The Ordinary Business®️ Podcast | Solopreneur Business Growth and Lifestyle Business Strategies

Ever feel like growing your solopreneur business has to involve never-ending social media posts, ten new tools, or—please no—awkward networking events? If you’re tired of hustle culture and want client acquisition that feels a little less sweaty-palmed, you’re in for some real-life inspiration this episode. De'Nicea (https://playground.mvt.so/) is digging into how the small, ordinary things (like your love for learning, or just showing up curious) are secretly tools for business growth and work life balance.De'Nicea shares how she accidentally (on purpose) uses her genuine curiosity to spark collaborations, land referral partners, and build a flexible business system that actually feels sustainable. Forget forced elevator pitches and say hello to marketing without social media that actually fits a lifestyle entrepreneur’s real world. If you want practical business freedom, less awkward sleaze and more people who get you? You’re gonna want to listen.→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business Network: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠Key Takeaways:Use your natural curiosity (instead of a hard sell) to build authentic referral partnerships and collaborations.Prioritize learning environments that match your vibe—because business systems don’t have to mean business as usual.Let go of guilt if you aren’t using every tool or class immediately—sometimes, just meeting your people is the real win.Are you a solopreneur who wants business growth without sacrificing the lifestyle business you actually wanted? Have you ever wondered if growing your business really has to mean building a team, working more hours or chasing someone else's version of success? What if staying small was the strategy, not the stepping stone? If that sounds like you, you're in the right place. Subscribe and follow!

If you’re a solopreneur or lifestyle entrepreneur who just wants your business to run smoothly, pay the bills, and still leave room for—shock—doing laundry or taking a nap, this episode was basically made for you.I’m pulling back the curtain on The Ordinary Business Live (https://theordinarybusiness.com/live/)—an in-person event designed for service business owners and flexible-business fanatics who’ve been at it for years. No stiff keynotes, no awkward cocktail hours where you pray someone talks to you first. >> Donate to The Name Tag Fund!Whether you’re into marketing without social media, want more intentional entrepreneurship, or just want your next referral partner, I spill all the details on how this room actually helps people just like you.→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business Network: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠Key TakeawaysBuild real relationships that outlast social trends (and AI-written newsletters).Stop stressing over seven-figure milestones—profitable business is about running one that works for your actual life.Discover how intentional, small group connections beat awkward mixers for getting more clients and business freedom.Are you a solopreneur who wants business growth without sacrificing the lifestyle business you actually wanted? Have you ever wondered if growing your business really has to mean building a team, working more hours or chasing someone else's version of success? What if staying small was the strategy, not the stepping stone? If that sounds like you, you're in the right place. Subscribe and follow!

Ever had a client project blow past its deadline because—surprise!—life happened? Or maybe you’ve found yourself knee-deep in scope creep, wondering how your “simple” service turned into an unpaid overtime gig? This episode with Dr. Catrina Mitchum (https://www.cmlearningdesign.com/) is for every solopreneur and lifestyle entrepreneur who’s ever wrestled with business boundaries while chasing business growth.Catrina explains why she dropped her done-for-you course builds. Clients recording their own videos meant projects ran late and kept growing past the original goals. She replaced them with done-with-you packages that have clear business boundaries. She shares how she helps clients pick the right one, what still makes her nervous about the model, and how clients can move to the slower package when life gets in the way. She also talks about running her business with a chronic illness, including sorting her tasks by how much brainpower and energy they take so she can choose what she's able to do on any given day.→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business Network: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠Key TakeawaysDesign your offers around client capacity, not just price tags or timelines.Set crystal-clear business boundaries so you can actually log off (even mid-week, even when life “lifes”).Build small business systems so you, your clients, and your sanity all get to stick around for the long haul.Are you a solopreneur who wants business growth without sacrificing the lifestyle business you actually wanted? Have you ever wondered if growing your business really has to mean building a team, working more hours or chasing someone else's version of success? What if staying small was the strategy, not the stepping stone? If that sounds like you, you're in the right place. Subscribe and follow!

Ever wish you could hit “pause” on your solopreneur calendar without feeling guilty or losing clients? In this episode, Christi Johnson (https://christijohnsoncreative.com/), a joy-first coach, shares about her work life balance even non-morning people would envy. Forget the hustle culture flexes—this is real talk about how to steer your lifestyle business away from burnout and back to actual joy.(Shout out to our sponsor, Hailey! haileyrowe.com/discoverycalls)She gets blunt about the realities of building a flexible business that lets you serve your people and take guilt-free naps. Christi dives into:The mechanics (and messy behind-the-scenes) of blocking an entire week for NO meetings—yep, you read that right, a whole week without “quick Zooms” or forced networking.Why setting business boundaries is the unsung hero of profitable business growth in a world obsessed with client acquisition and 24/7 availability.How to gently (or not-so-gently) retrain your clients, your calendar, and maybe even yourself to protect your energy for the long haul.→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business Network: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠Key TakeawaysBlock off regular no-meetings days (or weeks!) to create space for deep work, recovery, and your own business ideas.Enforce friendly-but-firm boundaries—ordinary but thriving business owners don’t need to say yes to everything to get more clients or maintain a flexible business.Redefine productivity: it’s not about nonstop hustle, it’s about building small business systems that leave you refreshed, creative, and actually enjoying your life.Are you a solopreneur who wants business growth without sacrificing the lifestyle business you actually wanted? Have you ever wondered if growing your business really has to mean building a team, working more hours or chasing someone else's version of success? What if staying small was the strategy, not the stepping stone? If that sounds like you, you're in the right place. Subscribe and follow!

Ever wondered if “business growth” could mean something other than longer hours, bigger teams, and endless to-do lists? In this episode, I sit down with bookkeeping strategist Aneisha (https://www.yellowskybusiness.services/) for a brutally honest chat on burnout, business boundaries, and what it really looks like to build a profitable solopreneur business that puts sanity first. Yep, even lifestyle entrepreneurs get fried—so if you’ve ever wanted to hit pause (or just hit snooze for an extra hour), you’re definitely among your people.We tackle the messy stuff: signs of burnout you’re probably ignoring, how Aneisha ditched her people-heavy career and reimagined her service business for actual work life balance, and why client acquisition doesn’t have to mean sacrificing every free hour. If you’re tired of hustle culture and want a flexible business that fits your brain (especially if you’re neurodivergent or just plain human), this one’s for you. Spoiler: Anisha is not here for endless growth—she’s all about recovery, saying no, and business freedom on her own terms.→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business Network: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠Key TakeawaysRecognize burnout early by noticing unexpected irritability or that “why do people exist?” mood.Build your business systems around your real needs—even if that means fewer clients or shorter projects.Give yourself permission to grow slowly (or not at all) and set boundaries that protect your energy and your income.Are you a solopreneur who wants business growth without sacrificing the lifestyle business you actually wanted? Have you ever wondered if growing your business really has to mean building a team, working more hours or chasing someone else's version of success? What if staying small was the strategy, not the stepping stone? If that sounds like you, you're in the right place. Subscribe and follow!