Staying Solo

If one more bro tells me to read The 10X Rule, I’m throwing my e-reader in the lake. Summer isn’t for hustle manifestos—it’s for books that actually bring you joy. In this episode, I’m sharing my Summer Book Stack: the hits, the current reads, and the towering to be read. No scale-to-seven-figures pressure, just real recs for real humans. Topics discussed in this episode include: My top fiction picks The fiction TBR  Non-fiction picks that won’t make you cringe  Plus two non-fiction books I’ll be reading this summer For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.

Ever feel like summer turns your business brain to mush? One moment you’re laser-focused, the next you’re chasing distractions, half-replying to Slack, and wondering why everything feels… off. That’s not a productivity problem—it’s fragmentation. And it hits hardest when we try to run our businesses like it’s any other season, even when everything around us is shifting. In this episode, we’re throwing out the “business as usual” rulebook and building a summer strategy that actually fits the season. Because summer is different, and your business should be too. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why you should stop pretending summer is business as usual. A three-step summer prep plan. Auditing your summer life Picking your priorities Intentionally planning for the slowdown. Letting go of the summer slowdown guilt.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.

If your sales have slowed and your offer isn’t landing, it’s probably not your pricing—it’s your positioning. In a tight market, buyers aren’t gambling on vague promises or “kinda-sorta” solutions. They’re choosing clarity, confidence, and specialists who solve specific problems. This episode is your wake-up call to stop blending in. We’re breaking down why narrowing your niche (even further) is your best move—and how a sharp micro niche can transform your existing offer from “meh” to must-have. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why so much advice on micro niches is trash. Why clarity is necessary in a shaky economy. Five signs your niche isn’t working. What makes up a strong micro niche? Where to begin with micro-niching? For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.

What if your best ideas aren’t gone…they’re just buried under a packed calendar and constant noise? If every idea feels stale and your creativity’s running on fumes, this episode is your permission slip to slow down.  In this episode, we’re unpacking the myth of “always-on” creativity, why overcommitment is killing your best ideas, and how to build in the margin you need to let your creativity thrive, without blowing up your business. Topics discussed in this episode include: The myth of always-on creativity. The difference between being burned out and maxed out. How things may look when you’re maxed out. Practical ways to make space and create margins.  Redefining innovation as a solopreneur. Why space is a strategy, not a luxury.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.

Ever tried a “simple” recipe only to end up with a kitchen disaster? That’s how most business owners run their businesses—turning something straightforward into a chaotic mess. The truth? Overcomplication is a scam. More income streams, endless platforms, and 57-step sales funnels won’t save you—they’ll sink you. In this episode, we’re breaking it all down—the Chaos Tax you’re unknowingly paying, why complexity isn’t making your business stronger, and how simplicity is the real power move. Topics discussed in this episode include: How celebrity entrepreneurs are victimizing us with their trash advice. How overcomplication steals our time and money. The “chaos tax” - what it is and how it shows up. 3 tangible steps for simplifying your business. Saying no to save yourself from yourself.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.

Feel like a clingy ex every time you follow up with a client? You’re not needy—you’re leading. Clients aren’t ignoring you, they’re busy. Following up isn’t desperate—it’s part of your job. In this episode, we’re getting real about following up with clients without feeling needy or annoying. I’ll show you why follow-up feels so awkward, how to fix that mindset, and break down the four most common types of follow-up so you can put this into practice. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why we feel weird about following up  Four ways you can follow up without feeling pushy Following Up with Leads After a Call  Proposal Follow-Up Existing Client Follow-Up The Post-Project Follow-Up Tips for making your follow-ups feel natural and effective For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.

Tired of discovery calls that feel like free coaching sessions and awkward sales scripts? You’ve been sold a lie—overdeliver, be the “helpful expert,” and somehow close without selling. That doesn’t work. Not for Done-For-You service providers. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to do discovery calls in a straightforward, honest, and effective way. And the best part? It’s way simpler than you’ve been led to believe. Topics discussed in this episode include: What is a discovery call? What you want to achieve on a discovery call The challenges with discovery calls Tips for turning a discovery call into a meaningful discussion Tips for rethinking how you execute on your discovery calls For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.

This week I’m sharing my story from my new private podcast series, Staying Solo Stories.  Staying Solo Stories is a private podcast where we dig into the real, unfiltered stories of business owners who’ve chosen to stay intentionally small—people who are proving every single day that you don’t need a big team or a complicated business model to be successful. In this episode, I share how I went from a freelancer with a baby at home to a business owner who’s still here, 20 years later—without scaling, without burning out, and without playing by the usual rules. Topics discussed in this episode: Starting a business out of necessity, not ambition. How I built my business via relationships. Experimenting with online business and learning some hard lessons. Choosing to stay small and sustainable on purpose. Sign up to hear the rest of the Solo Stories series episodes: www.stayingsolostories.com Get your copy of the Staying Solo book now: www.stayingsolobook.com For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.

You know what’s wild? I’ve been podcasting for 11 years, writing even longer—but the moment I decided to write a book, I completely freaked out. Why? I’ve shared my words for years, but somehow, a book felt different.  In this episode, we’re going beyond the book—what it took to write Staying Solo®, how I got it done, and what I learned along the way.  Topics discussed in this episode include: The Staying Solo® book origin story. The good, bad and ugly of the writing process. The editing and publishing experience. What I wish I’d known before I started.  How to join in the Staying Solo movement.  Get your copy of the Staying Solo book now. Sign up here for Staying Solo updates by email. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode.

What if the advice on growing a business isn’t just wrong—but hurting you? We’re told success means scaling, hiring, and going bigger. But what if that’s holding you back from a profitable, sustainable business that works for you? Staying Solo isn’t settling; it’s a strategy. Topics discussed in this episode include: My frustrations with hot garbage business advice. The disrespect for people who choose to stay solo. The problems the book solves and why it’s just not another business book.  How to get involved in the book launch. Get your copy of the Staying Solo book now. Sign up here for Staying Solo updates by email. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode.