Thinking Like a Business Owner Isn’t Just a Mindset. It’s a Skill.

Most independent consultants know they should think like a business owner, but what does that actually look like day to day?

In this episode, Melisa introduces a simple yet powerful strategy: Business Owner Thinking Time. 

You’ll learn how to move beyond reacting to tasks or relying on AI to think for you, and instead carve out time to think strategically and guide your business like a CEO.

Melisa shares five practical ways to structure your thinking time so it generates ROI in the form of clearer strategy, smarter decisions, innovative ideas, and stronger leadership. 

You’ll also get two actionable ways to start applying this immediately, including a free 21-day challenge to help you build the habit.

When your to-do list drives the day, your business stalls. Learn how to flip that.

What you will learn in this episode:

[04:50] Why thinking time is your most underutilized tool and what it reveals about your business
[10:12] 4 ways to maximize your thinking time and stop wasting the time you do set aside
[15:00] 5 pathways for structured thinking so you’re not just sitting with a blank page
[25:00] The “Business Brain” Challenge and how to start a daily habit of CEO-level thinking

Tune in to Episode 237 for practical tools to help you lead your business with intentionality, clarity, and strategy not just urgency.

Mentioned Resources

1) Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-237/

2) Join the Business Brain Challenge: https://www.skool.com/business-owner-growth-lab-7405/about 

3) Melisa’s Books, Planners & Journals: https://linktr.ee/melisaliberman

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

You might think your lead generation isn't working because you're not consistent. Or because you're not good at marketing. Or because you’re fully booked and don’t “need” leads right now.

Those assumptions are common, and they’re also wrong.

In this episode, Melisa breaks down the real reasons your consulting pipeline isn’t where you want it to be. 

Most consultants misdiagnose the problem and end up solving for the wrong thing, wasting time, energy, and momentum in the process.

In the episode, you’ll learn the four true root causes of a low-performing pipeline, how to identify which ones are holding you back, and what to do about them. 

This isn’t about working more. It’s about working smarter, and facing some uncomfortable truths that will set you free.

Whether your pipeline is bone dry or just not producing the right type of leads, this episode gives you a practical way to get back in control.

What you will learn in this episode:

[06:12] The four myths consultants believe about why their lead generation isn’t working (and why they’re so damaging)
[10:35] The real reason your strategy isn’t working, and why “I don’t have a strategy” is usually the honest answer
[13:45] Why your skills gap is normal, and how to treat it like a business owner, not a limitation
[16:55] What lack of effort really looks like (and how to stop letting excuses pose as facts)
[21:50] How mindset quietly sabotages even your best lead gen plans, and how to rewire your thinking
[28:35] How to use the Pipeline Scorecard to identify your weak spots and fix them

[29:40] Details on the Consultant’s Pipeline Sprint, including what it is and how to join

Tune in to Episode 236 for the tools to finally fix your pipeline from the real root cause, without hustling, guessing, or winging it.

Mentioned Resources

1) Join the Consultant’s Pipeline Sprint: www.ICaccelerator.com

2) Consultant’s Lead Gen Scorecard: https://www.pipelinescorecard.com

3) Melisa’s Books, Planners & Journals: https://linktr.ee/melisaliberman

4) Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-236

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

Your pipeline is not where you want it to be.

You’re struggling to maintain consistent business development routines.

You’re not sure where the next client is coming from.

In this episode, Melisa walks you through how to implement a lead generation sprint: a short, focused burst of activity that fills your pipeline with the right kind of opportunities.

She shares specific examples from three clients, all at different stages of their consulting business to show how this approach works (even if you’ve never done business development before).

What you will learn in this episode:

[06:45] What a lead gen sprint really is and why it’s a fast, effective tool for filling your consulting pipeline
[15:14] The 5 prerequisites to set up your sprint (and make sure it doesn’t become just another to-do)
[21:45] The 4 common mindset blocks that prevent consultants from taking action and how to coach yourself through them
[26:04] 5 strategies to maximize your sprint results, including how to front-load your calendar and evaluate what ’s working

Tune in to Episode 235 for the strategy, structure, and coaching to help you break out of feast-or-famine and build a consistently full consulting pipeline.

