Staying Solo

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: What the time vs. money trap is Why you may be feeling stuck The key levers you have to break out of it Tune in to discover how to grow your business sustainably in a way that works for you....

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 t...

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 Frame...

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...

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...

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,...

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 cult...

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. K...

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...

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...

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 i...

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...

This week, we're sharing our most recent Duped episode where we discuss understanding the risks of payment plans in online business.  _______________________________________ 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 ov...

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 th...

Have you ever daydreamed about chucking it all in and leaving your business behind for something new?  While this daydream isn't uncommon, it's often hard to conceptualize how (or why!) you'd walk away from a thriving business.  In the last Exits and Evolution series interview, I interviewed fractional integrator and operations strategist AdeOla Fadumiye. Adeola boldly shut down a business that wo...

As a service business owner, have you ever wondered if adding products would be a solid revenue-generation strategy?  The reality is that despite being told that creating courses and other products is a fast path to passive income, it's far easier said than done.  In this episode, Zoe Linda shares how she blended products and services and adapted her offerings over time to meet her needs.  Topics...

Do you ever feel like keeping up with social media is impossible? Or maybe you don't even care to try in the first place? With social media constantly evolving, and as a business owner, it can be hard to gauge what actually matters and how much time and effort you "should" be throwing behind it.  In this episode, Andréa Jones, a mindful marketing strategist, discusses her evolving approach to soci...

To keep the conversation going about Exits and Evolutions, we have our first guest of this series: Jules Taggart. She's gone from being a solo business owner to an agency owner and is back to being solo again.  In this episode, Jules, a fractional CMO and the founder of Wayward Kind, shares how she built an agency and transitioned back to a solo business.  Topics discussed in this episode include:...

It's easy to think making changes to your business will magically solve your problems.  But let's be honest. Change can be HARD, so when do you know when it's the right time to make a change?  In this episode, I'm sharing how to recognize when to adapt, whether keeping up with trends, using new tech, or meeting customers' changing needs. (And when maybe the smarter choice is to stick with what you...

This week, we're sharing our most recent Duped episode, where we break down what's going on in the world of "ethical" business. _____________ Is the state of ethical business actually improving in 2024? Are we actually making some progress? Well, it's a good news/bad news kind of story. The good is that we're finally starting to see more and more people reject the status quo business practices, in...

Real talk about working with clients: Whether you're battling scope creep or sacrificing your personal time and energy to meet client demands, you can easily end up feeling tired and resentful. Having boundaries with clients is essential or our business dreams can turn into a full-on nightmare. In this episode, we're looking at the real cost of "bad" boundaries with clients and how to build health...

Are you holding your business back if you don't blog, podcast, and post on social media? The reality of content creation is that it costs precious time, money and so much more. But is it actually worth it? The answer? It depends! In this episode, we're diving headfirst into the real cost of content creation. Get ready to uncover the truth behind the price tag of online visibility. Topics discussed...

You're busy and booked but looking for ways to make more money. Welcome to the service business owner's dilemma! In this episode of the 'Real Cost Of' series, I'm cutting the BS by debunking myths and unveiling the real costs of adding new income streams.  Topics covered in this episode include: The challenges of trying to grow your revenue when you're booked out. Why the one-to-many model for cou...

Have you ever wondered what creating an agency costs? If you're wondering if it's the right move for your service business, you'll definitely want to listen to this episode.  In this installment of the 'Real Cost Of' series, I'm taking you behind the scenes and spilling the tea on the real costs of agency ownership, including the financial realities, the rollercoaster of leadership, and more.  Top...

Ready to uncover the must-haves and money pits in your solo business tech toolkit?  In this episode of the 'Real Cost Of' series, we'll dig deep into the world of tech and tools for solopreneurs. Discover what's essential, what's extravagant, and the red flags to watch out for!\ Topic covered in this episode include: How the tech stack used by solopreneurs varies based on business size and stage....