Invincible Solopreneurs - Make a living doing more of what you love

Summary of this Episode Note: I only used Lumo AI to summarize the transcript from the audio of me talking in this podcast episode. I did not use AI to create my outline notes (wrote those by hand in a notebook), and I did not use AI to write some sort of script. It is just me talking in one take. So, scroll up and hit play to listen to the full details of the what, why, how, and next steps of thi...

During my hike through the forest this weekend, I recorded some thoughts about empowerment and what it means for each decade of your life. Some people may find it odd that I simultaneously coach my clients on how to get ahead in their careers and also how to exit the 9-to-5 grind to enjoy self-employment and semi-retirement. However, I see an overall arc to our lives from our 20s to our final year...

The name of this podcast and newsletter has been missing the mark , so I need your help! “Invincible Solopreneurs” has been about freedom, independence, defining your second act, quitting your job, leaving bad bosses, and living life the way you want. But something's not clicking . The name doesn't seem to match what most of you actually want. So, I dive into that in this episode. Scroll up and hi...

Have you ever considered moving abroad? Do you dream of running a business in a more affordable location to improve your quality of life? If so, you will enjoy my guest for this episode, Casey Kelly . We had a great conversation about how and why she moved from Texas to Portugal, and the unique challenges of establishing and operating her small business from there. About Casey, in her own words: “...

What if I told you that your office job is not important ? By the way, that links to a pretty funny video from the comedian Ali Woods. I upset quite a few people on LinkedIn when I made a comment months ago that most companies and jobs don’t need to exist. I guess this really touched a nerve because I dusted off that comment recently, and someone immediately became angry with me again. Ironically,...

Summary of Our Recent Livestream In this episode, Anna Codina - Stress Coach and I discussed what it really takes to transition from a traditional job into solopreneurship without rushing, overspending, or forcing yourself to become someone you’re not. One thing I wanted to clarify right away is that solopreneurship does not mean working alone. For me, it simply means keeping a clean business stru...

Solopreneurship doesn’t mean you always go solo. In this episode, I talk more about how partnerships and collaborations can help you grow your business and achieve greater things when you feel stuck on your own. I also share some stories from my past businesses and partnerships, current collaborative efforts, and how others have partnered to build their businesses. ⬆️ Scroll up, hit play, and list...

In this episode, Anna and I discuss the trap of building a business that replicates the worst parts of being an employee, but gives you none of the benefits. We have friends and clients who have made that mistake! Below are a few questions you should ask yourself. Note: We dive deep into each one in the podcast audio. Scroll up, hit play, and listen. Do you own your time? * If you’re always reacti...

Why would you repeat old pain and misery if you could choose to escape it? I think everyone would prefer to avoid that situation. Yet, many people escape a bad work experience only to find themselves right back in the middle of another nightmare. I was recently talking with a friend who had worked for a narcissistic boss. They described how bad the environment was and the horrible things this boss...

“Why didn’t you answer my emails this weekend?” My new client had already forgotten the ground rules I had established before we started working together. For example: * I don’t work for free. * I don’t work over the weekend. * I don’t do calls super early in the morning or late at night (I make some exceptions for clients in radically different time zones). * I’m not available for texting 24x7. *...

Business owners don’t talk about this enough… Not every client is worth keeping . Sometimes the money isn’t worth the misery. That’s what Anna and Larry discuss in this episode: * The hidden costs of nightmare clients (boy, do we have some stories!). * A framework for deciding when it is time to let a client go: * When there is a values misalignment * When energy drain > revenue gain * When it bec...

My guest for this episode is David Jesse , Executive Product Leader, advisor, coach, and founder of Crescendo Product Group . His company enables product teams to deliver progressively stronger customer value and business outcomes. About David David Jesse is a seasoned product management executive with over 25 years of experience in companies ranging from seed-stage startups to large public enterp...

Set your solopreneur systems up more easily , launch your new business faster , and learn quickly through real testing with real customers in just a few days . That’s what Anna and I discuss in this episode. By the way, she is safe from the volcanic eruption in Costa Rica . Let’s get that out of the way first. You’ll hear us talking about it at the beginning of the episode. Once we moved past that...

