Streamlined Solopreneur: Tips to Help Busy Business Owners Save Time

I know this is going to sound like an Italian stereotype, but my mother makes the best chicken cutlets. They are thin cuts of chicken, perfectly breaded and seasoned, and taste amazing hot and cold. I’d watch her in hopes of learning how to make them as well (or at least close to it). She’d tell me things like, “You just know how much breading to use,” and “cook them until they look right.” What she didn’t do was walk into the kitchen and get paralyzed over which pan to use, or the perfect wooden spoon for the job. She’d get right to work. As solopreneurs, it’s easy to fall into the trap of “this tool will get me back on track,” but it’s often your mindset that needs adjusting first. That’s why today I’m talking to Rashelle Isip, The Order Expert. Much like me, she helps business owners be more productive and less stressed. But while I’m an implementer, she focuses more on mindset and taking a look at everything going on in her clients’ lives. Top Takeaways Show Notes Rashelle IsipThe Green Zone Conversation Book Sponsors: Liquid Webmemberful.com/streamlined ★ Support this podcast ★

There's an old adage in construction that you should measure twice and cut once. The idea being that cutting is a permanent action. If you cut a piece of wood, you can't put it back together. So you should measure where you're cutting, make sure you're measuring it right, and double-check your work before you take that permanent action. Now on the Internet, things aren't necessarily as permanent. Sure. Things that are online could be online forever. But as far as setting up a YouTube page or a podcast or a website, well, you can change them pretty easily. I just kinda made a decision and I ran with it. And now I'm kind of regretting that decision. But because nothing is permanent on the Internet, I am rectifying that. Top Takeaways: Sponsors: Liquid Webmemberful.com/streamlined ★ Support this podcast ★

I’m currently reading Stories that Stick by Kindra Hall. In it, she mentions that “story” has become such a common term that people use it for everything, even if it’s not a story. I feel the same thing has been done to the term “repurposing.” See, when you repurpose something in the real world, you take it, you make changes to it, and you give it new life. You don’t just lop a piece off of it and say you’ve repurposed it. But that’s what many people consider repurposing today. “I’m going to clip 1 minute of this 60-minute conversation and call it repurposed.” That’s why I’m excited to have Greg Wasserman on the show today. He helps us reframe repurposing, and talks about how AI can help us repurpose properly – and while I don’t agree with everything he says, I like exploring different ideas. Top Takeaways Show Notes Greg Wassermanlu.maDiscovering What Customers Really Want with Georgiana LaudiWhy Podcast Interviews are a Content Goldmine with Tom SchwabGrammarlyCastmagic.io Sponsors: Liquid Webmemberful.com/streamlined ★ Support this podcast ★

After 8 years, I'm changing the name of this podcast from How I Built It to Streamlined Solopreneur. Here's why. You can learn more at https://streamlined.fm ★ Support this podcast ★

The first documented parachute jump happened in the late 1700s, when André-Jacques Garnerin just from balloons at “only” 2000 feet. He no doubt prepared for this moment, testing his parachute and doing everything he could to mitigate risk. Today, skydiving is a sport and a recreational activity, with a lot of safety measures and technology to further mitigate risk. Why am I telling you this? Because human beings are, by and large, risk-averse…so doing everything we can to reduce it is incredibly important. When it comes to launching a business, it, much like skydiving, is much less risky than it was 200 years ago. Part of that is the ability to create applications – and therefore launch software-based businesses – without code. That’s exactly what Karla Fernandes is going to talk to us about today. And she should know. She’s launched over a dozen native apps, without writing a single line of code. Top Takeaways Show Notes Karla FernandesMillion Dollar Weekend by Noah KaganNative App: FigmaBravo StudioAirtable Sponsors: Liquid Webmemberful.com/streamlined ★ Support this podcast ★

Today we have a good old fashioned feed drop from my friends at The Podcast Host, and their show, Podcraft. What really makes someone a successful podcaster? Is it a certain number of episodes, downloads, or reviews? Is it whether content creation has become their full-time job? Or could it be because they’ve been recognised with a prestigious award? That's what they'll discuss on this episode, and every episode this season. I hope you enjoy! Check out Podcraft wherever you listen. ★ Support this podcast ★

