The Solo Grind

Send us Fan Mail

Awww… clarity! The elusive state of knowing exactly what you want at any given moment. As solo small business owners, clarity can be hard to find sometimes. There are so many ideas out there about what we should want, as well as how we should go about getting it, and let’s not forget the shoulds that define what success is supposed to look like for us. With all the should we have to step around when building a life and business of our dreams it is easy to lose sight of clarity, so today let me share how I reclaimed clarity so I could get this silly episode recorded! 

What I hope you take away from today's episode... 

☕ You might need to get things done, but pushing through isn't always the answer 
☕ Clarity starts with really good self care 
☕ The only rule to journaling is there are no rules 
☕ Clarity doesn’t usually arrive on schedule, but it always shows up when you let it.

Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode...  

☕ Small Business Sweet Spot podcast with Barb Davis
☕ The Artist Way by Julia Cameron,

Links to connect with me... 

☕ Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
☕ Email me at [email protected]
☕ Find me on Substack!

Send us Fan Mail

As a solo small business owner, I am never short on dreams. I have dreams for the future, dreams about where I want to take my business, even dreams about what next week will look like. But the funny about dreams is they aren't always what we hope they will be when we actually get to live them.Dreams take time to unfold and it is the unfolding and discovery that is part of what makes them so incredible. 

In today's episode I am sharing how a dream came true landed me in a Costa Rican hospital (where they took really good care of me!) Thankfully that experience wasn't all that serious, but it was the catalyst I needed to help me remember it is okay to rethink our dreams! 

What I hope you take away from today's episode... 

☕ Dreams aren't always (if ever) easy, but they are worth it when they are real 
☕ It's okay to rethink your dreams... pivot... and change direction 
☕ Others may scoff or laugh at your dreams. That's okay! Prove them wrong with your success 
☕ Working towards something you realize you don't want is not a waste of time. It's clarity on what you do want. 
☕  Those closest to you may not get it, that's okay. If they are standing by your side cheering you on that what matters most 
☕ Swim up bars are something you want to avoid! 

Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode... 

☕ “How to follow your dreams: 23 steps and why it’s worth it.” –– Medium. 

☕ The Costa Rican waterslide from my nightmares https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5UkJTTF2Go

Links to connect with me... 

☕ Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
☕ Website: CaffeineCreative.io (http://caffeinecreative.io/)
☕ Find me on Substack!

Send us Fan Mail

Today we're dimming the lights, lighting some spooky candles, and talking about the dark side of marketing. We're diving into the ghouls, ghosts, and goblins that haunt the business world... those manipulative tactics that give honest entrepreneurs a bad name.

Whether you're sipping your pumpkin spice latte or your regular morning brew, grab your coziest blanket, snuggle up with your pups, and let's explore the spooky side of marketing together. Don't worry, I promise by the end of this episode, you'll know exactly how to spot these creatures in the wild and avoid becoming one yourself.

What I hope you take away from today's episode... 

☕ There are a lot of marketing tactics to help grow your business 
☕ What makes shifts things to the darkside is the intention to manipulate for the sake of money
☕ When you focus on real value, genuine connections, and great service you are building a solid honest business 
☕ When you are fake in your marketing, eventually your real self comes through, and that's never good for business

Mentions and Shoutouts in this episode... 

Lots of love out to the pixabay creators who shared their sound effects for today's episodes (full list of creators is available in my detailed shownotes.

 ☕ ReciME: https://www.recime.app/
☕ Duolingo https://www.duolingo.com/

Links to connect with me... 

☕ Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
☕ Website: CaffeineCreative.io (http://caffeinecreative.io/)
☕ Email me: [email protected]
☕ Find me on Substack!

Send us Fan Mail

Do you ever stop to think about how you are perceived by others? Not just the first impression, but every impression you make? Each impression we make is a building block for our business reputation, and unfortunately, sometimes what we want to portray isn’t in alignment with how others see us. 

In this episode, we are going to be taking a look at many of the impressions we make that shape our business, our reputation and our success. From In Person Impressions to the Impression we make when things go wrong and everything in between! 

Here are a few of the things we will be covering... 

