Breaking Solo

Donna Amos

🎧 Breaking Solo is your go-to podcast for insights from solopreneurs who’ve made it happen—sharing their strategies, challenges, and the tools they use to stay ahead.

  1. The Stever-Shaped Key: Finding Your Niche by Being Unapologetically You

    MAR 29

    The Stever-Shaped Key: Finding Your Niche by Being Unapologetically You

    What happens when the smartest person in the room can't figure out their own marketing? In this episode, I sit down with executive coach and solopreneur Stever Robbins — host of the legendary Get It Done Guy podcast and Harvard MBA — for one of the most refreshingly honest conversations I've had on this show. Stever opens up about discovering he's neurodivergent in his 60s, and how that single revelation reframed 30 years of marketing struggles. We dig into why choosing a niche the traditional way never worked for him, and the unconventional experiment he's running instead: making himself the niche. We also talk about why AI is the ATM moment for solopreneurs, why "work hard and you'll get ahead" is advice we'd never actually take, and why the key to standing out isn't finding the perfect product — it's showing up as the most unapologetically specific version of yourself. If you've ever felt like you don't quite fit the solopreneur mold, this one's for you. Bio Stever Robbins is a serial entrepreneur, solopreneur, startup veteran, and leadership strategist who has spent his career helping people turn expertise into influence, opportunity, and thriving businesses.He has been part of nine startup teams, inventing the world’s first downloadable financial statement for the Quicken Visa Card. He co-founded FTP Software, helping to build some of the early internet infrastructure. Along the way, he has worn just about every entrepreneurial hat: founder, early employee, advisor, coach, and investor.Stever is also the former host of the top-10 iTunes business podcast The Get-it-Done Guy, where he produced nearly 600 episodes helping professionals and entrepreneurs work smarter, build better systems, and make meaningful progress on what matters most.Today, he works with entrepreneurs, consultants, and independent professionals who want to build reputation-based businesses—where opportunities, partnerships, and clients come through trust, relationships, and credibility rather than constant hustle.A graduate of MIT and Harvard Business School (which he attended on a dare), Stever has spoken at institutions including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, and Columbia, and has been featured in Fast Company, Inc., The Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. His unconventional journey—from growing up in a traveling New Age commune to building startups and advising leaders—shapes his unique perspective on work, success, and building an extraordinary life. Website www.steverrobbins.com Social Media Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/stever/https://www.instagram.com/stever.robbinshttps://x.com/SteverRobbins

    58 min
  2. Get Seen, Get Heard, Get Paid: Publicity Secrets for Solopreneurs with Jill Lublin

    MAR 22

    Get Seen, Get Heard, Get Paid: Publicity Secrets for Solopreneurs with Jill Lublin

    What if the missing piece in your solopreneur journey isn't another strategy — it's visibility? In this episode, I sit down with publicity expert and four-time author Jill Lublin to talk about how solopreneurs can get in front of the right audiences without a big budget or a PR agency. Jill shares how she went from law school dropout to director of publicity at four independent record labels, and what that journey taught her about perception, promotion, and building a business you love. We dig into why local media is still a goldmine, how to use podcasts strategically, and the one piece of financial advice Jill wishes she'd gotten on day one. If you've been hiding behind your work instead of getting your name out there, this episode is your wake-up call. BIO Jill Lublin is an international speaker, media strategist, and four-time bestselling author known for her work in publicity, networking, influence marketing, and kindness-driven business practices. She has spoken to audiences worldwide, delivering over 200 engagements a year and has shared stages with thought leaders such as Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, and Lisa Nichols.Jill’s expertise centers on helping entrepreneurs, authors, and business leaders increase visibility, build strong relationships, and grow profitability through strategic publicity and influence techniques. She authored bestselling books including Get Noticed…Get Referrals, Guerrilla Publicity, Networking Magic, and The Profit of Kindness, the latter of which hit #1 in multiple categories.Jill has worked with over 100,000 clients throughout her 25+-year career and has been featured in major media outlets like Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc., Fortune Small Business, and The New York Times. She also teaches her signature Publicity Crash Courses and hosts programs that inspire purposeful and kind leadership in business. Websiteh ttps://jilllublin.com/ Social Media Links https://www.instagram.com/jilllublin/?hl=en, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilllublin/ Freebie Giveaway Link https://jilllublin.com/about-jill/#publicity-master-class

