Tired of the Online Business Bullshit?
By bullshit, I mean the scammy status quo where celebrity entrepreneurs teach us to consume and exploit our way to so-called "freedom" but that really we're just replicating larger systems of oppression?
This collection of essays (and podcast episodes) dives into the online business status quo with actionable ideas designed to cut the BS.
Start Here
As the online business world grows so do its unethical practices. Here’s what you need to know about the dark side of the online business industry. This essay dives into the dark side of online business including mindset manipulation, insider secrets, weaponized sales and storytelling and invented authority.
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Money Making
Schemes & Dreams
Ditching Busywork with Systems By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents Your Systems Should Breed Simplicity Solopreneurs Need Sustainable Systems Where Do You Really Need Systems? Bust the BS Busy Work with Systems Systems can be powerful for…
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Using Strategy to Break the Income Ceiling By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents The Income Ceiling: A Reality Check The Overall Business Strategy Your Delivery and Packaging Strategy Selling Strategy Your Pricing Strategy Strategy Drives Income: Wield…
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What Support Do You Really Need? By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents Entrepreneurial Loneliness Is Real What Type of Support Do You Need? Do You Need to Pay for Support? When Do You Need Support? Solo doesn’t…
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Rethinking Planning to Focus on Seasons By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents Common Planning Challenges Shifting to Seasonal Planning What Season Are You Really In? Most of us start our businesses for more flexibility and freedom, but…
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Carving Out Consistent Space By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents The Risky Reality of Entrepreneurship Space is About Creating Capacity Stepping Away From the Business Free Up Your Calendar Managing Capacity Beyond Time There’s No Sustainability Without…
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Getting Your Salary Paid First By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents The Impact of Expense Creep What if Spending Isn’t the Problem Preventing You From Paying Yourself? Setting Your Salary Goal Four Common Questions About Paying Yourself…
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Your Framework for a Simple, Sustainable Service Business By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents Reality Check: What Online Business Teaches Us BS Myths That We’re All Completely OVER FACTS: Most Businesses are Solo Businesses Breaking Down the…
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As business owners, making sales is necessary to surviving, and ideally thriving. Here are the results of a survey about investing in your business, including how really people feel about the money they’ve spent.
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The State Of Ethical Marketing and Online Business for 2023 By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents My Predictions Came True (Unfortunately!) Let’s Talk about Ethics: Personal and Business What About Ethical Marketing? The Real Problem with Ethical…
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The Cult Of Scale (and Why Sustainability is More Important) By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents What Is Scale? The Cult of Scale in Online Business When Scaling is Harmful, Not Helpful The Case For Sustainability Micro…
Read More...MLMs, Cults, and Celebrity
Entrepreneurs
We’ve all been sucked in by great marketing and bought something we didn’t need. Here’s what you need to know about the 2021 celebrity entrepreneur – what to watch for an how to spot one in the wild.
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The online biz world tends to judge certain business models. Here’s what you need to know about the crossover between online businesses and MLMs, and there’s probably much more than you realize.
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Online business and cults have a few things in common. Here are six lessons from cults that are applicable to the problems with online business.
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Curated vulnerability and influencer culture is real. In this essay I dig into a book report on Rachel Hollis’ latest with numerous takeaways about who we trust.
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It’d be an understatement to say that 2020 has changed everything. As our society and lives as we know it are forever altered, that bleeds over into our businesses. In the online business industry, I’m starting to see a shift that’s long overdue. More and more business owners are fed up, and are willing to…
Read More...Trust-Driven
Sales and Marketing
Sales can feel like a dirty word for most solo service business owners. You didn’t start your business to become a salesperson, right? But then the advice rolls in…”Always be closing!” “Overcome objections!” “Push for the deal!” It feels slimy. But here’s the thing: sales don’t have to feel that way. In fact, what if…
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2022 is here, and a new year brings with it an opportunity for each of us to look at how we run our businesses and do things a little differently. In this episode, I’m digging into what I’ll be increasingly focusing on in the year to come, and calling on you to do the same.
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2022 is here, and a new year brings with it an opportunity for each of us to look at how we run our businesses and do things a little differently. In this episode, I’m digging into what I’ll be increasingly focusing on in the year to come, and calling on you to do the same.
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Pricing your services can be a tricky balance of not overvaluing or undervaluing what you do. Here are some pricing principles to help you get started including a few that may surprise you.
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People want to hear your stories, but in a respectful, responsible way. Here are some ideas on how to best approach storytelling for business.
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Too many businesses capitalize on our fears and use high-pressure tactics to get us to buy. Here’s the antidote to fear-based marketing and sales, which is building a business that puts trust first.
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Knowing a business’ backstory helps you make informed decisions. Here’s my take on what running an ethical business really means, and sharing my backstory.
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