One of the things that excites me the most about my work is that I get to help women like you create a business that supports your life. It looks different for everyone, but it typically involves being able to… Have more space in your life to enjoy family, fun, travel, hobbies, health, or whatever YOU want most Know that you can create more success without Continue reading...
How to Fill Your Pipeline with Perfect Prospects Who Are Hungry to Buy Your Services, Programs, and Products
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. This is the fifth and final part of a five-part series curated specifically to help you fill your client roster, sell out programs, and create passive income. Before reading on you might like to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. Imagine Continue reading...
The Reason Why Clients Are Hesitant to Hire You (and Exactly What to Do to Help Them Take the Next Step)
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. This is the fourth part of a five- part series curated specifically to help you fill your client roster, sell out programs, and create passive income. Before reading on you might like to read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. You know your target Continue reading...
How to Use Blogs, Podcasts, and Webinars to Build Your Credibility and Increase Trust with Prospective Clients
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. This is the third part of a five-part series curated specifically to help you fill your client roster, sell out programs, and create passive income. Before reading on you might like to read Part 1 and Part 2. It’s rare that any prospect will Continue reading...
The Most Effective Way to Nurture Prospective Clients and Establish Yourself as a Trusted Expert in Your Field
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. This is the second part of a five-part series curated specifically to help you fill your client roster, sell out programs, and create passive income. Before reading on you might like to read Part 1 here. Have you ever worked your ass off to Continue reading...
How to Fill Your Client Roster and Sell Out Your Programs by Focusing on Your Clients’ Most Pressing Problems
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. Nothing feels better than doing work you love and getting paid for it. And as an online business owner who sells services, products, or programs, you’re pumped that you can help people in massive ways. This year, you want to reach more people, Continue reading...
Business Momentum-Builder: 5 Steps to a Full Roster, Sold-Out Programs, and Evergreen Sales
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. If you’re like most ambitious folks I know, you’re diving into your plans to make this your year. For the most part, you’re pretty clear on what needs to happen to hit your targets. But as you’re diving into the nitty-gritty, you’re starting to Continue reading...
Are You a Stats Addict? Break the Habit That Could Be Halting Your Business Growth and Messing with Your Head
Do you love your business… a little too much? By that I mean, do you check your Google Analytics, subscriber, and comment stats on a daily (or hourly) basis? Do you analyze every tiny action you take to see whether or not it causes an uptick in the numbers? Too many business owners are obsessed with stat tracking, especially in the first few years of Continue reading...
How to Price Your Services with Confidence Whether You’re New to Business or Have Been at It for Awhile
Finding the perfect price for your online services can feel like a you’re playing a guessing game. Should you shoot for the moon with an expensive package and see if anyone bites? Should you aim for a lower, entry-price offer to gain traction? Or do something else? If these are questions you’re asking yourself, it means you’ve been winging it… and that’s no way to Continue reading...
Desperate for New Clients? Putting Too Much Pressure on Your Business Could Be Chasing Your Prospects Away
Depending on how long you’ve been following me, you may or may not know the story of how I failed my way to success. The short story is that I quit my corporate job with (what I thought was) a solid plan to hit my six-figure corporate salary within one year. But after six months of running my own business, I had only made $830. (Things were pretty bleak to say the Continue reading...
The Truth About Sales Funnels: Why You Don’t Really Need One (And What You Should Be Focusing on Instead)
You probably can’t go through a day without hearing this online marketing buzzword: Sales funnels. Everyone everywhere is talking about sales funnels, and you’re frantically trying to learn what they are and how to create one for your business. While you’re pulling your hair out over that, I’m pulling my hair out, too. Why? Because the hype about funnels is pretty much Continue reading...
How to Bring in a Steady Flow of New Customers and Consistent Income
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. What do most business owners want more of in their businesses? Clients! Are you in the same boat? Maybe your website is up and you created a few offers that should be an “easy yes” for your potential clients. But getting clients is Continue reading...
Want to Sell a Course, Product, or Group Program? Read This First to Learn Why Most Fail and How to Avoid It
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated on April 28, 2021. You’ve heard the marketing gurus who swear by online courses, digital products, and group programs that help you reach more people and create a repeatable system that “makes money while you sleep,” so you can live a lavish, six- or Continue reading...
