You’ve probably heard me say before that your business only grows as much as you do — and I mean it.

Because no matter how many marketing tricks you try, or how well you plan your next launch… none of it matters if you’re running on fumes.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing the six weekly anchors that keep me grounded, creative, and energized enough to run an $8M business — and not one of them has to do with marketing. These are the personal routines and boundaries that have built the foundation for everything I’ve accomplished in my business and my life.

Whether you’re building toward your first six figures or scaling beyond seven, these anchors will help you protect your energy, your creativity, and your mental health — the real ingredients of long-term success.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. Why taking care of yourself is one of the most strategic business decisions you can make
2. What my “Sunday Preheat” routine looks like (and how it keeps my week from falling apart)
3. The planning process I use each week to set priorities and avoid overwhelm
4. How I protect time for movement, rest, and creativity — even when my schedule’s packed
5. The mindset shift that helped me stop seeing self-care as “extra”
6. How you can create your own set of anchors that make your business (and your life) work better

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. Listen to Episode 1: Community Over Competition is BS: Tips to Navigate Your Competition in a Healthier Way
2. Read Sam's Substack The Girlboss Who Died With My Parents
3. Read Sam's Substack How I Broke Up With Instagram
4. Get Sam’s free weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar
5. Click here to watch the free workshop so you can get legally protected right now!

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

DISCLAIMER

Thinking about starting an online business—or finally making your “side hustle” official—but don’t want to get buried in legal confusion? This episode is your crash course on exactly how to start your business the right way before 2025 ends.

Whether you’re a coach, course creator, service provider, or product-based entrepreneur, I’m walking you through the five simple legal steps you must take to set up your business, protect your content, and get paid confidently.

No law degree (or stress spiral) required.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. 5 things you must have in place before accepting even $1 (more) online
2. Exact steps to form your business
3. Should you become an LLC or sole prop?
4. Why you NEED to have business insurance (it’s so worth it)
5. An actual method for figuring out what you can (and cannot) do online or when you’re NOT working under your professional license
6. Your 2025 To-do List: things to do before Dec 31st to make your biz legally sound

RESOURCES:

1. The Ultimate Bundle® is on sale through Oct 24, 2025. If you buy it before Oct 22nd, 2024, you’ll receive 3 bonus templates + my last live call of the year.

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

DISCLAIMER

Everyone wants the 7-figure business… until they realize what comes with it.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what it really takes to build a multi-seven-figure online business — and the trade-offs no one warns you about. I’ll share the 10 things I’d focus on if I were starting over, including how to create a flagship product that actually sells, the “3 Ps” I swear by for sustainable growth, and why making more money doesn’t automatically mean you’re taking more home.

If you’ve ever wondered what it actually looks like to grow a business beyond six figures (without losing your sanity or your joy), this episode is your behind-the-scenes reality check — and roadmap.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. Why only 1% of one-person businesses ever hit $1M/year
2. The 10 things I’d do to build a seven-figure business from scratch
3. The difference between profitable growth and burnout growth
4. Why your flagship product is the foundation for everything
5. The real emotional and personal trade-offs of scaling big
6. How to know if a seven-figure business is actually what you want

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. Get Sam's book "When I Start My Business, I'll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Entrepreneurship"
2. Get Sam’s free weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar
3. Episode 243: Why Your Content is Driving Customers Away
4. Episode 256: How To Protect Your Privacy While Growing Your Business
5. Episode 259: Passion Doesn't Equal Profit (Why Your Idea Might Fail)
6. Click here to watch the free workshop so you can get legally protected right now!

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

DISCLAIMER

So you love something—cooking, crafting, wellness, design—and you think, this is it, this is going to be my dream business! But then… crickets. No sales, no growth, no happy dance notifications from Stripe. Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing: passion is wonderful, but passion alone doesn’t pay the bills. In this episode, I’m sharing my own story of turning my love for cooking into a failed business (ouch) and the exact lessons I learned that helped me build a seven-figure business the second time around.

