When you’ve run your Soloist business long enough, you’ll see cycles: changes in the market, changes in you/your interests and situation and your bank account. Business coach Ed Gandia shares how his business, his financials and his mindset have changed over 18 years as a Soloist: Growing his first freelance business entirely by word of mouth—and t…

Categories: Growing Revnue + Wealth, Niching Link: https://rochellemoulton.com/soloist_podcast/pulling-out-of-a-revenue-nosedive-with-chris-ferdinandi/?utm_source=subscriber What do you do when your consistently growing revenue suddenly takes a nosedive—and your peers are feeling it too? Soloist Chris Ferdinandi walks us through the experience and …

When you started your business, you probably imagined steady revenue growth under your original business model—only to discover that the only way to grow the way you want is by experimenting! Business Coach Jessica Lackey (a McKinsey and Nike alum) shares her year-by-year experience in crafting her ideal business model: How she contracted for “brid…

If this last year was NOT smooth sailing for your Soloist business finances, now is an ideal time to pave the way to better. There’s still time to avoid unpleasant surprises (think giant tax bills) and start streamlining your financial life before year-end: The five strategic pieces of information you want in your hands before year-end. How to thin…

When you’re in the midst of an overwhelming business challenge—your revenue plummets, your audience dries up, you can’t seem to make a sale—what do you do? Award-winning author and podcaster Jenny Blake takes us through the messy middle, sharing her story of challenge, resilience and percolating without yet knowing the answer: Why her first reactio…

Being a podcast guest pays some excellent dividends: introducing you to new audiences, practice delivering your point of view and honing your message for starters. But how do you get yourself booked? The qualities that will make you a solid, bookable podcast guest. The 5-step system to get consistent results to your podcast guesting requests. The o…

You’ve heard the hype about AI, but how can you tactically and strategically use it to manage and grow your Soloist business? Global AI consultant Heidi Araya—who says “experts should be experts, not task-jugglers”—gets highly specific on how we can best use AI right now: Why your most productive use of AI starts with where friction currently lies …

This episode is inspired by a listener question that I’ve been hearing a lot lately: how can you pull yourself out of a slump? And does a prolonged slump mean you’re not cut out to be a Soloist? The gift (and the hidden cost) of a great first year as a Soloist. Why hitting the wall—where your revenue tanks or plateaus—happens, especially with new-i…

Does your brain seem to work differently than those around you—maybe you even went solo so you could operate at your best? Coach (and former psychotherapist) Diann Wingert shares her experience advising the neurodiverse: Neurodiversity—what it is, why it’s a spectrum and how experts look at it today (hint: don’t think of it as a disorder). Why so m…

If you’ve ever hesitated to put your voice “out there” because you’re not the “right” size, shape, age, race, gender, orientation, know that you’re not alone. But it’s time to step up and be heard: Why it’s harder to sashay on stage with your megaphone when you’re different from the norm in your community (and yet you’ll be more memorable when you …

Have you ever considered moving yourself and your business to a new country? Content marketer Casey Kelly-Barton did just that and shares her challenges and opportunities as an ex-pat: Her journey to niching into the intersection of three related niches— including how niching bumped up her revenue and reduced her hours worked. Meeting the challenge…

Demand is feeling lighter—you’re getting fewer inquiries or buyers seem to be more price-sensitive and you’re starting to worry about the economy. What do you do next? Why it doesn’t matter what the economy is doing when you play your own game. How “Mariah” added a new revenue stream when her primary one started losing steam (and a low-risk way to …

Thinking about hosting a live event, but not sure how to make it well-attended, profitable and worth your time? Renowned author, speaker and creative firm advisor David C. Baker lifts the curtain on his wildly successful MYOB conference and live events: The role of in-person live events in David’s expertise business model (plus a peek at the number…

How can you work less and make more than you are right now? There is a glide path if you’re willing to experiment insists Jonathan Stark, author of Hourly Billing Is Nuts. Yes, the dynamic Business of Authority duo is baaaaaaaaack for an episode: Two experiments to try if you’re currently billing by the hour and want to explore alternatives. How to…

Is it possible to build a profitable expertise business that is 100% values-aligned and mission driven? Lucy Flores—who has built a design studio dedicated to co-creating a more just, joyful and sustainable U.S. food system—says yes, with the results to prove it: Why she niched her business into food equity right from the beginning—and how it playe…

Everyone has difficulties in life—and sometimes our unique genius arises from how we deal with them. Take Psychotherapist Jeff Eamer who turned a challenging mental health diagnosis into a life of purpose: How he moved from being an award-winning ad agency wonderkind to nabbing a 3-picture Hollywood deal. Why crashing—hard—led him to get help with …

