The Solo Grind

Teresa Schlup, The Original Caffeine Creative
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Welcome to the solo grind. Your weekly coffee break with a fellow solo entrepreneur who's right there in it with you. I am Teresa Schlup the original caffeine creative and this is where real business meets real life. No hype just honest conversations about building a business on your own terms. We talk mindset, strategy, burnout, breakthroughs, and everything in between because going solo doesn't mean doing it alone.Grab a cup of coffee, find your favorite spot, and let's talk about what it really takes to do this thing solo. 

  1. What is AI Saying About You?

    14H AGO

    What is AI Saying About You?

    Send us Fan Mail A few weeks ago I decided to have a little fun at the end of a long workday and asked ChatGPT one simple question: "What can you tell me about Teresa Schlup?" I’ve Googled myself for years out of curiosity, so this felt like a natural progression. The results were fascinating! AI saw me not just as a web designer, but as a "translator" between a business and its audience. It got me thinking... If AI can see me that clearly, what else is it seeing that I might be missing? I’ve tried traditional brand audits before with surveys and coaches, but I rarely got the return on investment I was looking for. Clients don't want to hurt your feelings, and coaches don’t always know your heart. But AI is objective. It doesn’t care about my feelings; it just tells me what the data says. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how you can use AI as an objective strategist to do a deep-dive brand audit on your own schedule and budget. I’ll even share the five categories of questions you need to ask to see if your messaging is actually attracting your dream clients. (And please excuse my "scattered puppy brain" today! My new puppy, Remy, is sleeping at my feet and being his adorable, naughty self!) Questions I asked... Category 1: The Basics "What can you tell me about [Insert Name or Business Name]?""What kind of clients would be best for this business?""Does this business feel approachable or intimidating?"Category 2: Experience and Clarity "Is it immediately obvious what this business offers?""Does this business sound experienced?"Category 3: Gauging Emotional Reactions "Does this brand feel trustworthy?""Does this business feel confident or uncertain?"Category 4: Money and Mechanics "Does this business feel high-end, mid-range, or budget-focused?""What assumptions would you make about their pricing based on their messaging?""Would you expect a streamlined experience or a highly customized experience?"Category 5: Hard Truth Questions "Does this business sound more experienced than its website looks?""Does anything weaken the trust?"The Ultimate Test: "If you had to summarize this business in one sentence, what would you say?"What I hope you take away from today's episode... AI isn’t just a tool for writing emails; it’s an objective mirror that can show you the branding gaps you’re too close to see.Traditional audits often fail because of human bias, but AI only cares about the data you’ve put out into the world.There are 5 key areas to audit: The Basics, Experience & Clarity, Emotional Reaction, Money & Mechanics, and the Hard Truths.Your visuals must support your words. If your website looks janky but your copy sounds elite, you’re creating a "trust gap" that AI can help you spot.The ultimate test of your brand's clarity is whether AI can summarize your business in one clear, punchy sentence.Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode... IntelligentX Brewing Co. (The AI-driven brewery)Junkstock (My favorite festival in Waterloo, Nebraska)Links to connect with me...  Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/) Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    28 min
  2. When Your Brand Finally Feels Like You (The Nicole Schmidt Story)

    MAY 5

    When Your Brand Finally Feels Like You (The Nicole Schmidt Story)

    Send us Fan Mail Last week, we talked about the cost of pretending and how sometimes we just have to "try things on for size" to find our true niche in the world. Well, this week, we have someone who has found her niche. She went from pretending to be "Positively Powerful" to living through the "Schmidts" in a very real, genuine, and authentic way. Her business has blossomed in more ways than you can imagine in four short years. If you love hearing a success story, this episode, my friends, is one you don't want to miss. What I hope you take away from today's episode...  It’s okay to "try things on for size." Finding your niche is a journey. Don't be afraid to pivot if your current brand feels like a costume; "trying on" different directions is often the only way to find the one that fits perfectly.Authenticity is your greatest shortcut. When you stop pretending and start "heart-branding," the work begins to flow. Content, design, and marketing become easy because they are simply an extension of your true self.Your hardest seasons can become your most powerful mission. Nicole turned her personal experience with the "Schmidts" of life into a business that provides genuine connection. Your lived experience is often where your most valuable business offerings are hidden.Give yourself permission to do it your way. Whether you are navigating grief or growing a business, there is no "hierarchy" or set of rules you have to follow. Success happens when you lean into what is natural to you, rather than trying to copy the "gurus."Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode...  Visit Nicole's website: LivingThroughTheSchmidts.com Purchase her book or other fabulous offerings Take a look at the Heartfelt Haven Community Last weeks' episode: The Real Cost of Pretending Links to connect with me...  Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/) Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    41 min
  3. The Real Cost of Pretending

