Do More By Doing Less - Simplicity for Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Solopreneurs

Charles Alexander
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated weekly

Welcome to the Do More by Doing Less podcast with Charles Alexander, the show for Small Business Owners, Start Ups, and Busy Folks! This is not another productivity, hustle, and grind podcast. I literally want you to do less. Many of us are overwhelmed, frustrated, and need a break. The good news is that we can accomplish much more than now. Once we focus on the vital few, and prioritize things that make our lives and the lives of people around us better, we can “do more by doing less”. This podcast is funny, simple, and has real-world stories. That’s it. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode and have fun listening while you drive, do the dishes, or mow the lawn!

  1. 20 Oct

    Make Sure Your Family Is On Board

    Show Summary: In this episode, I share what can happen when one spouse starts a business without a clear plan for money, time, or responsibilities at home. Starting a business affects more than the entrepreneur. It affects the entire household. A few honest conversations before making the leap can prevent financial stress, resentment, and a whole lot of unnecessary arguments. Takeaways: • Your business goals need to include realistic revenue and timelines. • Starting a business changes responsibilities at home, not just at work. • Decide how much money you're willing to invest before you start spending it. • Your spouse may support your dream without understanding what building a business requires. • Starting while you still have another source of income can reduce financial pressure. Action For You To Take: Sit down with your spouse or anyone else affected by your business and discuss three things: your financial goals, how much time the business will require, and how household responsibilities will be divided.You don't need perfect answers. You need everyone working from the same plan. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

  2. 6 Oct

    Broaden Your Skills, Narrow Your Niche

    Show Summary: In this episode, I explain why trying to be everything to everyone makes it harder for your business to stand out. From Publix and Aldi to McDonald’s and Little Caesars, successful businesses give customers a clear reason to choose them. Your niche doesn’t have to be groundbreaking. It can simply be a specific customer, service, or unique twist that separates you from everyone else. Takeaways: • Being more specific makes it easier for customers to understand why they should choose you. • A niche can come from a neglected market, unmet demand, or a unique twist. • You don't have to reinvent an industry to stand out. • Your strengths, customers, and competition can help reveal your best niche. • Trying to combine every possible advantage isn't a niche. Action For You To Take: Answer three questions: What are you really good at?What is your competition not offering?What do your customers actually want?Look for the overlap. Then choose one thing you want your business to become known for and start making it obvious in your marketing. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

  3. 15 Sept

    When You Do Things Without Advisors...

    Show Summary: In this episode, I share the story of my four-year-old son getting an Operation game piece stuck up his nose and the lesson that came from it: sometimes you need a specialist. The same is true in business. Trying to handle everything yourself can cost you time, money, and a lot of unnecessary frustration. Takeaways: • Successful business owners don't try to become experts at everything. • A CPA, attorney, insurance broker, and business coach can provide a strong foundation for your business. • Bankers, SBDC counselors, SCORE counselors, and other advisors can also be valuable resources. • Free advice can be helpful, but paying for expertise often creates more accountability. • Knowing when to outsource is an important business skill. Action For You To Take: Identify one area of your business where you're trying to do something yourself that an expert should probably handle. Then find one qualified person who can either take it off your plate or help you make better decisions. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

  4. 1 Sept

    Skip Your Why; Identify Your How

    Show Summary: In this episode, I explain why we may have taken the obsession with finding our “why” a little too far. Knowing why you want something matters, but most entrepreneurs already have a pretty good idea. Usually, it comes back to some form of freedom. The bigger challenge is figuring out how actually to get there. Takeaways: • Most entrepreneurs already know their “why,” even if they struggle to put it into words. • Freedom can mean more control over your time, work, clients, money, or relationships. • Constantly asking “why” can eventually become another form of overthinking. • Once you understand what you want, shift your attention to “how.” • Progress comes from turning your motivation into practical action. Action For You To Take: Write down your biggest goal and the reason you want it. Then stop digging deeper into the “why” and answer one question: How can I move closer to it this week? Keep the answer practical. Identify something you can actually do instead of another idea to think about. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

