Adaptation is key if you want to run a sustainable service business as a team.
What worked a year (or even a month) ago may be ineffective in the current market. What your clients want may have evolved, and your personal goals may have changed.
The tricky part can be understanding when it’s time to change things up or when it’s best to stay on your current course.
In this episode, we’re diving into how you can figure out your next move. Whether it’s refining what’s already working or reimagining what’s next, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you make a confident decision.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
How the market has changed in the past few years why now may be the time to evolve.
Signs you should persist on the path you’re on, including questions to determine if your business model is still working.
Surefire signs it may be time for a pivot.
Four key actionable steps you can take to help you decide between persisting or pivoting.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
Traditional planning often fails solo business owners…
Yet, everywhere you look, it’s the same old thing: big, bold goals, detailed action plans, and endless hype about setting yourself up for your “best year ever.”
The problem?
You don’t have endless resources to make all these big, lofty goals a reality. You’re a team of one, meaning your time and energy are finite resources, so you must plan accordingly.
In today’s episode, we’ll explore the three pillars of the Staying Solo Framework—space, salary, and strategy—to help you build a sustainable plan for the new year.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why planning tends to go wrong for solo business owners.
Defining what ‘enough’ looks like for you.
How to plan for specific pillars of the Staying Solo Framework:
Space - protecting time and energy and managing your capacity.
Salary - setting financial goals that matter and ensuring you’re paying yourself appropriately.
Strategy - aligning your business with your goals.
Focusing on what really matters in your business.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
It seems like people are talking about AI everywhere you turn these days.
As a result, many of us are trying to figure out how AI fits into our business. And if it does have a place in what you do, what about those legit legal and ethical concerns? How can we use it in a way that doesn’t strip us of our creativity?
In this episode, I’m breaking it all down for you—the good, the bad, and the seriously thought-provoking.
Whether you’re an AI enthusiast, a skeptic, or someone who just doesn’t want to fall down another rabbit hole, we’re diving into everything from its environmental impact to its creative possibilities.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
The environmental impact of AI.
Legal and privacy concerns with AI.
Is AI a creative catalyst or a distraction?
Figuring out how AI fits into your business both practically and ethically.
Opportunities for solo business owners to use AI.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
Here’s the deal: packaging your services doesn’t have to be overcomplicated.
Forget the endless “value ladders” and 15-step sales funnels, your clients just want something simple and easy to understand.
In this episode, we discuss how to package your services so they’re simple, clear, and—most importantly—sellable.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
The problem with packaging: why is it often so overcomplicated?
Why packaging services is about more than just listing what’s being offered.
Understanding the realities of the current market
Practical steps on how to make your services more sellable.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
Monday morning. You’re feeling motivated and ready to tackle the week. Your to-do list is set, and you’re ready to CRUSH IT.
And then… Friday rolls around, and you’re wondering where it all went wrong.
Despite your “best-case scenario planning,” reality had other ideas.
How do you avoid this trap so you aren’t setting yourself up to fail?
This episode explores how to ditch best-case scenario planning and create space for the unexpected.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why does planning with a best-case scenario mindset set you up to fail?
The myth of best-case scenario productivity.
Why building margin into your schedule is essential.
Practical strategies for creating the margin you need.
What happens when you build margin into your schedule.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
Trust is the bedrock of every great client relationship, so imagine what it would be like if every single client trusted you implicitly without hesitation.
The question is — how do you create that?
It starts with avoiding sketchy marketing and the pushy sales gimmicks often promoted by celebrity entrepreneurs.
In this episode, I show you why staying true to your values is ethical and the most powerful way to create lasting success.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Breaking down the myth that “this is how it’s done” regarding marketing.
Why operating ethically makes you stand out from the competition.
Understanding ethics and why they matter so much.
What’s in it for you when you choose ethics over easy wins.
Why your ethics should be non-negotiable.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you get all the episodes, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
"Always be closing!" "Overcome objections!" "Push for the deal!"
These are just a few of the familiar refrains we often hear when it comes to selling.
It’s all pushy, and for many solo service business owners, the idea of sales already feels uncomfortable.
