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I burned out three times building my business - once while I was bedbound for 12 weeks in Bali, even though I was making a consistent 5- 7k per month. I set myself five rules I now live by so it never happens again because burnout is preventable. In fact, the cure to burnout is prevention. In this episode of Working For Me, I'm sharing the five non-negotiable rules I built my business around after my own burnout - the ones I wish someone had told me before I traded my 9-5 for a full-time job I'd built for myself. What I cover: Why I won't work with clients who drain my energy - and how to spot them before you signWhy trading time for money caps your income, and how to productize your service insteadHow SOPs, systems and automation gave me back my energy (and my business, without me)Why I stopped doing things I hate doing - including the marketing I'd been forcing myself to doWhy taking 2-3 days off a week makes me a better entrepreneur, not a weaker one If you're a solopreneur, side-hustler, or you've just left corporate and you're building something that works for you - this one's for you. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Why I'll never burn out again 01:19 My burnout story: bedbound for 12 weeks 04:30 The chronic health conditions burnout left me with 06:00 The signs of burnout I ignored 08:46 Rule 1: No clients who drain my energy 11:48 Rule 2: Stop undercharging and trading time for money 15:03 Rule 3: Never run a business without systems 18:26 Rule 4: Never do things I hate doing 20:35 Rule 5: Never skip taking time off 23:40 Prevention is the only cure for burnout Freedom Business Bootcamp → https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page Foundations, my 6-month program → https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/Freedom-Model-Method About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com

A client came to me last month with fifteen different lead magnet ideas for her personal training business - and not a single plan to launch any of them. That gap is what this episode is about: how to create an action plan that turns an idea into something live in your business. I walk through the exact process I use with clients to get an idea out of their head and into a working part of their business. We cover how to validate a business idea before you spend a single hour building it, and how to write an action plan by reverse engineering your end goal back to one first step. If you've had an idea sitting untouched for six months or longer, you don't need a full-blown strategy. You just need to take step one. Timestamps: 3:39 - Business idea validation: is your idea actually aligned? 5:05 - How to validate a business idea (real client example) 6:50 - How to create an action plan: reverse engineering the steps 8:05 - Your first move, not step ten 10:56 - How to turn ideas into action that moves the needle In This Episode You'll Learn: Why most business ideas never become a real action planHow to validate a business idea before you invest a single hour in itHow to set goals and create an action plan by working backwards from the outcomeWhat business idea validation looks like with a real client (fifteen ideas, one plan)How to turn ideas into action without drowning in the whole list at once Grab your next step: I teach the full walkthrough for free inside my Freedom Business Bootcamp - a 60-minute training that takes your idea and turns it into a strategic action plan and a sellable offer. Enroll Now: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page For ongoing support in putting it into practice, that's exactly what I built Foundations for. Find out more here: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/Freedom-Model-Method About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com

I didn't set boundaries in my first couple of years of running an online business - and I ended up bedbound in Bali for 12 weeks. That's what happens when you say yes to every client, every opportunity, and every "quick call" that doesn't actually align with what you want. Slowly, it compounds, and one day, before you know it, your body will make the decision to say no for you. This episode is the first thing I would teach anyone starting an online business: how to set boundaries by getting clear on what you want, setting hard rules around it, and getting comfortable saying no. I'm walking you through the exact boundaries framework I wish I'd had from day one of starting my online business, which would have saved me from burnout and now keeps my business working FOR me instead of against me. Timestamps: 0:01 - Why is setting boundaries important when you start an online business 2:05 - How to avoid entrepreneur burnout by setting boundaries early 4:45 - How to set boundaries at work when you leave your 9-5 and start a business 9:57 - How to set boundaries by getting clear on what you want from your business and clients 14:28 - How to say no without feeling guilty when you're a people pleaser In This Episode You'll Learn: Why the 9-5 "say yes to everything" mindset is the #1 thing to unlearn when you go onlineHow to define what you actually want from your business (and your life) before you set a single ruleHow to create a "rule book" of hard boundaries - with real examples like "no meetings before 10:30am"The "hell yes or hell no" framework for deciding what to take onHow to say no kindly but firmly - without leaving room for misinterpretation If you're a recovering people pleaser building an online business, this one's for you. 🎧 Ready to build a business that actually works for you, with solid boundaries? → Join Foundations: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/Freedom-Model-Method About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com

