When describing your business it’s more impactful if you frame it in a way that your ideal client can readily identify that they want what you do. Using t-shirts as an analogy I dig into how you can frame your offering in a way that highlights what makes it a big deal, what your key differentiators are, and why the listener should care about your offering!
Read MoreNetworking often seems to come naturally for extroverts. But being a people lover doesn’t mean that networking doesn’t still come with pitfalls! In this article, I tackle the overwhelm and impersonality that can often plague extroverts so that you’re cultivating high-quality connections and not just a high quantity of connections.
Read MoreMarketing your business can often feel like a process of fits and starts. When we learn about the inertia that’s inherent in marketing we can find calm in the flurry or lack of activity that comes from marketing.
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 MoreIn this very unusual-for-me blog post, I share my current reflections from a place of grief.
Read MoreIf you’re striving to make your networking efforts even more impactful, then this is the blog post for you! Learn how to improve the memorability and accuracy of your networking efforts.
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 MoreBeing self-employed can be fun, and it can also be stressful! How are you choosing to bring an assortment of types of fun into your life? Read on to hear my thoughts!
Read MoreSeeing as this blog is mostly about starting a self-employed business, I can see how an article on meditation might seem off topic. In actuality, I’ve found that meditation is a vital tool as a business owner. Read on to see if I can get you on the meditation bandwagon!
Read MoreIn this case study, I apply the factors discussed in last month’s blog article to a real world example. Analyzing what goes right, rather than what goes wrong, in sales is a powerful way to better understand your role as salesperson.
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 MoreIt’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling like there’s never enough, whether that sentence ends with stuff, money or time. Here’s an article that investigates this feeling and helps to reframe “never enough” into “enough” leading to more joy and a greater impact.
Read MoreSometimes it can seem like self-employment is a race with a very ambiguous finish line. It benefits no-one if you exhaust yourself, and yet it can be hard to shift gears so that you’re living a balanced life while building your business. Here’s a metaphor that seems to help bring sanity to the over-achiever inside each of us.
Read MoreNetworking can be a tricky thing to understand, and one-on-one networking is significantly different than attending group networking events. And networking is a skill like any other; with some guidance you can master one-on-one networking!
Read MoreHave you ever felt that your self-employment journey is too small to make a meaningful impact? Conscientious solo business owners can face a profound sense of helplessness in a world filled with colossal challenges. By examining the interplay between ego, independence, and interdependence, I’ll shed light on how small, individual efforts can create ripples in a vast web of interconnected systems. I’ll offer actionable insights to help you break out of a place of stuckness and recognize your true impact.
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 MoreBeing stuck is terrible for productivity, and when you’re self-employed there’s no one around to help you get unstuck! Here are some strategies for creating forward movement when you’re stuck at the start.
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 MoreThe gig economy can be an attractive way to make extra money or start your own thing. But there are a few things to consider before embarking on one of these platforms.
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.
If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking you just need one more class, book, or certificate before you’re ready — this one’s for you. Learning feels productive, but it can also keep you stuck in preparation mode. In this article, I challenge you to break free from the “learning loop” and start taking real, imperfect action. Leave the sidelines and start building your business and confidence for real-world results!
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As 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.