Mehdi Ebrahimi
From natural disasters and public health crises to economic shocks, conflict, and war, unforeseen challenges can repeatedly disrupt lives and businesses, often posing significant hurdles for solo entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals running their own small businesses. Even in the face of such adversity, these challenges create conditions that, when navigated effectively, can open up opportunities for developing resilience, growth, and adaptive strategies. This study, drawing on theoretical perspectives such as Conservation of Resources theory, resilience theory, and Frankl’s Will to Meaning theory, explores the literature on the intersection of positive psychology, spirituality, and meaning in life, particularly as these concepts apply to solo entrepreneurs navigating challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. The study emphasises the necessity of avoiding toxic positivity while advocating for a grounded, holistic approach to entrepreneurial well-being and productivity during crises. Practical implications include strategies and evidence-based insights for fostering adaptability, resilience, and well-being in solo entrepreneurs, also known as solopreneurs. Based on well-established theoretical foundations and by integrating positive psychology constructs, spiritual and mindful practices, and purpose-driven approaches, this study proposes a conceptual map as a guiding tool for enhancing resilience in solopreneurs. While acknowledging its limitations, this study contributes to an underexplored area of solopreneurship and entrepreneurial psychology literature, providing a foundation for further scholarly investigation. Future research directions are suggested, focusing on demographic diversity, cross-geographical comparisons, and resilience-building interventions, particularly exploring the impact of spiritual practices and positive psychology constructs during crises. This work contributes to the gradually expanding, yet still limited, body of literature on resilience, well-being, and sustainable productivity among solopreneurs.