Staying Solo

Maggie Patterson, BS-Free Business
  • 4.8 (72)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Staying Solo

Growing a solo service business is tough. It’s even harder when you’re bombarded with BS advice that steers you away from your values and why you started your business in the first place. This is the podcast for solo creatives and consultants who want to remain as a team of one and have zero interest in the hustle and grind of typical business teachings. Most podcasts for solopreneurs and freelancers, hosted by out-of-touch celebrity entrepreneurs who haven't offered one-to-one services in years, miss the mark on today's market realities. Maggie Patterson, a service business owner for over 19 years, understands that to stay solo, you need to know what matters to you, what works for you, and what you should completely ignore. In each episode, she examines one piece of conventional business advice to discover how it may hurt your business or be completely wrong for you as a solo business owner. Join Maggie for real talk to help you avoid burnout or the desire to entirely burn down your business to open a flower shop, book store, or cat cafe. (Because those cats won’t pay the bills.) (Formerly the BS-Free Service Business Show)

  1. Pivot or Persist? How to Plan Your Business’ Next Chapter

    DEC 9

    Pivot or Persist? How to Plan Your Business’ Next Chapter

    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.

    18 min
  2. Planning Without the BS: How to Prep for the New Year Without Wasting Time

    DEC 2

    Planning Without the BS: How to Prep for the New Year Without Wasting Time

    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.

    13 min
  3. Boost Efficiency with AI While Keeping Your Integrity Intact

    NOV 25

    Boost Efficiency with AI While Keeping Your Integrity Intact

    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.

    18 min
  4. Smart Packaging: How to Make Your Services Sellable

    NOV 18

    Smart Packaging: How to Make Your Services Sellable

    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.

    14 min
  5. Best-Case Scenario Productivity vs. Reality: The Missing Margin

    OCT 28

    Best-Case Scenario Productivity vs. Reality: The Missing Margin

    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.

    15 min
  6. Ethics Over Easy: Succeed Without the Shady Shortcuts

    OCT 21

    Ethics Over Easy: Succeed Without the Shady Shortcuts

    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.

    12 min
  7. Stop Selling, Start Solving: For Solopreneurs Who Hate Sleazy Sales

    OCT 14

    Stop Selling, Start Solving: For Solopreneurs Who Hate Sleazy Sales

    "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.

    14 min
  8. Exposing MRR: The Crumbling of a ‘Get Rich Quick’ Dream

    OCT 7

    Exposing MRR: The Crumbling of a ‘Get Rich Quick’ Dream

    This week, we’re sharing our most recent Duped episode, where we discuss Master Resell Rights. _____________________________ 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.  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.

    46 min
See All (433)

4.8
out of 5
72 Ratings

About

Growing a solo service business is tough. It’s even harder when you’re bombarded with BS advice that steers you away from your values and why you started your business in the first place. This is the podcast for solo creatives and consultants who want to remain as a team of one and have zero interest in the hustle and grind of typical business teachings. Most podcasts for solopreneurs and freelancers, hosted by out-of-touch celebrity entrepreneurs who haven't offered one-to-one services in years, miss the mark on today's market realities. Maggie Patterson, a service business owner for over 19 years, understands that to stay solo, you need to know what matters to you, what works for you, and what you should completely ignore. In each episode, she examines one piece of conventional business advice to discover how it may hurt your business or be completely wrong for you as a solo business owner. Join Maggie for real talk to help you avoid burnout or the desire to entirely burn down your business to open a flower shop, book store, or cat cafe. (Because those cats won’t pay the bills.) (Formerly the BS-Free Service Business Show)

Information

  • Creator
    Maggie Patterson, BS-Free Business
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2024
  • Episodes
    433
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Scoop Studios 2016 to 2024
  • Show Website
    Staying Solo

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