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Tired of the Online Business Bullshit?

By bullshit, I mean the scammy status quo where celebrity entrepreneurs teach us to consume and exploit our way to so-called "freedom" but that really we're just replicating larger systems of oppression?

This collection of essays (and podcast episodes) dives into the online business status quo with actionable ideas designed to cut the BS.

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the dark side of online business

The Dark Side of Online Business: A Call for the Status Quo to Dramatically Change

As the online business world grows so do its unethical practices. Here’s what you need to know about the dark side of the online business industry. This essay dives into the dark side of online business including mindset manipulation, insider secrets, weaponized sales and storytelling and invented authority.

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Money Making

Schemes & Dreams
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Ditching Busywork with Systems

 Staying Solo: Ditching Busy Work with Systems 

Ditching Busywork with Systems By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents Your Systems Should Breed Simplicity Solopreneurs Need Sustainable Systems Where Do You Really Need Systems? Bust the BS Busy Work with Systems Systems can be powerful for…

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Using Strategy to Break the Income Ceiling

Staying Solo: Using Strategy to Break the Income Ceiling

Using Strategy to Break the Income Ceiling By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents The Income Ceiling: A Reality Check The Overall Business Strategy Your Delivery and Packaging Strategy Selling Strategy Your Pricing Strategy Strategy Drives Income: Wield…

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What Support Do You Really Need

Staying Solo: What Support Do You Really Need?

What Support Do You Really Need? By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents Entrepreneurial Loneliness Is Real What Type of Support Do You Need? Do You Need to Pay for Support? When Do You Need Support? Solo doesn’t…

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Rethinking Planning to Focus on Seasons

Staying Solo: Rethinking Planning to Focus on Seasons

Rethinking Planning to Focus on Seasons By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents Common Planning Challenges Shifting to Seasonal Planning What Season Are You Really In? Most of us start our businesses for more flexibility and freedom, but…

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Carving Out Consistent Space

Staying Solo: Carving Out Consistent Space

Carving Out Consistent Space By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents The Risky Reality of Entrepreneurship Space is About Creating Capacity Stepping Away From the Business Free Up Your Calendar Managing Capacity Beyond Time There’s No Sustainability Without…

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Getting Your Salary Paid First

Staying Solo: Getting Your Salary Paid First

Getting Your Salary Paid First By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents The Impact of Expense Creep What if Spending Isn’t the Problem Preventing You From Paying Yourself? Setting Your Salary Goal Four Common Questions About Paying Yourself…

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Staying Solo: Your Framework for a Simple, Sustainable Service Business

Staying Solo: Your Framework for a Simple, Sustainable Service Business

Your Framework for a Simple, Sustainable Service Business By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents Reality Check: What Online Business Teaches Us BS Myths That We’re All Completely OVER FACTS: Most Businesses are Solo Businesses Breaking Down the…

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The 2023 Online Business Investment Survey

The 2023 Online Business Investment Survey

As business owners, making sales is necessary to surviving, and ideally thriving. Here are the results of a survey about investing in your business, including how really people feel about the money they’ve spent.

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The State of Ethical Marketing and Online Business for 2023

The State Of Ethical Marketing and Online Business for 2023 By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents My Predictions Came True (Unfortunately!) Let’s Talk about Ethics: Personal and Business What About Ethical Marketing? The Real Problem with Ethical…

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The Cult of Scale

The Cult Of Scale (and Why Sustainability is More Important) By Maggie Patterson All opinions in this post are my opinions and mine alone. You can view our full disclaimer here. Table of Contents What Is Scale? The Cult of Scale in Online Business When Scaling is Harmful, Not Helpful The Case For Sustainability Micro…

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MLMs, Cults, and Celebrity

Entrepreneurs
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How to Spot a Celebrity Entrepreneur

We’ve all been sucked in by great marketing and bought something we didn’t need. Here’s what you need to know about the 2021 celebrity entrepreneur – what to watch for an how to spot one in the wild.

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online businesses and MLMs

Are Online Businesses The New MLMs?

The online biz world tends to judge certain business models. Here’s what you need to know about the crossover between online businesses and MLMs, and there’s probably much more than you realize.

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Six Lessons About Online Business From Seduced and the Vow

Six Lessons About Online Business from the NXIVM Docuseries Seduced and The Vow

Online business and cults have a few things in common. Here are six lessons from cults that are applicable to the problems with online business.

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Rachel Hollis Book Report

Book Report: Didn’t See That Coming by Rachel Hollis

Curated vulnerability and influencer culture is real. In this essay I dig into a book report on Rachel Hollis’ latest with numerous takeaways about who we trust.

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sketchy business practices

How Sketchy Business Practices Have Become Online Business as Usual

It’d be an understatement to say that 2020 has changed everything. As our society and lives as we know it are forever altered, that bleeds over into our businesses. In the online business industry, I’m starting to see a shift that’s long overdue. More and more business owners are fed up, and are willing to…

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Trust-Driven

Sales and Marketing
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Creatives, Coaches and Consultants: Not All Service Businesses Are the Same

2022 is here, and a new year brings with it an opportunity for each of us to look at how we run our businesses and do things a little differently. In this episode, I’m digging into what I’ll be increasingly focusing on in the year to come, and calling on you to do the same.

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text that reads "the year of the bs-free business"

2022: The Year of the BS-Free Business

2022 is here, and a new year brings with it an opportunity for each of us to look at how we run our businesses and do things a little differently. In this episode, I’m digging into what I’ll be increasingly focusing on in the year to come, and calling on you to do the same.

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Trust First Pricing Principles

Pricing your services can be a tricky balance of not overvaluing or undervaluing what you do. Here are some pricing principles to help you get started including a few that may surprise you.

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Taking a Responsible & Respectful Approach to Storytelling

People want to hear your stories, but in a respectful, responsible way. Here are some ideas on how to best approach storytelling for business.

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The Antidote to Fear-Based Marketing-Introducing TrustDNA

The Antidote to Fear-Based Marketing & Sales: Introducing TrustDNA

Too many businesses capitalize on our fears and use high-pressure tactics to get us to buy. Here’s the antidote to fear-based marketing and sales, which is building a business that puts trust first.

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ethical business

Own It, Don’t Erase It

Knowing a business’ backstory helps you make informed decisions. Here’s my take on what running an ethical business really means, and sharing my backstory.

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