The Aspiring Solopreneur

We usually don't start the episodes by listing off all of the accomplishments of our guests, but when you have somebody on who is this impressive and accomplished, it’s hard not to brag a little bit, especially when he has so much advice for solopreneurs. Mind you, this is us bragging on his behalf, he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would do that.If you aren’t familiar with Rob Walling, it’s time to get familiar. He:Is a serial entrepreneur who has started six companies and has had multiple exitsHe runs MicroConf, the largest conference for bootstrapped startupsHe has written four books about startupsHe has more than 15 million downloads on his podcastHe’s invested in more than 170 startups (including WP Engine and SparkToro), but doesn’t believe the only way to start a SaaS company is to raise moneyAnd of course, he’s just a really cool guy and was open to all the questions we had for him that relate to helping you run a company of one.In this episode, we discuss things like:The key advantages to bootstrapping a startup versus seeking outside fundingCommon pitfalls that aspiring solopreneurs encounter and how to avoid themStrategies for solopreneurs to achieve profitability sooner rather than laterTrends shaping the future of solopreneurshipThe most crucial skills or qualities that solopreneurs need to succeed in today's competitive landscapePlus the one piece of advice he would give aspiring soloprenuers, and so much more. Be sure to tune in.Being a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business.  So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, be sure to check out SoloSuite Starter!Access SoloSuite Starter

Ever feel like taxes are the ultimate entrepreneurial riddle you're never quite sure you've solved?Every form you have to complete and every deduction you have to consider can leave you wondering if you're doing everything correctly. Taxes and bookkeeping are hard to understand, especially when you’re busy running the rest of your business.That’s why we invited on Melissa and Eric Broughton of Busy Bee Advisors. With over 20 years of combined bookkeeping and tax experience, this duo helps solopreneurs and small businesses gain more financial clarity and pay less in taxes.We were shocked throughout this episode and our jaws hit the floor a couple of times. We learned some valuable information we had never heard before that is so beneficial to one-person business owners.During the episode, we discussed things like:Melissa and Eric's New Business Start-up Checklist for Bookkeeping & TaxesThe $12,000 Tax LoopholeWhy the Tax System is Rigged & What You Can Do About It5 Essential Questions You Should Be Asking Your Tax PreparerPlus so much more! Be sure to tune in.Being a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business.  So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, be sure to check out SoloSuite Starter!Access SoloSuite Starter

Do you ever find yourself in analysis paralysis?There are constant challenges we all face in our businesses, but the issue is that we rarely have the time to properly address them. Or do we?Today we are joined by Teresa Cain, author of the incredible book, Solving Problems in 2 Hours: How to Brainstorm and Create Solutions with Two-Hour Design Sprints.We invited her on to discuss things like:What a design sprint isHer inspiration behind transitioning from traditional design sprints to the innovative concept of two-hour design sprintsWhat the two-hour design sprint entailsThe key advantages that solopreneurs can expect to gain from adopting the two-hour design sprint methodologyCommon challenges solopreneurs might face when implementing two-hour design sprintsAdvice for integrating design sprints into your business strategy effectivelyPlus so much more! Be sure to tune in.Being a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business.  So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, be sure to check out SoloSuite Starter!Access SoloSuite Starter

Ever have one of those days that seems so insignificant at the time, but ends up being a major turning point in your life?For Carly, the day was in 2016. She and her husband were both working remotely and traveling the country in an RV. Sounds pretty great right?Well, it would have been had she not been working 12-hour days consistently and missing out on everything the road life had to offer.She had finally had enough and wanted to figure out a way to earn a living that supported her life goals as well.Our guest today, Jordan Tait, felt the same way and now coaches overworked business owners, especially solopreneurs, on how to get their lives back, and earn a great living while working fewer hours.If you want to reclaim your time while earning a great living, listen to this episode where we talk about things like:Common challenges solopreneurs faceHow he helps solopreneurs identify their ideal lifestyle and align their business goals with itRecommendations for maintaining a healthy work-life balance while growing a businessThe role delegation and/or automation and processes play in achieving both business success and personal fulfillmentHow to set boundaries between work and personal life to prevent burnoutHow to effectively manage stress and pressure while scaling their businessesSuccess stories of entrepreneurs who have successfully built businesses that allow them to live their ideal lifestyleHow solopreneurs can overcome the guilt or fear of prioritizing personal time over business demandsSteps solopreneurs can take to continually reassess their priorities and ensure their businesses are aligned with their evolving lifestyle goalsPlus so much more!Being a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business.  So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, be sure to check out SoloSuite Starter!Access SoloSuite Starter

