Staying Solo
Maggie Patterson, BS-Free Business
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 20 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)
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 20 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)
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 10, 2023 • 33min
The 2023 Online Business Investment Survey
In early 2021, I released the first edition of the Online Business Investment Survey to understand why people made the investments they did and what their experiences were really like. In a market with very little open discussion of people's experiences, this survey helped shed light on how people were manipulated and what they wanted from their investments. Fast forward to 2023, and I'm still here banging my drum about the BS in the online business world, so I decided to do the survey again to explore how things have evolved over the past two years. What I share in this podcast episode is a tiny snapshot of a much bigger industry problem where there's a massive disconnect between what's being sold and what's being delivered. Learn more at bsfreebusiness.com/2023-online-business-investment-survey
Apr 3, 2023 • 40min
DUPED SEASON 4: The Manipulation of Manifestation
*This week, we're sharing a new episode of Duped season 4 for your listening pleasure.* Online business is steeped in manifestation talk, especially regarding money. But should you believe what your coach tells you about how investing in their high ticket mastermind is a way to accomplish your goals by betting on yourself? Are you missing some secret way of making money and making your dreams come true? In this episode, we're digging into manifestation, including the gaslighting and grifting that's everywhere. Want more? Join us on Patreon for bonus and behind-the-scenes content. Find us at patreon.com/duped Learn more on our website at duped.online
Mar 27, 2023 • 22min
The Power of Retainer Clients
If there's one tried and true way of delivering services to clients, it's the retainer model. While it's often overlooked for project engagements or VIP days, a retainer with the proper structure can be incredibly powerful. In this episode, we're exploring everything you need to know about retainer clients. Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/retainer-clients
Mar 20, 2023 • 20min
Should You Offer VIP Day Services?
Everyone is talking about VIP days, but are they right for you and your business? In this episode, we're looking at everything you need to know to answer the question of whether you should offer VIP day services or not. Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/VIP-days
Mar 13, 2023 • 19min
How to Sell More Strategy in 2023
Maybe you're selling strategy, and you want to sell more of it in 2023. Maybe you've been thinking about selling strategy, and now it's time to start. In this episode, we're digging into everything you need to know to sell more strategy in 2023 with a BS-free look at what you may be missing or need to do next. Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/sell-more-strategy
Mar 6, 2023 • 26min
Selling Your Services: Myth Busting 2023 Edition
Confused about the latest trends or advice on selling your services? You're not alone in that, as there's so much advice out there, that is confusing and contradictory. In this episode, we're looking at myths about selling your services with a dose of my signature BS-busting. A new season of the BS-Free Service Business show starts now. Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/sell-your-services
Feb 20, 2023 • 36min
DUPED SEASON 4: Coaching, Consulting and the Current Chaos of Online Business
*This week, we're sharing the first episode of Duped season 4 for your listening pleasure.* We're back! And a lot has happened since our last season. In this episode, we're digging into the world of business coaching and how things have gone seriously off the rails. Welcome to Season 4 of Duped. We're back, and we couldn't be more excited about what we have planned, as this season, we'll be diving into the world of online business scams. In our first episode, we want to talk about how business coaching has gone seriously off the rails, along with a rundown of what's happening right now in the online space. Learn more at duped.online
Dec 12, 2022 • 32min
The State of Ethical Marketing and Online Business for 2023
2022 is rolling to a close, and as I've done the last two years, I wanted to check in on the state of online business — especially as predictions I've made in 2020 and 2021 about ethical marketing and the use of trauma-informed language, along with other market conditions have come true. Here's what you need to know about the state of ethical marketing and online business as we head into 2023. Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/ethical-marketing-and-online-business
Dec 5, 2022 • 44min
The Rise of Trauma Informed Coaching
You've probably heard of the term trauma informed, but do you really know what it means? And should you trust coaches who are trauma-informed? In this episode, my guests Nicole Lewis-Keeber and Shulamit Ber Levtov join me to explore the rise of trauma-informed coaching. Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/trauma-informed-coaching
Nov 28, 2022 • 16min
Real Talk on Planning for 2023
Planning season is upon us. Love it or hate it, it's a whole thing for us as business owners. In this episode, we're going to get real about planning for 2023. My goal for you is to help you nail down what will make the most difference for you in the coming year and not get sucked into things that waste your time, money, and energy. This isn't about hating on planning, but instead skipping the hype. Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/planning-for-2023