Does any of this sound familiar? * Do you feel guilty if you’re not productive every day? * Do you ever feel you can’t take a vacation from your business? * Have you been taught that you need to hustle 24x7 to be successful? * Do you worry about revenue flow and hate to say “No” to any new work? If you answered yes to one or more of those questions, this episode is for you! Anna and I discuss the...

Gaslighting, lying, bullying, threatening, belittling, and generally toxic behavior. We’ve all endured some lose-lose moments in our working relationships when deals go sideways, conversations become hostile, and you wonder if you can keep working together. * Those red flags in an initial client meeting that you shouldn’t have ignored. * A friendly customer who later turns hostile and demanding. *...

I have saved approximately $190,000 over the past 15 years by becoming a solopreneur. I know that number seems insane. It can’t be real, right?!? Let me share the math with you (more details in the podcast audio). Before I left my last corporate job in 2010, I was spending: * 🕰️ 750 hours/year commuting to a corporate campus. * 🚗 13,000 miles/year on California freeways. * ⛽️ $3,000/year on fuel...

Morning journaling changed my life . I’m so glad I started doing it years ago. Before I did, I would: * Lose many of my best ideas (e.g., “I’m sure I’ll remember this cool idea later!”). * Never set aside enough time for brainstorming and creativity to improve my life and business. * Feel stressed out because I checked my email, messages, and news first thing in the morning. Journaling is a proces...

My guest for this episode is Sarah JanTausch , the Founder of SRJ Coaching and Consulting and creator of the Values-Based Career method. This method helps individuals unlock the hidden job market and ditch burnout while creating a career move rooted in their core values, ideal work style, and goals. Before starting her own business, she worked in politics and government, serving Ohio’s Governor an...

My guest for this episode is Isabel Sterne , a writer, designer, and brand strategist who helps unconventional business owners build aligned brands. She offers LinkedIn visual design, content writing, marketing clarity calls, and monthly and project-based marketing and branding support. Before starting her own business, she worked for 12+ years in marketing and communications for global brands lik...

My guest for this episode is Emily Schneider , a visual storyteller specializing in presentation design. She helps businesses and leaders confidently transform their messages into beautiful, effective presentations that truly resonate with their intended audiences. I love that Emily took a chance to gamble on herself and focus on her business after a layoff. She went all in and is succeeding! Many...

Today, I sent a physical letter to my subscribers with some tips on making money from a paid newsletter ( Finding Ways to Fund Your Freedom ). Yes, a physical letter . Imagine that! Thanks to Stamp Fans , it’s pretty easy. You can also use it to generate another revenue stream for your business. In this episode, I dive into the benefits of having an email list and why your solopreneur business nee...

Note: In the podcast audio, I share more details and reveal something very personal about what’s happening to me right now. So, give it a listen! My friend was dead before 60 . He’d put off retirement. He wanted to take a swing at becoming a multimillionaire again. But it didn’t work out. So, he finally decided to retire. Unfortunately, he was dead about two weeks later. Most people TRY to retire...

I always get excited about brainstorming new business ideas. It could be an idea for an entirely new business, product, or service. In the past, I often erred on the side of executing quickly. But after many years of wasting time and money, I’ve learned to exercise a bit of caution and perform a sanity check first . After all, success is as much about saying “No” to the wrong things as it is about...

My guest for this episode is Diana Ashbaugh , a financial advisor with Thrivent . Thrivent is a Fortune 500 diversified financial services organization that provides advice, investments, insurance, banking, and generosity programs and solutions so people can make the most of what they’ve been given. About Diana “I love working alongside individuals and families to demystify the world of finances s...

Is solopreneurship for everyone? Of course not. But I really don’t want people avoiding it because of a bunch of silly myths being perpetuated by folks who have never even tried building a solopreneur lifestyle business. For example, someone on social media recently posted that solopreneurship is bad because: * Being the only person you can count on sucks. * You can’t take vacations. * You can’t b...