    19 min
  3. Unlocking the Secrets of Solopreneurship

    MAR 7

    Unlocking the Secrets of Solopreneurship

    In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Evan Cox, a solopreneur specializing in nonprofit marketing. They discuss Evan's journey from working in a large nonprofit to becoming a solopreneur, the challenges he faced, and the importance of understanding multiple audiences in marketing. Evan shares insights on standing out in a competitive market, industry trends for solopreneurs, essential tools for business management, and daily routines that enhance productivity. He also offers valuable advice for those starting their solopreneur journey and highlights exciting projects he is currently working on. takeaways Evan emphasizes the importance of serving multiple audiences in nonprofit marketing.His journey includes unexpected career turns that shaped his approach to business.Entrepreneurship reveals personal gaps and encourages self-discovery.A clear message is not enough; it must also be compelling and relevant.Evan's unique approach to StoryBrand helps him stand out in a crowded market.Simplicity in business processes is crucial for scalability. BIO For more than fifteen years, I have served businesses, nonprofits, churches, and the leaders who guide them. Whether serving on staff at internationally-renowned nonprofits or running a coffee company in Southeast Asia that helped local farmers develop sustainable agriculture and business practices, my work has taken me around the globe. Today, my team and I have the privilege of working with small to mid-sized businesses, nonprofits, and churches across multiple continents so they communicate the right message and then infuse it throughout all their marketing–from strategy and copy to websites and fundraising. Website https://evancoxconsulting.com/ Social Media Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/evancox1?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_c Freebie Giveaway Linkhttps://evancoxconsulting.com/resources/

    30 min
  4. The Accidental Entrepreneur: Holly Fisher's Journey

    MAR 1

    The Accidental Entrepreneur: Holly Fisher's Journey

    In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Holly Fisher, a marketing strategist and owner of Fisher Creative Marketing. Holly shares her journey into solopreneurship, the challenges she faced, and how she found her unique niche in the marketing industry. They discuss the impact of AI on marketing, essential tools for solopreneurs, and daily routines that enhance productivity. Holly also offers valuable advice for those starting their solopreneur journey and shares her upcoming projects and workshops. BIO Holly Fisher is the owner of Fisher Creative Marketing and a long-time StoryBrand Certified Guide. She’s helped dozens of organizations build a marketing strategy, clarify their marketing message, and develop an effective sales funnel that generates more leads and boosts their bottom line. A long-time professional writer and former full-time journalist, Holly believes in the power of story to inform and engage. She has worked with clients around the globe and in a variety of industries. Holly is also an Unreasonable Hospitality coach, helping organizations transform their customer experience. She is a sought-after workshop facilitator and speaker. Holly lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, teenage daughter, and two dogs. She enjoys CrossFit, reading, cooking, and hiking. Website https://fisher-creative.com/ Social Media Links https://www.instagram.com/fishercreativemarketing/https://www.youtube.com/@fishercreativemarketinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyannfisher/https://www.facebook.com/FisherCreativeMarketingFreebie Giveaway Link https://mailchi.mp/fisher-creative.com/jfb8kkwudq

    20 min
  5. Start Scared, Stay Brave: Shampaigne Graves on Building a Business from $20

    FEB 21

    Start Scared, Stay Brave: Shampaigne Graves on Building a Business from $20

    In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos sits down with Shampaigne Graves, entrepreneur, founder of two businesses, and a powerful voice for women in business. Shampaigne shares how she started with just $20, a free Shopify trial, and a mission to help women start and stay in business—and how that early vision grew into a micro school, training center, and expanding team. She also opens up about the deeply personal loss that inspired her entrepreneurial journey and how she chose to turn grief into purpose by carrying forward her best friend’s dream. You’ll hear practical and inspiring insights on: Growing from solopreneur to building a team (including equity/profit-share options) Why personal branding helped her stand out (“the girl in pink”) How relationships helped her find her niche and grow without money, mentorship, or a roadmap Why solopreneurs need to stay current on AI, automation, and tech stacks How to use AI as an assistant without losing your voice Daily habits that support focus and productivity (including a morning routine you may want to steal 👀) Shampaigne also shares one of the best reminders for anyone starting out: be brave and do things scared. If you’ve been waiting to feel fully ready before making your move, this conversation is the nudge you need. BIO Starting in business with just $20 and a dream - Shampaigne Graves is a Women’s Consumer Research Strategist who explains why billion-dollar companies keep losing money by misunderstanding the $31.8 trillion women’s economy. She developed the proprietary WCR4™ Method after watching manipulative marketing campaigns exploit her sister as a new mother, which ignited her mission to dismantle predatory tactics disguised as empowerment. Her research reveals patterns like “Purchase Panic” (how imposter syndrome sabotages checkout) and “Legacy Consumerism” (how brand loyalty passes through generations like heirlooms) that traditional marketing models completely miss. She’s spoken to over 10,000 people internationally and been featured in Newsweek, WCPO ABC, and Observer for her controversial take that most consumer research is just expensive confirmation bias. Through her consulting practice and owned platforms like the Women’s Trends Summit, she teaches organizations that empathy is a systems design problem, not a soft skill, and translates complex consumer psychology into revenue-protecting operations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Website www.shampaignegraves.com Social Media Links LinkedIn.com/in/shampaigne-gravesFreebie Giveaway Link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfl5UI-A_bkmDfEmDwRVhN_K5YlGNz0BZQGraWM03onfDcl3w/viewform?usp=header

