Staying Solo
Maggie Patterson, BS-Free Business
Growing a solo service business is tough. It’s even harder when you’re bombarded with BS advice that steers you away from your values and why you started your business in the first place.
This is the podcast for solo creatives and consultants who want to remain as a team of one and have zero interest in the hustle and grind of typical business teachings.
Most podcasts for solopreneurs and freelancers, hosted by out-of-touch celebrity entrepreneurs who haven't offered one-to-one services in years, miss the mark on today's market realities.
Maggie Patterson, a service business owner for 20 years, understands that to stay solo, you need to know what matters to you, what works for you, and what you should completely ignore.
In each episode, she examines one piece of conventional business advice to discover how it may hurt your business or be completely wrong for you as a solo business owner.
Join Maggie for real talk to help you avoid burnout or the desire to entirely burn down your business to open a flower shop, book store, or cat cafe. (Because those cats won’t pay the bills.)
(Formerly the BS-Free Service Business Show)
This is the podcast for solo creatives and consultants who want to remain as a team of one and have zero interest in the hustle and grind of typical business teachings.
Most podcasts for solopreneurs and freelancers, hosted by out-of-touch celebrity entrepreneurs who haven't offered one-to-one services in years, miss the mark on today's market realities.
Maggie Patterson, a service business owner for 20 years, understands that to stay solo, you need to know what matters to you, what works for you, and what you should completely ignore.
In each episode, she examines one piece of conventional business advice to discover how it may hurt your business or be completely wrong for you as a solo business owner.
Join Maggie for real talk to help you avoid burnout or the desire to entirely burn down your business to open a flower shop, book store, or cat cafe. (Because those cats won’t pay the bills.)
(Formerly the BS-Free Service Business Show)
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 24, 2022 • 7min
What is a Micro Agency?
Agencies are pitched as the natural next step when growing a service business, but is an agency right for you? And if you’re running an agency what do you need to consider as agencies aren’t one-size-fits-all? In this episode, we’re looking at the world of micro agencies, including what they are, and some data that may surprise you. Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/what-is-a-micro-agency
Oct 17, 2022 • 14min
The Full On Facts About Finding Clients in 2022
Is your business a little slow? Do you need better leads? Or you’re just plain sick of the marketing you’re doing? This episode is for you as we’ll be talking about fresh ways to find clients, and why this is not the time to be relying on the magic of client attraction. Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/finding-clients-in-2022
Oct 3, 2022 • 18min
Terrible Takes on Sales (And What to Do Instead)
Have you ever thought you weren’t good at sales? Or that you’re missing some secret sales strategy? In this episode, we’re digging into some of the terrible takes on sales I’ve seen lately and the alternatives, and how sales as an industry is designed to mess with you. Get the inside scoop at: smallbusinessboss.co/terrible-takes-on-sales
Sep 26, 2022 • 35min
Covering Your Ass: Planning for the Unexpected with Julee Yokoyama
Have you ever been lying in bed and thought about what would happen to your business if you were unable to work? Or if you suddenly had to take time off? I know I sure have, and whenever I think about it, I don’t always have clear answers to those questions. That’s why in this episode, we’re talking to Julee Yokoyama about covering your ass in your business and how to plan for the unexpected. Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/planning-for-the-unexpected
Sep 19, 2022 • 16min
Sell the Strategy: Updates Based on What I Learned from Seven Clients
You’re probably already doing strategy work in your business, but you’re not getting paid for it. Or you’ve got strategy offers and you feel like they’re not quite right or you’re struggling to sell them. No matter what’s going on with selling strategy in your business, I’ve got you. In this episode, I’m diving into everything I’ve learned from my Sell the Strategy offer and what you need to consider if you want to start selling strategy. Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/sell-the-strategy-offer
Sep 12, 2022 • 18min
5 Places to Cut the BS in Your Service Business
As a business owner, sometimes you get a feeling. Like you’re missing something. Or like things can’t be this simple. I’m here to tell you that feeling may be lying to you. In this episode, we’re looking at some places where BS sneaks into our business and very practically how to deal with it, as everyday actions are what makes all the difference in building a sustainable service business. Get the inside scoop right here - smallbusinessboss.co/cut-the-bs
Sep 5, 2022 • 15min
BS-Free Sustainability for Service Businesses
So many of the business strategies and tactics that we’re taught feel overwhelming. Like we need to learn something new and start over. But what if we didn’t need to constantly add new things and simply would build on the foundation we already have? In this episode, we’re diving into how to actually build a service business that’s sustainable and cutting through all the BS around scale. I’m sharing key questions to ask, the problem with overconfidence, and how the secret of sustainability really lies in small, simple changes. Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/sustainability-for-service-business
Aug 29, 2022 • 19min
The Cult of Scale (and Why Sustainability is More Important)
Scaling your business is seen as the ultimate goal for every online business owner. As the saying goes, if you’re not scaling, you’re failing”. In this episode, I’m digging into the cult of scale, including why scaling isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and how the relentless quest for scale is doing more harm than good for many of us. Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/scale-and-sustainability
Aug 22, 2022 • 15min
How and Why I Still Work with Clients One-on-One
Working with clients one-on-one gets a bad rap in online business circles, and honestly, I really hate it. In this episode, I’m talking about why working one-on-ones is not at all what the celebrity entrepreneurs make it out to be, along with how and why I STILL work with clients one-on-one and have no plans to stop anytime soon. Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/work-with-clients
Aug 15, 2022 • 28min
Getting Real About a Recession
Inflation. Recession. There’s no escaping talk of an economic downturn but how do you separate fact from fiction? How do you know what’s just hype designed to make you buy? And what’s actually helpful? And most of all, what do you really need to know? In this episode, we’re getting real about a recession with a look at the actual numbers, the complete BS the online business world is currently spinning, and what you can do in your business so you’re prepared. Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/recession