I love shuffling poker chips. In fact, I love playing poker…but there’s a fallacy in gambling that can get you into a lot of trouble. It’s the fallacy of sunk cost. Basically, you think you should continue what is ultimately a losing battle because you’ve already invested some amount of money in the pot. The same thing can be applied to lots of stuff. Have you ever finished a book or a movie you didn’t like just because you started it? That’s the fallacy of sunk cost. And I’m happy to say that 4 months into 2024, I successfully avoided that fallacy with something that, in January, I was all-in on: my “Be Everywhere” Strategy. Show Notes My Experiment with Substack and Being “Everywhere”Taking a bet on Substack’s Network Effect with Nathalie LussierWhy I’m Killing my MembershipPodcast Workflows Sponsors: Liquid Webmemberful.com/streamlined ★ Support this podcast ★

I remember touring a Murano Glass factory on my honeymoon to Italy. Basically as soon as we stepped foot into the place, a man giving us the tour had us pegged. So when it came time to sell us something, he didn’t just ask us if we wanted to buy some glass art. He painted us a picture of a unique conversation piece that we can put in our home, to help us remember this time at the beginning of our marriage. To turn into a family heirloom for when we have kids and grandkids. He wasn’t selling us glass. He was selling us a vision of our future. And it worked like gangbusters. So how can we do that for our customers? That’s what Georgiana Laudi is here to talk to us about. She is the co-author of Forget the Funnel, a book that had a profound effect on my business – and today, we’re talking all about jobs to be done, research, and capturing the voice of our customers. Top Takeaways Show Notes Georgiana LaudiGeorgiana on Forget the FunnelWhat are Jobs to be Done?Demand Side SalesForget the FunnelHow to be a Scrappy Researcher (to Actually Sell Products) with Becky Pierson DavidsonCopyhackersForget the Funnel Podcast Sponsors: Liquid Webmemberful.com/streamlined ★ Support this podcast ★

My grandfather came to the United States from Italy in 1949 and worked in New York City for much of his life — primarily in construction. For as long as I can remember, he had this big, metal toolbox. And when he passed away, he gave it to me, and I still have and use it to this day. Pop had that toolbox for decades. When he found something that worked for him, he held on to it and took care of it. There’s a hammer in there that has to be as old as I am. And when you think about it, the hammer is a pretty good analogy for our digital tools. It’s a basic device, but there are countless variations, purpose-built for specific tasks. Much like a task manager or notes app, you mostly know what you’re getting — but you may want something a little more specialized for your needs. While you don’t want to change tools all the time, it is good to evaluate your toolset from time to time. So I thought I’d check in and share the tools I’m using. Show Notes Tools Check-in: What am I using so far in 2024?Tools for Podcasters (Podcast Workflows)When Do You Burn All of Your Processes Down and Start Over?My Stream Deck: How I’ve Configured it for Maximum Productivity and ProductionBecome a MemberNotionRiverside.fmDescriptScreenFlowiZotopeCastmagicThings 3Bear NotesFantasticalCalendlyMimestreamTimeryArcChatGPTRaycast Sponsored by Liquid Web Join my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

I abhor hustle culture. Telling someone to work a full-time job, then go home and work more all for some goal that keeps changing is, in my opinion, how to lead an empty life. I’m worried that, even in 2024, we continue to fetishize making money and hustling. So I decided to take it to Khe Hy. Khe, if you don’t know, worked hard – as he puts it, he hustled for 10 years of his life. He worked on Wall Street, becoming the equivalent of a junior partner in a law firm, and earning a 7-figure salary. But he left that job, and he’s built a life he enjoys. But he makes it very clear: sometimes you do need to hustle. Life is full of seasons – and recognizing that seasonality is important. We cover a ton of topics in our short time. Top Takeaways Show Notes Khe HyRevenue Hub's interview with Tiago AraújoRadReadsThe magic of doing $10,000 per hour workAre you a Post-Achievement Professional? Sponsors: Liquid WebGo to http://porkbun.com/HowIBuiltIt24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! ★ Support this podcast ★

