On Your Terms®

What if your next big launch didn’t feel like sprinting a marathon in heels? What if, instead, it felt calm, strategic, and (dare I say it?) kind of fun?In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I orchestrated a $338,000 launch for the Ultimate Bundle® in just four days—without burning out or sacrificing my sanity. I’m breaking down exactly why this launch was so successful, what mindset shifts made the biggest difference, and how you can start building toward your own peaceful and powerful launch, too.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why being “chill” about your launch might be the secret to your biggest revenue yetHow detaching your self-worth from your income can unlock better resultsThe 4 surprising ingredients that made this launch feel so… easyHow one webinar (and a killer replay strategy) drove massive conversionsWhat I stopped doing during launches that actually helped me sell moreThe strategic shift that took our webinar conversion rate from great to bonkers (think: 11%!)Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Sign up for my free weekly email Sam’s SidebarRead From Sign-Up to Show-Up: Launch Success Tips on SubstackOrder my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online EntrepreneurshipRegister for the LIVE legal workshop " Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends"CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Register for the LIVE legal workshop" Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends" https://www.samvanderwielen.com/live-legal-workshop

I’ve been a little quiet here on On Your Terms—but for good reason. In this quick update, I’m sharing where I’ve been (hint: launching a book!) and what’s coming next (some juicy behind-the-scenes lessons I’ve learned after 2 super successful launches so far in 2025). If you think that online business is dying or you’re wondering whether it’s true that things are changing, next week’s episode is definitely for you. Can’t wait to be back in your ears this Monday, May 12.RESOURCES:Order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online EntrepreneurshipSign up for my emails Sam's SidebarCONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramSam on YouTubeSam on SubstackDISCLAIMER

What do you do when a dream podcast opportunity comes knocking… and the universe throws every travel disaster at you to stop it?In this week’s episode of On Your Terms®, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes (and in-the-air) chaos that nearly kept me from being interviewed by Nathan Barry on the Nathan Barry Show. From flight fiascos and airport sprints to finally stepping inside Kit's new Chicago studio—this episode is part travel diary, part entrepreneur pep talk.If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to do press while launching a book, or just love a good behind-the-scenes adventure with a few marketing and mindset nuggets sprinkled in, this one’s for you.In this episode, you’ll hear…The wild travel journey that almost made me miss my biggest podcast interview yetWhat it’s like inside Kit’s brand-new Chicago studio (it’s next-level!)How I stay productive and grounded even when things go off the railsMy thoughts on what top-tier podcast producers do differently—and what we can learn from themA sneak peek at how I’m marketing my new book and building an audience beyond social mediaClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online EntrepreneurshipWatch this episode on YouTubeCheck out my episode with Nathan on the Nathan Barry Show Register for the LIVE legal workshop " Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends"CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Register for the LIVE legal workshop" Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends" https://www.samvanderwielen.com/live-legal-workshop

When I signed my Big 5 book deal years ago, this moment felt so far away. And now… it’s here. Tomorrow, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy hits shelves, and honestly? I’m feeling everything. I wanted to sit down, cozy-style, and share what this experience has really been like — unfiltered. I’m answering the 5 most common questions I’ve gotten about writing the book, landing a book deal, running my multi-7-figure business while doing it all… and what this whole experience has taught me.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why I wrote this book and what I hope it gives youWhat shocked me most about writing it (hint: vulnerability)How I balanced the writing process with running a full-time businessThe biggest lessons I learned about myselfAnd how I’m really feeling, now that it’s finally hereClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online EntrepreneurshipRegister for the LIVE legal workshop " Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends"CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Register for the LIVE legal workshop" Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends" https://www.samvanderwielen.com/live-legal-workshop

Is your email list growing at a snail’s pace (or not at all)? If so, I can almost guarantee you’re making at least one of these four mistakes. And even worse? These mistakes are probably costing you more than just subscribers—they're costing you customers.I’ve built an engaged email list of over 47,000 subscribers who reply to my emails, buy my products, and even refer my newsletter to others in their industry. And in today’s episode, I’m sharing exactly what’s stopping your email list from growing—plus how to fix it.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why no one is downloading your freebie (and how to create one that people actually want)How to find simple, low-effort email list growth opportunities that don’t involve PDFs, webinars, or complicated downloadsThe BIGGEST mistake I see when it comes to promoting your freebie (hint: you’re probably not talking about it enough)How to tap into referrals and share-ability to bring in more of the right subscribers with way less effortClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online EntrepreneurshipThe Ultimate Guide to Building Your Email List Join my weekly newsletter, Sam’s SidebarHow I Grew My Email List to 47K+ SubscribersRegister for the LIVE legal workshop " Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends"CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Register for the LIVE legal workshop" Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends" https://www.samvanderwielen.com/live-legal-workshop

The first quarter of the year zoomed by, prompting a crucial moment for reflection. Discover how to assess your past achievements and setbacks to guide future decisions. Learn about common planning pitfalls entrepreneurs face and why it’s vital to understand the successes and failures. Key questions for evaluating your goals and a straightforward framework for setting and achieving Q2 objectives are revealed. Plus, get a sneak peek into a free annual planning guide to streamline your growth efforts!