And, then, don’t forget to

1) Enroll in the Consultant’s Pipeline Sprint: www.ICaccelerator.com

2) Check out the Growth Atlas business owner tools on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=growth+atlas

Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-235/

Related Resources

• Related Podcast Episodes: 
  • Episode 172 – Filling Your Pipeline, Landing Ideal Consulting Clients, and Turning Away Work with Abbie DuBois: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-172/
  • Episode 224 - The 6-Figure Pipeline Playbook with Ellie Holbert: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-224/ 
  • Episode 214 - A Unique Consulting Business Growth Tool with Matty Bakkeren: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-214/ 
• Shop Growth Atlas Products: 
  • Quarterly Business Planner: https://shorturl.at/egUFC 
  • The Business Brain Journal: https://shorturl.at/2c1eS 
  • The Project Map Desk Pad: https://shorturl.at/Dj2bl 
• Work with Melisa: Apply for a Coaching Exploratory call at https://www.consultmelisa.com   

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

What if the biggest obstacle in your consulting business… is your own management approach?

Most independent consultants left corporate to get away from bad managers, but end up recreating that dynamic for themselves.

In this episode, Melisa uncovers the #1 management mistake she sees independent consultants make again and again: becoming a “ghost manager” in their own business.

She walks you through the five components of being a good self-manager so you can stop unintentionally sabotaging your business and start building consistent, high-quality results.

You’ll learn to recognize where you’re disappearing, how that ghosting erodes confidence, and what it looks like to actually manage yourself like a high-performing business owner, not just a delivery engine for your clients.

If you’ve been over-indexing on client work and neglecting your business, this episode is your blueprint for getting back in the driver’s seat.

What you will learn in this episode:

[05:15] The “ghost manager” pattern and how it’s quietly stalling your growth and causing overwhelm
[11:08] The difference between self-leadership and self-management, and why you need both to run a thriving business
[14:35] Five key components of a good manager, tailored to independent consultants
[15:02] How to implement planning, systematizing, ownership, protection, and coaching in your own business, even as a solo operator
[30:45] A reflection framework to identify where you’re holding yourself back (and what to do about it)

Tune in to Episode 234 for practical strategies and mindset shifts to become the kind of manager you actually want to work for.

Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-234/

Related Resources

• Join the waitlist for Melisa’s Business Brain Journal, https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 
• Companion Resource: Read Melisa’s book, Grow Your Consulting Business: The 14-Step Roadmap to Make Your Independent Consulting Goals a Reality, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSXJBGVB
• Related Podcast Episode: Episode 233 - The Big Leadership Mistake Independent Consultants Make, https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-233  
• Work with Melisa: Apply for a Coaching Exploratory call at https://www.consultmelisa.com   

Want More?

• Get Melisa’s Book: https://www.melisaliberman.com/book
• Visit with Melisa’s Website: www.melisaliberman.com 
• Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melisa-liberman 
• Get Notified When Melisa’s Products Launch: https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

If you're like most independent consultants, one of the reasons you left corporate was to get out of managing. You wanted to avoid the team drama, the politics, the performance reviews.

So it makes sense if you’ve put “leadership” in the rearview.

But here’s the trap: when you assume leadership no longer applies, you create a blind spot that quietly undermines your consulting business.

In this episode, Melisa explores what happens when consultants opt out of leadership, not intentionally but by default, and how that decision limits your growth, momentum, and confidence.

She redefines what leadership looks like as a business owner. It’s about leading yourself and your business with direction, consistency, and purpose.

You’ll walk away with:

• A new, more relevant definition of leadership that fits your role right now
• A five-part self-leadership framework you can use immediately
• Specific ways to take the lead in your business, even if you’re a team of one

Inside the episode:

• [04:58] How the “I don’t lead anymore” mindset keeps your business reactive
• [11:13] Five self-leadership traits that fuel consistent growth and sustainability
• [13:32] What it actually means to be the visionary in your business
• [16:47] How to stay motivated without relying on external validation
• [18:56] Why opportunity generation depends on your ability to lead yourself
• [21:22] What it looks like to build trust in your own leadership, not just your client work

If you’ve been operating like a one-person delivery machine, this episode will show you how to shift into the leader role, the one that actually drives results.

→ Open the show notes for the five self-leadership traits and reflection questions to start applying this right away. https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-233/

Related Resources

• Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-233/
• Join the waitlist for Melisa’s Business Brain Journal, https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 
• Companion Resource: Read Chapter 16 in Melisa’s book, Grow Your Consulting Business: The 14-Step Roadmap to Make Your Independent Consulting Goals a Reality, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSXJBGVB
• Related Podcast Episode: Episode 188 - Thinking of Yourself as a Managing Partner: A Gamechanger for Your Consulting Business Results, https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-188/#more-2518 
• Work with Melisa: Apply for a Coaching Exploratory call at https://www.consultmelisa.com   

Want More?

• Get Melisa’s Book: https://www.melisaliberman.com/book
• Visit with Melisa’s Website: www.melisaliberman.com 
• Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melisa-liberman 
• Get Notified When Melisa’s Products Launch: https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

If you want to run a consulting business that feels lighter and more in your control, you need to start thinking like a million-dollar business owner, before your business is anywhere near that level.