What do you want your life to look like? Last week I talked about how not being intentional is kind of like driving a car without the GPS. But goal setting without knowing what you want – that’s a bit like driving a car without having a destination in mind. Well, today, Tanya Alvarez is going to help us figure out the destination – you can think of her as your own GPS. And much like that Google Maps car, she’s well-traveled and has a ton of experience to back up her advice – from funding her first startup with credit cards to completing a Half Ironman and traveling to 42 countries, she’s done it all. And now she wants to help you do it too, by sharing her system for prioritizing your goals. Top Takeaways Show Notes Tanya Alvarez Sponsors: Liquid WebGo to http://porkbun.com/HowIBuiltIt24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! ★ Support this podcast ★

Not being intentional in your business is a bit like getting in your car and driving without the GPS. Sure…you generally know where you’re going. But what if a road is closed? What if there’s avoidable traffic? A GPS can help you navigate around those things. When you’re intentional about your business, you go from wandering aimlessly, taking any work that makes ends meet, to setting and achieving your goals. And today, I’m going to talk about how I’m being more intentional in my business, and why that decision has led me to end my membership. Top Takeaways Sponsors: Liquid WebGo to http://porkbun.com/HowIBuiltIt24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! ★ Support this podcast ★

Do you really need social media to build a following? To build expertise? To be successful? It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I think lots of creators are too. The rote advice that you see from the ultra successful people just doesn’t work for most of us. And it doesn’t have to. What if I told you there was a better way. As it turns out, today’s guest, my friend and Amazon best selling author of the book start a binge-worthy podcast, Krystal Proffitt, agree: starting a podcast is a great way to build your business. In today’s conversation, we talk about why podcasting is the best way to build expertise and trust, why there aren’t too many podcasts, and how you can start a successful one. Plus, in the pro show, we talk all about how to do interviews the right way. Top Takeaways Show Notes Krystal ProffittMy interview with Krystal on Podcast AutomationAmy Porterfield Sponsors: Liquid WebGo to http://porkbun.com/HowIBuiltIt24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! ★ Support this podcast ★

During the pandemic, we were told one thing seemingly over and over again: You need to start a membership. You need a community. That’s the only way you can scale your business. And to be honest, I fed into it. I believed that a membership was the key to stop trading for hours for dollars. But the truth is I was trading more hours for fewer dollars. See, what most solopreneurs don’t realize (what I didn’t realize for a long time) is that you’re always trading hours for dollars. That’s what work is. The key difference is how many hours you're trading for how many dollars. And that’s what Maggie Patterson is here to talk to us about today. See, when the pandemic ended, we both noticed something: many of those people who were preaching the importance of basing your business off a community or membership were going back to one thing: services. Because when you do services right, you can make a lot of money. Today, Maggie, who has over 15 years of experience successfully selling client services, tells us the key to unlocking more income: selling strategy. Top Takeaways Show Notes Maggie PattersonReverse Salary CalculatorThe Best Advice I Never Took Sponsored by Liquid Web Join my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Choosing the right platform can feel like an impossible task sometimes. There are so many options, from services to creating your own website and owning everything – how do you choose? Well, Nathalie Lussier and I have both been around the block. She owns a popular WordPress-based LMS called AccessAlly, and I’ve tried dozens of platforms for memberships, including ones I’ve built myself. So it was interesting timing when we both decided to start publishing on Substack in late November/early December. Today, we’re going to trade notes, going over why we decided to move there, what migration was like, and what we like and dislike about the platform. For members, we’ll discuss our timing to move within the context of a bigger controversy surrounding Substack. Top Takeaways Show Notes The Momentum MemoAccessAllyHow Knowing Your Customers Lets You Charge More with Nathalie Lussier Sponsored by Liquid Web Join my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

One of my favorite Disney+ shows is Loki. It’s a truly fascinating look at time travel, predetermined events, and controlling your own destiny. And now I’m going to give you a major (if not very simplified) spoiler, if you haven’t seen it. In the finale, Loki masters the ability to “time slip,” or transport to any time, any place, in any timeline (for all intents and purposes, a timeline is a parallel universe). This also allows him to relive events over and over again. So as all of existence faces eradication, he can take as much “time” as he wants to learn how to save everything and everyone, on every timeline. He continuously, over thousands of years, learns everything he needs to learn, and practices, through trial and error, to improve his process, and his odds of saving everything and everyone. And while we don’t have thousands of years, or the ability to time travel, we do have the ability to take a step back and consider the question, “What’s missing?” Read the full article here Sponsored by Liquid Web Join my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