The Power of Deliberate Choices: What to Do When You Wish You Could Say NO But Feel Like You Have to Say Yes
A friend recently confided in me (and she said I could share this story with you). “I’ll be talking to a client,” she said, “and they’ll ask if I can do such-and-such for them. And in my mind I’m saying ‘No, no, no, no,’ yet I blurt out, ‘Sure, no problem!’” We both laughed. After all, who hasn’t been there?! The way she sees it, she doesn’t have a choice. She Continue reading...
Overwhelmed & Underappreciated: What to Do When It Feels Like Your Business Has Taken Over Your Life
Last week, I saw a photo on Facebook that made me grin from ear to ear. One of my Make It Work Online clients snapped a picture while playing Go Fish in Starbucks with her 7 year old. This is what success without sacrifice is all about: making time for what matters most to you. As entrepreneurs, even though we desperately want moments like these, we don’t always Continue reading...
Creating Success Without Sacrifice: Is It Possible? Have You Achieved it? And How Can I Help?
When you’re the boss of your own business, you have the freedom to choose your hours, your projects, and your clients. You decide what you say yes and no to. Then why is it so common for business owners to burn out, stretch themselves far too thin, and live their lives utterly exhausted? As you probably know, this stop-at-nothing approach to business is simply Continue reading...
Do This, Not That: What I Did Right and Wrong During My Latest Make It Work Online Program Launch
I love peeking behind the curtain of other people’s businesses, uncovering what works, what doesn’t, and what lessons they have to pass along. You’ve told me you like those things, too, so today I’m going to share the mistakes and smart moves from my latest Make It Work Online launch. But it’s more than just giving you the behind-the-scenes look. It’s also about Continue reading...
My Top 6 Tips for Staying Focused & Getting More Done in Less Time
I’m wondering if any of these sound familiar: You’re stretched impossibly thin and weighed down by a never-ending to-do list. You feel like you have to psych yourself to get through yet another work day. When you finally sit down at your computer, you’re pulled in a million directions, unsure if or how you’ll actually accomplish anything. Even when you’re not Continue reading...
Stop Playing It Safe: Why Getting out of Your Comfort Zone Will Lead You to a Highly Successful Business
You’ve heard me say countless times that you must put yourself out there to get more clients. So you try. You try to be of service on social media, but you second-guess everything you write. You see everyone else obnoxiously pitching, and you don’t want to be one of those people. You research places to guest post, but when you sit down to write your pitch, you feel a Continue reading...
“I’m Not Ready” & Other Lies I Tell Myself: What to Do When You Have to Make a Leap But You’re Scared Sh*tless
I sit down to write a pitch email requesting to be a guest on Amy Porterfield’s podcast. My leg shakes. I squirm in my chair. I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans, get up, and pace around the office taking deep breaths. My gremlins are out in full force. What if she says no? What if she says nothing?! I’m not a big enough name to be on her show! Will she even see Continue reading...
Steal This! The Must-Have Copy for Your ‘Work With Me’ Page
One of the most frustrating things as an online business owner is knowing that people are visiting your site, reading your blog posts, and viewing your Work With Me page but not hiring you. Talk about maddening! You KNOW you can help people and deliver amazing results for your clients, but prospective clients are barely trickling in. You’re not getting as many Continue reading...
7 Reasons Why Charging Premium Prices Could Completely Backfire on You & How to Raise Your Rates the Right Way
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. There’s one question that every business owner, no matter how seasoned, has to grapple with: “How much should I charge?” If you’re like most of the one-on-one service providers I work with, your goal is to charge premium prices for your Continue reading...
Information Overload: How Too Much Research Is Hurting Your Business and What You Can Do About It
I’m curious: How many business-related newsletters and blogs are you subscribed to? How many webinars have you attended in the last month? Podcasts listened to this week? Blog posts saved to Evernote? There’s certainly not a shortage of business-building information out there. Run a quick Google search, and you’ll find millions of suggestions on how to create great Continue reading...
The Popular Business Advice I Completely Ignore & Why You Should Too, If You Want to Grow a Successful Business
When I started working for myself, I was so determined to make my business work that I was willing to try and do almost anything so I wouldn’t have to go back to my old job. One of the things that paid off the most in my early years—and still does today—was that I was willing to fail. I can see you shaking your head at me thinking, “I know, I know, Jenny. We have to Continue reading...
