Staying Solo
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)
Latest episodes
Sep 7, 2020 • 14min
9 Questions You Need to Ask Before You Invest in Anything
As the saying goes, you need to spend money to make money, but is that really true? My take is that sometimes it is and other times we’d be better served by closing our wallets. In this episode, I’m sharing nine questions you need to ask before you invest in anything. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/before-you-invest/
Aug 31, 2020 • 21min
Celebrity Entrepreneurs: Everything You Need to Know
With the rise of social media, we’ve also seen the emergence of influencers. Now, literally anyone with the right talent or skills can build a platform and reach an audience of thousands or even millions. On this episode of the BS-Free Service Business Show, we’re looking at everything you need to know about celebrity entrepreneurs, their problematic business practices and sharing the six different types to watch for. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/celebrity-entrepreneurs/
Aug 24, 2020 • 11min
Finding Clients: Everything You Ever Need to Know About Referrals
Fall is coming up quickly, and if your business is anything like mine, it’s GO time for new business opportunities. On this episode of the BS-Free Service Business Show, we’re doing a refresher on referrals, including everything you need to know. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/referrals/
Aug 17, 2020 • 15min
YES, You Can Scale Your Service Business
If you’re listening to this podcast you’re either tired of the hype in the business world about growing your business, or you’re looking for ways to grow in a healthy, sustainable way. Or maybe a bit of both. On this episode of the BS-Free Service Business Show, I’m tackling how to scale your service business without the hype or BS. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/scale-your-service-business/
Aug 10, 2020 • 36min
Building a Digital-First Business with Avery Swartz
No matter how digitized your business is (or isn’t), 2020 has made one thing clear, the future of our businesses relies on our ability to use the internet for everything from our processes to our client prospecting. On this episode of the BS-Free Service Business Show, I sit down with author and digital marketer Avery Swartz to chat about building a digital-first business. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/digital-first-business/
Aug 3, 2020 • 20min
8 Ways to Stand Out from the Competition in 2020
It's not exactly a secret that here in the digital world, potential clients have the ability to look at ALL their options before choosing a service provider. Knowing what your competition is up to isn't about playing the "who does it better?" game or declaring them your arch nemesis. (And yes, I KNOW some of you have one!) It's about understanding the alternatives your clients have, and how you can be different. On this episode of the BS-Free Service Business Show, I’m sharing eight ways to stand out from the competition in 2020 and beyond. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/stand-out-from-the-competition/
Jul 27, 2020 • 13min
5 Signs It May Be Time for a Pivot
Since COVID-19 rearranged our lives in ways we couldn’t imagine, the concept of the pivot has been working overtime. On this episode of the No-BS Business Show, I’m sharing 5 signs it may be time for a business pivot. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/time-for-a-pivot/
Jul 20, 2020 • 6min
Welcome to the BS-Free Service Business Show
You may (or may not) have noticed that starting today, the Small Business Boss podcast has a new name. We’re now the BS-Free Service Business show. If you’re wondering why, it’s because as a brand over the last three years, we’ve evolved in a big way. While Small Business Boss will continue to be the overall brand, the podcast needed to be more specific towards service business owners. And it needed to convey the true promise of the show, the brand and what I want to be known for - which is cutting through the BS. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/bs-free-service-business/
Jul 13, 2020 • 18min
The 7 Most Frequently Asked Questions I Get: ANSWERED
As a mentor, I answer a lot of the same questions from my clients and community. And spoiler alert, most of them are about money. In this episode of the Small Business Boss podcast, I’m sharing the seven most frequently asked questions I get. Get the inside scoop: https://smallbusinessboss.co/frequently-asked-questions/
Jul 6, 2020 • 15min
A Month in the Life: How I Really Spend My Time
My best learning opportunities have always come from seeing how other people do things. You know, the real nitty gritty of what they’re doing, and not the shiny social media version. On this episode of the Small Business Boss podcast, I'm sharing a deep dive that examines how I really spend my time. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/how-i-really-spend-my-time/