  5. 30 Jun

    When You Try to Sell to Everyone, You Sell to No One

    Show Summary: In this episode, I share the story of a liquor store owner who was convinced high-end wine accessories would transform his business. A simple one-day customer tracking experiment revealed something completely different. The lesson is one I see repeatedly with small business owners: when you try to market to everyone, you usually end up connecting with no one. The businesses that grow fastest understand exactly who their best customers are and focus their time, money, and energy there. Takeaways: • Your best customers are often easier to identify than you think. • Assumptions are dangerous. Data beats opinions every time. • Trying to serve everyone usually weakens your marketing. • The customers who generate the most revenue are not always the customers you enjoy serving most. • Narrowing your focus often increases sales instead of limiting them. Action For You To Take: Review your customer list and answer two questions:Which customers generate the most revenue?Which customers do you enjoy working with the most?Then look for common characteristics such as age, industry, income level, company size, location, or buying behavior. Write them down instead of relying on memory. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

  6. 16 Jun

    Don't Follow Your Passion

    Show Summary: In this episode, I challenge one of the most common pieces of business advice out there: "Follow your passion." Through stories of entrepreneurs who loved what they did but struggled to build sustainable businesses, I explain why passion alone is rarely enough. More often, successful business owners start with a skill they're good at, create value with it, and develop a deeper passion as they see the results.  Takeaways: • Passion without the right skills can lead to frustration and failure. • Running a business requires doing many things you may never love, including sales, bookkeeping, and managing people. • Skills create value. Value creates customers. Customers create opportunities. • Success often creates passion, not the other way around. • Autonomy, flexibility, and control are passions many entrepreneurs share, regardless of their industry. Action For You To Take: Make a list of three things you're genuinely skilled at. Then ask yourself which of those skills solves a problem people would pay to have solved. Start there instead of chasing a passion that has no clear market demand. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

  7. 26 May

    Narrow Down Your Products & Services

    Show Summary: In this episode, I explain why offering too many products or services can actually hurt your sales. Using examples from Netflix, a famous Columbia University study, and my time working with SERVPRO, I break down why confused customers rarely buy. The businesses that grow the fastest are usually the ones known for one or two simple things instead of twenty complicated options. Takeaways: • Too many choices create overwhelm and reduce sales. • Simplicity helps customers remember what you actually do. • Businesses grow faster when they focus on one or two core offers. • Packages and clear messaging outperform endless customization. • Attention does not always equal conversions. Action For You To Take: Write down every product or service you currently offer. Then circle the top one or two things you want to be known for or that generate the most revenue. Simplify your messaging around those first and introduce the rest later. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

  8. 12 May

    It Is Riskier to Work for Someone Else Than to Work For Yourself

    Is owning a business actually riskier than having a job?  By the way, I have both, so I'm not exactly a "burn the boats" kind of guy:) Show Summary: In this episode, I share the story of turning down a “safe” corporate job at John Deere during a recession and why that decision completely changed how I think about risk. Most people assume entrepreneurship is unstable, but after years of coaching and business ownership, I’ve realized depending on one paycheck can be just as risky. Takeaways: • A steady paycheck does not always equal security. • Multiple income streams can reduce long-term risk. • Friends and family often discourage entrepreneurship because it feels unfamiliar to them. • Modern business owners have more tools, automation, and flexibility than ever before. • Starting a business while working full-time can lower financial pressure and help you test ideas safely. Action For You To Take: Look at your current income situation honestly. Ask yourself where all your financial security currently comes from. Then identify one small way to create an additional stream of income, even if it starts as a side project. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business or even starting one, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

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About

Welcome to the Do More by Doing Less podcast with Charles Alexander, the show for Small Business Owners, Start Ups, and Busy Folks! This is not another productivity, hustle, and grind podcast. I literally want you to do less. Many of us are overwhelmed, frustrated, and need a break. The good news is that we can accomplish much more than now. Once we focus on the vital few, and prioritize things that make our lives and the lives of people around us better, we can “do more by doing less”. This podcast is funny, simple, and has real-world stories. That’s it. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode and have fun listening while you drive, do the dishes, or mow the lawn!

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