You DO NOT have to post on Instagram to have a successful online business. This is the biggest content marketing strategy myth out there on the internet right now. Too many aspiring entrepreneurs never start an online business because they’re scared of posting on instagram and don’t know how else to create a content marketing strategy for their business. What if we took Instagram out of your content marketing strategy and looked at marketing where you actually consume and like creating content for. In todays episode of The Working For Me Podcast we’ll explore the alternative content marketing strategies you can use for your online business such as building a LinkedIn personal brand or starting a Substack newsletter if you love to write, using Pinterest for business if you’re a graphic design wizz, or creating long form content for YouTube or a Podcast if you love to yap. Timestamps: 6:58 - Why I quit Instagram to build my personal brand elsewhere 9:02 - How to grow on LinkedIn and build a linkedin personal brand 12:16 - My pinterest strategy: pinterest for business as a search engine 14:11 - How to start a substack newsletter (and why I chose to use this in my content marketing stratgey) In This Episode You'll Learn: How to know when to eliminate Instagram from your content marketing strategyHow to grow on LinkedIn and build a linkedin personal brand that brings in real clientsWhy writing is the easiest way to build a personal brand on LinkedIn when the camera isn't your thingHow to use pinterest for business as a search engine, not a social feedWhy you should start a substack newsletter if you love writing If you want the deeper walkthrough on building a content marketing strategy around your own strengths instead of copying somebody else's playbook, my Freedom Business Bootcamp is a 75-minute session that helps you figure out which online business model actually fits you - check it out here: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com

Search for a to-do list for ADHD, and you'll probably find generic templates and advice that aren’t built for your specific brain - because let’s be honest - all brains, especially neurodivergent brains, are ALL different. My brain does not work well with the structure of time-blocking or self-imposed deadlines, so I had to create my own system to manage my energy, not time, to keep myself productive. In this episode, I break down the exact productivity system I use now as an ADHD entrepreneur to manage my energy, not time: including a weekly to-do list split into wants and needs, a simple task prioritization matrix that ranks everything by what actually moves the business forward, and the prioritization skills that stopped me from forcing myself into a structure my brain was always going to reject. Timestamps: 0:02 - Why I rebuilt my entire to-do list system after burning out twice 3:43 - Why time blocking doesn't work for my brain (and might not work for yours) 6:03 - The morning routine that comes before any prioritization skills kick in 12:27 - How I manage energy, not time: sorting a weekly to-do list into wants and needs 14:43 - My task prioritization matrix, numbered one to ten In This Episode You'll Learn: Why a standard to-do list for adhd (or any easily overwhelmed brain) needs to be weekly, not dailyWhat changed when I stopped fighting my schedule and learned to manage energy, not time insteadHow I built my own task prioritization matrix instead of downloading another adhd to do list templateWhat prioritization skills actually look like day to day, numbered one to ten instead of assigned to a dayWhy I ditched every ADHD to-do list app I tried before landing on paper and a reMarkable Steal my to-do list and energy management system from this video and see if it helps your ADHD brain too! I teach this exact method, along with everything else about building a business around your own version of success, inside Foundations, my signature course and group coaching program - check it out here: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/Freedom-Model-Method About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com Mentioned in this episode: Sponsored By Omnisend Ad | The Episode Is Sponsored By Email Marketing Tool Omnisend - Unlock Your Exclusive Listener Discount Here: https://www.omnisend.com/sophiebiggerstaff/

