Freedom Entrepreneur Podcast | Online Business Tips, Business System Strategy, Marketing Training, Entrepreneur Mindset

What if your business could operate at a 90% profit margin?Not someday. Not after years of grinding. Right now—with the technology already at your fingertips.David Asarnow spent 17 years in corporate America, growing a $6-8M company into a $45M division. Then he built an all-digital portrait studio franchise to eight figures in five years. Now? He's helping entrepreneurs leverage AI to cut operating costs down to 10%.His clients are downsizing teams—from six people down to one. Not because they're struggling, but because AI agents are doing the work that used to require full-time employees.In this conversation, David reveals:The Team Shift: David told his team three and a half years ago: "I know you're scared AI will take your job. But if you don't use it, you'll be replaced by someone who does. And if WE don't use it, we'll be replaced by companies who do."Recently, a team member said: "I don't have as much work. I'm getting things done faster. Should I stop using AI?"David's response? "If you don't use AI, you don't have a job."The AI Agent Strategy: Create autonomous agents that handle tasks you used to pay people full-time to do:Copy agents that write on-brand messagingReporting agents that scan Facebook and Google Ads and deliver ROI analysisCustomer service agents that handle inquiriesWhat used to require hiring an outside agency or a full-time employee? Now it's an agent you build in an afternoon.The CHAOS Framework: David created this hiking on a Friday:Coherence: Slow down to speed upAction: Focus on ONE thing for 90 daysOutcome: That one thing will achieve more than 10 things you're jugglingStabilization: Persistence beats shiny objectsThe Communication Secret: Most people use AI and get garbage. Why? They communicate with it like it's Google.Instead, treat it like your smartest collaboration partner. Ask it to interview YOU. Ask it questions like a first-grader needs step-by-step instructions. Train it on frameworks (marketing psychology, buyer behavior, brand voice).David's hack? He opens two windows—one with ChatGPT, one with the software he's using. He asks ChatGPT to troubleshoot step-by-step instead of digging through help documentation.The $100 vs. $10K Shift: Someone bought David's sub-$100 offer and said it added more value than a $10K training they'd purchased before. The market is shifting: People expect value, but they're not investing in $50K masterminds anymore.Give massive value at lower price points. Build trust. They'll buy everything you offer.The Human Edge: AI gives you 90% of the way there. But unless you understand marketing frameworks, buyer psychology, and brand voice—you'll get average results.The difference between stellar output and mediocre? YOU. The human who knows what good looks like.The Proofreading Disaster: A client submitted a workbook to David's team for design. When they got it back, they complained: "This doesn't match our brand voice AT ALL."David's response? "That's interesting. We didn't change a single word. This is the exact copy you gave us."The client had...

"I know the secret to going viral on TikTok!""I make all my money on Instagram!""Buy my course and I'll teach you the algorithm hack!"Stop. Just stop.Lindsay's reading a book called Virality and guess what? There's no hidden secret. No insider algorithm hack. No magic formula that gurus are hiding from you.This is Part 2 of "Weeding Out the Legit from the Shit"—and today we're calling out the false narratives about social media that keep you on a hamster wheel buying courses that promise instant results.The False Narrative (The Shit): Chasing virality. Believing that if you just get famous on some platform, it'll solve all your problems. Thinking you're missing some secret about the algorithm that's keeping you from success.The Truth (The Legit): Feed the algorithm what it wants—and align it with what you do.Here's What Actually Works:1. The algorithm isn't controlled by Meta or TikTok—it's controlled by PEOPLE. The viewers. The content consumers. They ARE your market. Give them what they want.2. Say the same thing over and over and over. This is the part most people struggle with (Lindsay included). It feels boring. But look at any large account—go to their page, open their latest post, scroll backwards. They're saying the SAME STUFF. It's like Mexican food: same ingredients, just put together differently.3. One pillar of content. Not three. ONE. People follow you for YOU and your MESSAGE. That's the recipe for loyal, engaged followers. Yes, you can tie in personal stories. Yes, you can talk about transformations. But it's all the SAME THING.4. Your relationship is with PEOPLE, not the algorithm. The #1 way Lindsay grows? Slow and steady relationship building. Podcast guests. DM conversations. Real connections. When those people show up in her feed, she recognizes them. She LIKES them. That's what social media should feel like.The Virality Problem: Lindsay has a post with 12,000 clicks. It went viral. But those aren't her people. Virality doesn't equal followers who convert. It just means you entertained strangers.What Happens When You Chase the Wrong Strategy: You grow a following of people who don't care about your offer. Then when you pivot to aligned content that actually converts, they bounce. And you're back to square one—but this time, you're frustrated and broke from buying all those courses.The Algorithm's Real Goal: Keep people ON their platform. That's it. That's the secret.Want links off-platform to work? They won't perform as well. Want to win on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook? Link OTHER content on the SAME platform. Keep people engaged there.The Bottom Line: Stop chasing hacks. Build relationships. Say the same thing in different ways. Feed people what they want—and align it with what you offer.Lindsay fact-checked this entire episode with Claude AI. Everything she said? True.Key Takeaway: Social media isn't a lottery. It's not insider trading. It's simple: One message. One human. Lots of humans who relate to that one person. Build relationships, not follower counts.Join the free Facebook Community! Connect, Learn, Grow, Build https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomentrepreneurcommunityHave a burning question? Leave a message for Lindsay and she will turn it into an episode with an answer. Use the link below to record.https://www.speakpipe.com/FreedomEntrepreneurMentioned in this episode:Freebie 5k recurring...

