This 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 MoreNone of us want to be the slimy salesman. But as business owners some amount of salesmanship is necessary. In this post I dig into how you can know if you’re being slimy, too hands off, or juuuuust right!
Read MoreIf you’re afraid of launching your self-employed business a plan can be an easy way to alleviate some of your fears. You don’t have to leap blindly, you can have a plan for each of the three phases most people go through when launching their self-employed business. You’ll also find that having a solid plan B is both motivating and comforting.
Read MoreDon’t let decision paralysis rob you of living your life to the fullest! Here are my strategies for forward movement when you’re stuck on a decision.
Read MoreIt might seem counter-intuitive, but firing a client can be vital to keeping your self-employed business afloat! Read on to learn more about why that is and also how to identify a client you should fire, and how to do the firing.
Read MoreIt's natural to try and find trends in the ebb and flow of your business and summarize them as business seasons. Sometimes these patterns have an industry-wide truth behind them, but often times they're just patterns. Better understand how to use business seasons to your advantage.
Read MoreI see many self employed business owners shying away from the notion of "sales." Our collective image of sales seems to include the slimy salesman, however this is not reflective of modern sales strategies. Leave behind the image of Depression Era Sales and learn about modern sales tactics that encourage you to embrace your integrity.
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.
Did you just get blind-sided by self-employment taxes? Or maybe you're early in your entrepreneurial journey and you're afraid of all the taxes you'll have to pay when self-employed. Let's clarify what's going on with self-employed taxes. Then we can make a plan that anticipates your tax liability.
This blog article is for progressive self-employed business owners who want to institute business practices throughout the year that will make tax time less stressful. But who also want to (legally) minimize the amount of tax they have to pay. Read on to better understand how to build a successful business with minimal stress at tax time.
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This article is for those who are struggling to understand what market research means. As a small business, you need to avoid overwhelm and focus on the most relevant market data. Allow me to illuminate what works best for self-employed businesses. I'll show you how to understand your market well enough to properly steward your business. It's not just, What trends are you noticing? but also How are you noticing trends?