If you quit your 9-5 to start an online business after corporate burnout. These entrepreneur mindset shifts NEED to be taken seriously, or you’ll risk creating yourself another job. I spent twelve years managing a $380 million fashion business and presenting strategy to some of the industry's biggest boards, and none of it prepared me for the entrepreneurial mindset shift I would have to make to run my own business. In this episode I break down the four specific habits from your 9-5 that you are going to have to drop so you don’t burnout in your first years in business. If you actually want to learn how to think like an entrepreneur instead of an employee before you quit your 9-5, these are the habits I wish I knew I needed to change sooner! Timestamps: 2:20 - The pricing mistake that comes from an employee mindset 12:17 - Why busy isn't the same as productive (unlearning corporate burnout habits) 14:32 - Designing your own work hours instead of copying the 9-5 structure 17:38 - Saying no: unlearning people-pleasing as part of the mindset shift In This Episode You'll Learn: How to price your offers properly as a new entrepreneur coming out of a 9-5.What career burnout looks like when you've built a business that just replicates your old job.How to think like an entrepreneur instead of an employee when it comes to your working hours. An entrepreneur mindset doesn't show up the day you quit your 9-5, you build it on purpose, one unlearned habit at a time. I teach this exact shift inside Foundations, my signature course and group coaching program for building a business around your own version of success from day one. Start an online business? Check it out here: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/Freedom-Model-Method Read my full story on how to transition from 9-5 into entrepreneurship here: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com Mentioned in this episode: Sponsored By Omnisend Ad | The Episode Is Sponsored By Email Marketing Tool Omnisend - Unlock Your Exclusive Listener Discount Here: https://www.omnisend.com/sophiebiggerstaff/

I almost scrapped this podcast entirely because doing what I love had stopped working for me, so this week I threw out the script and just started talking. This episode of my newly re-branded podcast Working For Me (formerly The Freedom Method) is about authentic branding, and why how you market your business matters more than what a generic online business marketing strategy tells you to do. I'd been following outside advice on how to structure my show, and it turned recording into a performance instead of a conversation, so I'm getting honest about why that stopped working for me and what I'm doing instead. Listen for my latest podcast announcement and get some real inspiration for building a business that's actually working for you. Timestamps: 0:00 - How To Know If Your Business Is Working For You 7:15 - LinkedIn Vs Instagram Growth: How To Market Your Business Authentically 11:55 - How To Build Authentic Branding Without A Perfect Studio Setup 14:18 - How To Tell When Something In Your Business Isn't Working For You In This Episode You'll Learn: How to know when something in your business isn't working for you anymoreWhat online business marketing strategy is best if you want an authentic brandHow to market your business in the most authentic way If you've been forcing something in your business to work instead of letting it work for you, today's the day to stop and realign your online business marketing with your actual authentic brand voice, not someone else's version of doing what you love. Get my real-time, working-for-you BTS business tips by subscribing to my Substack Working For Me: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com Mentioned in this episode: Sponsored By Omnisend Ad | The Episode Is Sponsored By Email Marketing Tool Omnisend - Unlock Your Exclusive Listener Discount Here: https://www.omnisend.com/sophiebiggerstaff/

Fear of public speaking or being seen doesn't disappear before you start; it disappears because you start! To overcome your fears of being seen, you’re going to need to step outside your comfort zone. This episode is all about why stepping out of your comfort zone to gain visibility in business comes down to taking action and using your voice. To discuss this, I'm joined by Alya Annabi, TEDx speaker and founder of Positive Push, who has spoken at events with WWF Singapore and the Climate Action Young Leaders Summit. We get into how to overcome fear of public speaking, why limiting beliefs and your inner critic feel true even when they're not, and exactly how Alya stepped outside her comfort zone going from zero speaking experience to landing a TEDx talk. Timestamps: 09:54 - How To Overcome Limiting Beliefs And Your Inner Critic 20:40 - Why Visibility In Business Means Using Your Voice, Not Just Marketing 30:54 - How To Overcome Fear Of Public Speaking And Take Action Before You're Ready In This Episode You'll Learn: How do you overcome fear of public speaking when you don't feel ready yet?What does it actually take to land a TEDx talk and become a public speaker with no experience?Why do limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome feel so convincing, even when they're not true?How does stepping outside your comfort zone actually build self belief in business? If this conversation nudged something in you to take action to make yourself more visible, the takeaway is to take the one tiny step in front of you today! If you've been scared of taking action to start your own online business idea, the Freedom Business Bootcamp is exactly where I'll help you start by getting clear on what idea to pursue, what offer to sell and who to sell it to. Join the Bootcamp here! Connect With Alya Annabi: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alya.annabi/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-annabi/ Website: www.alya-annabi.com About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com Mentioned in this episode: Sponsored By Omnisend Ad | The Episode Is Sponsored By Email Marketing Tool Omnisend - Unlock Your Exclusive Listener Discount Here: https://www.omnisend.com/sophiebiggerstaff/

