Staying Solo

Do you ever feel like all the marketing advice you hear from celebrity entrepreneurs always ends up being far more work than you ever imagined — and rarely gets the results you’re looking for? The reality is that these folks are doing you dirty with their one-size-fits-all marketing playbooks.  In this episode, I explain why celebrity entrepreneur advice isn’t only misguided but harmful and what you should do instead to build a sustainable business as a solopreneur.  Topics discussed in this episode include: Why much of the common celebrity entrepreneur business advice isn’t just bad, it’s harmful.  The biggest myth about building an audience. How shiny marketing tactics often end up being nothing but a distraction. Why you’re better off focusing on building relationships and asking for referrals. How to work on creating meaningful connections.  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.

Do you feel caught in a cycle of working more to make more money but melting down because you’re overwhelmed and overworked? While you can run this loop for a while, it’s not sustainable.  You’re more than our work; you need a life while tending to your health and mental well-being.  In this episode, I’m diving into how to create your Capacity Code—a way to manage your time, energy, and emotional bandwidth so you can break free from the time vs. money trap for good.  Topics discussed in this episode include: Why hustling harder isn’t the only path to success. Understanding capacity management. How to create your own Capacity Code. Figuring out if your schedule is aligned with your capacity. Determining which tasks are essential for your business.. Finding the energy leaks in your business. Assessing your emotional capacity. How to create an environment that supports your capacity.  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.

Feeling trapped in a rinse-and-repeat cycle where you work more, make more, get exhausted, recover, and then do it all over again? Listen to this quick training that I wanted to share with you, which includes: What the time vs. money trap is Why you may be feeling stuck The key levers you have to break out of it Tune in to discover how to grow your business sustainably in a way that works for you. (No one-size-fits-all BS is included I promise!) LINKS:  Watch the Time vs. Money Trap Video  Mastermind Details  (We start Oct 1st)  Chat with Maggie About the Mastermind 

Do you ever feel like you work work work and yet never get ahead with your salary? Celeb entrepreneurs love to tell us we need to spend money to make money, but that toxic myth often leads us to make decisions that aren’t in our best interests.  In this episode, I will show you how to pay yourself first, grow your salary, and build a business that works for you without buying into the hype. It’s time to stop bleeding cash and get you paid. Topics discussed in this episode include: Prioritizing your salary so you can pay yourself first. The BS myth that leaves so many service business owners underpaid and overworked. Why smart money management is the key to a steady salary and where to focus.  The role of money mindset (and not the cheezy manifest your life kind). How to set prices that support your desired salary goal.  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.

The reality of being a solo business owner is that there are only so many hours in the day. You want to make more money, but you also want not ultimately to burn out. So what’s a solo biz owner to do?  In this episode, I’m breaking down the myth of scaling and showing you how to use strategy to grow your business without burning out. Topics discussed in this episode include: The Staying Solo Framework and which three pillars provide ways to grow.  Why you should embrace leverage over scaling. The problems with conventional business wisdom for solo biz owners. How selling strategy can help you break through the revenue ceiling. Specific considerations for upgrading your overall business strategy.  Why your delivery model is a strategic lever for your business. 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 been told that when it comes to your business, bigger is better? As solo business owners, we’re constantly inundated with advice telling us we “need” to grow and scale. But is that really the case? (Spoiler: it’s not!) In this episode, we’re unpacking why the pressure to scale often backfires and leaves service business owners stressed, overworked, and disillusioned. If you've ever felt that nagging push to expand just because everyone else is, this episode is your permission slip to rethink everything and stay solo instead.  Topics discussed in this episode include: Why “bigger is better” is BS advice. Why staying solo is the best choice for many service business owners.  How trying to get bigger can derail you and your business. How to figure out what your ‘enough’ is.  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.

In a world of celebrity entrepreneurs pedalling generic business advice unsuitable for SERVICE or SOLO business owners, I’ve spent years separating fact from fiction. That’s precisely why we’re announcing some exciting changes to this podcast. Here’s what you need to know. With our next episode, the BS-Free Service Business show will rebrand as the Staying Solo podcast. Plus, we’re launching a new podcast specifically for micro agency owners called Confessions of a Micro Agency Owner is on the way. You can check out a sneak peek of that show with our intro episode now by heading to our new agency page. (And be sure to subscribe to it!) Here’s to a new chapter for all of us who are committed to staying strategically small. I’ll be here to guide you as a solo show, or a micro agency owner. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/

If you’re anything like me, you love it when people let you peek behind the curtains of their business so you can see what's really going on.  In today’s episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my businesses and sharing my halfway highlights now that we’re halfway through 2024.  Topics discussed in this episode include: What’s been going on economically in 2024?  How my agency, Scoop Studios, has been on the slow and steady track so far this year.  Lessons we’ve learned this year for the agency including one that surprised me.  Why I’ve been focused on marketing for BS-Free Business. Highlights of what BS-Free Business has been up to so far this year, including adding a new community, growing our email list and more.  Some exciting changes are coming up for the podcast. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/

Forget hustle culture! It's time to embrace doing less and achieving more for your one-person business. Discover how additive cognitive bias impacts your decisions and why simplifying your approach can lead to better outcomes. Learn about the pitfalls of traditional growth models and the sunk cost fallacy that can trap your progress. Plus, explore the Staying Solo Framework with six key focus areas for success and why joining a supportive community can be a game changer for solopreneurs.

This time of year gives us a natural time to pause and take stock of what’s happening in our businesses. Think of it this way: it’s about curiosity, not comparison, and finding joy, not judgment. In this episode, I’m sharing a simple way to reset and recharge your business for the rest of 2024. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why pausing to reflect back on previous months is important. Key questions to ask yourself about your goals and what you’ve learned.  What business metrics to review.  Setting goals for the coming months and what to watch for. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/