Working Hard But Still Not Getting the Clients or Money You Want? Here’s Why You’re Stuck and What to Do About It
Do you ever fall into bed, your brain still buzzing from the day, and realize that even though you worked your butt off, you didn’t really get anywhere? You’re doing all the right things, but your client list isn’t growing at all, and you don’t know why. You spend time away from your family and friends because you’re “swamped,” but when they ask how business is Continue reading...
The Single Most Important Reason You’re Not Getting Clients on Social Media & How You Can Change It Immediately
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated on January 12, 2021. You’ve heard me say it over and over again: Being of service online is one of the best ways to get clients. If you’ve tried and it didn’t work for you, then you might not believe me. “I’ve tried,” you say, “I really have! But getting Continue reading...
Over-Promising, Slimy Tactics & Inflated Results: The Marketing Games I Refuse to Play (Because You Deserve Better)
On Tuesday, I got an email from a client that had me both thrilled and infuriated. It threw me into a tornado of equal parts deep satisfaction and wild fury. Here’s what happened. Kate (not her real name), an early enrollee for the fall Make It Work Online program, sent a message to my assistant thanking me for her early enrollment bonus, a Continue reading...
Steal This! My Simple, No-Fail Approach for Getting More Clients Even if You Don’t Have an Email List Yet
You’ve heard that “having a list” is the best way to get clients. But what if you don’t have a list or have a very small one? Then what do you do? The good news is that there are a lot of ways to get clients without an email list (even though having a list is still a smart idea!), and today I’m going to tell you one approach that’s so easy you can do it—and get clients Continue reading...
Success Without Sacrifice: How to Have Wealth and Success Without Giving Up the Things That Matter Most to You
You know that little voice that sometimes tries to speak to you? No, I’m not talking about the one that shouts mean shit and tells you you suck. I’m talking about the one that whispers… very… quietly. It says, Slow down. Take a break. Go to bed. Close the computer. Get off your phone. Go outside. Take a nap. Take a bath. Have some fun. STOP Continue reading...
I’m Shy, Awkward, and a Little Odd: All the Reasons I’ll Never Be *That* Successful (And How I Succeed Anyway)
Someone once said that I wasn’t “edgy enough” to be successful. That I needed a more extreme personality to stand out online. (That same person, incidentally, makes far less than I do and can be mean as fuck.) And truth be told, I’ve been given a lot of reasons why I’ll never “make it” very far. I’m not very attractive. (Been kinda funny looking since day Continue reading...
Stuck in the “Jargon Trap”? The Reason Prospects Aren’t Turning into Paying Clients & How to Change It Fast
I’d love to tell you that getting your subscribers to become clients was as easy as “subscribe n’ pay,” but the truth is that it takes a little more work than that. And if you’re making the huge mistake I recently talked about—the one that’s likely keeping you from getting the clients and money you’re hoping for—it’s even harder. [Missed the post? It’s a must-read if Continue reading...
The Common Copy Mistake That’s Killing Your Sales and How to Fix It Once and For All
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. For my first two years in business, I made a very specific, horrible mistake. The problem was that I had no idea that this mistake was costing me clients—tons of them. One day, a lightbulb went off. I saw what I had been doing and immediately Continue reading...
What to Do When You Have to Go Back on Your Word in Your Business (Plus, the Reason I’m Going Back on Mine)
In business, we make countless decisions every single day. Some end up being inconsequential and others change the course of our businesses forever. Earlier this year I made and announced a big decision. Now, after wrestling with it for months, consulting with a $2000/hr business consultant, and checking in with my intuition, I’m going back on that decision and telling Continue reading...
Are Clients Just Trickling In? The 4 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before You’ll Fill Your Client Roster
How confident are you about the long-term viability of your business? If you’re like many business women I hear from, you may have some serious doubts. You’re full of great ideas and good intentions but there’s one major problem… Clients are dripping in slowly—if at all. You knew getting into this that your business would be a labor of love. But holy moly this is Continue reading...
Why Anxiety Holds Me Back in Business and How I’ve Learned to Make Peace with It (Another Personal Story)
Two months ago I shared a story about the impact Lyme disease has had on my life and work for the past four years. In your responses to that post, I heard you loud and clear: Keep saying the things no one else dares to say. Your comments struck such a deep chord within me that I made a commitment to myself—a commitment to you, really—to dig deeper and keep sharing Continue reading...