Marketing and lead generation continues to be obstacles for solopreneurs. So many people are focused on traditional marketing and advertising tactics and neglect a very interesting approach...public relations. More specifically, the use of press releases for your solopreneurship.It's usually because press releases are such a foreign concept for many people that they tend to avoid them. But it's not as complicated as you may think.So today, we are joined by Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, a press release distribution service for small businesses, who helps people get more PR value for their dollars. Let’s just say he knows what he’s talking about.We invited him on to discuss things like:What exactly a press release is, the benefits, and how they workWhen to use press releases and when not toBest practices for optimizing conversion on releasesOther types of PR solopreneurs should considerCalculating the ROI of PRPlus so much more! Be sure to tune in. ADDITIONAL RESOURCESBeing a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business.  So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, be sure to check out SoloSuite Starter!Access SoloSuite StarterLike the show? We'd love it if you'd leave a 5-star review!

Joe and Carly are slowly warming up to social media, but it certainly isn’t their comfort zone. Figuring out where your audience is and how to effectively communicate with them is a challenge.Growth can seem to take forever. And just when you think you’ve cracked the code, an algorithm changes. So what are you supposed to do?Today we are joined by Lauren Litt, of Lil Shameless Plug, who runs a business helping entrepreneurs who hate social media, but know they need it for their business. Sound familiar?We invited her on to discuss things like: • What solopreneurs often do wrong when it comes to their social media strategy • How solopreneurs should approach social media differently than larger companies • How to become more confident on social media, especially with video • Whether or not you need to post like an influencer to be successfulAnd so much more, so be sure to tune in!ADDITIONAL RESOURCESBeing a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business.  So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, be sure to check out SoloSuite Starter!Access SoloSuite StarterLike the show? We'd love it if you'd leave a 5-star review!

Marisa Shadrick, a coach on finding your voice in the digital world, discusses bridging tech and human connection in solo businesses. Topics include pitfalls of AI, successful initiatives fostering human connection, tactics for authentic audience engagement, and more.

Have you ever created a website for your business and thought, “oh my gosh, now I actually have to show it to the world?” We sometimes spend months putting this thing together and when it’s time to release it into the wild, a sudden fear creeps in. You feel so exposed and vulnerable! Well, today we are joined by Ezekiel Rochet, who helps solopreneurs get websites up and running that they are proud to share. We invited him on to discuss: Common pitfalls solopreneurs often encounter when developing their websites Effective strategies for solopreneurs to convert website visitors into leads Tips and tricks for people who are limited on time, budget and resources What to look for if you want to outsource the creation of a website and potential red flags Plus so much more, so be sure to tune in! Oh, and be sure to check out our latest resources available to solopreneurs at lifestarr.com! Leaving us a five-star review would be really awesome as well :)  

Well, you guys, we did it. We made it to 100 episodes.  Annnnd, we seriously can't believe it! We have learned so much and are so excited to see where this journey takes us. This episode covers some behind the scenes as well as takeaways from our favorite and most-popular episodes which include: Episode 61: Why Affiliate Marketing Needs to Be Top of Mind For Solopreneurs with Matt McWilliams Episode 81: Storytelling Strategies for Solopreneurs with Jay Acunzo Episode 87: Unleashing Your Inner Ninja: A Journey to Prosperity With Stephen K. Hayes Episode: 96 The Ultimate Blue Print for Solopreneurs Building a Community From Scratch with Andy Guttormsen and Stacy Blette Episode 97: Answers to the Top Email Marketing Questions Asked by Solopreneurs with Jay Schwedelson The episode also releases a huge announcement! We're rebranding to The Aspiring Solopreneur. After 100 episodes, and our dedication to helping solopreneurs at LifeStarr, it became clear to us that we want to focus our podcast efforts on the people who are just starting their journeys. This doesn't mean experienced solopreneurs won't find our show beneficial, we will just be focusing more on the beginning stages of solopreneurship and will help guide these early-stage solo entrepreneurs through this crazy world of running a company of one. Looking forward to seeing what's next and thank you SO much for tuning in! You all are the best.    

Folks, our 100th episode is next week. Can you believe it? As we lead up to this big celebration, we wanted to re-post an old show that we think is very important. Our company, LifeStarr, supports solopreneurs in all phases of their solo businesses and as much as we are cheerleaders for running a company of one, that doesn't mean everybody is cut out for it...and that's OK. But that begs the question...when do you keep going and when do you throw in the towel and realize solopreneurship isn't right for you? It's hard to make the right decision when you're so connected to it. It's often helpful to hear stories about other solopreneurs who have been in this situation, so in this episode, Joe shares his successes and failures and what kept him going (or didn't). We hope you can learn something from him! Oh, and if you haven't yet, be sure to leave us a 5-star review!   ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Being a solopreneur is awesome but not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business.  Access SoloSuite Starter