I waited 3 years before starting an online business for myself, despite having an idea for one. For 3 years, I told myself “I don’t have time”, “I don’t have enough money”, “I have to wait until I’m ready”. When in reality, I had a huge fear of failure. In this episode, I give you some real talk about the real reason why so many aspiring entrepreneurs never take the first action to start an online business and instead keep putting off their online business ideas and say they “don’t have time to start”. The reality is underneath the excuse of no time sits either a fear of failure, fear of judgement, and sometimes even a fear of success. Tune in to hear my advice on overcoming the fears holding you back from starting your entrepreneurial journey. I’ll share the four-step framework I use on myself and with clients to name that fear, test it against the evidence, and reframe the belief. Timestamps: 0:00 - Why "I don't have time" is never really about your online business ideas or lack of time to start. 2:26 - The real reason why so many people never start an online business 8:48 - Fear of failure vs fear of success: what's really holding you back 13:42 - How to work through fear and finally start an online business 19:20 - Why I now have a fear of success. In This Episode You'll Learn: Why procrastination on your online business ideas is almost always fear of failure in disguise, not a time management problemWhat's really driving the fear of failure and the fear of success that keep so many people stuck before they start an online businessHow to name your fear of failure specifically enough to actually work through it, using the four steps I use myself to overcome limiting beliefs.Why the excuse of "I don't have time" quietly protects you from ever having to start an online business Whether you're searching for online business ideas for beginners, trying to work out how to start a business from scratch, or convinced you need money to start an online business before you're allowed to begin, I bet underneath it all is fear. If this got you fired up to finally work out how to start an online business, watch my Freedom Business Bootcamp here, and I’ll help you take your first steps to starting. https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com Mentioned in this episode: Sponsored By Omnisend Ad | The Episode Is Sponsored By Email Marketing Tool Omnisend - Unlock Your Exclusive Listener Discount Here: https://www.omnisend.com/sophiebiggerstaff/

Do not make this mistake - just because you have 1000’s followers online does not mean you have built a community! In this episode, we’ll talk about: what does it actually take to build an online community from scratch? And why so much of what gets sold as "community" is actually just not it! My guest today is Liz Rivas, founder of RoamCircle, a female entrepreneur who built a global community app for female travellers in 90 days, with zero technical background. We talk about why community is such a buzzword online and what community building as a solopreneur really looks like in its purest form. Timestamps: 00:00 - What Real Online Community Building Actually Looks Like (And Why Most People Get It Wrong) 07:05 - How To Build An Online Community From Scratch 27:48 - Follower Count VS Real Community: Why Vanity Metrics Don't Mean Real Networking For Business 39:27 - How To Become A Solopreneur After Getting Laid Off From A 9 To 5 Job In This Episode You'll Learn: What actually separates real online community building from an Instagram page with 1000’s of followers.Why do so many female entrepreneurs try to build community completely alone, and burn out doing it?What makes networking for business feel reciprocal instead of transactional, and why do most solopreneurs get it backwards? If there's one thing to take from this conversation, it's that online community building isn't about follower counts or a perfectly branded Instagram page, it's reciprocity. If you haven't found your people yet, or you haven't started the work-from-home business that's going to help you find them, come join my free Freedom Business Bootcamp - I'll walk you through exactly what business to build, which offer to start with, and how to find your ideal customers. Here’s the link to sign up: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page Connect With Liz Rivas: Instagram: @roamcircleapp Website: roamcircle.app About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com

