If one more bro tells me to read The 10X Rule, I’m throwing my e-reader in the lake. Summer isn’t for hustle manifestos—it’s for books that actually bring you joy. In this episode, I’m sharing my Summer Book Stack: the hits, the current reads, and the towering to be read. No scale-to-seven-figures pressure, just real recs for real humans. Topics discussed in this episode include: My top fiction picks The fiction TBR Non-fiction picks that won’t make you cringe Plus two non-fiction books I’ll be reading this summer For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
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14:25
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14:25
Seasonal Planning Made Simple: Your Summer Prep Plan
Ever feel like summer turns your business brain to mush? One moment you’re laser-focused, the next you’re chasing distractions, half-replying to Slack, and wondering why everything feels… off. That’s not a productivity problem—it’s fragmentation. And it hits hardest when we try to run our businesses like it’s any other season, even when everything around us is shifting. In this episode, we’re throwing out the “business as usual” rulebook and building a summer strategy that actually fits the season. Because summer is different, and your business should be too. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why you should stop pretending summer is business as usual. A three-step summer prep plan. Auditing your summer life Picking your priorities Intentionally planning for the slowdown. Letting go of the summer slowdown guilt. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
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11:51
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11:51
You Don’t Need a New Offer. You Need a Micro Niche.
If your sales have slowed and your offer isn’t landing, it’s probably not your pricing—it’s your positioning. In a tight market, buyers aren’t gambling on vague promises or “kinda-sorta” solutions. They’re choosing clarity, confidence, and specialists who solve specific problems. This episode is your wake-up call to stop blending in. We’re breaking down why narrowing your niche (even further) is your best move—and how a sharp micro niche can transform your existing offer from “meh” to must-have. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why so much advice on micro niches is trash. Why clarity is necessary in a shaky economy. Five signs your niche isn’t working. What makes up a strong micro niche? Where to begin with micro-niching? For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
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11:31
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11:31
Make Space for Creativity: Innovate Without the Overwhelm
What if your best ideas aren’t gone…they’re just buried under a packed calendar and constant noise? If every idea feels stale and your creativity’s running on fumes, this episode is your permission slip to slow down. In this episode, we’re unpacking the myth of “always-on” creativity, why overcommitment is killing your best ideas, and how to build in the margin you need to let your creativity thrive, without blowing up your business. Topics discussed in this episode include: The myth of always-on creativity. The difference between being burned out and maxed out. How things may look when you’re maxed out. Practical ways to make space and create margins. Redefining innovation as a solopreneur. Why space is a strategy, not a luxury. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
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13:14
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13:14
Overcomplication Is a Scam (And You’re the Victim)
Ever tried a “simple” recipe only to end up with a kitchen disaster? That’s how most business owners run their businesses—turning something straightforward into a chaotic mess. The truth? Overcomplication is a scam. More income streams, endless platforms, and 57-step sales funnels won’t save you—they’ll sink you. In this episode, we’re breaking it all down—the Chaos Tax you’re unknowingly paying, why complexity isn’t making your business stronger, and how simplicity is the real power move. Topics discussed in this episode include: How celebrity entrepreneurs are victimizing us with their trash advice. How overcomplication steals our time and money. The “chaos tax” - what it is and how it shows up. 3 tangible steps for simplifying your business. Saying no to save yourself from yourself. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and you can get Staying Solo updates by email by signing up here.
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)
Ireland