    APR 28

    The Real Cost of Pretending

    Send us Fan Mail Today I’m getting real about a piece of advice we hear all the time in business: "fake it till you make it." Honestly? I hate that advice. After seeing a totally staged, AI-generated post on social media from an acquaintance, I started thinking about the high price we pay when we pretend to be someone we aren’t. In this episode, I’m sharing my own journey of tossing out the "different hats" I felt I had to wear in the corporate world and what happened when I finally started showing up as the real me. We’re talking about why pretending attracts the wrong people, how it drains your energy, and why focusing on becoming a better version of yourself is so much more powerful than just appearing like one. What I hope you take away from today's episode... Why the "fake it" mentality backfires: Understand how playing a role actually attracts the wrong clients and collaborators into your circle.The true cost of appearances: Why keeping up a persona is the fastest way to hit burnout and lose sight of your original dream.It’s okay to "try things on": Why following the wrong path for a little while isn’t a failure—it’s actually a necessary part of figuring out who you really are.Becoming vs. Appearing: Why real success lives in doing the work to improve yourself rather than spending that same energy trying to look successful for others.Previous Episodes Mentioned that you may want to check out...  The DARKSIDE of Marketing The “Fairy Tale” Business Mindset Links to connect with me... Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/) Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    23 min
  4. Let’s Play a Game… Are You a Boundary Pusher or the Eraser?

    APR 21

    Let’s Play a Game… Are You a Boundary Pusher or the Eraser?

    Send us Fan Mail Boundaries sound simple… until you actually start paying attention to how they show up in your day-to-day life. In this episode, we’re playing a little game: Are you the boundary pusher… or the boundary eraser? Through real-life scenarios you’ll probably recognize immediately We will be taking a closer look at the small, everyday moments where boundaries get tested, ignored, or quietly disappear. Some of these might feel uncomfortably familiar. You might see yourself showing up as the one overcommitting, over giving, or saying “it’s fine” when it really isn’t. Or you might catch yourself pushing limits without even realizing it. Either way, this isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness. Because once you can see the pattern, you can start to change it, and create healthier, more respectful relationships in every area of your life. What I hope you take away from today's episode... Not every boundary issue is someone else’s faultSometimes we’re participating in the pattern without realizing itYou can be both a boundary pusher and a boundary eraser depending on the situationAvoiding uncomfortable conversations doesn’t keep the peaceYou don’t have to be rude to be honest. Clear communication can still be kindLetting people struggle a little is sometimes the most respectful thing you can doBoundaries start with YOU (and me too!) Links to connect with me... Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/) Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    31 min
  5. Pretty Doesn’t Mean It Works

    APR 14

    Pretty Doesn’t Mean It Works

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever experienced something that looked amazing… but didn’t actually work? I have and today I am sharing a little behind the scenes of my trip to coast that sparked a bigger conversation about something I see all to often in business... Good ideas with good intentions, but poor execution. I'm sharing everything from the beautiful design details,  incredible cookies, and sketchy bathroom that made it very clear that “pretty” isn’t enough.  I will be chatting about intention and execution, and why choosing excellence (even when it’s harder) is what actually sets you apart from every other business out there!  What I hope you take away from today's episode...  If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter how good it looks.Good intentions don’t equal good delivery.“Good enough” might be quietly costing you more than you realize.Excellence doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing the right things well.People remember how your work made their life easier... or harder.Links to connect with me... Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/) Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    20 min
  6. The "Fairy Tale" Business Mindset