This is part two of my series on the Million Dollar Mindset. 

In part one (Episode 231), we covered the first two pillars of the million dollar consultant’s mindset. Today, we finish the two-part series with the remaining four ways of thinking that separate a $200K consultant from one who can confidently generate and sustain a $1M consulting business.

These aren’t abstract concepts. 

You’ll hear how to approach demand creation, pricing, IP development, and resilience in a way that keeps you utilized with fulfilling work, your fees aligned to value, and your confidence intact, even when the business throws you curveballs.

What you will learn in this episode:

[12:15] Demand ownership – taking full responsibility for lead flow instead of waiting.

[18:44] Value-centric pricing – anchoring fees to the client’s outcomes, not your hours.

[24:58] Asset thinking – turning your expertise into repeatable frameworks, tools, and systems that build leverage.

[29:45] Growth resilience – moving forward despite fear, rejection, or uncertainty.

By the end, you’ll know exactly which of the six pillars (from Episodes 231 and 232) needs your attention next, and how to start shifting into a million-dollar mindset today.

Tune in to Episode 232 to hear the final four (of six) pillars of the $1M Independent Consultant Mindset and learn how to leverage this mindset to accelerate your consulting revenue growth and hit your business goals.

Related Resources

• Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-232/
• Join the waitlist for Melisa’s Business Brain Journal, https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 
• Related Podcast Episode: Episode 231 – The Million Dollar Mindset for Independent Consultants (Part 1), https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-231/ 
• Work with Melisa: Apply for a Coaching Exploratory call at https://www.consultmelisa.com   

Want More?

• Get Melisa’s Book: https://www.melisaliberman.com/book
• Visit with Melisa’s Website: www.melisaliberman.com 
• Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melisa-liberman 
• Get Notified When Melisa’s Products Launch: https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

If you’ve been stuck at the same revenue level in your consulting business, whether that’s $200K or $500K, it’s probably not your sales skills or your pipeline holding you back. It’s your mindset.

Too many independent consultants unknowingly run their business from the same thinking that created their current or even past results. That mindset is misaligned with their goals and quietly caps their revenue.

In this first of a two-part series, Melisa breaks down the real difference between a $200K consultant mindset and a million-dollar consultant mindset, and exactly how you can start making the mindset shift today. 

You’ll learn practical strategies to grow consulting business revenue by operating like the business owner you want to become, no matter your current revenue.

You’ll discover two of the six pillars that define a million-dollar mindset and how to apply them immediately so you can stop plateauing and start creating the business you know you’re capable of:
[04:24] Why "realistic goals" limit your growth and what to focus on instead
[11:35] What a million-dollar mindset actually is (hint: it’s not about hustle)
[19:42] The first mindset pillar: Business Owner Identity
[33:01] The second mindset pillar: Strategic Discipline
[45:17] How to apply these shifts now, even if you're not aiming for $1M

Listen to Episode 231 to learn the tangible mindset shifts that will help you grow your consulting revenue from $200K to $1M and beyond.

Related Resources

• Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-231/
• Join the waitlist for Melisa’s Business Brain Journal, https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 
• Related Podcast Episode:  Episode 132 – The Path To $1M For The Independent Consultant, https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-132/ 
• Work with Melisa: Apply for a Coaching Exploratory call at https://www.consultmelisa.com   

Want More?

• Get Melisa’s Book: https://www.melisaliberman.com/book
• Visit with Melisa’s Website: www.melisaliberman.com 
• Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melisa-liberman 
• Get Notified When Melisa’s Products Launch: https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

Are You Hitting a Revenue Plateau in Your Independent Consulting Business?

You might be stuck in a revenue plateau right now.

Maybe it’s obvious. Your consulting revenue has been flat year over year.

Or maybe it’s hidden. Your numbers might be technically going up, but you could still be hitting a plateau you didn’t even realize existed. 

Either way, this episode is for you.

I’m breaking down the five hidden causes of revenue plateaus for independent consultants and the exact mindset and business shifts required to break through them.

This isn’t about working more hours or trying to figure it out on your own.

It’s about pinpointing where you're unconsciously capping your growth. In your beliefs. In your pricing. In your positioning or decision-making. Then shifting beyond the plateau.

You’ll hear a real story of an independent consultant who hovered at $250K for years until she uncovered the invisible objections that were keeping her stuck.

What you will learn in this episode:

[09:45] How to recognize a hidden revenue plateau even if your revenue looks stable on paper.
[12:30] 5 root causes of consulting plateaus that most consultants miss (especially the ones who seem successful).
[21:15] How to expand your ‘possibility thinking’ so your brain stops limiting your income.

