Business-First Creatives

What if success in business didn’t look like 6 figures, a big team, or endless growth? In this episode, I sit down with Maggie Patterson to explore why staying small and strategic can be a powerful, joyful, and profitable choice. We unpack the cultural myth of the “six‑figure business,” how to set realistic salary and revenue goals, when (and whether) to hire help, and how your season of life should shape your business.Find It Quickly00:24 - Redefining Success in Business02:19 - The Myth of Six-Figure Success08:19 - Setting Realistic Revenue Goals17:39 - Strategic Hiring Decisions27:28 - Leading and Communicating in Business28:12 - The Importance of Detailed SOPs30:03 - Mindset and Comparison in Business32:44 - Realistic Business Growth and Personal Capacity34:35 - Aligning Business with Life Seasons38:56 - Making Informed Business Decisions44:55 - Recognizing When to PivotConnect with Maggie:Website: bsfreebusiness.comThreads: threads.com/@bsfreebusinessIG: instagram.com/bsfreebusinessStaying Solo Podcast: bsfreebusiness.com/podcastStaying Solo Book: bsfreebusiness.com/bookReal Life Rule Quiz: bsfreebusiness.com/quiz

I just booked my first Disneyland trip of the year, and the second I hit confirm, my brain went straight into planning mode — not because I love spreadsheets (okay, maybe a little), but because Disneyland is not a place you wing it.And neither is your client experience.In this episode, I walk you through why planning a Disney day is the exact same skill you need to design a calm, trustworthy client journey — and why most people make email writing way harder than it needs to be by skipping this step.You’ll hear:Why your customer journey doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs to existHow mapping your touchpoints prevents overwhelm, silence, and confusionThe real reason writing client emails feels exhausting and repetitiveWhy “what happens next?” emails are a process issue, not a client issueHow planning the journey first makes email writing faster, clearer, and easierIf you’re tired of making decisions in the moment, rewriting the same emails, or feeling like your client experience only works because you’re babysitting it — this episode will show you where to start.Inside Email Like You Mean It, we map your full customer journey first, then write every email that supports it together in five focused days — so you can finally trust the process you’re walking your clients through.➡️ The next sprint starts February 2ndLearn more at coliejames.com/emailAnd if a Disney trip has been on your to-do list? Take this as your sign to book it — and actually enjoy it.

Welcome back to another year of the Business-First Creatives podcast.If you listened to last week’s episode with Kylie Kelly, we talked a lot about permission — permission to simplify your visibility and stop forcing strategies that don’t fit your life or business.This episode is my personal follow-through.If you’re craving clarity, support, and a more sustainable way to grow in 2026, this episode is for you.In This Episode, You’ll Hear:The three things you actually need to generate revenue (and what usually gets overcomplicated)Why Systems in Session became my signature offerHow done-with-you support changes implementation and confidenceWhy Email Like You Mean It is now a 5-day done-with-you sprintWhat it looks like to stop borrowing someone else’s visibility planHow I’m approaching visibility, systems, and revenue going into 2026Ways to Work With MeEmail Like You Mean It — a 5-day, done-with-you client communication sprintSystems in Session — my signature 60-day container to design and implement your full client experienceIf you’re not sure what you need yet, come find me on Threads — I’m always happy to point you to the right resource or next step.Other ResourcesBuilding Authority and Visibility with Kylie Kelly - Last Week's Episode

Does growing your business without showing up on Instagram sound like a dream? In today’s episode, visibility strategist Kylie Kelly joins us to explain how entrepreneurs can build authority, leads, and actual paying clients without having to live on social media. If you’re tired of the “you must be on Instagram to succeed” narrative, this is your permission slip to do business your way.Find It Quickly00:24 - Meet Kylie01:47 - Kylie's Journey from Photography to Systems03:24 - The Power of Email Marketing06:06 - Experimenting with Marketing Strategies08:26 - The Importance of Data-Driven Decisions12:13 - Adapting and Pivoting in Business16:18 - Taking Action and Building Confidence18:58 - Personal Stories and Reflections21:38 - Permission to Take Action26:41 - Discussing AI Bots and Lead Magnets28:00 -Breakthrough Audits and Their Impact32:56 - Human Connection in Business34:29 - Networking Events and Their Benefits36:13 - Empire Expansion EventsMentioned in this Episode:Empire Expansion Event: kyliekelly.com/eventColie's Networking Events: coliejames.com/connectionConnect with KylieWebsite: kyliekelly.comPodcast: kyliekelly.com/category/podcastEmpire Expansion Event: kyliekelly.com/event

In this end-of-year episode, I’m breaking down how I spent money inside my business in 2025 — and more importantly, how I made those decisions.This isn’t a profit report or an expense spreadsheet walkthrough. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at what I chose to invest in, what I outsourced, why the podcast is my biggest marketing expense, and how warm-up offers completely changed the way I decide who to work with and where to put my money.I’m also sharing how this buying behavior pushed me to rethink my own warm-up offers, what I’m carrying into 2026, and why my word for the year is simplify.If you’re thinking more intentionally about your spending, your offers, or how you want to work next year — this one’s for you.In this episode, we cover:How I evaluate purchases and investments in my businessWhat I outsource and why retainers matter to meWhy the podcast is my biggest and best marketing investmentHow I use warm-up offers to test fit before committing long-termWhy “no” can still be a powerful return on investmentWhat’s changing (and staying) in 2026Links MentionedSystems in SessionEmail Like You Mean ItClient Experience Audit1:1 60-Min Strategy & Implementation CallsPing Pong Offers Episode on Business-First CreativesMy Tech StackMy ResourcesOffers I Invested In (aff links)Sold Out Services with Emylee WilliamsDama on Demand with Dama JueMissed the Memo with Hollie of Latitude LaneSales Parade with Ceels LockleyCashflow Confident (now Six Figure Safety) with Emilie NutleyLaunch Your Own Way with Kelsey McCormick of Coming Up RosesSay Less Sales Messaging Sprint with Chelsea QuintEmail Growth Club with Kylie Kelly