After all, you didn’t start your business to become a salesperson, did you? The truth is that sales don’t have to feel that way.
The key to better sales isn’t about selling at all, and in this episode, I will show you how to shift from selling to solving. Once you make that switch, sales feel much easier and way more authentic.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
One of the biggest misconceptions about selling.
How to shift from selling to solving.
Tips for selling in a way that aligns with your values.
Why you shouldn’t treat objections as something to be “handled.”
Four practical strategies to help you focus on solving, not selling.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you get all the episodes, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
Have you ever seen an offer on social media claiming you can make big bucks in no time at all if you sell something created by someone else?
Welcome to the world of Master Resell Rights, where you allegedly can get rich from doing little to no work at all.
But like everything else in online business, it’s too good to be true and the house of cards is quickly tumbling.
In this episode of Duped, we’re peeling back the curtain to expose how it all went wrong—from faceless Instagram accounts selling the dream to fake income claims. We discuss:What Master Resell Rights (MRR) are.
How MMRs gained popularity.
Why the MRR grift started to fall apart.
Why you should keep an eye on the MRR space.
The ethical concerns with MRR.
Have you ever worked with a client who, despite hiring you for your expertise, just won’t listen to what you tell them?
The idea that the client is wrong goes against everything we’ve been taught, so it’s a hard habit to break.
But the reality is that, yes, sometimes the client IS wrong.
In this episode, I’m sharing how to handle those moments when your client is wrong (and maybe even a little delusional), the art of steering them back on course without losing your sanity, and what to do when they just won’t listen.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why the customer isn’t always right.
How to tactfully redirect a client when they’re wrong.
What to do when a client won’t listen to your counsel.
Red flags to watch for with potential clients.
Links for this Episode:
Show Notes
Staying Solo by Email
Do you ever feel like all the marketing advice you hear from celebrity entrepreneurs always ends up being far more work than you ever imagined — and rarely gets the results you’re looking for?
The reality is that these folks are doing you dirty with their one-size-fits-all marketing playbooks.
In this episode, I explain why celebrity entrepreneur advice isn’t only misguided but harmful and what you should do instead to build a sustainable business as a solopreneur.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why much of the common celebrity entrepreneur business advice isn’t just bad, it’s harmful.
The biggest myth about building an audience.
How shiny marketing tactics often end up being nothing but a distraction.
Why you’re better off focusing on building relationships and asking for referrals.
How to work on creating meaningful connections.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
Do you feel caught in a cycle of working more to make more money but melting down because you’re overwhelmed and overworked?
While you can run this loop for a while, it’s not sustainable.
You’re more than our work; you need a life while tending to your health and mental well-being.
In this episode, I’m diving into how to create your Capacity Code—a way to manage your time, energy, and emotional bandwidth so you can break free from the time vs. money trap for good.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why hustling harder isn’t the only path to success.
Understanding capacity management.
How to create your own Capacity Code.
Figuring out if your schedule is aligned with your capacity.
Determining which tasks are essential for your business..
Finding the energy leaks in your business.
Assessing your emotional capacity.
How to create an environment that supports your capacity.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
Feeling trapped in a rinse-and-repeat cycle where you work more, make more, get exhausted, recover, and then do it all over again?
Listen to this quick training that I wanted to share with you, which includes:
Tune in to discover how to grow your business sustainably in a way that works for you. (No one-size-fits-all BS is included I promise!)
LINKS:
Watch the Time vs. Money Trap Video
Mastermind Details (We start Oct 1st)
Chat with Maggie About the Mastermind
Do you ever feel like you work work work and yet never get ahead with your salary?
Celeb entrepreneurs love to tell us we need to spend money to make money, but that toxic myth often leads us to make decisions that aren’t in our best interests.
In this episode, I will show you how to pay yourself first, grow your salary, and build a business that works for you without buying into the hype. It’s time to stop bleeding cash and get you paid.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Prioritizing your salary so you can pay yourself first.
The BS myth that leaves so many service business owners underpaid and overworked.
Why smart money management is the key to a steady salary and where to focus.
The role of money mindset (and not the cheezy manifest your life kind).