Corporate burnout got me good; now I’m ready to share the crazy stories that led me to quit my 9-to-5 back in 2020. On paper, I had the dream job managing a £380 million fashion business, but internally, I had every classic symptom of burnout, and it nearly broke me! In this solo episode, I reveal the 3 unhinged reasons why I quit my 9-5 to start an online business after I could no longer ignore the signs of burnout at work. Timestamps: 00:33 - Why High Achievers Stay In Jobs Despite Burnout At Work 06:02 - The 9-to-5 Job In Italy That Turned Into Workplace Bullying 13:23 - Mental Health Issues That Led Me To Quit My 9 to 5 Job 19:20 - The Signs Of Burnout At Work Nobody Talks About 23:44 - Separating Your Identity From Your 9-to-5 Job Title In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why do high achievers stay in jobs long despite having symptoms of burnout?What are the real signs of burnout at work that get overlooked?How does corporate burnout happen?How can you start an online business alongside your 9-to-5 job before you feel ready to quit? If my story about dealing with corporate burnout sounds familiar, let this episode of The Freedom Method Podcast take you on your own journey to overcoming burnout at work. Read my full story here and learn how to quit your 9-to-5 and start an online business. https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com Mentioned in this episode: Sponsored By Omnisend Ad | The Episode Is Sponsored By Email Marketing Tool Omnisend - Unlock Your Exclusive Listener Discount Here: https://www.omnisend.com/sophiebiggerstaff/

Are you for or against hustle culture? In today’s episode, my guest and I have some very BIG opinions on the hustle culture narrative in the online business world. Tune in to hear how Noor Barrage scaled two businesses to seven figures, grew a 21k+ LinkedIn personal brand in 13 months, and found out the hard way that hustle culture is anything but a badge of honour. Noor Barrage is known on LinkedIn as The Systems Girl. We’re discussing why the hustle culture narrative in the online business world keeps convincing high-achieving female entrepreneurs that burnout is the only route to success and the online business systems that will protect your time and energy as a solopreneur. Timestamps: 03:48 - How Noor Became "The Systems Girl" By Building A LinkedIn Personal Brand12:44 - What Chronic Stress Does To Your Body and Online Business17:02 - Why We Wait For Burnout Before Asking What We Actually Want35:27 - The Online Business Systems Noor Uses To Protect Her Time In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why is hustle culture still worn as a badge of honour in the online business world.What nervous system regulation has to do with whether your online business is sustainable long-term?What online business systems should be implemented for a solopreneur to gain more time and energy back?Can you really scale a business to $1million if you don’t hustle? In summary, if you want true online business success and you don't need to hustle harder, you need online business systems that work for you - watch the episode to find out how to implement yours! Start building your sustainable business with stable foundations at the next Freedom Business Bootcamp. Sign up here. Connect With Noor Barrage: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/noorbarrage About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com Mentioned in this episode: Sponsored By Omnisend Ad | The Episode Is Sponsored By Email Marketing Tool Omnisend - Unlock Your Exclusive Listener Discount Here: https://www.omnisend.com/sophiebiggerstaff/

Is it too late to start an online business in 2026 - is AI going to ruin your online business idea? And will you be able to escape your 9-5 life to run your own business without it all falling down in the next 3-5 years? In this episode, I'm giving you my honest answers about whether starting an online business in 2026 is actually worth it! I built my first online business from scratch in 2020 with no audience, no products, and no clue what I was doing so I’ll be sharing what's changed in the online business space since I started in 2020, why online business ideas 2026 need to look different from what they did back then, and what it actually takes to escape 9-5 and build something that lasts in the age of AI. Timestamps: 00:00 - Is it too late to start an online business in 2026? 01:37 - From corporate fashion buyer to building an online business from scratch 02:24 - Why 2020 was the golden era for online business for women - and what's changed 05:04 - Online business with AI: why it's your biggest opportunity right now 07:29 - The bare minimum you need to build an online business that actually gets seen 10:07 - The honest answer: Is it too late to start an online business? In this episode, you’ll learn: Why is online business with AI creating more opportunities than threats for people starting a business in 2026?How do you start an online business with no audience, no products, and no experience?What has actually changed about online business ideas 2026 versus what worked in 2020?Why is visibility the non-negotiable for any online business for women building online today?How can you escape 9-5 and build something authentic when the internet is flooded with generic content? The honest truth is it's not too late to start an online business in 2026 - but it requires more strategy, more visibility, and more authenticity than ever. I’ll be teaching you exactly how to start your online business in 2026 in my upcoming FREE & LIVE Freedom Business Bootcamp on June 25th - I'll walk you through choosing your business model, building your offer, and figuring out who you're selling to, all using AI. Register here. About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com

