
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

Aug 26, 2019 • 34min
Sarah Von Bargen on the Prosperity Gospel
Money talk is a double-edged sword. As a business owner, we need to get comfortable with constantly having conversations about money, but what happens when that talk is misleading or downright wrong? That’s what I’m tackling with guest Sarah from Yes and Yes in this brand new episode. We talk about the prosperity gospel, redefining success, finding happiness, and escaping the trap of a “fancy” life. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/prosperity-gospel

Aug 19, 2019 • 12min
Stop Obsessing Over Scale
Newsflash: Scaling doesn’t equal success for your business. There’s a fundamental misconception in the online business world that scale immediately means more money and that magically scaling up your business is the only way to meet our money goals. Plus, the very definition of what “scale” actually is, well, it’s misunderstood. We need to stop chasing scale, and focus in on what most of us really want, which is to MAKE AND KEEP more money in our business. In this episode of the Small Business Boss I discuss: 🔥The online obsession with scale and how it’s actually the wrong thing for a lot of businesses. 🔥The path to making and keeping more money as a service business owner. 🔥The fastest way to be more profitable that you can implement starting TODAY. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/stop-obsessing-over-scale/

Aug 12, 2019 • 13min
The Recap: July 2019
If you’ve been around me for a hot minute you know exactly how I LIVE for summer. That means the July recap giving you the behind-the-scenes scoop of what’s happening is really focused on a lot of deep thoughts and this one thing that’s on my nerves. In this episode, I share what’s up, as well as the question I’ve been hearing over and over for the last year that quite frankly needs to stop. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/recap-july-2019/

Aug 5, 2019 • 37min
Jo Casey on Feminine Conditioning
Have you ever wondered why you do the things you do? Or why exactly you’re throwing up obstacles in your own path with stories and reasons why you can’t do certain things? In this episode, Jo Casey is going to help us unpack this and so much more. You’ve probably heard that there’s no greater self-development journey than running your own business. And I know that’s definitely been the case for me. Being a boss has stretched me and pushed me in ways that I never expected and constantly forces me to deal with what’s really going on in my head. I’m sure it’s much the same for you, so I invited Jo Casey to help us examine why we do what we do and how we may be holding ourselves back. And while much of our discussion does speak to feminine conditioning, there are some amazing lessons in here — no matter what gender you are. Get the scoop here: www.smallbusinessboss.co/episode177

Jul 29, 2019 • 13min
June 2019 Recap
It’s time for another recap. This month, I’m taking you behind-the-scenes of June 2019 and sharing all the ins and outs, ups and downs of the month that was. In this episode I share: *Why I’m so twitchy right now about the agency and what my game plan is *The big a-ha moment I had after a client asked for help on a specific project *The new microsite we’re spinning out of Small Business Boss *What I’m really thinking about VIP days and where they fit in my biz Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/june-2019-recap/

Jul 22, 2019 • 19min
Adding Services for Stability with Hailey Dale
This is a greatest hits replay from July 30, 2018. If you look at the world of online businesses, it often seems like everyone and their dog is talking about their new signature product or program. Services get forgotten about or worse yet, completely bashed, when really, they can be the thing you need to create consistent income in your business. In this episode, I’m chatting with Hailey Dale from Your Content Empire to talk about what goes on behind-the-scenes in her biz, how to find the right balance between having products and services, and some of the biggest lessons she’s learned along the way. Get the inside scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/adding-services-for-stab

Jul 15, 2019 • 24min
Marketing Yourself on LinkedIn with Chrissie Wywrot
This is a greatest hits replay from September 24, 2018. I'm talking with marketing expert Chrissie Wywrot to give you the inside scoop on how to get yourself more exposure, generate engagement, and highlight the best parts of your biz. If you've been trying to figure out how to polish up your Linkedin profile or online brand to establish yourself as an expert in your field, this is the episode for you. Check it out. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/marketing-yourself-on-linkedin/

Jul 8, 2019 • 8min
Power Move - Creating Your Signature Service
This is a greatest hits replay from August 6, 2018 If you’ve ever thought about creating a signature service but decided not to, think again! A signature service is how you can show your expertise and puts everyone on notice that you’re a total boss who’s got it going ON. In this episode, I’m sharing everything you need to know about creating a signature service and how it can transform your business. Get the inside scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/creating-your-signa

Jul 1, 2019 • 14min
Planning & Goals When the Year is Half Over
This is a greatest hits replay from June 25, 2018. As a small business boss, I have a better handle on how things are progressing month over month, but the end of Q2 is still the perfect time to check in with your biz goals. In this episode, I’m taking you through my mid-year checklist. Get the inside scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/planning-and-goals/

Jun 24, 2019 • 11min
May 2019 Recap
May is always one of my fave months of the year...so the question is: Did May 2019 deliver the goods? In this episode, I’m sharing the May recap, and I’ll reveal everything that happened in the month that was, including: Where May landed with new business and being away Dealing with cash flow and delayed payments My trip to the UK and what I learned from my mastermind group Get the inside scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/recap-may-2019/