On Your Terms®

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 TimeJoin the Free Legal Workshop to learn how to get your business legally protected today!CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Legal WorkshopDo you feel lost thinking about how to legally protect your online business? Head to mylegalworkshop.com to sign-up for immediate access to my free 1-hour legal workshop, 5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow your Online Business.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” Join the Free Legal Workshop to learn how to get your business legally protected today!CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMER

Ever feel like you’re the only one who doesn’t have it all figured out? You’re not alone. In this episode, I share the surprising story of how Saturday Night Live stars Bill Hader and Andy Samberg met for the first time—each one secretly convinced that the other was the one "doing it right". Spoiler alert: they both were.This story perfectly captures one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves in business, creativity, and life: that everyone else knows what they’re doing while we're somehow lost or that we need to follow what *they're * doing in order to be more successful in our businesses. The truth? Most people are figuring it out as they go—just like you and me. In this episode, you’ll hear…✅ The Bill Hader & Andy Samberg SNL story and what it reveals about imposter syndrome✅ Why the belief that “other people have it all figured out” is keeping you stuck✅ How to shift your mindset and stop waiting until you feel “ready”✅ BIG NEWS! A new 4-part podcast series starts Monday, March 3, 2025✅ Other big news: My book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy, is available for pre-order and releases on April 15, 2025! 🎉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” CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMER

It's been a weird couple of months on social media, from content policing to apps disappearing and reappearing, new features and different trends - things have definitely changed and reached a tipping point for 2025. So how are you going to ride the wave, and keep your sanity amidst this ever changing landscape?In this episode, you’ll hear…What types of content people will be drawn to, and how you can create it without burning yourself outWhy "old fashioned" marketing and connections are seeing a big comebackWhen to use AI to your advantage without replacing yourselfHow you can prepare and adapt to the new trends moving forwardJoin 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” CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Legal WorkshopDo you feel lost thinking about how to legally protect your online business? Head to mylegalworkshop.com to sign-up for immediate access to my free 1-hour legal workshop, 5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow your Online Business.Legal Workshop

If you want to start an online business — whether as a coach, course creator, maker, or service provider—you must have your legal foundations in place. The online business space is facing more scrutiny than ever, and you don’t want to get caught off guard.In this special replay of my live training “How to Legally Protect Your Online Business in 2025,” I walk you through exactly how to legally protect your business so you can confidently grow it without fear of accidentally doing something wrong.In this episode, you’ll hear…The 5 things you need in place before accepting even $1 onlineWhy the law is cracking down on online businesses—and how to stay compliantStep-by-step instructions for forming your business entityLLC vs. sole proprietorship—what’s actually best for you?Why business insurance is a non-negotiable (seriously, don’t skip this!)How to legally offer coaching or services without violating your professional license (huge for therapists, doctors, and other licensed professionals!) A complete walkthrough of the legal must-haves—whether you’re in year 1 or year 10 of your online businessThe legal stuff might not be the most fun part of starting an online business, but it’s what keeps your online business safe, sustainable, and profitable. 🎉The Ultimate Bundle®—BIGGEST Sale of the Year Ends Friday, 2/14! 🎉Want the contracts, policies, and legal protections your business needs—without the headache of figuring it all out yourself? The Ultimate Bundle® gives you everything you need to legally protect your online business, from contracts to step-by-step legal trainings. 🎉Now on sale for the biggest discount of the year—but only until Friday, 2/14! 🎉👉Grab the Ultimate Bundle® before the sale ends: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/ub-bonus/ Let’s get your business legally protected—so you can focus on growing with confidence! RESOURCES:The Ultimate Bundle® is on sale through Feb 14, 2025 only. If you join before Feb 12, 2024, you’ll receive a copy of my book "When I Start My Business, I'll Be Happy" + 4 LIVE support calls with me in 2025 + 3 additional legal templates (NDA, podcast guest contract, collab contract).CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramGet the Ultimate Bundle®DISCLAIMER