[30:40] A real consultant case study that shows exactly what changed when she shifted her thinking and added $110K in revenue.
[35:15] How to stop trading flexibility for money, and start designing a business that delivers both.

Tune in to Episode 230 for a strategic breakdown of how to create meaningful revenue growth, without waiting for the market to change or adding more to your plate.

Related Resources

• Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-230/
• Take The Consultant's Business Health Assessment, https://assessments.melisaliberman.com/consulting-health-assessment  
• Related Podcast Episode:  Episode 200 - What's Possible for your Consulting Business, https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-200/ 
• Work with Melisa: Apply for a Coaching Exploratory call at https://www.consultmelisa.com   

Want More?

• Get Melisa’s Book: https://www.melisaliberman.com/book
• Visit with Melisa’s Website: www.melisaliberman.com 
• Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melisa-liberman 
• Get Notified When Melisa’s Products Launch: https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

That lead generation issue you’re trying to fix with a new strategy? 

That pricing problem you’re solving with more market research?

They’re probably not business problems.

They’re likely mindset problems disguised as business problems.

In this episode, Melisa gets into the real root cause behind most consulting business problems. It’s not your offer. It’s not your process. It’s not the market. It’s how you think.

She shares a candid story about her own stubborn resistance to mindset work, the costly consequences, and how shifting this one perspective can create exponential results.

You’ll hear two real-world examples (pipeline and pricing) that illustrate how consultants misdiagnose their business issues and how to course correct using a practical 5-step framework.

What you will learn in this episode:

[05:12] Why your pipeline issue probably isn’t about your strategy and what’s really slowing it down

[10:55] How mindset shows up as sabotage, even when you're “doing all the right things”

[19:22] Why pricing pressure isn’t solved with a better value prop and what to do instead

[28:30] The 5-step business owner framework for diagnosing and solving problems at the root level

Tune in to Episode 229 for real-world examples and a practical mindset framework that will shift how you diagnose and solve problems in your consulting business.

Related Resources

• Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-229/
• Take The Consultant's Business Health Assessment, https://assessments.melisaliberman.com/consulting-health-assessment  
• Related Podcast Episode: Episode 226 - Design a Powerful Second Half for Your Consulting Business, https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-226/ ️
• Work with Melisa: Apply for a Coaching Exploratory call at https://www.consultmelisa.com   

Want More?

• Get Melisa’s Book: https://www.melisaliberman.com/book
• Visit with Melisa’s Website: www.melisaliberman.com 
• Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melisa-liberman 
• Get Notified When Melisa’s Products Launch: https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

Twelve years into her consulting career, Rachel Hughes has built a business that attracts inbound leads, top-tier engagements, and industry recognition, without sacrificing her sanity or freedom.

In this episode, Melisa talks with Rachel about the mindset and strategy shifts that transformed her from overthinking and reactive to intentional and in-demand. Rachel opens the doors to her consulting practice, sharing how she thinks about niche, lead generation, pricing, mindset, and evolving as a business owner, especially as an independent consultant running a global business without full-time staff.

You’ll hear how Rachel made herself the go-to expert in a high-stakes niche and why building in sustainability (for her clients and herself) has been key to long-term success.

What you will learn in this episode:

[03:35] How Rachel became a sought-after consultant in the public transport and infrastructure sector

[08:22] The mindset shifts that helped her stop overthinking and start operating like a true business owner

[15:14] Rachel’s inbound lead generation process, including her approach to LinkedIn and OnePage CRM

[21:30] How Rachel landed retainer work by learning to articulate value and listen to client needs

[28:00] The surprising role of mindset coaching in building consistency, confidence, and freedom

[35:12] Rachel’s success with pricing strategy and her approach to selling outcomes, not hours

[42:18] Turning down work and why saying no has created space for her most aligned engagements

Tune in to Episode 228 to learn what it takes to build a sought-after consulting business on your terms and why the real shift starts between your ears.

Related Resources

• Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-228/
• Rachel’s recommended CRM (Quick Start Guide): https://www.melisaliberman.com/crm-quick-start
• Related Podcast Episode: Episode 224 – The 6-Figure Pipeline Playbook with Ellie Holbert, https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-224/ ️
• Work with Melisa: Apply for a Coaching Exploratory call at https://www.consultmelisa.com   

Want More?

• Get Melisa’s Book: https://www.melisaliberman.com/book
• Visit with Melisa’s Website: www.melisaliberman.com 
• Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melisa-liberman 
• Get Notified When Melisa’s Products Launch: https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products 
• Meet Rachel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-hughes-surbon/ 

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.