Steal This! My Proven Plan to Hit 1000 Subscribers (With Access to a Free Download and Tons of Extra Resources)
Over the past few weeks, I’ve talked a lot about list building, including how big your email list should be and how to get the traffic you need to make money online. Today I’m going to take things even further by sharing my personal list-building game plan with you. This is the exact same plan I give my clients, and these five steps form the basis of the first, Continue reading...
How to Successfully Use Guest Posting to Get the Right Traffic to Your Website & Make More Money Online
You’ve felt it before, right? That sinking feeling in your stomach when nobody’s biting on your offers. (I have, and it’s so not fun!) You’ve done your research. You know what your audience wants, you’re using their language, and you know you’re offering something they need. So you create a new opt-in or bite-sized offer and publish it to your website. Then, you Continue reading...
How Big Does Your Email List Really Need to Be for You to Make More Money? A Free List-Size Calculator
How do you feel when someone—a potential guest blogger, a business coach, a copywriter, or even a new mastermind buddy—asks that dreaded question… “How big is your email list?” It feels like no matter what stage of business you’re in, the question can make your stomach churn. If your number is on the small side, this question can make you completely doubt yourself Continue reading...
The #1 List-Building Mistake That All Overthinkers Make
We all know that list building is hands down, no-doubt-about-it, one of the most vital parts of growing any online business. When you have a list, you have a personal line of communication with people who signed up to hear what you have to say and are just waiting for you to make the right offer so they can become paying clients. It doesn’t get better than Continue reading...
Peek Behind the Curtain: 3 Investments + 4 Lessons That Catapulted My Coaching Business Toward Long-Term Success
Sit down with a group of successful entrepreneurs, and they’ll each have a personal “war story” of how they clawed their way through the early years of business. As a client or fan, you don’t always get the chance to hear those intimate stories of struggle, trial and error, and perseverance. Ever wish you could look behind the curtain and see what it really took for Continue reading...
Hitting an Income Milestone: The Real Story Behind My First $10k Month and How It Quickly Became My New Norm
There’s something about having your first $10k month that makes you feel like you’ve “made it” as an entrepreneur. And it’s true. Achieving a five-figure month is usually a sign that you have connected all the dots: your packages, pricing, copywriting, sales, systems... everything, really, are all operating at their best. I remember that magical month when things Continue reading...
7 Most Common Obstacles to Making Six Figures And the Exact Steps You Need to Take to Overcome Them for Good
Business is a tricky game, especially when you’re like my clients and running a solo online service-based business doing work you love. You have to be good at the work you do PLUS understand business, marketing, social media, copywriting, sales, and so much more. You’ve got to have the right mindset, keep your finances organized, and turn on your A-game most days. It’s Continue reading...
How to Double Your Rates with Integrity, So You Can Keep Your Clients AND Make the Money You Truly Deserve
I’ve talked before about the perils of overpricing your services. But what if you’re underpricing them? There are a few telltale signs that it’s time to raise your rates. Maybe you have a nagging feeling that you could be charging more, but you’re afraid to make the leap. Perhaps you feel a tad resentful after a full day of client work. Or maybe you feel like you’re Continue reading...
9 Surprising Things I Had to Give up to Grow a Successful Business (And Why You Might Need to Give Them up Too)
You’ve heard me talk about my deep-rooted belief in success without sacrifice. That your business should support the life you want, not strain it, and you shouldn’t have to give up what matters most to you in life to have a successful business. But recently I realized something: I actually did give up a lot to get where I am today, but not necessarily in the way you Continue reading...
Running My Business with Lyme Disease: What the Last 4 Years Have Really Been Like (A Deeply Personal Story)
There’s a pretty pervasive myth out there that says in order to be successful online, you need to be peppy, extroverted, beautiful, outspoken, lively, and endlessly energetic. It sets up a horrible feeling of an uphill battle for everyone who doesn’t feel like a million bucks every day of the week. It makes the feeling even worse if you’re trying to build a business Continue reading...
You Tell Me: How to Raise Your Money Setpoint & Break Through the Scarcity Mindset That’s Holding You Back
My Make It Work Online clients and I had a great conversation a few weeks ago about… money! What a charged topic it is, isn’t it? So many fears, entitlements, doubts, worries, insecurities, desires, envy… Money sure brings up our “stuff!” One of the things we specifically talked about was the idea of a money setpoint, or a financial place we’re comfortable with, and Continue reading...