When I met with my stylist, there were things I noticed about each of the clothing items I loved and the ones I hated. I started to realize that there were consistencies in any of the items I liked wearing, enough so that it became really easy to get rid of anything that wasn’t similar to my beloved items. Tune in to hear how noticing these same types of patterns in your own business’s messaging and content will help you to easily determine what’s working, and what isn’t, so you can spend more time pursuing those things that help drive your business forward.In this episode, you’ll hear… Why the things you’re doing in your business right now are working (or not)Where to focus your efforts to find the greatest returns on your goals and visionThe importance of understanding what elements you need to build an audience, and have them stick aroundHow practice makes perfect, and why analyzing your successes and failures will help you grow your businessClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Sign up for my free LIVE legal workshopPre-order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online Entrepreneurship Conni Jespersen on InstagramJoin the Free Legal Workshop to learn how to get your business legally protected today!CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Legal WorkshopDo you feel lost thinking about how to legally protect your online business? Head to mylegalworkshop.com to sign-up for immediate access to my free 1-hour legal workshop, 5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow your Online Business.Legal Workshop

When you first start a business, much of your day may be spent casually networking or binging all of the free content related to entrepreneurship (that was me! 🙋🏻). It's very tempting to get caught up with consuming rather than doing, so it's important to check in with yourself and determine if what you're filling your days with in the now will help to build your business in the long run.In this episode, you’ll hear…The mindset shift I needed to implement early and often to build a successful businessWhy it's vital to have measurable, concrete attainable goals spelled outHow finding your focus in your business will help yield your biggest steps forwardWhat it really means to silence your self-doubt and become your biggest promoterClick 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” Join the Free Legal Workshop to learn how to get your business legally protected today!CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMER

The (potential) TikTok ban has been making waves, and as creators and online business owners, we can’t afford to ignore its potential impact. In this episode, I’m diving into the latest updates on the TikTok ban, whether you will still be able to have the TikTok app if it gets banned, and what it could mean for creators and entrepreneurs who rely on the platform to grow their businesses. Whether you use TikTok to build your audience, sell your products, or connect with your community, this episode will help you understand what’s at stake—and what steps you can take to protect your business in a shifting social media landscape.In this episode, you’ll hear…The current status of the TikTok ban and how we got hereWhether you’ll still be able to use TikTok in the event of a banKey reasons behind the ban and who it targetsWho would be penalized for breaking the banWhy I think a TikTok ban shouldn’t impact your businessRESOURCES:Pre-order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online Entrepreneurship Join my email listJoin the Free Legal Workshop to learn how to get your business legally protected today!CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMER

After becoming BFFs with Google, I learned all I could about email lists, freebies, and landing pages; my mind was overflowing! Now I’m eight years and almost 45,000 subscribers into my legal business, and I can confidently say that my email list is the foundation of my business’s success. I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned along the way to help you build your own email-driven success story (and I’m also very excited to fill you in on how you can get my new book when it drops this spring!).In this episode, you’ll hear…Why it’s vital to determine who your audience is and why they’re following youThe type of content you need to create to get more people on your email listHow to make sure your content gets seen by your future followersAnd how you can get your hands on my new book! 😊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” Annual Business Plan WorksheetCONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Legal WorkshopDo you feel lost thinking about how to legally protect your online business? Head to mylegalworkshop.com to sign-up for immediate access to my free 1-hour legal workshop, 5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow your Online Business.Legal Workshop

Welcome to a new approach to goal setting and personal growth. As we prepare to step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what might be missing from your current business plan and decide on what to implement if you're a new business owner. I’m sharing strategies for creating a plan that feels authentic and motivating. In this episode, you’ll hear…Insights into setting focused and achievable goals for 2025How to stay open to change and new ideas in your business journeyUnderstanding the value of KPIs in guiding your business decisionsCreating quarterly focuses that can keep you on trackClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Annual Business Plan WorksheetJoin the waitlist for my book “When I Start My Business I’ll Be Happy: A Practical, No BS Guide to to Successful Online Entrepreneurship” Sign up for my free weekly email “Sam’s Sidebar” Join the Free Legal Workshop to learn how to get your business legally protected today!CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramDISCLAIMER