Productivity
Back of the House: How I Keep This Bistro Humming
One of the things I do each month with my Digital Dining Room group is host a Secret Supper. If I were an actual chef (and not just a metaphorical one), those Secret Suppers would be intimate gatherings in my kitchen where I’d show my guests exactly how I make...
Bored or Apathetic? How to Rekindle the Passion for Your Business
Maxine’s been building her coaching practice now for nearly two years. And she’s had it with all the same-old advice. She swears that if she hears one more time that she needs to “focus on a niche” or “quit playing small,”...
Not a Fairytale: How to Create a Business that Helps You Live Happily Ever After
Is there an unfinished project on your plate? One you’ve been resisting and avoiding, even though you KNOW you need to get it done? It could be client work. Or it could be something like filing your taxes, launching a new program, or even publishing a simple...
How to Inspire People with Your Blog (Especially When You Feel Uninspired)
It’s been too long since you published a blog post, am I right? I’ve noticed your silence online. (Are you still there?) I’ve looked for your latest article, but haven’t seen one for weeks. I’ve heard you talk about the struggle to say...
Mise en place! Rock Your Project and Client Management with ASANA
I’m a small, mostly one-woman show here at Story Bistro (translation: I don’t have Sous Chef). And if you’re like me, your operational budget barely has room for bells, let alone whistles. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of...
Must-Have Kitchen Tool: The (Sales) Funnel
When I meet with a potential client, one of the questions I usually ask is, "What does your sales funnel look like?" The blank stares and nervous coughing I get in response would almost be funny. Except when I try to ask it another way, and I can still hear crickets. "Okay, then tell me about your sales process -- how do you get and nurture your leads?"
The Truth About Why You Aren’t Learning Anything in Your Online Classes
I got an email this morning from Mary over at A-List Blogging (maybe you did, too?). It was titled “6 Reasons Why Blogger Trainings Fail.” As I read through, I noticed my head nodding up and down. Yup. Yup. Yup. She’s SO right about this stuff....
Get ‘er Done: Write Your Marketing Copy and Content
You’re just like me. A small business owner who doesn’t have their own marketing department (or who can’t afford to hire an expert). Who wears all the hats and later wonders why you have a “bad case of hat head” (as one of my clients...
A Business Paradox: Slow Down to Speed Up
You’ve seen the marketing hype and heard all the promises: Build a Six-Figure Business in just 60 Days! Or, Fail Fast, Succeed Faster. There’s even a magazine called Fast Company. And it’s true: most of us want that income NOW. We’ve got bills...
How to Eat Your (Marketing) Artichoke
When you're a solopreneur or the owner of a very small business, it can seem almost impossible to find the time to get it all done. There is, after all, actual work that needs to be finished, or you won't be getting paid. I get it. I'm in the same boat. The important thing to remember though, is that every little bit helps. Baby steps are crucial. They move you forward and build good habits. Habits that can ultimately bring you all the customers you can handle.
Fear. Fearless. Fearfully ready to take action?
Fears run rampant here lately. I’ve noticed lots of comments during coaching sessions like, “I can’t do that. I’ll look stupid.” or “Are you serious? Me? Um, NO.” Which reminded me of the time my son and I went hiking. Or, at...
Why Your Business is Stuck and How to Move it Forward (Especially if You’re Flat Broke and Jonesing for a High-Priced Program)
Are you like Julia? She signed up for every free e-course that she could find. She’s downloaded just about all the free templates, e-books and worksheets that are out there (and most — if not all — are languishing among digital dust bunnies on...
The Secret Way To Grow A Successful Business Really Fast With No Effort At All*
This is a guest post by Carol Lynn Rivera. *That was a lie. Just like it is every time you read it in a headline or on a blog or in an email and every time you hear it in a webinar or hinted at in a sales pitch. But did I get your attention? Ok, I admit to a teensy...