Slow Down… Or Else: The Surprising Truth Behind Why Working Less Can Actually Be Better for Your Business
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. What would happen to your business if you just… stopped? What if you took a month off? Or reduced your hours to 20 a week? What if you took a hiatus from social media while on a two week vacation... or maybe longer? Does this bring up a Continue reading...
Steal This! My Step-by-Step Approach to Pushing Past Your Own Limits
You’ll probably be shocked by what I’m about to tell you today. That’s because I almost never say what I’m going to tell you today. In fact, I teach the exact opposite! (You may even wonder what’s gotten into me.) As you know, one of the principles I stand for is “success without sacrifice.” I believe you can build the business you want without feeling constantly Continue reading...
Peek Behind the Curtain: The Two Times I Screwed up On Purpose & How It Helped My Business Succeed Even Faster
I get it. You want to do things the right way. Whether it’s blogging, holding a consult, writing a bite-sized offer, or building your list, you want to avoid costly and embarrassing mistakes. You’re afraid that if you do things the wrong way, you’ll push people away instead of bringing them closer. And you most definitely don’t want to look like a fool, come Continue reading...
Are Your Facebook Ads a Waste of Money? The Truth That No One Is Telling You and How It’s Hurting Your Business
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in February 2021. We've talked about how even though launches are all the rage, they’re not profitable endeavors when you’re relatively new to business. In that article, I follow up on a BIG MISTAKE I see too many people making, one that’s wasting both time Continue reading...
Peek Behind the Curtain: Are Launches Worth It? What I Really Think About Launches, Products, & Group Programs
You probably noticed some big things happening around here over the past month. And because you’re like me, looking at people ahead of you in business to see what your next steps are, I knew you’d want to know the nitty-gritty details PLUS some of the big lessons I learned and mistakes I’ve made in launching. There aren’t enough coaches telling you “how the sausage is Continue reading...
Success Stories: 6 Inspiring Women Who Have Taken Big Leaps Forward in Their Businesses Over the Past Month
Today’s post is something I’ve never done before, and I’m so excited to share it with you! Over the past month, you have taken massive action. You’ve declared your niche; you’ve created a bite-sized offer; you’ve showed up on social media; you’ve added autoresponders to your email list; you emailed friends and family about your business; you’ve sent personal follow-ups Continue reading...
Working Hard But Not Seeing Results? The Real Reason You’re Not Getting Clients (That No One Else Is Telling You)
Here’s what I know about you: 1. You’re smart. 2. You’re taking action based on what you’re learning. 3. You really want your business to work. (I love go-getters like you!) You’re showing up. You’re creating bite-sized offers. You’re being of service online. And you’re really going for it. I also know that what you’re doing isn’t totally working. You’re maybe seeing Continue reading...
Busting the 4 Persistent Online Business Myths That Every New Business Owner Believes (Are You One of Them?)
Not to be a total downer or anything, but have you ever noticed just how much…well, crap… is out there lurking, just waiting to come between you and your success? There are pitfalls, slip-ups, miscalculations, rumors, myths, trends, fads, bad advice, and the all-too-familiar overwhelm. It’s a jungle out there, and it seems there’s a threat around every corner. Which Continue reading...
My Super-Simple Strategy to Stop Overwhelm and Start Focusing on the Exact Right Things to Grow Your Business
Is there anything more daunting, more puzzling, and more exhausting than building an online business … from scratch … on your own? You have 3,487 things to do, are constantly thinking over (and maybe over-thinking!) every single aspect of running your business, and are terrified you’ll ultimately fail. Not knowing what to focus on next or seeing how you’ll get Continue reading...
4 Common Mistakes Business Owners Make That Crush Your Chances of Making Money (And How to Get Back on Track)
You’ve officially started your business. You have a website, and you know what kind of work you want to do. You’ve read a lot of articles on business-building and told friends and family what you’re up to. Maybe you’ve even made some money from a few paying clients. You have big plans for your business, and you’re ready to really get things moving. You want to make Continue reading...
Dreaming vs. Doing: How to Strike the Perfect Balance So You Can Create a Business That Supports Your Life
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about a shift in the way you run your business that can bring the calm, clarity, and control you need to make it online. First, we discussed what challenges you’re up against and what you need to overcome. Then we talked about getting past them and not letting them stop you… all so you can create a business you love that Continue reading...