"We're spending $5,500 a month on marketing and getting nothing."Behdad sat down with the business owner, pulled up the dashboards, and started digging. What he found? $3,500 spent for ONE lead one month. Three leads the next. The agency had promised results. The data said otherwise.Worse? The client had no access to his Google My Business. No access to his Google Ads account. The agency was charging $500/month for two Google My Business posts—and wasn't even doing them.Welcome to the marketing agency nightmare many business owners face.Behdad Jamshidi is an engineer-turned-marketing connector who's vetted over 1,100 marketing agencies. He's seen it all: agencies that can't provide references, platforms built "in the cloud" that don't exist, businesses spending six figures with zero ROI, and small companies getting scammed out of thousands by agencies that do nothing.His conclusion after years of research? 89% of marketing agencies are good at nothing. 11% are good at 1-3 things.In this conversation, Behdad reveals:The 5 Types of Marketing Partners (And When You Need Each One):Level 1: Freelancers/Contractors ($0-500K revenue)Perfect for taking $10-20/hour tasks off your plateYou're still doing most of the strategy yourselfGood for social media posting, basic content creation, simple tasksLevel 2: Value-Based Agencies ($500K-3M revenue)Hire them for ONE specific thing they do really wellThey might offer "full service" but really excel at Google Ads or Facebook AdsEverything else they do is average (and that's okay for now)Level 3: Niche Specialists + Fractional CMO ($3M-10M revenue)You've found product-market fit—now you need expertsHire agencies that ONLY do SEO for your industry, or ONLY do email marketingBring in a fractional CMO ($8-12K/month) to build your actual marketing strategyMost businesses at this stage have thrown things at the wall with no real planLevel 4: Full-Funnel Managers ($10M-30M revenue)These partners manage the entire customer journey: paid ads → landing page → conversion optimization → email nurtureRetainers: $10-30K/monthAd budgets: $100K+/monthNot cheap, but they manage multiple teams end-to-endLevel 5: Enterprise Agencies ($30M+ revenue)Million-dollar marketing budgetsThey hire consultants on the backend for creative campaigns, programmatic ads, whatever you needThis is big-league, Fortune 500...

"I bought a course on making money with faceless content. It made no sense. Nothing's working. I can't afford another course. Somebody please tell me how to make this make sense."Lindsay saw this message in a Facebook group and her heart broke. Because she knows exactly what's happening—and it's spreading like wildfire.There's a "business opportunity" flooding social media right now. You've probably seen it: "I made $XXX dollars a day with this $27 PDF!" The websites all look the same. The copy is identical. The promise is irresistible: buy this one thing, post on social media, watch the money roll in.It's a PLR (Private Label Rights) product. And it's not quite a scam—but it's not what they're telling you either.In this episode, Lindsay breaks down:What's Actually Happening:You buy a $27 PDF that comes with a pre-made website, sales copy, and social media templatesYou're not really selling a product—you're selling an affiliate white-label courseThe business model is genius for the person who created it (they make money every time someone buys in and recruits others)It's structured like an MLM, but for digital productsWhy It's Not a Scam (But Also Not What You Think): Lindsay doesn't say it's fake—people ARE making money with it. But here's what they're not telling you:The market is getting saturated (it's everywhere now)You're not learning how to build a business—you're learning how to sell ONE funnelIf that funnel stops working, you're back to square oneYou can't recreate this success with a different topic or productIt's not scalable, not authentic, and not sustainableThe Real Problem: These courses promise "easy" and "overnight" success. They show you flashy income screenshots. They make it sound like three hours of work will change your life.The truth?Creating consistent content is HARDGetting 70-80% of your views from non-followers requires deep platform knowledgeOrganic growth takes 6-18 months minimum of consistent hustleIf you don't have money for ads, you need TIME and SKILLThe Woman Who Couldn't Afford Another Course: She bought a course for less than $100, expecting it to solve her financial problems. It didn't work. She's now desperate, asking strangers in Facebook groups to help her make sense of something that was never designed to help her succeed—it was designed to make the course creator money.Lindsay's Advice: If you want to make $1,000/month overnight, you need a paid ads budget. Period.If you don't have money for ads, expect:6-18 months of consistent content creation

Amanda Wittenborn was making $3,000-5,000 a month on Etsy—the first time in her marriage she'd ever had all the bills covered with money left over. She'd built the business from absolute broke (parking the car in debt at the front of the driveway so it couldn't be towed overnight) to finally breathing financially.Then one morning, while still in the newborn fog with her third son, she got an email: copyright infringement flag. She'd respond later. A week went by (sleep deprivation is real), and Etsy shut down her account. Permanently.Just like that, years of work—gone. Financial security—gone. Her dream job—gone.She quit. For nearly a year, she gave up entirely.But then she got an email from another party brand looking for a designer. She took the job, started designing for a "competitor," and something sparked. That little voice whispered: You're supposed to be designing party supplies.So she tried again. But there was a problem: Amazon (the biggest audience) doesn't allow digital downloads like Etsy does. She had to pivot from digital invitations to physical products—fill-in-the-blank invitations people would have to handwrite.She thought: No one's going to buy these.She was wrong.In this conversation, Amanda reveals:The $750 Gamble: Her first inventory order felt impossible to pay back. But Prime-eligible products sold 10-to-1 compared to ones she shipped herself. That bet changed everything.The 2-Hour Morning Rule: Amanda starts every day with 2 hours of creativity (crocheting, painting, reading)—NOT business work. Just joy. It transformed her entire life. Minimum: 30 minutes. Optimal: 2 hours. No exceptions.From Broke to Multimillion-Dollar Business: Today, Amanda runs a multimillion-dollar-per-year business with over 8,000 products (all designed by her). She sells on Amazon, Shopify, Oriental Trading, and is expanding to Walmart.The Whimsical Secret: Rollerskating llamas. Outer space kitty cats. Snow leopard princesses. Amanda connects with kids' wild imaginations—and that's why her products sell when thousands of competitors don't.The Hurdles She's Jumped:Etsy account shut down permanentlyCOVID wiping out party supplies overnight (she lost the business TWICE)Counterfeit products copying her designsGetting sued wrongfullyCopyright infringement battlesNone of it stopped her.The Mindset Shift: Amanda's friend recently said: "I love when things are hard because that means not a lot of people are doing it." Amanda's willing to do the hard things—and that's why she's still standing when others quit.The Creator Unleashed: Amanda now mentors female entrepreneurs in her new community, helping them build businesses that don't run their lives—businesses where they get to play, create, and feel joy instead of drowning in tasks.The Bottom Line: Every hurdle is an opportunity to decide: Is this the one that stops me? For Amanda, the answer has always been no. She's been through the ringer—and she keeps going.Sometimes the universe is working in your favor even when it feels devastating. Losing her Etsy store was the worst thing that happened to her—and the best thing that ever happened to her business.ABOUT AMANDA WITTENBORN:Amanda Wittenborn is the founder of Amanda Creations, a multimillion-dollar party