    19 min
  6. Stop the “Lipstick Rebrand”: Positioning That Makes You Uncopyable

    FEB 14

    Stop the “Lipstick Rebrand”: Positioning That Makes You Uncopyable

    What if the thing you’re calling “branding” is actually just a costume change… and your customers are now wandering the store like, “Where did my ice cream go?” In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos talks with Beatrice Gutknecht, a positioning strategist who helps service-based businesses (think landscapers, accountants, home builders, and other “we-all-sound-the-same” pros) claim a clear, market-dominating place in their industry—without confusing the audience or forcing a fake voice onto the team. You’ll hear why Beatrice is fiercely anti-rebrand-for-no-reason, how to find an “enemy” to sharpen your message, and why the best businesses don’t just sound different—they’re operationally set up to deliver the difference. They also dig into the growing challenge of too many loud opinions online, how to keep your own instincts intact, and why AI should support your voice—not replace it. Plus: the tools they can’t live without (Notion vs. Donna’s CRM/Pandarus), and Beatrice’s best advice for solopreneurs: avoid shiny distractions and have real conversations before you build anything. BIO Beatrice Gutknecht is the Founder of Badassery by B, shifting how businesses are seen with ROI (like increasing brand value, AKA business value, and reducing sales and marketing costs) and practical operations-focused brand strategy, and Host of The Art of Branding Podcast. Beatrice is a firm believer that the classic ‘rebrand’ is BS and a great way to spend a bunch of money while losing market share and trust and restart the growth cycle from scratch. What’s effective? Repositioning and refreshing your brand. Website https://www.badasserybyb.com Social Media Links Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatricegutknecht Freebie Giveaway Link https://www.badasserybyb.com/brand-health

    24 min
  7. Transforming Shyness into Speaking Success

    FEB 9

    Transforming Shyness into Speaking Success

    In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos interviews Laurie-ann Morabito, a former shy individual who transformed into a confident speaker and coach. Laurie-ann shares her journey from corporate life to becoming a solopreneur, emphasizing the importance of public speaking in building credibility and attracting clients. The conversation explores the challenges of being a solopreneur, the evolution of finding one's niche, and the significance of personal branding in today's market. Laurie-ann also discusses essential tools for managing a business, effective habits for productivity, and offers valuable advice for those starting their solopreneur journey. The episode concludes with insights into upcoming projects and resources for aspiring speakers. BIO BioLaurie-Ann Murabito is a reformed painfully shy gal who couldn't make eye contact with others and accidentally became a professional speaker. 2x Best Selling Author of Rethink Leadership and Rethink Your Leadership. Host of Be IN Demand, a Top 1.5% podcast. A few of her clients are Johnson & Johnson, American Towers and Far East Recycling. Today Laurie-Ann works with coaches, consultants, and service provides who hate to sell and help them write and deliver a speech that does the selling for them. Her clients routinely step off the stage to more clients, leads, and future stage bookings. Website https://SpeakAndStandOut.com Social Media Links LI-> https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-ann-murabito/IG-> https://www.instagram.com/laurieann.murabitoYT: https://www.youtiube.com/lamurabito Freebie Giveaway Link https://SpeakAndStandOut.com/Magic

    32 min

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🎧 Breaking Solo is your go-to podcast for insights from solopreneurs who’ve made it happen—sharing their strategies, challenges, and the tools they use to stay ahead.