It was Christmas Eve, and I was waiting in line for bagels. As someone who grew up in New York now living close to Philly, I’m admittedly a snob about the quality of the bagels I eat. But there’s a bagel shop not 5 minutes from my house that makes the best bagels I’ve ever had outside of NY/NJ. And they offer preorders for Christmas Eve. It’s become a bit of a tradition in our house to get those bagels and do a Christmas Eve brunch. They also have a select stock for people on a first come first serve basis. People who preorder can buy from this stock. The many preorders combined with the select stock creates a long line. After-all, these bagels are superb. So we waited. And during that wait, there were some people who complained about the wait1. But no one left the line or cancelled their order. After all, if all they wanted was bagels, they could have gone to the grocery store a few doors down and buy bagels immediately. But those are not even good bagels. And we wanted great bagels. See, there’s a dirty little secret that no one wants to hear these days: Great things require time. And they’re worth the wait. Read the full article here In the PRO show, I explain how I plan for conferences, and how I measure direct ROI from events. Join here. Sponsored by Liquid Web Join my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

I sweat bullets over finding the right tools. Some might say I am an Overthinker. And that is an asset to me. But occasionally, it causes crippling analysis paralysis. I’ve spent every day of this very young year, thinking about the implementation for my membership, even though I know the simplest solution is to use Substack. And last week, I would have told you that’s the end of the story. But it’s not. So today, I’m going to tell you about a journey that led me to Substack and grossly overcomplicating my publishing process. And why that could be a good thing. For members, we discuss how I’m managing multiple publishing places, why “Be Everywhere” is so important to me, and my goals for this experiment. Sponsored by Liquid Web Join my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

It was a wild year for social media in 2023. Twitter turned into X. Meta launched Threads. And LinkedIn started off the year as a promising platform for engagement and growth before tweaking the algorithm and tanking all of that. Matt Clark, founder of The Virtual Edge, host of the Rainmaker Show, and expert in sales argues that we shouldn’t treat LinkedIn like a social media platform because it’s not one. It’s a professional networking platform. That means we need to treat it more like a networking event if we want to make the most of it. And today, he’s going to tell us how. In the subscribers-only show, Matt and I talk more about building a lifestyle before you build your business. We touch on how people like Alex Hormozi oversimplify how they do things in order to push how "easy" it is to build a business. We also talk about the difference life choices we've made, and how our businesses support that — and what you should consider as well! Top Takeaways Show Notes Matt ClarkMatt on LinkedinStop doing “Sales” and Start Having Conversations with Nikki RauschWhy You Need to be on LinkedIn if You’re a Creator with Kathleen CelminsHow to be a Scrappy Researcher (to Actually Sell Products) with Becky Pierson DavidsonPower vs. ForceLeonardo Da VinciChris LemaSponsored by: Liquid Web Sponsored by Liquid Web Join my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

The word 'Control' evokes various thoughts and emotions, many of which are negative. Control is often associated with an excessive desire to dominate or dictate every aspect of a situation.The bad guys in movies and in real life desire control at almost any cost. Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars said the only way to improve life in the galaxy was for him to seize control. Thanos said the only way to save the universe was to control the population by controlling the infinity stones. Countless dictators and wannabe dictators have justified taking control because they’re the only ones who can save us. It sounds micro-managy, almost authoritarian when you say, “I want to be more controlling.” But Control at the right scale is super important. If you don’t control your car, bike, or other vehicle, for example, you will end up hurting yourself or someone else. In thinking about my next yearly theme, a recent conversation I had with my therapist was top of mind. I told her that I didn’t feel like I was in control of anything. Not my health. Not my money. Not my time or schedule.That's why my 2024 Yearly Theme is *The Year of Control.* For members, we discuss the themes I didn’t choose, how the membership will work in 2024, and the direction of the podcast in general. You can join here. Links My 2024 Yearly ThemeFavorites of 2023Cortex 2024 Yearly Themes Sponsored by Liquid Web Join my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★