Pinterest isn't just recipes and wedding planning anymore. It's the secret weapon most online entrepreneurs are completely ignoring—and it could be the difference between struggling for traffic and waking up to sales you didn't have to hustle for.Tarin LaRoux didn't set out to become a Pinterest strategist. She was looking for a way to build a homestead life on 10 acres in rural Texas while working from home with two newborns. She fell down a Pinterest rabbit hole searching for "laptop lifestyle on acreage" solutions—and discovered something most business owners miss entirely.The platform everyone dismisses as "just for DIY crafts" is actually a visual discovery engine with high-intent buyers actively searching for solutions. And unlike Instagram or TikTok, your content doesn't die in 48 hours. Pins Tarin created five years ago are still driving traffic and sales today.In this conversation, Tarin reveals:Why Pinterest Isn't Social Media: People don't go to Pinterest to scroll—they go with search intent. You're not competing for attention in a feed—you're showing up when someone is actively looking for what you offer. One pin can get saved 100 times, creating a compounding traffic effect that lasts for years.The Podcaster's Secret Weapon: Turn your podcast transcripts into blog posts, use Pinterest to drive traffic, and reverse engineer your content by researching what keywords people are actually searching for. Lindsay found her podcast coach on Pinterest and went from pin click to paid customer in 7 days.The Traffic Milestones:First 90 days: Things start to compound2,000 monthly visitors: First milestone10,000 monthly visitors: Unlock better ad networks for blog monetizationReal Results: Lindsay's log cabin podcast made Pinterest the #1 traffic driver within 6-12 months—and converted a million-dollar cabin sale. Tarin's clients see pins from 5 years ago still driving cyclical traffic every summer.The Setup Essentials:Keyword research first (use Pin Clicks tool)Optimize your boards with keyword-rich titlesMake your website Pinterest-readyBatch and schedule using TailwindBe patient (3-6 months to index, then it compounds forever)The Bottom Line: Pinterest users are high-intent buyers actively searching for solutions. Your content takes 3-6 months to index, but then it works for you for years. Commit to 12 months, do the keyword research, create pins that drive clicks—then watch traffic show up from work you did once.ABOUT TARIN LAROUX:Tarin LaRoux is a Pinterest strategist who helps online entrepreneurs turn Pinterest into an evergreen traffic machine. After discovering Pinterest's power in 2017 while searching for remote work solutions, she transitioned from court transcript proofreader to website designer to Pinterest manager—landing on the perfect introvert-friendly business model.She helps coaches, course creators, bloggers, and podcasters leverage Pinterest without the social media burnout. Tarin lives in rural Texas with her husband and kids, dreaming of adding...

Let's face it, you're busy! Spending hours and hours figuring out how to build a profitable digital product business is intimidating and overwhelming.And you don't have time to waste on hours of trial and error.You need the most efficient path to profit.In today's episode I break down 5 steps to building online income using digital products and the most efficient path to success, based on 20 hours of deep dive research.If you've been confused and wondering how the heck this online business thing works here's a secret...Everyone is 'selling' that they make money through social media (and they do, they are not lying). But, they are selling you that because it is free to build and most people are looking for that information.But...It's not the most efficient path.Tune in to hear what is the most efficient path to profit and join me in the Freedom online Business Builders Community.Join the free Facebook Community! Connect, Learn, Grow, Build https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomentrepreneurcommunityMaria Wendt's Youtube video I reference - https://youtu.be/Mslps_uD8-4?si=BzhQHbq93m76zpVzHave a burning question? Leave a message for Lindsay and she will turn it into an episode with an answer. Use the link below to record.https://www.speakpipe.com/FreedomEntrepreneurBiz in a Box CRM is the ultimate all-in-one solution designed to simplify and scale your business. Imagine managing every aspect of your operations — from smart contact segmentation and automated follow-ups to call and text functionality, calendar booking, funnels, websites, and even social media scheduling — all from one intuitive platform. No more juggling multiple tools or paying for endless subscriptions. With built-in AI employee support, Biz in a Box CRM doesn’t just organize your business, it actively helps you run it. It’s like having a full-time team behind the scenes, so you can focus on growth, impact, and freedom.Book your demo: https://bizinaboxsolutions.com/crmMentioned in this episode:Freebie 5k recurring revenueIt's time to take action and build the recurring revenue you long for. Text FREEDOM to 55444 right now to get instant access to the free guide 'Earn $5k/month on repeat.' You deserve more freedom!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/

