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Staying Solo

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Rating
★★★★★
4.8
from
78 reviews
This podcast has
510 episodes
Language
English
Date created
2016/03/31
Latest episode
2026/10/19
Average duration
20 min.
Release period
10 days

Description

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)

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One Offer, 14 New Clients: Kim Cofino's Revenue Reset
2026/10/19
Need more revenue? Before you create another damn offer, look at what you're already selling. That's where my client Kim Cofino and I started. The result? 14 new clients, months before her usual fall launch. Same program. A new reason to join sooner. In this episode, we're unpacking that shift—and how to make more money from what you've already built, including:  The power of zooming out and looking at what's working well before you decide to add anything new How Kim aimed for three new clients and booked 14 by restructuring her offer and giving clients a new entry point to buy.  How Kim and I worked together to eliminate marketing busywork, dial in her positioning and simplify everything.  How having someone help you can help you make the decisions you've been circling for months. Work with me inside Revenue Reset this fall. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
What It Actually Took to Revenue Reset My Own Business
2026/10/12
We've all heard the business advice to "just launch it." Sounds easy enough but the thing is, you can't turn an idea into a profitable offer by next Tuesday without figuring out who wants it, what it's worth, how you'll sell it, and whether you actually want to deliver it. When I created Revenue Reset, I spent months figuring out those pieces.  The result? 13 clients booked in the first year and a new revenue stream that helped me step away from corporate work. In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of that process including:  How I turned work I've been doing for years into a productized  1:1 consulting offer.  My methodical approach to creating the service and everything that needed to happen to support it.  The questions I asked before I worried about packaging or pricing anything.  A look at my promotion plan and the metrics I've been tracking. You can learn more about working with me 1:1 in Revenue Reset here. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please:.= Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
This is What Paid & Peaceful Looks Like
2026/09/21
What if your business doesn't need another offer, client or plan? What if the solution is for you to calm the hell down and decide what you actually want? In this episode, we're bringing together everything from our Paid and Peaceful series to help you make better decisions, earn more and build a business with a whole lot more peace. Topics discussed in this episode include: How the five core principles of Paid & Peaceful work together to shape everyday business decisions. Why defining enough helps you stop treating every opportunity for more as an obligation. How to think about comfy money and evaluate whether more revenue is actually making you more money. Choosing your own version of success and building a business around what you actually want. Why your business doesn't need to become your entire identity. How to treat capacity like currency and make deliberate trade-offs. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
Capacity Is Currency: Spend It Where It Counts
2026/09/14
You've optimized your calendar, built the systems, and automated what you could. Yet somehow, you're still stretched too thin. So you assume you need a better productivity system—or more discipline, focus or efficiency. But what if productivity isn't the problem? What if you're simply asking yourself to do too much, under conditions that make everything harder? In this episode of the Paid and Peaceful series, we're looking at where your capacity is going, when productivity tips become toxic, and three questions to help you decide what's actually worth your time and energy. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why productivity isn't the problem—and how overcommitting drains capacity. Supportive productivity vs. "toxic productivity". Why capacity includes energy, emotions, sensory needs and work conditions. How boundaries, margin and agency create better working conditions. Why every "yes" has a cost and how to decide what's worth it. Three questions to decide what deserves your time and energy. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
You Can't Keep Working This Hard Forever: Inside the Paid & Peaceful Mastermind (Pop-Up Episode)
2026/09/09
You've built a service business that works. Your clients are happy, the money is coming in, and you're damn good at what you do. BUT you're working harder than you want to, carrying every decision alone and wondering how long you can keep doing business this way… So what kind of support do you need at this stage—and is the Paid & Peaceful Mastermind the right place to get it? In this episode, I'm giving you the real story about what happens inside the mastermind, who's already in the room and what we'll work on together. In this episode, we cover: Who the Paid & Peaceful Mastermind is built for—and who shouldn't join The problems experienced service business owners bring into the room How we work on your salary, space and strategy so the business pays you better without demanding more of your life Who's already committed to the group and what members have in common What happens during your first 90 days, including creating your Paid & Peaceful Plan The one-to-one and group support you'll have throughout the 12-month mastermind Links for This Episode: Paid & Peaceful Mastermind Details Book your consult call
The Myth of the Obsessed Entrepreneur
2026/09/07
A lot of us started businesses because we wanted more freedom, flexibility and control over our time. So how did we end up with a version of entrepreneurship where the business becomes our identity, our purpose, and basically our entire life? I think we've lost the plot. In this episode, we're talking about why obsession isn't the price of being a serious business owner, what happens when your business becomes too much of who you are, and how to put it back in its rightful place—so it supports your life instead of taking it over. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why your business doesn't need to be your entire identity. Separating business outcomes from your sense of self-worth. The importance of having hobbies, relationships and identities outside of work. Why constant growth and optimization aren't always signs of success. The difference between being committed to your business and being obsessed with it. How to create more space for your life while still building a profitable business.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please:. Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
What If There's Another Version of Success?
2026/08/31
What if you've been channelling your ambition towards the wrong thing?  We're taught to aim our ambition at more: more money, more success, more growth, more everything. But what if you don't actually want more of those things?  What if there are other things you'd rather have more of like time, freedom, creativity, connection, ease, or simply a life you actually enjoy? In this next episode in the Paid and Peaceful series,  we're talking about what happens when you stop assuming business growth is the obvious place to put your ambition and start asking a much more interesting question: What's actually worthy of my ambition? Topics discussed in this episode include: Why we're taught to equate ambition with more money, growth and success. The difference between desire-driven and proving-driven ambition. How hustle culture keeps us chasing an endless finish line. Why ambition isn't a meritocracy and the role privilege and circumstances play. Redefining success with a new scoreboard focused on your life, not just your business. How to decide what's actually worthy of your ambition and what you're willing to trade for it. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please:. Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