How to set prices that support your desired salary goal.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
The reality of being a solo business owner is that there are only so many hours in the day. You want to make more money, but you also want not ultimately to burn out.
So what’s a solo biz owner to do?
In this episode, I’m breaking down the myth of scaling and showing you how to use strategy to grow your business without burning out.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
The Staying Solo Framework and which three pillars provide ways to grow.
Why you should embrace leverage over scaling.
The problems with conventional business wisdom for solo biz owners.
How selling strategy can help you break through the revenue ceiling.
Specific considerations for upgrading your overall business strategy.
Why your delivery model is a strategic lever for your business.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
Ever been told that when it comes to your business, bigger is better?
As solo business owners, we’re constantly inundated with advice telling us we “need” to grow and scale.
But is that really the case? (Spoiler: it’s not!)
In this episode, we’re unpacking why the pressure to scale often backfires and leaves service business owners stressed, overworked, and disillusioned. If you've ever felt that nagging push to expand just because everyone else is, this episode is your permission slip to rethink everything and stay solo instead.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why “bigger is better” is BS advice.
Why staying solo is the best choice for many service business owners.
How trying to get bigger can derail you and your business.
How to figure out what your ‘enough’ is.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
In a world of celebrity entrepreneurs pedalling generic business advice unsuitable for SERVICE or SOLO business owners, I’ve spent years separating fact from fiction.
That’s precisely why we’re announcing some exciting changes to this podcast. Here’s what you need to know.
With our next episode, the BS-Free Service Business show will rebrand as the Staying Solo podcast.
Plus, we’re launching a new podcast specifically for micro agency owners called Confessions of a Micro Agency Owner is on the way. You can check out a sneak peek of that show with our intro episode now by heading to our new agency page. (And be sure to subscribe to it!)
Here’s to a new chapter for all of us who are committed to staying strategically small. I’ll be here to guide you as a solo show, or a micro agency owner.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/
If you’re anything like me, you love it when people let you peek behind the curtains of their business so you can see what's really going on.
In today’s episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my businesses and sharing my halfway highlights now that we’re halfway through 2024.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
What’s been going on economically in 2024?
How my agency, Scoop Studios, has been on the slow and steady track so far this year.
Lessons we’ve learned this year for the agency including one that surprised me.
Why I’ve been focused on marketing for BS-Free Business.
Highlights of what BS-Free Business has been up to so far this year, including adding a new community, growing our email list and more.
Some exciting changes are coming up for the podcast.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/
What if I told you that the key to a sustainable business (that you don’t want to burn to the ground once a week) ISN’T doing more?
It's about doing LESS — but doing it better.
In this episode, I’m flipping the script on your default “hustle hard” programming and sharing what really matters when growing a service business as a solopreneur.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
How hustle culture makes us think we must be doing more constantly.
What is additive cognitive bias, and how does it impact the choices we make in our business? (You’re doing to love this!)
Why is adding more complexity rarely the right solution?
How does the sunk cost fallacy drive us to make poor decisions?
Why traditional growth models fail solopreneurs.
The Staying Solo Framework - six areas of focus for your business decisions.
The Staying Solo Squad and why you may want to join us!
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/
This time of year gives us a natural time to pause and take stock of what’s happening in our businesses. Think of it this way: it’s about curiosity, not comparison, and finding joy, not judgment.
In this episode, I’m sharing a simple way to reset and recharge your business for the rest of 2024.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why pausing to reflect back on previous months is important.
Key questions to ask yourself about your goals and what you’ve learned.
What business metrics to review.
Setting goals for the coming months and what to watch for.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/
The sun is shining, summer is right around the corner and for many of us, we’re ready to get outside and play.
The problem?
Hustle culture tells us that we need to work work work. Otherwise, our business will crumble. And even if we DO take some time off, we should still be available to our clients.
But those are just a few of the many lies we’ve been fed, and I can tell you from experience that taking time off IS possible—without your business falling apart in your absence.
You just need your very own Summer Action Plan to make it happen.
In this episode, I’m sharing my best tips and tricks for working less and playing more so you can make the most of this season.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
How our relationship to time off is usually wrapped up with hustle culture and toxic productivity.
