Solopreneur Life

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You’re never going to be the only option for your clients. And in most industries, you’re going to have tons of competitors, all vying for the same target clients. How do you stand out? That’s what we’ll talk about today.

Do you remember Princess Diaries? Anne Hathaway is a nerdy high school student who just learned she’s a princess. At one point in the movie, she says, “I’m invisible, and I’m good at it.”

We’re trained from our earliest days to FIT IN.

But when we do that, we become less visible. We blend in. 

We DON’T stand out.

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Welcome to the Solopreneur Life Podcast. I’m your host, Kathryn Aragon. 

At Solopreneur Life, our mission is to help solopreneurs and freelancers launch and grow a 6-figure business without overwhelm or burnout. Learn the skills, habits, and mindsets you need to build a business that’s not only profitable — it’s fun. 

Today, we’re talking about How to Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace.

But before we dive in...

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Most solopreneurs and freelancers get to a point that they don’t want to work with clients anymore. The problem isn’t that you have a client-based business. It’s that we fall into the Bad Client Trap and can’t get out. Here’s how it happens, and what to do to avoid it.

Are you working with great clients who respect you, pay what you’re worth, and call you first when they have a need?

If not, you may have fallen into the *dreaded* Bad Client Trap! Stay tuned to learn just how easy it is to fall into that trap, and what I do to avoid them.

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Welcome to the Solopreneur Life Podcast. I’m your host, Kathryn Aragon. 

At Solopreneur Life, our mission is to help solopreneurs and freelancers launch and grow a 6-figure business without overwhelm or burnout. Learn the skills, habits, and mindsets you need to build a business that’s not only profitable — it’s fun. 

Today, we’re talking about How to Avoid the Bad Client Trap.

But before we dive in...

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In this interview with the founders of RTY Art, we explore what it takes to turn your passion or talent into a hugely profitable business.

TEASER

Have you ever spent time doing something you love and thought, “I should do this for a living?” We’re talking about monetizing your passion here.

So often, when we talk about starting your own business, we think about offering a service, like copywriting or coaching.

But you don’t have to take that route if you don’t want to. You can absolutely turn your gifts and talents into a very profitable business, and my guest today is proof.

Welcome to the Solopreneur Life Podcast. I’m your host, Kathryn Aragon. 

At Solopreneur Life, our mission is to equip you with the skills, habits, and mindsets you need to hit 6 figures and beyond. Enjoy the freedom, profits, and fun of running your own business, your way. 

Join us every week as we dive into the nitty-gritty of going solo.

Today, I’m talking with Rebecca, the owner of RTY Art. She’s built a 7-figure business simply by monetizing Rebecca’s artistic talent.

But before we dive in...

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You’ve been told you need to find a niche, but you like being a generalist. Is there a real benefit to niching your biz? That’s what we cover in this smart episode.

TEASER

First thing they tell you to do as a new freelancer or solopreneur is to find a niche. But a lot of us, me included, really resist that idea.

• We like a wide variety of projects.
• We don’t know yet what we want to do when we grow up.
• We can list the names of other successful solos who made it big as a generalist.

Today’s episode doesn’t come from someone who is a die-hard fan of finding a niche. I fought it every step of the way. 

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Welcome to the Solopreneur Life Podcast. I’m your host, Kathryn Aragon. 

At Solopreneur Life, our mission is to equip you with the skills, habits, and mindsets you need to grow a thriving business. Your future starts today, so let’s build something that gives you real freedom and flexibility. Join us every week as we dive into the nitty-gritty of going solo.

Today, we’re talking about finding a niche — and whether or not it’s true that taking a smaller piece of the pie will give you more respect, better clients, and more income.

But before we dive in...

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TITLE: It’s Not You. It Takes Time.

When bad things happen, good people blame themselves. But not this time! If you’ve hit a plateau and can’t seem to grow your business, it’s not you. Here’s what you need to know.

Have you ever felt stuck? You can’t seem to get the clients you want. You can’t get that next level of projects. Your fees are so 2005…

Let me begin by saying, “It’s not you.”

You aren’t doing anything wrong. You’re not unfit to run your own business. You’re just running up against normal market pressures. The solopreneur life is fun, but it can be a roller coaster. So we just need to remind ourselves that rollercoasters are fun…

AND learn how to set realistic expectations and keep moving forward no matter what.

Like Luke Cage says, “Always forward.”

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Welcome to the Solopreneur Life Podcast. I’m your host, Kathryn Aragon.

At Solopreneur Life, our mission is to equip you with the skills, habits, and mindsets you need to grow a thriving business. Your future starts today, so let’s build something that gives you real freedom and flexibility. I hope you’ll join us every week as we dive into the nitty-gritty of going solo.

Today, we’re talking about how to manage your expectations, your time, and the ups and downs of the Solopreneur Life.

But before we dive in...

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TOPIC 1: They always make it sound too easy.

Is it a sales pitch? Or a snow job? Not sure.

Coaches and trainers sell you on the idea that solo success is easy. But it’s never as easy as they say, is it?

You find yourself struggling…. And believe it’s you. Wrong. It’s a biz. That’s the reality of being self-employed.

Like raising kids. As fun and fulfilling as it is, It’s hard work.

It takes time. There are no guarantees that you're doing the right thing.

How we manage the chaos: We EAT.

1. Try to identify the problem

2. Create a hypothesis for fixing it

3. Try it

4. Evaluate, adapt, and tweak. (EAT)

TOPIC 2: The 2 T’s of growth: Time and Testing

keep listening for more great tips.