☕ Taking a deeper look at how we want to be perceived 
☕ Crafting that perception with clarity, confidence and consistency 
☕ How the first few minutes in person can determine if things go futher 
☕ Behind the scenes on your screen makes a REALLY BIG impression 
☕ Knowing your audience so you communicate with clarity 

So grab your cup, snuggle your pup and let’s talk about what it really takes to do this thing solo.

What I hope you take away from today's episode... 

☕ You are making an impression with each contact you make with others 
☕ The 5 things you want to do to make a really great in person impression 
☕ Why you should skip the pajama when doing video calls 
☕ Your personal social media is still a representation of your business self
☕ Mistakes and issues will happen. It's how you address them that matters most. 

Links to connect with me... 

☕ Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
☕ Website: CaffeineCreative.io (http://caffeinecreative.io/)
☕ Find me on Substack!

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever had one of those relationships that started off fun and exciting, but after a while you begin to realize that things just aren’t all that fun or exciting anymore, and you start wondering if things are becoming toxic? No, I am not shifting the focus on this podcast to love and relationships but I am considering a break up in my business.  

Here is a more in depth look at what you'll find in today's episode... 
☕The one “vital” business tool that has been draining my energy lately
☕ What is working and what isn’t working
☕ Some common objections I’m facing 
☕ What "New Directions" I am exploring moving forward!

What I hope you take away from today's episode... 

☕ What is "vital" to one business, may not be so important for yours 
☕ There are lots of different ways to build a personal brand 
☕ There are just as many ways to market your business 
☕ If things aren't working for you, it doesn't mean your a failure. 
☕ It just means this may not be the right approach for you! 

Links to connect with me... 

☕ Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
☕ Website: CaffeineCreative.io (http://caffeinecreative.io/)
☕ Find me on Substack!

Send us Fan Mail

Today we are rounding off our conversation about Customer Service with ten tiny tweaks you can make to improve your own customer service game that will help with satisfaction and retention. These cost little to nothing, but offer a really big impact, and they help you stand out in a noisy world of marketing. 

What I hope you take away from today's episode... 

☕ You don't have to buy gifts, or send generic thank you cards to create real connections 
☕ Our face, body and tone are always communicating, and it's up to us to keep them in line 
☕ A squishy panda, little tub of play-doh or bouncy ball may be necessary
☕ A few extra touches can make a really big impact in client satisfaction 
☕ A little small talk and a friendly greeting can calm even the crankiest of the cranky

Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode... 

☕ Find me on Substack!
☕ Good Posture: How to Improve It and Its Benefits, from University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
☕ 10 Surprising Effects of Poor Posture on Your Body, Form Recovery & Wellness
☕ Grammarly 10 common types of tones in written communication.
☕ Making Small Talk BIGGER, The Small Business Casual Podcast with Emily Aborn

Links to connect with me... 

☕ Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
☕ Website: CaffeineCreative.io (http://caffeinecreative.io/)
☕ Find me on Substack!

Send us Fan Mail

Last week, while researching the topic of the "must have" business tools and resources, I was stunned to see Customer Service tossed at the bottom of the list, like a an afterthought. From my earliest days of being employed, customer service has been at the core of what I do, and without good customer service practices in place I don't think I would have a business. Seeing it listed as such a low priority and got me asking A LOT of questions. 

Those questions lead me to today's episode building solid relationships by leaning into discomfort first. According to a Psychology Today article, Embracing Growth and Relationship Discomfort "Strong and fulfilling relationships require vulnerability, open communication, and a willingness to embrace discomfort."  And that is what we are going to be doing today. 

Here is a more in depth look at what you'll find in today's episode... 
☕ Why I believe listing customer service last is truly the elephant in the room
☕ Solid reasons as to why customer retention is so much more effective and fun that customer acquisition 
☕ 7 Steps on ho to lean into the discomfort to build stronger and longer lasting  business relationships

If you've been struggling to build long lasting relationships with your customers, or just a little curious as to how leaning into discomfort can build stronger more fulfilling relationships, grab your cup of coffee and tune in. 

What I hope you take away from today's episode... 