What if the standard productivity advice gets it wrong? What if your performance, health and happiness are grounded in how well you manage your energy, not your time? Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz’s The Power of Full Engagement makes an excellent case for the role of energy in performance: The four types of energy—physical, emotional, mental and spir…

When you’ve been on staff at an organization—especially in the lead role— transitioning to consulting can be a bit disorienting. Consultant to credit unions Mark Triechel talks about the lessons learned in his switch from regulating an industry to advising them: How to quickly morph from “retirement” into a Soloist expertise business serving your f…

Can you build a six to seven figure Soloist business doing the opposite of what “the experts” recommend? Consultant Kris Jennings has created exactly that by forging her own path: How her “tiny, tiny” email list delivered over $1 million in revenue (and provides a vehicle to nurture key referral relationships). How she thinks about and serves her l…

You’ve got a bookkeeper, a CPA, maybe even a CFO/strategic financial resource for your business—when and where does personal financial planning fit in? Advice-only financial planner and author Sean Mullaney walks us through financial planning for Soloists: The types of financial advisors Soloists are likely to encounter—how they work and are compen…

None of us are immune to transitions—it’s just that they seem start piling up at “mid-life”. Olympic gold medalist and performance coach Joe Jacobi shares his story and how you too can navigate resistance and uncertainty to pursue purpose, performance and impact: What working as part of a two-person boat teaches you about collaboration (and it’s pr…

A quick Amazon search shows over 50,000 productivity titles—probably because as a society, we are obsessed with being productive. But what does productivity look like for Soloists? My theory—and I’m curious for your experience—is that many Soloists approach productivity a bit differently: My own (positive) experience with the classic Getting Things…

When you’re focused on building a $100 million business with a co-founder, what could possibly make you peel off to become a Soloist? Consultant Rob Fegan shares how he pivoted from his first business to a highly profitable (and life-enhancing) Soloist consulting practice: Why he transitioned from co-founding and growing their potentially $100 mill…

That first year after leaving corporate life can be tricky—do you say yes to most every opportunity or niche immediately and start saying no? Strategic communicator Jacqui Miller aced (by any measure) her first year as a Soloist and describes how she made it happen: The surprising first thing she did when leaving her corporate job to start her expe…

You’ve been thinking about starting a podcast (or are just not happy with how yours is converting into leads and revenue). Prolific podcaster, author and coach Alastair McDermott shares how he created and runs multiple ongoing and evergreen podcasts: Why you’ll need to start before you’re ready (and the advantages of failing faster). How you might …

Moving from a job in big corporate to building a soloist expertise business is a bit of an adjustment. Consultant Mike Ryan turned his sweet spot into a thriving business and last year doubled his already significant revenue—he shares his story: The transition from being a buyer to becoming the seller—and how he built his referral “machine” (hint: …

Can you build a six-figure advisory business working only 15 hours a week? CPA Erica Goode has—and she describes exactly how she did it (think serious boundaries): The lessons corporate burn-out can teach you about how to construct your own business. How setting rigid boundaries on her time allows her to meet all her work + life commitments. The va…

Failure can be an excellent teacher—if we’ll only let it! In this solo episode, I walk you through the lessons from a recent failed launch to answer that all-important question: Is it time to quit? Why continuing to pursue a passion project can sometimes masquerade as (business) madness. The dirty little secret almost no one who does public launche…

Dr Amanda Crowell, author of “Great Work: Do What Matters Most Without Sacrificing Everything Else”, tells us how to get to the work we were most meant to do: How to get off the “productivity roller coaster of doom” to make the time for your Great Work. Why your health and happiness make your Great Work flow easier—and how to optimize for them. A f…

LinkedIn Jedi Master (and Founder of the B2B Writing Institute) Sarah Greesonbach shares how she uses LinkedIn to grow her business and relationships--and how you can too. How Sarah managed to build two soloist businesses—one with clients and the other with students—with one LinkedIn presence. Using LinkedIn as a way to develop your point of view a…

You’re committed to becoming a better communicator to help your clients more effectively—and to turbocharge your marketing. Has AI complicated or instead simplified standing out with your communications? Consultant, author and writer Jessica Mehring shares the results of her research on the impact of generative AI on communicating strategically: Wh…

You’ve built a successful consulting practice using methods, tools and frameworks you’ve developed and road-tested with clients—is it time to ratchet up your impact and revenue? Award-winning author, speaker and certification expert Pamela Slim walks through the practical and strategic considerations of scaling your IP. Pam shares her from-the-fron…

Choosing a mastermind may well be one of your biggest investments as a business owner—and yet the right one will repay that investment many times over. How can you decide if a mastermind is right for you? In this solo episode, I explain: The three contributing factors that will impact the success you experience with any mastermind. Why you never wa…

We tend to live by a set of unconscious rules that we’ve inherited—from our families, our culture, the media and more. But when they keep you tethered to a way of life that isn’t serving your highest good? Award-winning author, speaker and podcast host Heather Whelpley says it’s time to make your own rules. Together, we unpack: The four types of ru…

Podcasting is a proven way to increase your authority, impact and revenue—but how can you produce a podcast that consistently achieves your goals? Lauren Popish, founder of The Wave (podcast editing for women, by women), shows how to clear the obstacles keeping you from starting—or continuing to grow—a purposeful podcast. Lauren shares her story an…

Do you cringe at the thought of tax season, wondering what ugly surprises lie in store for you? As fractional CFO to growth-minded business owners (and top podcaster) Shannon Weinstein says “You can’t hot glue and duct tape your numbers forever.” Shannon dives deep into how to set yourself up for a smooth tax season, no matter your business stage: …

Today it’s just you and me for a special bonus episode on the cusp of a brand spanking new year. I ask you an important question: how would your life be different if you stopped working on things that drain you and directed that energy to your genius zone instead? Get re-energized and re-inspired by your business for 2024: The four “zones” of activ…

How can we earn twice as much in half the time, with joy and ease, while serving the highest good? That’s the fundamental question award-winning author and podcaster Jenny Blake set out to answer in both her business and her now classic book “Free Time: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business”. Jenny shares some candid insights: The thrills and chall…

You’ve made bold moves to get where you are, including having the guts to buck the norm and go solo. But are you still taking new (calculated) risks to build the business and life you’ve imagined? Consultant to open source start-ups—and confirmed risk taker—Emily Omier believes we need to take more risks. Emily shares her gutsy story and what it’s …

Moving from traditional custom projects to productized services can completely change how you run your business: think more revenue, more free time and more joy in your work and your life. No BS Agency founder Pia Silva did it for her own branding agency and now teaches others to do the same. We had a candid conversation about: What happens when yo…

Selling doesn’t have to be a grind—in fact it can be a joyful opportunity to help your ideal clients and buyers achieve their vision. That’s the refreshing viewpoint of sales maven and Win Without Pitching leader Shannyn Lee. We explore: How to take control of conversations around fees and value (hint: you may need to kick some old baggage to the c…

When speaking about positioning at a conference for creative business owners, a soloist approached me. After pivoting from a multi-employee business during the pandemic, she was pleasantly surprised at how much more she was earning solo. Our conversation inspired me to record this episode to share what is possible for soloists—and we’re not talking…

You're an expert at one thing that you know the market needs, but you’re feeling tugged to do something else—something that just might be in your genius zone. Do you go for it? Communication maven turned agency matchmaker Rachel Huff did—and she shares her experience. We discuss: The challenges of starting a new business on the cusp of a global pan…

How can we do more of what we and our clients and buyers value—and less (or better yet, none) of what we don’t? That’s the focal point of essentialist thinker Katie Burkhart’s mission to evolve the way we work. We explore: The question to ask yourself before saying yes (and the freedom you give yourself when saying no). Why work life balance is a m…

It’s a conundrum: we know stories help make us better communicators, but we’ve also been told that too much personality “just isn’t appropriate” in a B2B context. Communication specialist Camille DePutter tells us exactly how to use storytelling to make an impact as a soloist. We talk about: Why storytelling is leaning into your thoughts, ideas, op…

Have you noticed how no one talks about what to do financially when your business hits certain milestones—and then you’re left wondering what financial moves make the most sense? CPA Erica Goode is out to change that. We discuss: Building a solid financial base for your brand-new expertise business (and why it’s OK to start with a spreadsheet). How…

If you’re like most of us in the soloist expertise space, you probably think of SEO—if you bother with it at all—as picking the right keywords so that maybe you’ll get discovered in a google search. But marketing consultant Sarah Moon has a different take. We explore: Why SEO is not the mysterious, robotic box we’ve heard about—and a new way we can…

Over nine years, Laurel Scherer built her digital marketing agency to a highly engaged and talented team of seven employees. In 2023, she decided to go solo—she shares her experiences with shedding employees for the freedom and flexibility of a solo business. We dive into: The day-to-day realities of running a firm with employees. How having employ…

How can you scale as a soloist in the expertise space? You turn your expertise into assets that will work for you. Erin Austin—strategic lawyer and consultant—explains how to increase your revenue and impact by moving from fully customized services to leveraged income streams. We talk about: The eight business problems we create for ourselves when …

Mindi Zissman started her specialized B2B content firm so she could work from home and replace her then $35K salary. Today, she’s gunning for the $1 million mark and no one in their right mind would bet against her. We talk about: What it takes to leave a comfortable job to start your first business. Revenue progression: hitting your first $100K an…