What if you could buy a money-making website for under $1,000, fix it up with AI, and watch it generate cash while you sleep?Matt Raad and his wife Liz started as zoology students studying red kangaroos in Australia. They thought being zoologists would give them freedom. They were wrong. Government jobs, constant money scrambling, zero freedom.So they quit completely and bought their first business—a small manufacturing company. They made every mistake possible. Got the wrong advice. Nearly went broke. But they learned something crucial: how to do proper due diligence on businesses.For 15 years, they bought and sold brick-and-mortar businesses—import/wholesale operations, multiple companies at once. Their entire net worth was tied up in warehouses. They were always in debt to the bank. It was brutal.Then Liz had an epiphany: "This internet thing means we don't have to ship physical products on containers anymore. Why don't we just buy ONLINE businesses instead?"They became the first people in Australia to buy and sell websites as a business strategy. And everything changed.In this conversation, Matt reveals:The Portfolio Strategy:How students like Ashline bought 4 websites (crochet, fishing, sewing, recliner chairs) making $500-$1K/month each—topics she knows NOTHING aboutThe Thai massage teaching site she bought for $40K that generates $3-5K/month (original owner lives in Bali and agreed to stay on and help)Why she's earning $8,000/month semi-passively with ZERO expertise in any of these nichesThe Renovation Model:Buy neglected passion niche sites on Flippa.com for under $5KUse AI to "renovate" them (update content, optimize, monetize better)Double the income from $500 to $1,000/monthGet your money back within a yearMonetization Methods That Work:AdSense & affiliate commissions (the "old school" semi-passive way)Email lists (the new goldmine—direct sponsorship deals worth thousands/month)Direct sponsorship from manufacturers (way more lucrative than Amazon affiliates)Travel influencers getting paid $20K for sponsored tripsThe Niches That Print Money:Health, wealth, happiness (the big three)Passion niches: gardening, crafting, fishing, homesteading, RV travelDIY topics where people research before buying"Gray nomads" (retirees traveling Australia in caravans—100K+ Facebook followers)Real Examples:Pigeon racing site: $1K/month for 10 years, zero pigeon knowledge required

Most 13-year-olds are playing video games. Lance Cayko was learning the multiplier—the business concept that would shape his entire entrepreneurial journey.When Lance told his dad he was quitting the family sugar beet farm after one week (couldn't stand the mosquitoes or the work), he made a call that changed everything: "Hey Bruce, I'll do whatever. I'll pick up garbage. Just let me work construction."Bruce hired him as a gopher at $7.25/hour. Halfway through that summer, Bruce pulled Lance aside and asked: "What do you think I'm charging the clients?" Lance guessed $7.25. Bruce laughed. "No—I'm charging 3-4 times your labor."That moment—understanding the multiplier, overhead, profit, and risk—planted a seed that grew into a multi-business empire spanning architecture, real estate development, contracting, and podcasting.What makes Lance's story unique:Most entrepreneurs do a complete 180 from their education. Lance didn't. He strategically stacked skills: Construction → Building Technology → Architecture → Development. Each summer, he worked for a different contractor learning different trades. By 20, he had an epiphany: What if I could control the entire ecosystem?In this conversation, Lance reveals:How he used Craigslist to launch his architecture firm (when other architects were "too fufu" to try it)The ad that made his phone "go nuts": "25, smart, handsome, sober, master's degree, all these handyman skills"Why he reads The Hypomanic Edge to understand his own psychology (and makes everyone around him read it too)The Law of Polarity: Why bad days almost always precede unexpected breakthroughsHow Bruce reconnected with him 3 years ago after his wife said "Bruce talks about you all the time"Why "Why not?" beats "I can't because" every single timeThe mindset shift that changes everything:Lance doesn't ask "Why would this work?" He asks "Why wouldn't it?" His brain automatically finds solutions instead of obstacles. That optimism—combined with not quitting—is what separated him from every other contractor, architect, and developer.Key lesson: You're not having a breakdown. You're about to have a breakthrough. The negative always precedes the positive (Law of Polarity). If you can just get through the hard day without self-destructing, something unexpectedly positive usually shows up within 24-48 hours.Connect with Lance:🎙️ Inside the Firm Podcast: insidefhefirmpodcast.com💼 LinkedIn: Lance CaykoJoin the free Facebook Community! Connect, Learn, Grow, Build https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomentrepreneurcommunityHave a burning question? Leave a message for Lindsay and she will turn it into an episode with an answer. Use the link below to record.https://www.speakpipe.com/FreedomEntrepreneurBiz in a Box CRM is the ultimate all-in-one solution designed to simplify and scale your business. Imagine managing every aspect of your operations — from smart contact segmentation and automated follow-ups to call and text...

Four months ago, this podcast was ranked in the top 5% globally on Listen Notes. Today? Top 3%. Out of 3.3 million podcasts worldwide.And honestly? I didn't even set out to do it.In August 2025, I reignited this podcast after stepping away from my solar company. I had no ranking goals, no growth strategy—just a commitment to show up consistently and share value. But what happened next surprised me.In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on exactly what moved the needle:What I Did (Without Realizing It Would Work):✅ Produced daily episodes - Went from 1-2 per week to 7 per week (yes, this increased downloads significantly)✅ Brought back guest interviews - Leveraged other people's audiences (reciprocal growth that benefits everyone)✅ Got picky about guests - Only interviewed people with genuinely transformational stories (no more boring pitch-fests)The 5 Metrics Apple Looks At (And Why They Matter):FollowersActive unique listens (daily listeners)DownloadsStar ratingsWritten reviewsListen Notes uses similar metrics—which is why producing MORE episodes automatically increased listens and downloads, which pushed the ranking up.The Reality Check: Listen Notes ranks you against 3.3 million podcasts—but over half aren't even active anymore. So yes, you're competing with dead podcasts. The good news? Consistency alone puts you ahead of millions.What's Changing in 2026:I'm pulling back from daily episodes. Not because I don't love it (I really do), but because I realized I'm spending all my time producing and zero time promoting. That's a problem.New schedule:2 guest episodes per week (my pipeline is FULL of incredible people)1 Lindsay solo episode per weekWeekly LIVE training in the Freedom Online Business Builders Community (Facebook)More presence on SubstackThe strategy? Spend less time producing, more time marketing. Get NEW listeners. Because here's the truth: Your superfans have already followed, reviewed, and downloaded everything. Growth requires reaching NEW people.How You Can Help:If this show has helped you, here's what would mean the world:📲 Follow/subscribe on your podcast player⭐ Leave a rating and review (Apple especially)📤 Share this episodewith someone who'd love it🔗 Join the Facebook community for weekly live trainings✉️ Text me at 302-271-7575 and say hi (seriously, I'd love to hear from you)Why This Matters:Podcasting isn't just a marketing tool for me anymore. It's about building real relationships. Getting to know YOU. Being an actual helper in your life and business—not just a voice in your earbuds.So yes, I'll be here less frequently on the podcast. But I'll be MORE present where it counts: in the community, on Substack, and in real conversations with real people building real businesses.The bottom line:...

Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come disguised as detours.A year ago, Lindsay was all-in on a solar company—building a membership, launching a YouTube channel, hiring team members, managing inventory. The podcast sat on the back burner. Her personal coaching business was paused. She was intensely focused on what seemed like the right path forward.Then May happened. Her business partner's father got sick. By August, they'd sold the company. And in that space between what was and what's next, something shifted.Sitting in her recliner post-county fair (because yes, entrepreneurship sometimes includes raising 4-H animals), Lindsay experimented with Grok AI. She didn't tell it about her podcast or her business—just answered questions about her history, her beliefs, what matters to her.The AI's response? "You should be called the Freedom Engineer."Her jaw dropped. That's exactly what she'd been doing all along. The self-doubt that whispered "why would anyone want to learn from you?" evaporated. The fire reignited.In this raw year-end reflection, Lindsay shares:The Social Media Hook That Sparked Everything:Michelle Gifford's prompt: "The ultimate plot twist of 2025"Why reflecting backward is the key to moving forwardHow to use this hook for your own year-end content (and why it matters beyond just posting)The Questions That Create Clarity:Where were you last December 26th? (Not physically—in life)What were you excited about then that's completely shifted now?Who were you listening to, following, or affiliated with?How have YOU changed as a person?The Unexpected Journey:From solar company co-owner to selling in monthsWhy she thought she'd "given up" on her business (spoiler: she'd given up on herself)The AI conversation that changed everythingHow her podcast jumped from top 5% to top 3% globally since August—without a massive strategy shiftThe Tether Ball Theory of Growth:Why entrepreneurial growth isn't linearHow we spiral up the pole, hitting the same beliefs at different levelsThe difference between "I'm all in" (head decision) vs. "I'm all in" (soul truth)When your purpose becomes non-negotiable—not because you force it, but because you ARE itThe Clarifying Detour:Why the solar company wasn't a mistake—it was necessaryHow "phenomenal opportunities" can be clarifying moments, not destinations

What if everything you think you know about freedom is wrong?Most entrepreneurs chase "freedom" by building businesses around passive income, laptop lifestyles, and financial independence. But what happens when you achieve all that and still feel trapped, burned out, and misaligned?Meet Krystal Eicher and Wendy Guth, founders of Serendipitous Rebel and former military spouses who built successful travel businesses that checked every logical box—flexible schedules, good income, work-from-anywhere freedom. There was just one problem: they were miserable.In this raw and inspiring conversation, Krystal and Wendy reveal:The Identity Crisis:How they both started travel businesses that made perfect sense on paper but felt completely wrong in practiceWhy women stay stuck in businesses longer than men (spoiler: sunk cost fallacy and performative pressure)The moment Krystal got physically ill from the stress of running a "successful" membership that wasn't aligned with her valuesWhy "I can do that" became the most dangerous phrase in Krystal's businessThe Partnership Breaking Point:How their first business partnership with a third partner imploded during COVIDThe vulnerability moment that changed everything: Krystal admitting "something has got to give"Why one partner leaned in (Wendy) while another went on the attackThe truth about boundaries: "The reaction to your 'no' tells you everything you need to know"The Alignment Breakthrough:The question that unlocked everything: "Who do you want to BE?" (not what do you want to do)Why Krystal realized being a "present mom" and "profitable business owner" required completely different business models than the gurus taughtHow Wendy discovered her purpose through a University of Michigan course on finding purpose (created by a professor who lost his daughter to cancer)The permission they gave themselves: build a business around what you LOVE, outsource what you hateThe Real Numbers Talk:Why wanting a "six-figure business" actually means you need to generate $300K (unless you have razor-thin margins)How to get honest about what you NEED vs. what you WANT financiallyWhy Krystal's business looks completely different because she has a partner who's the primary breadwinner (and why that's okay to admit)The freedom of designing your business around YOUR circumstances, not someone else's metricsThe Serendipitous Rebel Solution:How they now host intimate 5-day...