Terrible advice we see surrounding taking time off.
How to create your own summer action plan, including six questions you must ask when crafting your plan.
Why boundaries are key to making your Summer Action Plan a reality.
Five reminders on setting (and keeping!) your boundaries with clients.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/
Have you ever started your Monday morning with a strong sense of existential dread and wondered how you could get all of your client work done… let alone any work ON your business?
Next thing you know, the week has flown by, and it feels like the to-do list is just as long—if not even longer—than when you started.
The overwhelm is real and it’s time for something to change, starting with getting a handle on what you can actually do in a week.
In this episode, we’re talking about managing your capacity in a realistic way that doesn’t mean firing all your clients or starting an entirely new business. (And yes, I know that bookstore/coffee shop idea is appealing!)
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why working with clients can be so challenging.
What is capacity planning why you need to stop ignoring it, even if it feels tricky to manage.
An easy, no BS way to figure out your capacity.
Why you should track your time even if you don’t want to and hate doing it.
Questions for every service business owner to answer about their capacity.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/
2023 was a wild ride for the economy, with countless twists and turns that left many business owners unsure how to price their services.
The good news? We’re still here, running our businesses and making it work.
The tricky part is staying flexible enough to weather whatever the economy throws our way next.
As we continue our series on the number you need to know in your business, this episode is all about pricing and the key numbers you need to work with to ensure your pricing makes sense…without falling for the BS advice of “just raise your prices” or “charge your worth”.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
The current economic climate and what you may be experiencing as a service business.
Why we can’t price based on vibes or magical thinking despite what the coaches on IG may tell you.
How inaccurate pricing can mess up your business.
What do you do if clients say they can’t afford your services?
Getting real about your current pricing structure.
Practical steps for pricing your services now and in the future, regardless of the economy.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/
When it comes to bad business advice, some of the worst I’ve ever received was about my financials.
And even if you’re pulling in good money, following lousy advice can leave you underpaid and constantly feeling like you're scrambling for every dollar.
You’re working for your money, but your money definitely isn’t working for you.
In this episode, I’m kicking off a new series about the numbers you need to know in your business. We'll start with a fresh look at your financials so your math adds up and gets you paid.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
What to do if you’ve been derailed by BS financial advice.
Why your numbers provide critical data to make good business decisions.
How can you get to know your numbers better and become comfortable using them as a strategic tool in your business?
How to analyze your numbers and spot trends.
Managing expenses and effective budgeting.
Understanding your profit margin.
How to pay yourself a consistent salary.
Practical things to go away and implement in your business related to your financials.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/
This week, we’re sharing our most recent Duped episode where we discuss understanding the risks of payment plans in online business.
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Have you ever bought something on a payment plan and quickly realized you’re unsatisfied, but there’s no way out?
The fact is, not all payment plans are created equal. While they can be an excellent way to pay for something over time, the flip side is that they can also be weaponized by celebrity entrepreneurs and used to handle sales objections.
So, what risks should you, the consumer, know about before buying a course or program using a payment plan?
In this episode, we’re equipping you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about what you buy and how you pay for it.
We discuss:
The pros and cons of payment plans.
How payment plans can be weaponized to handle objections.
How much is a reasonable markup on a payment plan?
The possible pitfalls of extended payment plans.
Why incentives for paying in full can be problematic.
How third-party payment services can make payment plans more questionable.
Questions to ask before you buy.
For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online.
For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.
Running a business can be a rollercoaster. One minute, you’re up; the next, you’re down; some days, it can feel like you’re hanging on for dear life.
While the ride can sometimes feel invigorating, other times it can feel downright terrifying.
So, how do you learn to adapt and roll with the changes as they come?
In this episode, we're wrapping up our exits and evolutions series, looking at the theme that change is the only constant in business.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why change can be hard and the psychology behind it.
Change management: the 4 Cs and why it helps make business decisions.
Reasons you may want to make changes or not in your business including changes you absolutely want to avoid.
The role of our feelings in changes and what you need to watch for.
Why you don’t want to chase trends.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/