The Aspiring Solopreneur

Making changes in your business is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming when everything seems important at once. In this episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, Carly and Joe walk you through the PRIORITY Framework, a practical tool to help you decide which changes are worth your time, energy, and resources. From spotting critical survival moves to weighing risks, opportunities, and alignment with your vision, this fra...

You’ve worked hard to get your solopreneur business off the ground, but what happens when things start to stall, or worse, head in the wrong direction?

In this episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, Carly and Joe dig into the “improving” phase of the Solopreneur Success Cycle. They uncover the seven most common failure modes that can quietly sabotage your progress, from burnout and stagnation to external threats and even you...

After spending so much time laying the groundwork in the planning phase, it’s finally time to take action. In this episode, Carly and Joe step into the doing phase of the Solopreneur Success Cycle, where strategies move from paper to practice. They share how to run your business with intention, capture issues before they slip through the cracks, and decide what deserves your immediate attention versus what can wait. From s...

Ever wonder which tools and services you actually need as a solopreneur, and which ones are just shiny distractions?

In this episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, Carly and Joe revisit one of the most debated sections of their book, Solopreneur Business For Dummies: setting up your company’s tools and services.

From creating rock-solid SOPs to knowing when to outsource, to avoiding the dreaded “tool overload,” they break do...

Think of onboarding like a marriage: you don’t stop showing up once the vows (or the sale) are made. In this episode, they unpack why onboarding is the delight phase of the buyer’s journey, how to prevent buyer’s remorse, and the small but powerful touches that turn customers into lifelong fans (and evangelists).

If you’ve ever wondered how to make sure your clients feel like they “married the right business,” this one’s f...

Sales doesn’t have to feel slimy or stressful. In fact, when you treat it as service, selling becomes a natural extension of helping people.

In this episode, Carly and Joe break down the planning side of sales for solopreneurs, from understanding levels of touch to qualifying leads and nailing your quick pitch.

If the thought of selling makes you cringe, this conversation will help you rethink the process and build a sales...

After nine years of collaborating virtually, Carly and Joe finally met face-to-face at the INBOUND conference in San Francisco. The sessions were buzzing with AI talk, but Carly and Joe zeroed in on what really matters for solopreneurs: marketing strategy that puts people first.

In this episode, they unpack why human connection is more powerful than any algorithm, how trust fuels business growth, and why a solid strategy b...

* In light of the INBOUND conference taking place right now, we decided to re-release the biggest takeaways from the 2024 event. While this episode was originally released last year, the information is still very relevant to solopreneurs now, so be sure to tune in! *

HubSpot hosted their massive annual conference that covered the latest trends and tactics in marketing, sales, and AI…and we had two people attend who are read...

Now that we're halfway through the Solopreneur Success Cycles series we're doing leading up to the launch of our book, Solopreneur Business For Dummies, we wanted to re-release the first episode in the series that gives an overview of what it is, so that new listeners can be brought up to speed. It also serves as a good refresher for those who are following along!

Ever feel like you're building your solo business one guess ...

Your brand is so much more than a logo and some colors—it’s your personality, your values, and the story you tell the world. In this episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, Carly and Joe dive into what it really means to build a brand as a one-person business.

From defining who you are (and who you aren’t) to crafting messaging that resonates, they’ll show you how storytelling becomes the foundation for every marketing move y...

Most solopreneurs make the mistake of trying to serve everyone and end up standing out to no one. In this short and punchy episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, Carly and Joe dive into one of the most overlooked steps in building a successful solo business: positioning. They break down why niching down isn’t limiting, but rather the key to charging more, marketing smarter, and actually getting noticed. If you’ve ever said, ...

So, you’ve got a business idea you’re excited about. But here’s the big question: does it actually work on paper, or will it drain your bank account before it takes off?

In this episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, Carly and Joe break down how to test the feasibility of your business idea, spot potential deal-breaking showstoppers, and price your services with confidence (without letting imposter syndrome drag you down). 

I...

Before you dive headfirst into your solopreneur journey, there are two things you absolutely need to nail down: your competition and your customers.

In this episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, Joe and Carly continue the series on the Solopreneur Success Cycle and break down why “everyone” is not your audience, how to spot opportunities your competitors are overlooking, and why creating personas (yes, even giving them name...

In this episode, we kick off the Planning phase of the Solopreneur Success Cycle and break down the must-knows before you dive in. From choosing the right title for yourself to simplifying your business model into three core parts, you’ll learn how to set yourself up for efficiency, clarity, and higher earning potential. Whether you’re just starting or refining your business, these insights will help you plan smarter and a...

Ever wonder how to take that fuzzy “someday” business idea and turn it into something real, without locking yourself into a plan too soon?

In this episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, we’re diving into the Envision stage of the Solopreneur Success Cycle (episode 3 of The Solopreneur Success Cycle Series beginning with episode 216). 

We’ll talk about dreaming big without overcomplicating, why your goals (not just a trendy fr...

If you’re ready to create a business that supports your life instead of running it, this is the episode you need.

Carly and Joe dive into Step Zero of the Solopreneur Success Cycle: Defining Your Goals, and spoiler alert: it’s way deeper than “make money” or “gain freedom.”

You’ll learn how to uncover your true why, build goals that actually guide your decisions, and avoid creating a business you secretly resent. From toddl...

Ever feel like you're building your solo business one guess at a time?

In this episode, Carly and Joe pull back the curtain on the Solopreneur Success Cycle, the foundational framework behind their new book Solopreneur Business for Dummies. From defining your goals (hello, Step Zero!) to tweaking, refining, and reimagining your business as it grows, they break down the entire cycle designed specifically for one-person busi...

What if building a business didn’t require burnout, hustle culture, or 80-hour workweeks? In this episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, we chat with Amanda Bourbonais—copywriter, wellness advocate, and self-proclaimed OG Health-First Freelancer—about how a health crisis reshaped her definition of success and led her to build a thriving six-figure business…with plenty of time for naps.

Amanda shares how to manage client expec...

Ever had a client that made you question your life choices? In this episode of The Aspiring Solopreneur, Carly and Joe dive deep into the art (and science) of firing problem clients without burning bridges—or your sanity.

From subtle red flags to graceful exits, they’ll help you figure out when it’s time to say, “It’s not me, it’s you.” Whether you're drowning in scope creep or stuck with a client who’s just not a fit anym...