The rules changed. And most entrepreneurs don't even realize it yet.While you're busy following guru tactics—"start a podcast," "grow your YouTube," "hack Instagram"—AI is replacing entire industries. Website designers, social media managers, copywriters, graphic designers, coaches. All getting replaced by $20/month AI subscriptions.Here's the uncomfortable truth: Most people don't care about "human connection" when they can get "good enough" for cheap.But there's ONE thing AI can't touch. And it's your only hope.In August 2024, I relaunched my coaching business with confidence. Instead, I hit a wall. People were AI-savvy. ChatGPT did the thinking. VAs did execution for pennies. I was competing on SUPPLY—trying to out-supply AI. That's a losing game.Then a business owner told me he'd replaced 5 of 6 employees with AI. That's when it clicked: Stop competing on supply. Start creating DEMAND AI can't fulfill.Three AI-Proof Examples:Angie (outdoor trips): AI plans trips. She creates immersive human experiences AI can't replicate.Becca (senior care): AI answers questions. She anticipates needs families don't know they have yet.Claudia (productivity): AI gives generic advice. She offers neurodivergent-specific systems from lived experience.None learned new skills. They just repositioned strategically.The Four Pillar Freedom Framework:AI-Proof Transformation - Extract your unique methodology (you already have it)Market Validation - Prove demand BEFORE buildingScalable Product Ladder - Strategic offers, not random productsOne Traffic Solution - Stop trying to be everywhereThis isn't about working harder. It's about strategic positioning that makes AI irrelevant to your business.The window is closing. AI tools launch daily. Experts create AI versions of themselves. Adapt now or get left behind.Ready to AI-proof your business? Book a free consultation—link in show notes.Join the free Facebook Community! Connect, Learn, Grow, Build https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomentrepreneurcommunityIn just 15–20 minutes, I can help you uncover the hidden inefficiencies that are costing you both time and money in your business. Most owners don’t realize how much energy is wasted on repetitive tasks, gaps in processes, and systems that don’t actually support growth. During our call, I’ll listen closely to how your business is currently running, pinpoint one or two areas where you may be sabotaging your own scalability, and show you a clear next step to reclaim control. Whether you decide to work with me further or not, you’ll leave with immediate clarity on what’s holding your business back — and the confidence of knowing exactly where to focus to create more freedom and profit.Book here - https://crm.bizinaboxsolutions.com/widget/bookings/15-minute-consult-lsHave a burning question? Leave a message for Lindsay and she will turn it into an episode with an answer. Use the link below to record.

Join the free Facebook Community! Connect, Learn, Grow, Build https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomentrepreneurcommunityWhat if the secret to your business breakthrough has nothing to do with strategy, marketing, or hustle—and everything to do with discovering who you really are?Most entrepreneurs are stuck in a cycle: operating in their assigned roles, chasing titles, projecting confidence they don't feel, and showing up with "needy energy" trying to scoop in customers. They're DOING life instead of BEING themselves. And it's exhausting.Today's guest, Randall Thames—author of Rise to the Role and founder of InSpirit Institute—is here to flip that script entirely. With 38 years in corporate America, 20 years as a licensed pastor, and a background as a fitness trainer, Randall has spent his life transforming people physically, spiritually, and professionally. Now he's synthesized it all into a powerful framework that helps entrepreneurs discover their "super purpose power" and rise into their highest potential.In this transformational conversation, Randall reveals:The Identity Trap:Why leading with your TITLE instead of your VALUE keeps you stuck in hustle modeThe difference between being assigned a role (CEO, coach, consultant) and actually RISING into your authentic powerWhy entrepreneurs spend so much time doing what's necessary instead of showing up as their best selvesHow culture's identity for you prevents you from discovering your internal identityThe Discover-Develop-Display Framework:DISCOVER (Internal Process):The decision you must make BEFORE anything else (hint: you have to WANT to know your superpower)5 ways to discover your unique purpose: psychometric tests (MBTI, talent assessments), 360 interviews, asking your closest circle what they come to you for, noticing what makes you lose track of timeWhy data + insights + experiences = the foundation for cognitive reshapingThe questions to ask: "What enhances me? What elevates me? What do I need to EXIT?"DEVELOP (The Plan):How to create a systematic structure to activate your superpowerWhy most entrepreneurs skip straight to "display" (the external) without doing internal workThe truth + love equation: Why feedback needs BOTH to be effective (truth without love is harsh; love without truth is too squishy)DISPLAY (External Impact):How to execute and DEFEND your superpower in the marketplaceWhy internal discovery creates external impact (and attracts customers magnetically instead of desperately)The compound effect of outcomes: When you solve real...

I started this podcast in 2020. I've been in 'learning mode' for 5 years and now it is time to move into building mode. Are you with me?Join the Freedom Entrepreneur Online Business Community and connect with me on Substack so we can build our dream lifestyle together - fueled by monthly recurring revenue powered by digital assets.In today's episode, I break down what it was like when I had a burning desire to move to a log cabin in the woods.How I knew it was a burning desire and not just a fanciful wish.How I was able to make that impossible move possible without knowing all the steps.How that same burning desire has ahold of me again, but this time it is about building recurring revenue.And, I don't want to do it alone. I want you with me!If you have a burning desire for freedom, connect with me on Substack and join the Facebook community for live trainings.Join the free Facebook Community! Connect, Learn, Grow, Build https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomentrepreneurcommunityLet's make 2026 OUR year!Have a burning question? Leave a message for Lindsay and she will turn it into an episode with an answer. Use the link below to record.https://www.speakpipe.com/FreedomEntrepreneurBiz in a Box CRM is the ultimate all-in-one solution designed to simplify and scale your business. Imagine managing every aspect of your operations — from smart contact segmentation and automated follow-ups to call and text functionality, calendar booking, funnels, websites, and even social media scheduling — all from one intuitive platform. No more juggling multiple tools or paying for endless subscriptions. With built-in AI employee support, Biz in a Box CRM doesn’t just organize your business, it actively helps you run it. It’s like having a full-time team behind the scenes, so you can focus on growth, impact, and freedom.Book your demo: https://bizinaboxsolutions.com/crmThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/

