity, and the courage to step into the spotlight.
Your Turn:
What’s one simple “prop” in your business that you can repurpose this week?
Reach out and let me know—I’d love to hear what you’re working with.