☕ Customer service should never be an after thought, it should be the cornerstone of your business
☕ Before you can make real connections you need to lean in to discomfort 
☕ How to recognize discomfort within yourself and use it to your advantage 
☕ When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable we are essentially connecting with our most genuine and authentic selves. 
☕ How allowing our beliefs to be challenged we gain a better understanding of what those around us
☕ And how that understanding can lead to stronger relationships build on trust and mutual respect. 

Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode... 

☕ Forbes Online, Customer Retention Versus Customer Acquisition
☕  Psychology Today,  Embracing Growth and Relationship Discomfort

Links to connect with me... 

Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
Website — CaffeineCreative.io (http://caffeinecreative.io/)
Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io
Find me on Substack!

Send us Fan Mail

Do you ever feel like you are drowning in "all the things" necessary to build a successful business. Tools, resources, software hardware... the list goes on and one and can get quite overwhelming really fast! 

Today, I am sharing how I broke up the the “must have business tools” and started building a business that feels really good for me. Like a warm cozy sweater on the first cool day in fall! I'm sharing 

☕ What I thought I needed to do or have to be a "real grown up business owner" 
☕ The “must have business tools” our world tells we have to have 
☕ The software app I deemed the “Software-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” 
☕ What I no longer use 
☕ And the short list of what I kept. 

I am also sharing how you can take an up close and personal look at what you have so you can decide what to release with clarity and confidence. 

What I hope you take away from today's episode... 

☕ You don't have all the things just be successful
☕ A lot of the "success proof" we see online is fluff, empty promises, and dodgy marketing.
☕ Making our dreams come true is a process with ups, downs, wins, losses, triumphs and setbacks.
☕ Having all the things "necessary" for success is often just more to do and more to manage 
☕ You probably have success already –– hidden under the noise and clutter 
☕ There is A LOT OF OVERLAP in the must have tools and resources 
☕ You have my permission to keep things simple! 

Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode... 

☕ How I declutter and keep things simple (see my detailed show notes!)

Links to connect with me... 

Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
Website — CaffeineCreative.io (http://caffeinecreative.io/)
Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io
Find me on Substack!

Send us Fan Mail

Working solo sounds amazing until you realize just how tricky it can be to keep yourself on track. Freedom of schedule can quickly feel like chaos, the quiet of home can get a little too quiet, and without a team there’s no one to lean on when things get heavy. In this conversation, I’m talking about the challenges we face as solo entrepreneurs, the structure that actually helps me stay focused, and the simple slump-busters I turn to when the loneliness and doubt creep in.

What I hope you take away from today's episode... 

☕ The same freedoms that drew you to working solo can also become your biggest challenges
☕ A little structure and a few simple rituals go a long way in keeping you grounded
☕ Slumps are normal, but they don’t have to derail your whole week
☕ Community matters, even when you’re building something on your own
☕ You can keep showing up for your business without burning yourself out

Links to connect with me... 

Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
Website — CaffeineCreative.io (http://caffeinecreative.io/)
Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io
Find me on Substack!

Send us Fan Mail

Today I am sitting down with my good friend, go-to copywriter and fellow podcaster Emily Aborn to talk about all the noise around Marketing at the end of the year and why most of it simply doesn’t work for solo entrepreneurs. There is an incredible pressure to scale, the lure of shiny offers, and the shiesty marketing tactics that create fake urgency or play on guilt. Emily and I share personal stories of investments that didn’t deliver, the lessons we’ve learned, and how we now decide what’s worth our time and energy.

What I hope you take away from today's episode... 

☕ You get to define success on your own terms, and growing really is optional.
☕ Not every offer, course, or campaign is meant for you right now (or ever).
☕ Fake urgency, false scarcity, and vague promises are red flags.
☕ Do an “energy audit” before you commit to anything new in the last few months of the year
☕ Ending the year in reflection mode can be more powerful than ending in push mode.
☕ It’s okay, healthy, even, to have seasons of slower pace in your business.

Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode... 

☕ Connect with Emily at https://emilyaborn.com
☕ More from Emily with her Small Business Casual Podcast
☕ The Megan Dahle Episode: Profit, Growth, and Intuition with Megan Dahle
☕ When Slow Looks Scary… Episode 

Links to connect with me... 

Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
Website — CaffeineCreative.io (http://caffeinecreative.io/)
Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io
Find me on Substack!