Staying Solo
Growing a solo service business is tough. It’s even harder when you’re bombarded with BS advice that steers you away from your values and why you started your business in the first place. This is the podcast for solo creatives and consultants who want to remain as a team of one and have zero interest in the hustle and grind of typical business teachings. Most podcasts for solopreneurs and freelancers, hosted by out-of-touch celebrity entrepreneurs who haven't offered one-to-one services in years, miss the mark on today's market realities. Maggie Patterson, a service business owner for 20 years, understands that to stay solo, you need to know what matters to you, what works for you, and what you should completely ignore. In each episode, she examines one piece of conventional business advice to discover how it may hurt your business or be completely wrong for you as a solo business owner. Join Maggie for real talk to help you avoid burnout or the desire to entirely burn down your business to open a flower shop, book store, or cat cafe. (Because those cats won’t pay the bills.) (Formerly the BS-Free Service Business Show)
Episodes
If one more bro tells me to read The 10X Rule, I’m throwing my e-reader in the lake.
Summer isn’t for hustle manifestos—it’s for books that actually bring you joy.
In this episode, I’m sharing my Summer Book Stack: the hits, the current reads, and the towering to be read. No scale-to-seven-figures pressure, just real recs for real humans.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
...Ever feel like summer turns your business brain to mush?
One moment you’re laser-focused, the next you’re chasing distractions, half-replying to Slack, and wondering why everything feels… off.
That’s not a productivity problem—it’s fragmentation. And it hits hardest when we try to run our businesses like it’s any other season, even when everything around us is shifting.
In this ep...
If your sales have slowed and your offer isn’t landing, it’s probably not your pricing—it’s your positioning.
In a tight market, buyers aren’t gambling on vague promises or “kinda-sorta” solutions. They’re choosing clarity, confidence, and specialists who solve specific problems.
This episode is your wake-up call to stop blending in. We’re breaking down why narrowing your niche (even further) ...
What if your best ideas aren’t gone…they’re just buried under a packed calendar and constant noise?
If every idea feels stale and your creativity’s running on fumes, this episode is your permission slip to slow down.
In this episode, we’re unpacking the myth of “always-on” creativity, why overcommitment is killing your best ideas, and how to build in the margin you need to let your creativity...
Ever tried a “simple” recipe only to end up with a kitchen disaster? That’s how most business owners run their businesses—turning something straightforward into a chaotic mess.
The truth? Overcomplication is a scam. More income streams, endless platforms, and 57-step sales funnels won’t save you—they’ll sink you.
In this episode, we’re breaking it all down—the Chaos Tax you’re unknowingly payi...
Feel like a clingy ex every time you follow up with a client?
You’re not needy—you’re leading.
Clients aren’t ignoring you, they’re busy. Following up isn’t desperate—it’s part of your job.
In this episode, we’re getting real about following up with clients without feeling needy or annoying. I’ll show you why follow-up feels so awkward, how to fix that mindset, and break down the ...
Tired of discovery calls that feel like free coaching sessions and awkward sales scripts?
You’ve been sold a lie—overdeliver, be the “helpful expert,” and somehow close without selling.
That doesn’t work. Not for Done-For-You service providers.
In this episode, I’m breaking down how to do discovery calls in a straightforward, honest, and effective way. And the best part? It’s way ...
This week I’m sharing my story from my new private podcast series, Staying Solo Stories.
Staying Solo Stories is a private podcast where we dig into the real, unfiltered stories of business owners who’ve chosen to stay intentionally small—people who are proving every single day that you don’t need a big team or a complicated business model to be successful.
In this episode, I share how I went...
You know what’s wild? I’ve been podcasting for 11 years, writing even longer—but the moment I decided to write a book, I completely freaked out.
Why? I’ve shared my words for years, but somehow, a book felt different.
In this episode, we’re going beyond the book—what it took to write Staying Solo®, how I got it done, and what I learned along the way.
Topics discussed in this epi...
What if the advice on growing a business isn’t just wrong—but hurting you?
We’re told success means scaling, hiring, and going bigger. But what if that’s holding you back from a profitable, sustainable business that works for you?
Staying Solo isn’t settling; it’s a strategy.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
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You built your business for freedom, not to be on call 24/7. So why are you still checking emails at night and saying yes when you mean no?
Ignoring boundaries leads to chaos, stress, and clients pushing limits. And no, charging more or “manifesting better” won’t magically fix it.
The real solution? Boundaries. They turn a frantic business into a calm, profitable, and predictably boring one—in...
Have you ever joined a business coaching program that promised to be the only system you’ll ever need—only to wish for a time machine to get your money back?
Same. That’s why I do things differently.
If you want the real, no-fluff experience of working with me, you’re in the right place.
In this episode, I’m giving you the real deal on how I work with clients, why I’m not here to ...
Predictable revenue may not be flashy, but it’s the foundation of a business that lasts.
While others chase trends and burnout, you’ll have steady income, reliable clients, and peace of mind. Because a business that pays you consistently isn’t boring—it’s profitable, sustainable, and stress-free.
In this episode, we’re discussing how to trade chaos for consistency, stop chasing quick wins, and...
Ever wonder why some clients feel like a dream while others make you question everything?
Spoiler: It’s not just bad luck—it might be misaligned values.
If your core values are buried on your website, you risk attracting the wrong clients who ignore boundaries and drain your energy.
But when your values are front and center, they act as a filter for you.
In this ep...
Ever had someone nod blankly when you explain what you do? That’s the problem with a broad niche—people don’t get it, and if they don’t, they won’t hire you.
In 2025, specificity isn’t optional—it’s the key to standing out.
A broad niche means more competition and fewer ideal clients. But when you zero in on the right people, the right problem, and the right positioning? Everything clicks.
Most offer advice is a ticking time bomb—created for businesses nothing like yours by people who haven’t worked with an actual client in years. It’s overhyped, overcomplicated, and entirely out of touch.
From the mythical signature offer to the never-ending offer ladder, this advice isn’t built for solo service providers but for mass-market, one-size-fits-all business models.
How do you create...
As a solo service provider, you’ve heard it before—nail the basics, then keep growing.
But business isn’t static, and neither is your strategy. As you evolve, so should your foundation.
Meet the Strategy Stack—a framework to help you refine and strengthen your business, one layer at a time.
In this episode, I’m breaking down the Strategy Stack—what it is, how each layer fits toget...
Everyone's chasing six or seven figures like it's the ultimate goal—but is it really?
The truth is that revenue without purpose can leave you overworked, overwhelmed, and wondering if you’ve built a business or a burden.
Success isn’t just about making more money. It’s about making money that actually supports your life and goals. So, how do you break free from the revenue rat race and build ...
You’re burnt out from the grind, drowning in noise, and questioning whether the version of success we were all sold was ever worth it.
Sound familiar?
Hustle culture promised us freedom, but all it delivered was stress, overwork, and businesses that feel more like a trap. We’ve been told that bigger is always better, that scaling is the only way forward, and that if we’re struggling, we just ...
Adaptation is key if you want to run a sustainable service business as a team.
What worked a year (or even a month) ago may be ineffective in the current market. What your clients want may have evolved, and your personal goals may have changed.
The tricky part can be understanding when it’s time to change things up or when it’s best to stay on your current course.
In this episo...
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