Hot take incoming: Passive income is NOT the ultimate wealth builder for digital entrepreneurs. And yes, I know every real estate investor just cringed reading that sentence.But before you blow up the comments, hear me out.I've been in the online business trenches for years—podcasting, interviewing experts, experimenting with every "passive income" strategy under the sun. And here's what I've learned: the term "passive income" has become a misleading buzzword that keeps entrepreneurs stuck in an exhausting hustle cycle.Think about it: You sell a $500 course? Great. Now go find another customer. You make an affiliate sale? Awesome. Do it again tomorrow. You run an e-commerce store? Cool. Keep driving that traffic or die.That's not passive. That's a hamster wheel with better marketing.So what IS the real wealth builder for online businesses? Monthly recurring revenue. And it's not even close.In this straight-talk episode, I break down:The Passive Income Lie:Why "passive income" makes me feel slimy every time I say it (and why I'm done using the term)The fundamental flaw with courses, printables, and one-time products that nobody talks aboutWhy even affiliate marketing usually doesn't work the way podcasters tell you it willThe exhausting "flywheel" keeping service providers trapped in the time-for-money tradeThe MRR Advantage:What makes monthly recurring revenue the "crown jewel" of digital wealth buildingThe compounding factor that changes everything (hint: keep old customers, add new ones, watch it grow)Why subscriptions feel suffocating as consumers but are goldmines as business ownersThe Complete Breakdown: I'm revealing my full list of digital revenue streams in two categories:One-Time Revenue (The Hustle List):CoursesCoaching programsPhysical productsService/agency workPrintablesOne-time affiliate commissionsBooks/Amazon KDPMonthly Recurring Revenue (The Wealth Builder List):Memberships & subscriptionsRetainer-based servicesSaaS (Software as a Service)Vibe coding custom software (yes, you can build this without being a developer—I'll explain)Custom Chat GPTs (like David Graham's david.ai at $20/month)Subscription forums...

Five days. That's how close Sonya Corkery came to losing everything.After nearly two decades building multiple businesses in Australia—including a thriving electrical consulting company—Sonya and her husband watched three major clients fold in just three months during COVID. The damage? Nearly a million dollars in lost net profit. Gone. Overnight.With only five days of operating funds left and suppliers waiting to be paid, most business owners would've filed bankruptcy and walked away. But Sonya made a different choice—one that would test every ounce of her financial expertise, resilience, and purpose.In this raw and tactical episode, Sonya shares the exact 12-month strategy she used to claw her way back from the brink of business collapse—without filing bankruptcy, without destroying relationships, and without losing her integrity.In this powerful conversation, you'll discover:The one-day rule: How Sonya gave herself exactly 24 hours to grieve before taking action (and why this mindset saved her business)The supplier conversation: What she said to creditors to get extended payment terms when she had nothing leftThe overdraft strategy: How she used a term deposit as security to bridge cashflow gaps while earning interest to offset costsThe Profit First system: Why having multiple bank accounts structured correctly saved her business when disaster struckPre-disaster planning: The financial safety nets you should have in place NOW before you need them (because banks won't help when you're in crisis)The vetting process: How Sonya now screens every potential client before even submitting a tender—including credit checks, entity structure analysis, and director background checksThe insurance layer: How to protect 90% of your project value against client bankruptcy (yes, this exists)The deeper why question: Why nearly losing everything forced Sonya to ask "what's beyond this business?" and completely transformed her life visionThe nomadic dream: How she and her husband are building a life that allows them to split time between Italy, Thailand, and AustraliaThe exit strategy reality check: Why what you think your business is worth and what someone will pay might be devastatingly differentBut here's what makes this episode truly special: Sonya doesn't just share her survival story. She breaks down the exact systems, mindsets, and financial strategies that business owners need BEFORE disaster strikes—because when you're drowning, it's too late to learn to swim.From cash flow forecasting down to the dollar, to building wealth outside your business so the sale becomes a bonus instead of a necessity, to creating layers of financial protection you hope to never use—this is the episode every business owner needs to hear.Fair warning: If you're not good with numbers, Sonya's going to challenge you. Because whether you like spreadsheets or not, your business survival depends on...

Sometimes the posts you're most embarrassed about are the ones that blow up. And that's exactly what happened when I posted a video of myself hauling 100-pound horse panels with what looked like a massive poop stain on my pants.4,300+ views on Instagram. Over 4,000 on Facebook. And I almost didn't post it.Welcome to my brutally honest social media experiment update—where I'm testing everything Austin Armstrong teaches in his book Virality and sharing the raw, unfiltered results with you in real-time.Here's what I've learned after 6 weeks of posting 7-10 times daily on Facebook (and why you need to hear this):The Surprising Truths:Quantity beats quality (at least according to the algorithm)—and I went from 100-500 views per post to multiple posts hitting 1,000+ viewsWhat goes viral is NEVER what you think—my carefully crafted value posts? Meh. My blurry screenshot of an ice skater? 2,728 views with 92% NEW audienceEmotion is the algorithm's love language—the phrase "this brought tears to my eyes" unlocked the suggested feed in ways my expert content never didRaw and real beats polished every time—people don't want your highlight reel, they want your dirty farm pants and messy lifeThe "Dear Algorithm" hack—how one simple phrase brought me ideal followers (female entrepreneurs who don't mind getting dirty)The Tactical Breakdown:Why frequency matters more than you think (and how I went from 3 to 10 posts/day without losing my mind)The scientific method approach to social media: hypothesis → test → measure → double downWhy your emotions about a post have ZERO correlation with its performanceThe Instagram vs. Facebook content strategy difference (and why what works on one flops on the other)How to track what's actually working vs. what just feels goodThe Vulnerable Truth: I posted a video where I legitimately look like I pooped my pants. My horse's hoof trimming left muddy stains right between my legs. I almost didn't post it. I was embarrassed. But I did it anyway—because that's what this experiment is about.And you know what? Nobody even mentioned the stain. They were too busy relating to the content.This episode is for you if:You're overthinking your social media contentYou're afraid to post "imperfect" contentYou think you need to look polished to gain followersYou're posting inconsistently because nothing seems to workYou want real data from someone actually doing the work (not just teaching theory)The Big Lesson: Stop waiting for the perfect post. Stop worrying about looking perfect. Stop thinking you need all the answers. Start treating your business like a scientific experiment—test, measure, adjust, repeat.Your "hobo" content might be exactly what goes viral. Your embarrassing moment might be your breakthrough post. Your messy reality might be more valuable than your polished expertise.Join the experiment: I'm running a free Virality Book Club in the Freedom Online Entrepreneur Community on Facebook. We're reading Austin Armstrong's book together, implementing strategies, and sharing results. Jump in—we're building this together.Join the free Facebook Community! Connect, Learn, Grow, Build https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomentrepreneurcommunityHave a burning question? Leave a message for Lindsay and she will turn it into an episode with an answer. Use the link below to record.a...

