1,000 Routes with Nick Bennett

Doug Lawson, a seasoned content marketer for technical founders, knows a thing or two about cutting through the noise.In this episode, Doug shares how he went from being a burnt-out teacher to a thriving content expert helping entrepreneurs build trust and spark curiosity. He talks about his early days in e-commerce and his transition into content marketing. Doug reveals his tips on creating ‘curiosity loops’ and why veering away from value-based content may be a better strategy for your business. Check this episode out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q7JzQ3GWLcc 00:00 The future of solopreneurship01:07 The origin of 'boom'05:22 From e-commerce to content marketing05:46 The struggles of teaching10:54 The ClickFunnels journey17:48 The power of curiosity in marketing21:51 Adapting to modern social media trends26:43 The misconception of adding value28:39 The importance of personality in content31:26 Winning strategies on LinkedIn--Follow Doug on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-lawson-marketing/--Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/Full-Stack Solopreneur is the only hybrid digital program that combines the flexibility of a self-paced course with the hands-on nature of a private consulting service⁠: https://fullstacksolo.com/ 

Devin Bramhall is a growth advisor for startups and marketing agencies.In this episode, Devin shares her insights on making bold pivots, how a bout with cancer reshaped her perspective on work and life, and how her experiences as a woman in tech strengthened her commitment to supporting others in the industry. She also discusses building a business life aligned with personal goals, advocating for oneself in tough situations, and finding motivation even during difficult times.(00:00) Ditching the 9-to-5(01:59) From storytelling to marketing(04:48) Breaking into content marketing(08:55) Navigating unexpected career shifts(13:25) Becoming CEO during the pandemic(20:25) Turning burnout into creative freedom(32:20) Challenges faced by women in tech(34:16) How to build a supportive network(53:06) The importance of bravery and self-trust--Follow Devin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbramhall/--Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/

Tim Davidson is the founder of B2B Rizz, a LinkedIn ads and ABM consulting firm for B2B SaaS companies.In this episode, Tim shares his journey from working in an agency to going solo as a consultant, revealing the surprising benefits and challenges of being a solopreneur. He talks about the freedom and flexibility he gained, as well as the pressures of managing everything independently. Tim also discusses his passion for LinkedIn ads, testing new systems, and staying true to his unconventional, yet effective, content style. (00:00) Solopreneurs never fully clock out(01:52) Breaking the mold in content creation(03:30) From directive to solopreneur(07:36) Building a personal brand(10:20) How to leverage community for business(11:51) Navigating LinkedIn's algorithm(22:32) The messy side of content creation(24:32) Streamlining video creation(27:13) Balancing solopreneur life(29:01) Mastering LinkedIn ads(31:21) The $7 course idea(38:25) The hub and spoke model for solopreneurs--Follow Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tadavidson41/--Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/ Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/ 

Kory Kirby is a publishing strategist who helps experts write and publish books people actually read. In this episode, Kory shares his journey from biking down the US West Coast to becoming a successful publishing strategist, showing solopreneurs how to build a business that aligns with their lifestyle. After self-publishing a book inspired by his travels, he learned by doing until he got an unexpected break. Through hard-earned lessons, strategic partnerships, and a relentless focus on clarity and niche specialization, Kory thrives on his terms.(00:00) A self-taught journey to publishing a book(04:59) From minimum wage to Upwork hustle(11:55) The importance of mentorship in business(23:46) How a simple connection led to $15,000 in revenue(27:41) Why strategic partnership is crucial(29:51) Choosing a lifestyle over a job(33:29) The reality of focused work hours(36:51) How to write a book in one week(45:53) Saving time by letting go(50:39) Strategies for building passive income through authorship--Follow Kory on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/korykirby/--Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/ Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/ 

Max Traylor, the 'Consultant’s Consultant,' shares his unfiltered insights on solopreneurship, pricing, and relationship-building. He highlights the shift from traditional agency methods to a focus on nurturing client relationships for sustainable growth. Max emphasizes the power of authenticity in communication and how it can help businesses stand out. He critiques modern inbound marketing tactics and introduces a humorous take on creating a parody agency called Beige. Overall, it's a candid discussion on adapting to a competitive marketplace.