The Money Goal Nobody Talks About: Comfy Money
2026/08/24
What if being wealthy isn't about having more money, but about having enough money to live the life you actually want? Enough to feel secure, have options, enjoy your life and to plan for the future. All while not working yourself into the ground to afford it. I call that Comfy Money. And it starts with one critical question: How much money is actually enough for you? Your answer might completely change the business you're building, and what you're working toward. In this episode of the Paid and Peaceful series, we're talking about wealth and why entrepreneurship keeps telling us the answer is always "more." Topics discussed in this episode include: Why online business has distorted our perception of wealth and success.  The difference between revenue, income, and actual wealth. What "Comfy Money" means and why your number is deeply personal. How to calculate the money you actually need to fund the life you want Why money is more complicated than mindset or math, and how shame can keep us stuck.  Using your Comfy Money number to make better business decisions—and redefine what "enough" means.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please:. Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
Enough Is a Radical Business Strategy
2026/08/17
What if success isn't about building more, but rather deciding what's enough? That might be the most radical choice you can make as a business owner.  The moment you define enough for yourself, you stop chasing someone else's scorecard and start building a business that helps you feel both paid and peaceful. That's exactly what this new podcast series is about. Over the next six episodes of our new Paid & Peaceful series, we're challenging everything we've been taught about success, ambition, money, and what it really takes to build a business that's worth having. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why defining "enough" changes the way you build your business. How hustle culture keeps us chasing more without questioning why. Why your business should support your life—not the other way around. How to redefine ambition and success on your own terms. What it means to build a rich life that leaves you both paid and peaceful. The simple question that can transform every business decision: More... for what? For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please:. Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolor Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
The Offer Dream Team: Your Easy Yes and Next Yes Offers
2026/07/27
The '90s Chicago Bulls. The Spice Girls. The Golden Girls. Whatever your idea of a dream team, none of them became iconic by having everyone off doing their own thing. Your offers could learn a thing or two from them. Because the reason you're constantly looking for your next client may not be your marketing; it might be what happens after someone says yes to working with you.  Topics discussed in this episode include: Why your offers should work together instead of standing alone. How an Easy Yes Offer builds trust and creates momentum. How to create a logical Next Yes Offer for existing clients. When and how to introduce your Next Yes without feeling salesy. How repeat business reduces your marketing and sales workload.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please:. Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
How to Make Your Offers POP (A Framework)
2026/07/20
The best offers aren't built by adding more calls, bonuses, or Slack access. They're built by understanding why people buy. In this episode, I'm sharing the buyer psychology behind Easy Yes Offers and the POP Framework I use to create offers that your clients want to buy. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why most service providers build offers backwards, and what to do instead. The psychology behind Easy Yes Offers. Including what we can learn from a milkshake.  How Positioning, Outcome, and Process work together to make your offer more desirable, distinctive, and credible. The ways a well-designed Easy Yes Offer creates a ripple effect across your business.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
How to Make Your Offers POP (A Framework)
2026/07/20
The best offers aren't built by adding more calls, bonuses, or Slack access. They're built by understanding why people buy. In this episode, I'm sharing the buyer psychology behind Easy Yes Offers and the POP Framework I use to create offers that your clients want to buy. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why most service providers build offers backwards, and what to do instead. The psychology behind Easy Yes Offers. Including what we can learn from a milkshake.  How Positioning, Outcome, and Process work together to make your offer more desirable, distinctive, and credible. The ways a well-designed Easy Yes Offer creates a ripple effect across your business.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
The Real Reasons Your Offers Aren't Selling
2026/07/13
An offer not selling can send any business owner into a full-blown spiral. Suddenly everything feels questionable: pricing, positioning, marketing, even the whole business. But here's the real question: is the offer actually the problem? When I hear "it's not selling," my next question is always: why? And the answer is rarely what people expect. Welcome back to the Easy Yes Offer series where we're digging into why some offers take off while others stall—and why "not selling" is often just the starting point of the wrong diagnosis. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why offers don't sell isn't always obvious. How to validate real demand before creating new offers. The role of clarity, positioning, and specificity in sales. Why promotion and visibility matter more than most people think. How to use poor sales as feedback instead of failure. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
The Offer Edit
2026/07/06
Before you create another offer, ask yourself one question:  What job will it do? Because the right offer makes your business easier to market, sell, and grow. The wrong one creates confusion, complexity, and more work for you. In this episode, we're doing an Offer Edit—a simple process to evaluate your existing offers, cut through the clutter, and ensure every offer in your business has a clear purpose. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why creating more offers often makes your business harder to market, sell, and run. The hidden costs of a cluttered offer suite and how complexity hurts referrals and conversions. How to conduct an Offer Edit using the Recommit, Refine, and Retire framework. The difference between Easy Yes Offers and Next Yes Offers—and why every offer needs a clear role. How to evaluate your offers for client fit, business fit, and overall fit within your offer suite. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo
Staying Solo is Taking a Summer Break
2026/06/09
We're taking a short summer break from Staying Solo, but don't worry—we'll be back on July 6th with a brand-new season. In the meantime, if you want a sneak peek at what we're covering, join the waitlist for The Squad. You'll get access to The Easy Yes Files, a special email series, plus the opportunity to submit your sales page for a complimentary review from yours truly. bsfreebusiness.com/squad