What if everything you thought you knew about going viral was wrong? And what if the secret wasn't talent, luck, or even being "camera readyWelcome back returning guest Austin Armstrong, founder of Syllaby, author of the new book Virality, and the guy who's cracked the code on going viral across every major platform—TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook where he's seeing his best results yet.But Austin's story doesn't start with algorithms and AI tools. It starts on MySpace when he was just 14 years old, seeking validation online after his parents' divorce, accidentally stumbling into what would become a 21-year obsession with social media growth.In this incredibly tactical episode, you'll discover:The MySpace origin story: How Austin made money promoting local bands and built software tools as a teenager (and why those same collaboration strategies still work today)The "if you want to go far, go together" philosophy: Why Austin credits collaboration pods and joint ventures for most of his success (and how to set them up)How he went from 5,000 to 100,000 YouTube subscribers in 3 days after posting 500 videos that flopped firstThe brutal truth about obsession: Why "obsession breeds transformation" and how studying every frame of viral videos with a partner unlocked YouTube for himThe 20-25 posts per day strategy: Austin breaks down his exact workflow (it's easier than you think—using reposts, memories, collaboration shares, and text threads)Why personal profiles beat business pages on Facebook (based on his own A/B testing)How to train your feed to become a content creation machine so you never run out of ideasThe content creator vs. business owner mindset: Why you should never rely on ad revenue and must build backend monetization systemsReal monetization strategies for any niche (from rowing coaches to AI experts)—courses, brand deals, software apps, speaking gigs, and moreManaging creator burnout: How to sustain 25 posts a day without losing your mind (spoiler: it's a marathon, not a sprint)Plus: Austin shares the story behind his new book Virality!—half motivational autobiography, half tactical playbook with frameworks, scripts, psychological tricks, and workbook exercises to help you actually take action.This isn't theory. This is 21 years of trial and error, millions of followers, billions of views, and multiple seven-figure businesses distilled into one conversation.Fair warning: If you're looking for shortcuts or "post once a week and hope for the best" advice, this isn't your episode. But if you're ready to get obsessive, collaborate strategically, and actually do the work? Austin just handed you the playbook.Get the book: Virality! by Austin Armstrong—available on Amazon and everywhere books are soldReady to build your own viral strategy? Join the Freedom Entrepreneur Community on Facebook (link in show notes) where we're running a free 90-day Virality Book Club starting now!Join the free Facebook Community! Connect, Learn, Grow, Build https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomentrepreneurcommunityPerfect for: Content creators, coaches, course creators, freelancers, and anyone who wants to build a real business through social media (not just chase vanity...

What if the very nature of your business model is capping your wealth potential—and you don't even realize it?If you're a coach, freelancer, consultant, or any service provider trading time for money, this episode might be the most important 15 minutes you listen to all year.Inspired by a powerful teaching from Myron Golden, host Lindsay Sutherland breaks down why service-based businesses have a built-in wealth ceiling—and more importantly, how to break through it with product innovation.Here's the hard truth: If you started a service-based business, you've already limited your potential wealth. Why? Because services require time to fulfill, and time is something we have in limited supply. You can only take on so many clients, work so many hours, and scale so far before you hit a wall.But products? Products can be sold once and generate revenue infinitely. They disconnect your income from your time. And in an AI-driven world where your skills are becoming increasingly commoditized, product innovation isn't just smart—it's essential for survival.In this value-packed episode, you'll discover:Why Myron Golden says product innovation is the #1 business skill that makes millionsThe shocking story of how Myron made $400,000 in 15 minutes selling one productWhy your "scalable" group program might not be as scalable as you thinkThe critical difference between products the market values vs. products you valueReal-world example: How client Claudia repositioned her entire brand around a journal for neurodivergent entrepreneurs7+ specific product ideas you can implement in your business (from mini-courses to SaaS)The sweet spot: Monthly recurring revenue models that create true business stabilityPrint-on-demand success story: How Amanda went from party favors to 8,000+ productsWhat "vibe coding" is and how you can create your own software without being a developerThe difference between one-time product sales and subscription models (and why subscriptions win)Plus: Lindsay shares how to validate your product idea BEFORE you build it—so you don't waste months creating something nobody wants.Whether you're just starting out or you've been in business for years, this episode will challenge you to think differently about your revenue model. Because the truth is, if you keep doing what you're doing—trading hours for dollars—you'll always be limited by time.But if you can add even ONE scalable product to your business? You've just unlocked unlimited wealth potential.Ready to transform your service-based business into a scalable product empire? Text Lindsay at (302) 271-7575 and mention "Freedom Framework" to learn how she and her business partner Emily help entrepreneurs validate and launch profitable products in 90 days or less.Featured Expert: Myron Golden (Business Skills That Make Millions)Perfect for: Coaches, consultants, freelancers, service providers, solopreneurs, and anyone who wants to build wealth without being chained to their calendar.Resources Mentioned:The Four Pillar Freedom FrameworkText Lindsay: (302) 271-7575Myron Golden's "Business Skills That Make Millions" (YouTube)Join the free Facebook Community! Connect, Learn, Grow, Build https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomentrepreneurcommunityBiz in a Box CRM is the ultimate all-in-one solution designed to simplify and scale your business. Imagine managing every aspect of your...