Is your fear of failure holding you back from launching your business? This article is a pep talk to risk-averse, aspiring self-employed people everywhere. Here, I propose a different way of thinking about failure and a couple of strategies to practice this new way of thinking.
Read MoreAs a self-employed business owner, you know you've got to deal with contracts. But this isn't the fun part of the job. It might even be scary to make something "legal" like that. What you don't know is that a good contract is at the root of making client experiences more ease-ful. Here I'll break it down into three simple principles, making it easy for you to reap the rewards of contracts.
Read MoreMarketing is a big umbrella that covers many, many different things. When coming up with a marketing plan, it can be difficult to focus in on the aspects of marketing that you really need to learn about. This article is for any aspiring self-employed business owner who wants to do it right. This overview will help you to understand all that's involved with a marketing plan, and help you zero in on the stuff you need to learn about.
Read MoreIf you've never felt insecure when comparing yourself to others, this article isn't for you. For the rest of us normal people, we need to explore this and how it's impacting our current or future businesses. It's vital for self-employed businesses to understand their competitive advantages and disadvantages. But trying to understand this usually gets us stuck, demoralized, or frozen. Let me reframe competition and the dis/advantages of your business so that you can more easily succeed.
Read MoreThis article is for the cautious first-time business owners who don't want to "risk it all" in launching their business. You're struggling with a fear of risk, especially in the case of litigation. You want to move forward and put protections in place confidently. I'll enlighten you regarding the risks you're exposed to. Then I'll further soothe your fears by describing the many methods you can use to protect yourself and your business. By the end of this article, you'll know risk-reducing actions and be able to move forward with confidence!
Read MoreOnce upon a time, you decided on rates for your business. They made sense at that time. But now, you're not sure they're working for you anymore. Is it time to raise prices? What should you raise them to? How do you roll out these new rates? This article is for folks like you: business owners who are struggling with changing their rates. You don't know how to raise your rates and want to confidently decide upon and implement a new price. Read on as I clarify the process. You'll get instructions on each step so that you can confidently make an increase in your rates.
Read MoreThis is an article for business owners who are struggling with getting knocked off balance when big life stuff happens. It's possible to navigate negative events with less stress. This is true even if you're only just launching your business. Let's explore a few principles that will help you get through a tough time with a successful business.
Read MoreYou want to start a business, but you're not sure what to buy now and what to hold off on. You want to make purchases with confidence to launch your business, but you also don't want to end up bankrupt. Starting a business comes with tight budgets and tough spending decisions. Read on as I provide guidance on differentiating between must-have and nice-to-have expenses. Learn when to invest in essential items and when to consider nice-to-haves like virtual assistants or upgraded tools, all while managing your funds effectively.
Read MoreDo you experience fear in the face of change? Fear is normal but you can still learn to navigate even unexpected changes with serenity. Using my own recent change as a context, I illustrate the steps needed to navigate any change. You can increase your confidence with change by making an informed decision about the best way to move forward. This is such a vital skill in the ever-changing landscape of small businesses!
Read MoreThis month's blog article is perfect for those of you who want to face rejection without catastrophizing. Rejection is the biggest hurdle for self-employed businesses. Self-employed business owners like you CAN have a more resilient attitude toward rejection. I'll provide a framework by using Daniel Pink's book, "Selling is Human", to analyze the rejection. I'll apply this framework to understanding a personal experience of rejection. Take rejection in a positive light and used it to improve your skills, rather than view it as a failure.
Read MoreWondering if it’s a good idea to start a business in 2023? Ready to be a business owner but not sure it’s for you? Read for pros, cons, and a new movement idea.
Read MoreIt's reasonable to feel intimidated by saving for retirement when you're self-employed. You want to know how to ensure a secure retirement. Here I'll demystify and simplify the process. This will help you to take the first steps toward the retirement you deserve!
Read MoreWhat would it be like to work at a comfortable pace? What would it be like to work like that while achieving success? In this blog article, I dispel the myth of hard work and share the four factors that actually contribute to success.
Read MoreIf you're just here for the train wreck: hear about my hardest day in business. If you're in it for the learning, then you'll find a silver lining that will make you dive into self-employment asap!
Read MoreFor white people, it can be challenging to maintain the momentum of an anti-racist practice. When we think of anti-racism work in our self-employed business we often get even more stuck. Here’s a little update on my own practice and the huge shot in the arm it took over the summer!
Read MoreConfidence in your business being possible is a key concern of so many aspiring self-employed people. This concern obscures the real question. In this article, I answer the initial question and offer a practical tool that will answer the underlying question.
Read MoreI don't know who's promoted the idea that business owners are universally good at money. We're not. And even then, those of who are good at it, it's not because of a god-given talent or anything. It's because we learned it. Being "good at money" is a complex set of skills that are rarely taught, but are totally learnable!
Read MoreMany of us have the idea to start a business, but few of us even try. What’s getting in your way? In this article, I clear the path from a common source of hesitation.
Read MoreYou’re probably already talking to yourself whether you notice it or not. If you say more supportive things, you’re likely to go further. Learn how!
Read MoreYou’re being a good business owner and attending some networking events, but are you making the most of that time? I’ve identified two of the most commonly over looked opportunities to network. Read this article and don’t let them pass you by again!
Read MoreMaggie Karshner is a self-employment coach based in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. She specializes in coaching solo entrepreneurs and owner-operated small businesses in industries such as real estate, mental health therapy, massage therapy, yoga, doulas, and non-profit.
Maggie's coaching practice encompasses one on one coaching, group coaching, and asynchronous learning via the member area of the website.
As seen on King5's New Day NW and in The Seattle Times.
Are you struggling to know how to tell if your business is healthy? This article is for scrappy self-employed business owners who want to be able to assess the financial health of their business without having to consult an accountant. I’ll demystify how to use your bookkeeping tools to determine the financial well-being of your business in the present moment.
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This is for those of you struggling with how to predict future business cash flow. You’re wondering how you can be confident that your future clients are coming. I’ll show you the data you can build your confidence upon. This confidence will help you feel certain your business isn't destined to end just because you’ve had a fluctuation in clients.