Podcast reviews

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4.8 out of 5
78 reviews
★★★★★
Huxley122 2026/09/06
Better than biz school
SO NEEDED and helpful! Maggie is refreshing and honest and I highly rec for anyone building their small biz.
★★★★★
DesireeTownsend 2026/08/24
The business advice more of us need
Maggie offers a refreshingly honest counterpoint to the constant pressure to scale, chase arbitrary revenue milestones, and major success by what look...
★★★★★
Ariellethisandthat 2026/08/23
Very much something I needed to hear
THANK YOU for making this. It’s clear, calm, and anti-BS, which I vibe with 100%
★★★★★
Amanda Haley 2023/03/27
Worth a Listen!
Maggie shares extremely insightful advice for business owners and breaks things down in a fun and digestible way! Definitely a great podcast for anyon...
★★★★★
MI Music Studio 2021/12/27
Refreshingly honest!
It is so refreshing to hear someone talk about online practices in an open and honest way! It has helped me avoid pitfalls for sure!
★★★★★
Mayra W. 2021/06/16
Real talk that is helpful!
Enjoyed listening to the show, like how Maggie gives real insightful advise on how to have a sustainable business.
★★★★★
Linsey L. 2021/04/24
Simple and helpful
Maggie is very experienced in small business and gives really great advice and insights into the small business world. I really enjoy that she does no...
★★★★★
Atb275 2020/11/22
Refreshing! Definitely a must-listen for online business owners
I love Maggie’s no-BS approach, and how she’s actually “in the trenches” as an agency owner and service provider.
★★★★★
Morgan Fielder (SIG) 2020/09/23
Real talk about online marketing
A refreshing alternative to the rah rah girls
★★★★★
indiefeed review 2020/08/27
Maggie doesn’t waste a second
She always speaks from experience, is super generous, and no filler/fluff. Great show!
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