You Have Questions, I Have Answers: Readers Share Their Small Business Challenges and Get My Proven Strategies
Last week you shared the biggest challenges that you’re currently facing as you run and grow your online businesses. You said you’re currently grappling with situations ranging from the ridiculous amount of time it takes to get things done and working long hours... to knowing how to actually build your business, connect with potential clients, and get paid for your Continue reading...
You Tell Me: What’s Your Biggest Business Obstacle? Share Your Biggest Challenges and Get Personalized Advice
Today’s post is all about you. I always write with the goal of helping you build an incredible, profitable business that you can be proud of. This month I’m excited because I’m going to be writing my posts on the feedback you give me (today!) on where you’re stuck, what you need, and how I can help, so I can focus on giving you what you need most. Specifically, I’m Continue reading...
Want to Take Time Off? The Most Effective Way Savvy Business Owners Manage Work & Family Time Over the Holidays
The holidays are coming up fast, and by now many of us are starting to feel the pressure. There’s the traditional pressure that anyone with a TV, radio, internet connection, or magazine subscription is familiar with – that right now we should all be focused on decorating our homes, baking the perfect desserts, buying more stuff, and spending lots of time with Continue reading...
Are You Overpriced? Are You Sure? How to Earn As Much As You Can Without Chasing Your Potential Clients Away
A lot of pricing articles warn online business owners about the dangers of setting prices that are too low. And I agree that you should definitely, 100%, always charge what you’re worth. But what about the flip side of the coin? Naturally you want to earn as much as you can and be competitive in your market, but how do you know you’re not pricing your services too Continue reading...
Want to Increase Your Productivity? The Experts You MUST Follow Online (And Those You Should Drop Immediately)
Which business-building experts, trendsetters, and websites do you follow online? Are you sure you’re subscribed to all the right people? How do you know? Today I’m getting into the nitty-gritty of who to follow, who to not bother with, and how to know when you’re getting all the right updates from all the right people. Plus, I’m sharing a step-by-step plan for Continue reading...
Wanting the Perfect Business Is Holding You Back: How to Manage Your High Expectations And Still Feel Fulfilled
I was talking with a friend the other day about expectations, and specifically how they can set us up for disappointment, depression, and even self-destruction. We’ve all had times in our lives when people we’ve cared about or looked up to – our friends, siblings, partners, bosses, teachers, mentors, etc. – have totally let us down. That deep-down sinking feeling (you Continue reading...
If You Don’t Have a Niche, You’re Working Too Hard! How Narrowing Your Niche Makes Marketing And Selling Easier
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been talking about how to actually get paying clients for your service-based, online business. (In fact, last week I even have an awesome free training on that very subject.) In the first post, I talked about how, when it comes to booking clients, it’s absolutely essential that you get the word out about your business, boldly Continue reading...
Steal This! A 3-Step Plan for Confidently Putting Yourself Out There And Conquering Your Fears Around Marketing
Last week I talked about how, in order to get clients, you have to put yourself out there and tell the world about your business. What does putting yourself out there really mean? It means you have to boldly proclaim your passion, offer your services to those you think you can help, and work your butt off – through the highs, lows, and inevitable screw-ups – until Continue reading...
How I Got My First Five Clients: The Surprisingly Simple (And Free!) Strategies I Used to Build My Business
When I was first starting out as a career coach for people who hated their jobs, I didn’t have any specialized training in how to build my own business from scratch, and I wouldn’t have claimed at the time to have much “business acumen.” What I didn’t know then – especially in the dark, scary days of dwindling bank accounts and seemingly endless bills – was that I had Continue reading...
Steal This! My #1 Strategy for Selling More Without Actually Selling (So You Can Feel Good About Your Business)
Imagine a world where… … Marketing your business doesn’t feel like a sleazy, salesy thing you have to force yourself to do. … Simply helping others freely and doing the work you love could make you a magnet for new clients and customers. … You can transform every prospect you come into contact with into ambassadors for you and your business. That’s a world Continue reading...