Want to know what it actually takes to start an online business that allows you to work from anywhere in the world? I’ve been running my online business from all over the world for the past 5 years - Bali, Thailand, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Portugal - just to name a few places I have been a digital nomad in. In this episode of The Freedom Method Podcast, I'm breaking down exactly what your business model needs to look like if you want real location independence as a digital nomad - not just a remote job where you’re still trading time for money. I’ll share the passive income and scalable offer structure you need, the digital nomad mistakes I made in Bali and give you an honest insight into what it really looks like when you build a work-from-anywhere business that actually works. Timestamps: 00:04 - How I built an online business I can work from anywhere 05:04 - The moment I realised the digital nomad lifestyle was possible for me 07:12 - The time zone trap that limits your location independence 14:04 - The work from anywhere business model you actually need 17:02 - The truth about passive income - nothing is truly passive You’ll learn: Why work from anywhere requires more than just a laptop - and what your business model actually needs to look like to make it work.Which digital nomad mistakes can burn you out, even when your online business is workingWhat passive income really means - and the difference between scalable income and just having a remote jobWhy who you sell to matters as much as what you sell when building location independence If you want to work from anywhere, you have to build your business around your life from the very beginning - I’ll teach you how in my live Freedom Business Bootcamp. The next one is on June 25th. Register for free here: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com

Being good at what you do is not enough in business! Often in entrepreneurship, there comes a time when there might be a gap between how good you are at what you do and how well-known you are for it - PR Strategy expert KJ Blattenbauer calls it the recognition gap, and it's the reason brilliant people stay invisible while others who are great at PR get all the attention. In today’s episode of The Freedom Method Podcast, I'm joined by KJ Blattenbauer, publicist and founder of Hearsay PR, with nearly 30 years in media relations. KJ breaks down PR strategy for entrepreneurs in a way that's actually simple to action yourself. We cover why brand visibility doesn't happen by accident, how to start media pitching without a budget or a team, and why your work will never speak for itself, no matter how good it is. Timestamps: 00:00 - What the recognition gap is and why it's costing you, clients 14:50 - How PR strategy and media relations can close the recognition gap 23:44 - DIY PR - how to find the right media contacts without a database You’ll learn: What the recognition gap is - and why being brilliant at what you do is not enough to get you knownWhy media relations and PR strategy are the fastest way to build trust with strangers before they ever pay youHow personal PR works and how to pitch yourself to the right places in five sentences - no agency neededWhat makes brand visibility compound - and how showing up in borrowed lanes builds brand authority faster than posting daily Closing your recognition gap is how you stop being the best-kept secret in your industry. Connect with KJ Blattenbauer: Instagram Website Drop in to my Free Freedom Business Bootcamp if you're ready to build a business that gets you seen from the start: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page About The Working For Me Podcast: Working For Me is for high-achieving dreamers on a journey to build a business, and a life, that actually works for them. Whether you're still stuck in a corporate 9-5, wondering how you can navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur, or you've already quit your job to start and your business is feeling anything but free - this podcast helps you find a better work life balance by building an online business that's set up to achieve your goals. Hosted by Sophie Biggerstaff, Anti-Hustle Business Mentor and Writer/Host of Working For Me - each episode explores real strategy and honest conversation about doing what you love and building a business that's genuinely working for you, not one you work for! Subscribe for real entrepreneurship stories, and practical strategies for building something that's genuinely yours. Success isn't just a fantasy - but you do need to write your own version of it - this podcast helps you do exactly that. Find your starting point: 📖 Quit your 9-5 and navigate the transition into entrepreneurship with my Playbook: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/freedom-founder-playbook 🎓 Start an online business using AI in my Business Bootcamp: https://onlinebusinessschool.itssophiebiggerstaff.com/registration-page 💡Re-write your business strategy and align it with your version of success in a 1:1: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.com/11-coaching-call/ Connect With Me: 🗣️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-biggerstaff-business-coach/ 📝 Substack: https://itssophiebiggerstaff.substack.com/ 💻 Website: https://www.itssophiebiggerstaff.com Mentioned in this episode: Sponsored By Omnisend Ad | The Episode Is Sponsored By Email Marketing Tool Omnisend - Unlock Your Exclusive Listener Discount Here: https://www.omnisend.com/sophiebiggerstaff/