I’m breaking it all down into three “chapters” so you can see how to go from high passion/low strategy → sustainable, profitable business you actually love running.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. Why starting a business on pure passion can actually set you up for burnout and disappointment
2. The most common mistake new entrepreneurs make when turning a hobby into a business (I made it too!)
3. How to shift from thinking about what you want to what your audience actually needs
4. What to do when the excitement wears off and the sales don’t come rolling in
5. How to tweak your idea so it’s both fulfilling and profitable

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. Get Sam’s free weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar
2. Get Sam's book "When I Start My Business, I'll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Entrepreneurship"
3. Listen to The Real Cure for Burnout Isn't Rest - It's Creativity. Here's How Anyone Can Unlock Theirs
4. Click here to watch the free workshop so you can get legally protected right now!

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

DISCLAIMER

Most entrepreneurs think Q4 is a “dead zone” for sales—too many ads, too much noise, everyone distracted by holidays. But let me tell you: I’ve grown my multi–seven-figure business in the last 90 days of the year without ever running a Black Friday sale.

That’s right—no discounts on Thanksgiving, no frantic cyber deals, and no giving up my pumpkin pie to answer DMs. 🙅🏻‍♀️

Instead, I use five simple strategies every single year to not just end the year strong, but to set up massive momentum for the following year. And they work. Today, I’m walking you through exactly how I plan for growth in Q4 so you can steal my playbook.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. How to use end-of-year messaging to spark urgency and action from your audience
2. The behind-the-scenes planning I do in Q4 that fuels my January/February launches
3. Why “showing up like normal” (even when everyone else taps out) has been one of my biggest growth secrets
4. A sneaky way to run a holiday sale without competing in the Black Friday chaos
5. How tax deductions can be the secret sales booster no one’s talking about

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. Get Sam’s free weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar
2. Click here to watch the free workshop so you can get legally protected right now!

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

DISCLAIMER

Grief isn’t something most of us plan for when we map out our businesses, but it will change you, and by default, your business too.

In this episode, I open up about losing both of my parents within a year and the ripple effects grief had on me as a CEO, business owner, and human. I’m not sugarcoating it—grief is messy, unpredictable, and permanent. But I also share how I navigated those darker seasons, how I adjusted my business when I had no capacity for “growth mode,” and what it looks like to run a business alongside grief today.

Whether you’re in the thick of anticipatory grief, have lost someone, or simply want to understand how grief impacts entrepreneurs, I hope this episode helps you feel less alone.

In this episode, you'll hear…

1. Why anticipatory grief can feel invisible and misunderstood
2. The way grief changed my identity—and how that shows up in my business
3. How I made decisions in my business when I had zero bandwidth
4. The role of steadiness (not hustle) in navigating tough seasons
5. Why grief doesn’t go away, but how I’ve learned to live and work with it

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. Get Sam’s free weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar
2. Ep 254: The NEW Way To Structure Your Workday for Better Content
3. Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go by Gina Moffa
4. The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaoud
5. Get $25 off Cometeer Coffee [affiliate link]
6. Click here to watch the free workshop so you can get legally protected right now!

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

DISCLAIMER

Can you actually build a successful online business and keep your personal life private? Spoiler: yes, you can and you don’t have to feel like you’re choosing between being safe and being successful.

I know what it’s like to wonder if sharing that story, posting that photo, or writing that email is too much. Over the last eight years of building my multi–seven-figure business, I’ve had to learn the hard way how important it is to protect my privacy online—not just for safety, but for sanity too.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the six exact steps I take to keep my personal details safe while still showing up authentically for my community. If you’ve ever worried about oversharing online, creepy comments, or what info people can access about you, this one’s for you

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. Why protecting your privacy matters even if you’re just starting out
2. The 6 steps I use to stay safe while running a public online business
3. Simple swaps you can make today (like updating your email footer address)
4. Best practices for posting on social without feeling like you’re hiding
5. Why “anonymity” online isn’t real—and what to focus on instead
6. How to set healthy boundaries with your audience

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. How To Turn Your Instagram Location On or Off
2. Get Sam’s free weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar
3. Kit - what I use to build my email list, send emails to my list, and create opt-in forms & pages (affiliate link)
4. Click here to watch the free workshop so you can get legally protected right now!