Raise the Bar: How to Be an Unstoppable Force for Your Business by Getting Out of Neutral and Taking Action
A while back, I did a series called Raise the Bar where I challenged you to step up and professionalize your businesses in practical and important ways. (Refresher: We talked about accepting credit cards and getting real about money and getting organized with your cash flow.) Today I’m bringing that series back by calling out one of the most pervasive and destructive Continue reading...
Which Business Trends Are Right for You? Here’s How to Know When to Follow the Crowd and When to Rebel
Happy fall, everyone! I know a lot of people look forward to this time of year as the season of crisp days and warm drinks, but I have to admit that – despite my love for pumpkin-spiced goodies – I dread when the summer heat disappears. The good news is that what I lack in excitement for cooler, shorter days I make up for in motivation and productivity. It’s always Continue reading...
Want to Make More Money? Learn The 7 Myths That Could Be Holding You Back from a Successful Six-Figure Business
Here are a few things I know to be true: You (yes, you!) have what it takes to create a thriving online, service-based business. Your core business of helping clients directly with whatever obstacles stand in their way is enough — and you can earn six figures doing just that. You do not have to make your entire life about work to achieve this kind of Continue reading...
Self-Doubt, Comparisonitis, and More Harmful Lies That Can Halt Your Business Success and Cost You Money
There’s an ugly rumor floating around in the entrepreneurship blogosphere that, if you buy into, can really damage your chance at success in your business. And yet I see so many brilliant, ambitious women struggle with it. This thing hangs like a heavy, dark cloud over everything we business owners are trying to accomplish, and it can destroy us at any moment. And Continue reading...
Steal This! A Script to Set (and Keep) Client Boundaries So You Can Support Your Clients and Still Have a Life
You’ve told me time and time again: You want to be nice to your clients, make them feel supported, and help them get great results… … but some of your clients are a little too needy. They’re doing things like: Emailing you at all hours Texting on weekends And wanting a little more of your time and energy than they paid for But you don’t want to say no, Continue reading...
Stop Working So F*&%ing Hard! How to Grow a Successful Online Business Without Working Yourself into the Ground
Do you feel like you’re always working? If you’re like most online businesswomen I hear from, your work week creeps well beyond 40 hours most weeks. The irony is that you still feel like you’re underachieving, even though you’re working your ass off! You dream of working far fewer hours while still building your business, but it seems like an impossibility. You’ve Continue reading...
Success Without Sacrifice: How to Succeed in Business Without Struggling or Giving up the Things You Love Most
For the past six weeks, I took a break from business-as-usual. I had a few expectations of what might happen upon my return (projects would magically be done! and creative inspiration would pour in!). Unfortunately, reality didn’t match up. Instead, as happens when you’re not looking for it, clarity came fluttering in. Insights and realizations landed gently on my Continue reading...
You Need a Break! How to Avoid Burnout, Find Balance, Refuel Your Creativity, and Boost Your Productivity
We all know that one of the major perks of running your own business is being your own boss. That means you get to choose your salary, decide how much work and what types of projects to take on, and set your own schedule. It. Is. Awesome. But one aspect of being the boss that almost all entrepreneurs forget is to plan for their own down time — and plenty of Continue reading...
Overwhelmed by Too Many Tasks, Ideas, and Conflicting Expert Advice? My Strategy for Getting Past It (Part 2)
This is the second of two posts that explore the issue of overwhelm. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, you should definitely go back and start there since it explains what overwhelm is really all about (spoiler alert: it’s all in your head!) and how it can affect entrepreneurs who are just starting out. As business owners, we all have the tendency to get overwhelmed from Continue reading...
Overwhelmed by Too Many Tasks, Ideas, and Conflicting Expert Advice? My Strategy for Getting Past It (Part 1)
I’ve been asked by a number of you if I ever get overwhelmed. The short answer is yes. The better answer, though, is yes, all the time, but never for long, and it never wins. Feeling overwhelmed is totally natural when you’re taking on something as huge as building and running a business. But leaning into that feeling can spell disaster. The way I see it, describing Continue reading...
How to Overcome Your Money Hang-Ups and Finally Start Charging What You’re Worth (Women, This Is for You!)
Money is tricky. As business owners, we all want to make loads of it, and we’ve spent a lot of time coming up with brilliant ways to do it. But nothing fills us with more dizzying anxiety or gut-wrenching dread than actually asking for it. It’s no secret that women have all sorts of hang-ups and insecurities when it comes to placing a price on what they offer and Continue reading...