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Are you positioning yourself for real success?

Let’s look at some simple tweaks you can make to position yourself as a trusted authority.

• 20% of new businesses fail in the first two years.
• Half give up before they hit the five-year mark.
• Freelancers that do make it earn an average of just $39k a year.

Today, I have a question for you…

Where’s your business going to be in five years?

If you want to be in business, living a life you love, you need to make sure you’re not doing little things that sabotage your success. A BIGGIE: treating your biz as a hobby, not a business.

It’s the details that often make the difference, so today, we’re going to look at some simple things you can do to level up your business and step up your success.

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Welcome to the Solopreneur Life Podcast. I’m your host, Kathryn Aragon. And my husband Jonathan Aragon is with me, running tech and possibly joining me for Q&A.

At Solopreneur Life, we’re all about building and scaling your business, so you can enjoy the freedom, flexibility, and FUN of running your own business. Join me every week as we dive into the ups and downs of going solo.

Today, we’re talking about Professional or Hobbyist? How to Make Sure You Look Like a Pro.

But before we dive in...

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TOPIC 1: Are you a hobbyist or a professional?

And does it even matter?

YES!

• Get paid better
• Treated with more respect
• It’s easier to get clients

If you come off as a hobbyist, prospects won’t trust that you’ll be there long-term to serve them.

They’ll question the quality of your work.

They’ll pass you over the minute they meet someone who they think is better.

*** keep listening for more great tips on how to position yourself as a professional rather than a hobbyist!

There are two ways to sell your products and services. Which is right for you depends on your product, your audience, and this surprising element.

To operate in the black, you’ve got to sell stuff. Right?

But selling is trickier than you might think. Because you’ve got a lot of different options. Which is right for you? Which is best for the product you’re selling? That’s what we talk about today.

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Welcome to the Solopreneur Life Podcast. I’m your host, Kathryn Aragon. 

At Solopreneur Life, we’re all about building and scaling your business, so you can enjoy the freedom, flexibility AND FUN that come with running your own business. Join us every week as we dive into the ups and downs of running a solo business.

Today, we’re talking about Two Ways to Sell (And Succeed).

But before we dive in...

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TOPIC 1: 2 Ways to Sell 

There are two ways to sell

• Personally - one-to-one
• Automated - people find your landing page and buy from it

Each is good for a different purpose.

One-to-one: 

You get on a sales call to talk with your prospect, give a demonstration, do discovery, negotiate terms, and answer their questions. Best for:

• When you’re selling a high-dollar offer or service
• The sales process is complex.
• There are a lot of personalizations that can be made.

Automated:

This happens on your website, whether you’re paying attention or not. Best for:

• Digital products or courses
• No-touch, low-touch offers
• No-cost, low-cost offers
• Proven products — your messaging, offer, and price are on point.

Which one is right for you? Likely both. It just depends on what you’re offering.

Listen in to learn more!

Too often, we keep our heads down, focusing on taking care of clients, and we forget to attend to other equally important tasks. Today, I share a confession, a story, and a smart tip, no matter where you are in your business.

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I messed up. I forgot two of the most important words you’ll ever use in your business. And I’m feeling really bad. Stay tuned, and I’ll tell you all about it.

Welcome to the Solopreneur Life Podcast. I’m your host, Kathryn Aragon. 

At Solopreneur Life, we’re all about building and scaling your business using the ARC Method. About achieving your vision of success, so you can enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with running your own business. I hope you’ll join us every week as we dive into the ups and downs of going solo.

Today, we’re talking about Two Words You Probably Aren't Using Enough.

But before we dive in...

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So You Did a Bad Something...

It’s easy to fall into the comparison trap, comparing ourselves to others and coming up short. Especially when you’ve just done something that’s, well, bad. So let’s talk about what it means when you do something badly, and how to move forward anyway.

We talk a lot about the learning curve. But what if you’re a pro? Do you still do bad things?

I hate to break it to you, but YES. You’re never going to completely arrive.

…

Welcome to the Solopreneur Life Podcast. I’m your host, Kathryn Aragon.

At Solopreneur Life, we’re all about building and scaling your business, so you can enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with running your own business. I hope you’ll join us every week as we dive into the ups and downs of going solo.

Today’s episode: So You Did a Bad Something.

But before we dive in...

SUBSCRIBE

Take a minute now to subscribe to the Solopreneur Life Podcast, so you don’t miss a single episode.

Support the stream: https://streamlabs.com/kathrynaragon

Why do you struggle to get clients? Is it really that your competition is better than you… or are you unconsciously sending signals that you’re not the right person for the job?

Sometimes, to diagnose your business problems, you just need to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes.

Think about a buying experience that went wrong for you. What were the features that made you choose one vendor over another?

Now think about your own business? Are you really taking care of your clients? If you were in their shoes, would YOU buy from you?

Good question, right?

…

Welcome to the Solopreneur Life Podcast. I’m your host, Kathryn Aragon.

At Solopreneur Life, we’re all about building and scaling your business, so you can enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with running your own business. I hope you’ll join us every week as we dive into the ups and downs of running a solo business.

Today’s topic: Would YOU Hire You?

But before we dive in...

SUBSCRIBE

Take a minute now to subscribe to the Solopreneur Life Podcast, so you don’t miss a single episode.

Support the stream: https://streamlabs.com/kathrynaragon