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

DISCLAIMER

Have you ever caught yourself stuck in “plan to plan” mode? You know, where you’re endlessly researching, collecting info, or waiting for the perfect time to finally start that new project, pivot your business, or chase down that dream idea?

If so, this episode is for you.

I’m sharing why waiting for that “right time” is usually just procrastination in disguise, how my own big life pivots were shaped by unexpected challenges, and why the “first pancake” approach is the best way to finally move forward. Whether it’s watercolor painting, launching a program, or simply sending the dang email, it’s time to stop overthinking and just start.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. Why waiting for the “perfect moment” keeps you stuck longer than you think
2. The real dangers of endlessly gathering info (hello, overwhelm!)
3. How to build your business confidence without outsourcing your gut instinct
4. Why conflicting advice online is a recipe for paralysis
5. The “first pancake” method to get moving even when you don’t feel ready
6. A personal story of how I finally stopped waiting and took action

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. Get Sam's book "When I Start My Business, I'll Be Happy"
2. Get Sam’s free weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar
3. Click here to watch the free workshop so you can get legally protected right now!

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

DISCLAIMER

Ever start your workday with the best intentions to finally record that video, write that email, or publish that podcast episode… only to look up at 3 p.m. and realize you’ve been buried in other people’s priorities all day?

Yeah, me too.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on a simple (but mighty) shift I’ve made to my workday that’s helped me stop starting in reactive mode and start creating my best content before the world gets to me first.

We’ll talk about why “eat the frog” might actually be keeping you stuck, how to protect your creativity from getting hijacked, and a practical way to organize your mornings so you actually finish what matters most.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. Why the classic “eat the frog” productivity advice might not serve you anymore
2. The sneaky way starting with other people’s priorities puts you in reactive mode
3. How morning creativity works (and why scrolling first can sabotage it)
4. My new, super simple workday structure for better, more consistent content
5. A peek at what’s coming next on the podcast

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. Check out Sam's podcast catalog

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

DISCLAIMER

This week, I sat down with video marketing coach and content strategist Natasha Pierre to talk about the REAL reason your content isn’t converting into email list growth (or sales)—and how to fix it using her signature strategy: content series.

We’re breaking down the binge-worthy magic behind creating a content series (like your very own Netflix show), why one-off posts don’t cut it anymore, and how to build content that actually works to grow your audience and your revenue. This episode is all about giving structure to your content and making your visibility efforts way more effective.

Whether you’re building from scratch or want to turn views into opt-ins, this conversation will have your wheels turning.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. Why your current content might be holding your list growth back
2. What a “content series” is (and how to make your own)
3. The three must-have ingredients of a high-converting series
4. Real examples of bingeable content that builds authority and drives leads
5. How to align your content with your business goals (instead of random posting)
6. The sneaky mindset shift that can help your content finally stick

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. Follow Natasha on Instagram and check out The Shine Online Podcast
2. Natasha's DIY Your Signature Video Series Workshop - learn step-by-step how to create an engaging signature series on any platform including examples and client case studies
3. Check out Natasha's YouTube Videos: Instagram Carousels Aren’t Dead (You’re Just Using Them Wrong) and My 2025 Instagram Stories Strategy: What I Stopped Doing + What's Working Now
4. Listen to Episode 36: How to Grow Your Business on Instagram [ft. Video Marketing Coach, Natasha Samuel]
5. Get Sam’s free weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar
6. Check out Sam's book "When I Start My Business, I'll Be Happy: A Practical. No-BS Guide To Successful Entrepreneurship"
7. Click here to watch the free workshop so you can get legally protected right now!

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

DISCLAIMER