Info

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 over 19 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)
RSS Feed
Staying Solo
2024
October
September
August
June
May
April
March
February


2023
December
November
October
September
August
June
May
April
March
February


2022
December
November
October
September
August
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: 2020
Dec 14, 2020

Question: What do the online business industry and cults have in common?

Answer: Way more than you think. 

For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by cults so when I discovered two NXIVM Docuseries — Seduced and The Vow — of course I was going to watch. 

But then something happened that I wasn’t entirely expecting. I saw so many clear parallels between what was being shared on-screen, and what I see every day running a business in the online business industry.

Which is where this new podcast episode and essay comes in. 

In this episode I’m sharing six lessons from both Seduced and The Vow that are directly applicable to online businesses.  What I have to say may surprise you and make you think a little more about these seemingly harmless tactics used by celebrity entrepreneurs.

You can listen to this on the BS-Free Service Business Show or read the full essay here: 

https://smallbusinessboss.co/problems-with-online-business/

Dec 7, 2020

Have you ever been told that a challenge in your business could be fixed with some mindset work?

Of course you have. Because in the online business world, mindset gets  blamed for anything and everything— especially when it comes to money.

Truth? I’m sick of it. While money mindset is real, not everything is a mindset issue.

In this episode, I sat down with Bear Hebert, radical life coach, social justice educator, and anti-capitalist business consultant, for a completely fresh take on the intersections of power and privilege as it relates to our money mindset.

We discuss money mindset, generational wealth, how we can run an ethical business, and so much more. 

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/money-mindset/

 

Nov 30, 2020

Pricing is one of the more challenging parts of running a business as it can be complicated and nuanced. It can get tied up with our own stories about pricing, and leave us wondering what the right way to price our services really is.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to rethink your pricing heading into 2021, including how to raise your prices and all the factors that impact your pricing.

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/pricing-strategy

Nov 23, 2020

When it comes to marketing and sales, there are so many different strategies and tactics you can use. It’s overwhelming, and frankly, many of them just aren’t the right ones for your business. But there’s one thing that matters more than any single tactic, and that’s trust.

In this episode, we’re going to break down how to take a trust-driven approach to your marketing and sales.

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/business-marketing

Nov 16, 2020

When it comes to selling your services, it can be challenging to know if you’re getting it right, or if you’re inadvertently sabotaging yourself somehow. In this episode, I’m unpacking nine things I see service providers getting wrong, and we’re going to talk about how to fix them. 

Get the inside scoop right here: 

https://smallbusinessboss.co/sales-mistakes

Nov 9, 2020

If you’re anything like me, when you look at other people running a successful business, you want to know *exactly* what they’ve done to get where they are.

And the truth is, while everyone is unique and each agency has its own flavor, there ARE some things that are universal when it comes to building a thriving business.

I like to call these The Five Cs, and consider them the nuts and bolts of running an agency. 

In this episode, I’m introducing you to the 5Cs which can make (or break) your agency.

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/agency-success

Nov 2, 2020

This has been the longest year ever. Am I right?

And it’s because my well-orchestrated plan was thrown out the window, and there’s been a lot of adjusting along the way.

As part of our agency model series on the BS-Free Service Business show, I’m taking you behind-the-scenes of my agency, Scoop Studios.  I share the nitty-gritty on revenue growth, the realities of lead gen, and what I’m planning for 2021.

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/behind-the-scenes

Oct 26, 2020

In this episode of the show, I’m taking you on my agency journey which has been over 20 years in the making. The twist, the turns, the lessons and how everything agency has changed.

Get the inside scoop:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/build-an-agency/

Oct 19, 2020

In today’s episode, I’m talking about a new type of agency, the kind that skips the BS and helps you build a business you can love. 

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/agency-business-model/

Oct 12, 2020

Have you ever looked around at some of the other businesses in the online business industry and thought “that seems shady as hell”? Or, have you ever wondered how some of the people in this industry manage to fly under the radar while operating with an “anything goes” attitude?

That’s why I decided it was time to go deep into the underbelly of the online business world and start unpacking WHY this industry is so seriously messed up. 

More importantly, I wanted to see what can be done to start moving the needle back towards creating an ethical and honest approach to doing business online.

In this podcast and post, I’m putting a spotlight on the dark side of the online business industry, and sharing why now is the time for the status quo to change dramatically. 

Get the inside scoop right here: 

https://smallbusinessboss.co/the-dark-side-of-online-business

 

 

Oct 5, 2020

Ever looked at an agency owner who seems to have it all together and wondered what exactly goes on behind the scenes?

Me too. (Yes, I run an agency, but that doesn’t mean I’ve got every single thing perfectly figured out!).

For this episode I’m thrilled to bring you an agency behind-the-scenes episode with Tasha Booth, Founder and CEO of the Launch Guild. Tasha shares so many gems from what to look for when you hire to why your team should be empowered to hold you accountable and keep you out of the weeds.

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/beind-the-scenes

Sep 28, 2020

Burnout isn’t inevitable when you run a service business, no matter what people want you to believe.

In this episode we’re talking about why working with clients isn’t a recipe for burnout and five strategies for avoiding burnout in your service business. 

Get the inside scoop right here: 

https://smallbusinessboss.co/avoiding-burnout/

Sep 21, 2020

As bosses, many of us worry we’re missing something as we build our businesses, so the idea of a specific way to do things can be incredibly appealing.

Which is why in this episode and blog post, I’m walking you through the BS-Free Service Business Foundations Framework, and true to its name, it’s going to free you from a whole lotta busywork and BS.

Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/business-framework/

Sep 14, 2020

Masterminds are often seen as a must-have for business owners, but should we believe the hype about what they can really do for us?

In this episode and blog post, I’m doing a deep dive into the good, the bad and the ugly of masterminds.

Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/benefits-of-mastermind-groups/

Sep 7, 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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/

Jun 29, 2020

It’s been a while since I’ve done a behind-the-scenes, so in this episode of the Small Business Boss podcast, we’re taking a look at the first half of 2020. The wins, the lessons and some real talk about where I’m really at in this epically strange year.

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/behind-the-scenes/

1 2 Next »