Brendan Hufford is the Founder of Growth Sprints and he helps SaaS companies scale from 10 to 100 million in revenue through content. In this episode, Brendan shares his candid journey from a $50K salaried teacher to building a successful business in content marketing and software. Along the way, he reveals the brutal effects undue stress had on him and the reasons why his work is so meaningful to him. Join us for an honest conversation about the raw challenges and rewarding triumphs of solopreneurship.--Follow Brendan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanhufford/ --Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/ Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/ 

Two of Christopher G. Fox’s biggest wins looked like giving up from the outside.Christopher is the managing partner at Ideas Led Growth, but he started out in academia before shifting to consulting. In this episode, he uncovers his transition strategies, overcoming academic burnout and leveraging thought leadership to cultivate long-term client relationships. This conversation explores how Christopher turned setbacks into successful entrepreneurial ventures while maintaining the delicate balance between personal and professional growth.(00:00) Perception shapes our sense of failure(10:05) Results-oriented over influence-oriented environments.(16:59) The side hustle that became a full-fledged business(20:05) The beauty of the hub and spoke business model(22:09) What it means to optimize the consequences of your decisions(28:06) The rare and remarkable long-term clients (34:38) The importance of idea articulation for client relations and product development(41:37) How thought leadership differs from educational content(44:24) The entrepreneur's evolution from accepting any client to specializing --Follow Christopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophergfox/  --Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/ Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/ 

Shannon Curran, founder of SSC Consulting and a Fractional CMO, has a dream of what her life will look like and is building her work around that.In this episode, Shannon opens up about her transition from full-time roles to a fractional CMO determined to balance life and work on her terms. From navigating organizational changes post-maternity leave to defining her niche in the crowded fractional leadership space, Shannon shares her journey and strategies. Learn how she supports tech startups, juggles multiple clients, and dedicates time to personal commitments—all while staying true to her values and aiming to create a sustainable business for her family's future.(00:00) Defining why your work matters(05:38) Jumping from full-time to a business of one(09:17) “Babies make you brave”(12:19) The challenge of closing a deal(18:18) The evolution of skill sets over time(25:33) Understanding the ebb and flow of solo work(31:01) What’s working well for Shannon (37:09) Niching in on a problem(45:30) Can we stop the winning in public facade?--Follow Shannon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran-55332942/ --Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/ Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/ 

Garrett Jestice, founder of Prelude Marketing, hit a wall of burnout that spurred a dramatic career shift.In this episode, Garrett talks about his journey from a marketing leader in early-stage B2B software companies to thriving as a solopreneur, navigating the difficult path of client acquisition and scaling a business without scaling time. Garrett shared his insights for solopreneurs on honing sales and writing skills, leveraging networks, and productizing services to stand out in a crowded market. (00:00) The two most important solopreneur skills(01:28) How to navigate the transition to solopreneurship(05:51) Strategic growth tips for entrepreneurs(15:18) Transforming fractional CMO role into a productized service(24:22) Tips to refine the consulting process(28:06) How to market to different business types(29:22) Leveraging niche problems to draw in diverse industries(38:18) How solopreneurs adapt in an oversaturated market--Follow Garrett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettjestice/--Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/ Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/ 

Ryan Baum is a growth consultant and content strategist who's redefined his path in the solitude of solopreneurship.In this episode, Ryan shares his unconventional journey, battling the fast-paced tech industry's "build the plane as you fly it" mentality, and finding clarity through authentic connections and an ADHD realization. From LinkedIn ghostwriting to the intricacies of content operations, Ryan shares his mission to solve real problems for content marketers while fostering meaningful relationships. 00:00 Marketing that matters03:06 How cold DMs can build connections06:54 The journey from in-house to solopreneur10:01 Slowing down in a fast-paced tech environment22:18 How to use AI in content creation35:11 Success using unconventional business models41:52 Struggles with productized services55:20 Emotional tolls on content marketers58:23 The future of SEO and content marketing--Follow Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanbaum/--Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/ Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/