You’d think being great at what you do would make business easier. But the better you get, the more the cracks show.

The clients, systems, and strategy that used to work? Now they feel too small. You’ve outgrown the business you built.

So you tweak, tinker, and try to make it fit again but the friction keeps coming back, because you’re not meant to patch it, you’re meant to rebuild it.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• The “season of stuck” and why it’s a normal sign of growth.

• Why patching symptoms (tweaks, tweaks, tweaks) never fixes the real problem.

• How shifting clients, markets, and standards creates hidden misalignment.

• The three areas that actually need your attention.

• Why pausing is strategic and not optional.

For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:.

• Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo

• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.

• Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo

If you’re not talking about AI with your clients, you’re already losing their trust.

In this episode, I break down why silence is a risk and how to lead the AI conversation without sounding defensive, desperate, or out of touch.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• Why client skepticism is rising and how AI is amplifying it.

• The hidden trust gap created when you stay silent about AI.

• What clients are really thinking (but not asking) about your use of AI..

• The three pillars of the AI conversation and how to discuss AI without sounding outdated or opportunistic.

• How to define your own AI stance before speaking to clients.

For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:.

• Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo

• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.

• Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo

**This week we're sharing an episode from the most recent season of Duped.**

Ever been captivated by a coach who seemed too good to be true—magnetic, inspiring, and totally authentic—only to find yourself questioning how you ended up spending thousands, still feeling like you're not enough?

You're not the only one.

In this episode, we’re diving into the darker side of online business, exploring how some leaders use cult-like tactics to build trust, manipulate your decisions, and keep you hooked.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• How web celebs earn your trust and devotion through “authenticity.”

• How they maintain control once you’re inside the program

• The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control

• How to protect yourself from being swept up in the cult of personality.

For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit duped.online.

For more Duped, including monthly bonus episodes, join the Patreon.