    APR 7

    The "Fairy Tale" Business Mindset

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever caught yourself waiting for a "magic bean" or a "glass slipper" moment to finally catapult your business to the next level? I've been there, and even when it does happen it is never as great as we think it will be. Today, I’m taking a trip down fairytale lane to look at how the stories we loved as kids, and the ones we still tell ourselves today, that might be messing with our business mindset. ​ I am sharing why I actually think Jack and the Beanstalk is really a story about a lazy thief how Cinderella is actually one incredibly empowered woman who didn't need saving.  We’re diving into: The Integrity Filter: Why popular opinion shouldn't dictate your business ethics.The "Ever After" Shift: Lessons from my favorite movie, Ever After, on why you don’t need a fairy godmother (or a viral video) to save you.Strategic Hard Work vs. Busy Work: Shifting the narrative from waiting for "the big break" to creating your own luck through resilience.Dealing with the "Stepmothers": How to protect your energy from people who try to diminish your worth.What I hope you take away from today's episode...  Don't be afraid to let your ideas and perceptions be challenged.  Embrace the good in life... ALWAYS! You don't need to be saved or rescued. You create your own dream... your own success. Only you can shift the narrative playing out in your mind. Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode...  Movie: Ever After: A Cinderella Story Links to connect with me... Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/) Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    22 min
  7. The Power of Design with Angela Cunningham

    MAR 31

    The Power of Design with Angela Cunningham

    Send us Fan Mail One of the things I hear the most from new potential clients is, "I just don't know that I... have enough... am enough... to have a good website." And from my seat at the computer looking in I see how much modesty is getting in the way of letting them shine!  Most of us are way better at what we do than we give ourselves credit for, and yet we sometimes still play small and hide waiting for "one day" when we are ready. Today I am chatting with my client, Angela Cunningham of Hemstitch Interior Design who decided not to wait, and who's new website has helped her shine for the world to see in new and unexpected ways.  We talk about about websites, copywriting, the process of getting to launch and what it really looks like to be an interior designer.  What I hope you take away from today's episode...  The importance of strategic content, including words and images, for SEO and client attractionHow a well-crafted website acts as a digital handshake and confidence boosterThe process behind capturing a client’s personality and business essenceOvercoming modesty and self-doubt to confidently promote your expertiseDesigning with purpose: reflecting processes, values, and personalityLinks to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode... Checkout Angela's website at https://hemstitchdesign.net/ Meet our copywriter Emily Aborn at https://emilyaborn.com/ Links to connect with me... Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/) Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    31 min
  8. The Down & Dirty Truth of Transformation with Rachel Burr

    MAR 24

    The Down & Dirty Truth of Transformation with Rachel Burr

    Send us Fan Mail We often think of transformation as this magical moment when everything beautifully falls into place, but for me transformation is far from beautiful. It is messy, ugly and comes with lots of doubts and tears, and yet, I continue to seek out change because on the other side of that ugly transformation is always something better. If you are going through your own transformation or just thinking about it, today’s episode is for you…  What I hope you take away from today's episode...  The myth of quick transformation and the reality of messy, gooey growthHow to get comfortable with discomfort and lean into it for personal growthThe importance of self-awareness, clarity, and ownership in decision-makingThe role of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership and entrepreneurshipRecognizing that safety is an illusion, and true growth requires riskBuilding your path based on your unique strengths, passions, and valuesThe butterfly analogy: transformation as a process of breaking down to build up anewPractical tools: journaling, coaching, and combining logic with emotionThe significance of small steps and celebrating efforts along the journey Challenging the societal myth of overnight success and magical formulasConnect with Rachel  Website: https://rachelmburr.comBook: "Butterfly Goo: The Down and Dirty Truth of Transformation" : https://rachelmburr.com/butterfly-goo-book LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmburr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.m.burr.1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel.m.burr Links to connect with me...  Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/) Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    45 min
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About

Welcome to the solo grind. Your weekly coffee break with a fellow solo entrepreneur who's right there in it with you. I am Teresa Schlup the original caffeine creative and this is where real business meets real life. No hype just honest conversations about building a business on your own terms. We talk mindset, strategy, burnout, breakthroughs, and everything in between because going solo doesn't mean doing it alone.Grab a cup of coffee, find your favorite spot, and let's talk about what it really takes to do this thing solo. 

Information

  • Creator
    Teresa Schlup, The Original Caffeine Creative
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Teresa Schlup, The Solo Grind
  • Show Website
    The Solo Grind