If working harder was the secret to success, every burned-out entrepreneur would be rolling in cash. But we both know that’s not how business works. If you feel like you're constantly grinding, spinning your wheels, and still not seeing the growth you want, this episode is for you. We’re diving into the biggest myths about hustle culture, why working more doesn’t equal more success, and what actually moves the needle in your business (without burning you out).In this episode, you’ll hear…Why more work doesn’t always mean more success (and what actually does)The three biggest problems that come from overworking without a real strategy A smarter way to grow your business that doesn’t lead to burnout Why “toilet content” is keeping you stuck—and what to do insteadThe one content strategy that helped me scale my business while working lessClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Pre-order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online Entrepreneurship Listen to Why Hitting Your Goals Won’t Make You Happy (But What Actually Will) [Happy Trap Series #1]Listen to The Business Advice That’s Keeping You Stuck (And What Actually Works) [Happy Trap Series #2]Listen to Why More Followers Won’t Fix Your Business—But This Will [Happy Trap Series #3]Register for the LIVE legal workshop " Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends"CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Register for the LIVE legal workshop" Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends" https://www.samvanderwielen.com/live-legal-workshop

If you’ve ever thought, “If only I had more followers, then I’d make more sales…”—this one’s for you. Because, spoiler alert: That’s just not how it works.There are people with 10,000 followers struggling to make ends meet, while others with just 1,000 followers are making multiple six figures. So what actually moves the needle in your business?Today, we’re busting the “more followers = more money” myth and getting into what really makes your business grow. Plus, I’ll share how to make the most of the audience you already have—so you can start seeing results right now.This is part three of my Happy Trap series! If you missed parts one and two, don’t worry—I’ve linked them below so you can catch up.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why more followers won’t magically increase your revenueThe real factors that drive sales (and why they have nothing to do with your follower count)How to position yourself as an authority, so people trust and want to buy from youWhy focusing on engagement > growth will make all the difference in your businessMy best tips for turning your current audience into paying customersClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Pre-order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online Entrepreneurship Listen to Why Hitting Your Goals Won’t Make You Happy (But What Actually Will) [Happy Trap Series #1]Listen to The Business Advice That’s Keeping You Stuck (And What Actually Works) [Happy Trap Series #2]Register for the LIVE legal workshop " Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends"CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Register for the LIVE legal workshop" Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends" https://www.samvanderwielen.com/live-legal-workshop

Have you ever felt like every business "guru" is shouting about one perfect strategy—the magic formula for hitting $10K months? But no matter what you try, nothing seems to stick?Yeah, I’ve been there too. When I started my legal templates business eight years ago, I kept hearing that I had to run my webinar live first before making it evergreen. But life had other plans—my dad was sick, and I simply didn’t have the time. So, I went against the advice of all the experts and launched my webinar as evergreen right away. And guess what? It worked.Now, eight years later, that little funnel has generated over $8 million. So, let’s bust the myth that there’s only one right way to build a successful online business.This is Part 2 of The Happy Trap series, where I’m diving into why chasing a perfect formula holds so many entrepreneurs back. In this episode, you’ll hear…Why the idea that there’s only one right way to grow a business is a total mythThe four things that actually create a successful online business (hint: it’s not the latest trending strategy)How to filter out the noise from business gurus and trust your instinctsWhy marketing positioning and differentiation matter more than any specific strategyHow to experiment, track what works, and stick with it long enough to see resultsJoin the Free Legal Workshop to learn how to get your business legally protected today!Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Pre-order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online Entrepreneurship Sign up for my free weekly email “Sam’s Sidebar” Juilliard Jazz Prof Hears Nirvana For The First TimeRegister for the LIVE legal workshop " Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends"CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Register for the LIVE legal workshop" Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends" https://www.samvanderwielen.com/live-legal-workshop

Remember when you first started your business? You might have had all these goals, dreams, and ambitions, and thought that once you hit those milestones, you'd be happy and finally feel successful. So what's the deal, then, when you've come so far and achieved so much…but you still aren't happy?In this episode, you’ll hear…What the Happy Trap is, and how we fall into it as entrepreneursWhy success in your business won't necessarily make you feel fulfilledWhy you feel stuck after hitting goals you thought would bring you happinessWhat you should actually be focusing on in your business to beat that Happy Trap feelingJoin the Free Legal Workshop to learn how to get your business legally protected today!Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Pre-order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online Entrepreneurship Sign up for my free weekly email “Sam’s Sidebar” Register for the LIVE legal workshop " Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends"CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Register for the LIVE legal workshop" Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business Before 2025 Ends" https://www.samvanderwielen.com/live-legal-workshop