Want to Make More Money? Why Giving Away Your Best Stuff for Free Is the Fastest Way to Increase Your Revenue
I was recently on a coaching call with a small group of remarkable businesswomen from my Make It Work Online program, and one woman brought up a concern that I hear all the time: “I’m worried about giving away too much for free on my blog and on social media.” She was in the process of marketing her new business and her bite-sized offer, and I was helping her come up Continue reading...
Why I Don’t Let My Clients Hire a Copywriter (And What You Need to Do Instead If You Want a Profitable Business)
Having your own business means wearing a lot of hats, including ones that don’t seem to fit well at first. Clients come to me all the time looking for advice on the more intimidating aspects of running their businesses that they just can’t seem to get a grip on. One of the scariest boogeymen out there is copywriting, and my clients just loooove to ask me about hiring a Continue reading...
Steal This! My Foolproof Strategy for Handling Negative Feedback from a Client Without Going Off the Deep End
As a business owner, you’re bound to get a little negative feedback from time to time. I’ve worked with a lot of people since I started my first business back in 2009 (which I completely eff’d up, btw), and even now I still get the occasional unhappy individual. After all, businesses just can’t please every single person every single time. If you’re anything like me, Continue reading...
3 Mistakes Most New Business Owners Make When They Create, Write, and Sell Their Online Services
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. After teaching tens of thousands of business owners with my programs and free trainings, I know what works and doesn’t work for building an online, service-based business. Today I’m going to share with you the three mistakes most newer business Continue reading...
How to Bring More of Your Superpowers to Your Business So You Can Expand Your Reach and Grow Your Bottom Line
Last week I told you how authenticity is the cornerstone of fulfillment and success in these very personal online businesses we run. Without it, we don’t stand out from the crowd; we’re airbrushed models; we’re someone people don’t want to work with. With it, we’re unique. We draw people in. We build our following and expand our reach. Getting clear on what makes Continue reading...
Truth Time: I Haven’t Been Fully Practicing What I Teach! (How to Embrace Your Unique Coaching Style)
Ever had one of those moments where you realized you’d been living a lie? There's an emotional cocktail of shame, anger, and panic that courses through your veins. You're not sure whether to run and hide, play pretend, or blurt out the messy truth on Facebook. I had one of those moments a few weeks ago. It certainly wasn't my first, and I know it won't be my Continue reading...
Saying No Without Sounding Like a B*&%#: How to Decline Offers That Don’t Align with Your Business Strategy
There’s something unexpected that you have to do as your business grows. When first faced with this, most people avoid it because it’s challenging. Eventually, you reach a point where it’s so in-your-face that you can’t ignore it any longer. People still try to hang on to the old way as long as they can… to their own detriment. I must develop this muscle if I want Continue reading...
Inspiration Versus Copying: What I Think About The Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke “Blurred Lines” Lawsuit
Have you heard about the lawsuit against Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke? Which side are you on? Whether you love or hate “Blurred Lines” and whether you’re siding with these two music icons or the legendary Marvin Gaye, this lawsuit raises questions for digital entrepreneurs like us. Today I’m taking a public stance on this controversial, $7.3M lawsuit and Continue reading...
3 More Common Mistakes I Made Early on in My Business and My Hard-Won Strategies for How You Can Avoid Them
A few weeks ago, when I was writing about my four business mistakes for my fourth anniversary, I ended up identifying a several more mistakes I frequently see new business owners make. The blog post had the potential to reach novel-length, so I decided to focus on my personal mistakes for that post. At the same time, I couldn’t not share some of the other all-too-common Continue reading...
Is Free Advice Is Squelching Your Success? 4 Undeniable Signs That You’re Suffering from Information Overload
I love that the internet has allowed us to access so much fantastic information for free. Learn to eat better, lose weight, and grow your business with spot-on, free tips straight to your inbox as often as you like. It’s amazing! And it can be overwhelming… so overwhelming that it can actually slow you down. It happened to me, and here’s what I’ve done about it. You Continue reading...
Want More Clients? Be Careful of These Two Client-Repelling Behaviors That Could Be Squashing Your Success
A few weeks ago we talked about the simple but obvious first step to getting more clients and filling your roster: telling people you exist! Today I’m going to share with you the big turn-offs that repel clients so if you’re guilty of this you can shift it ASAP. I’ve seen women shift this one thing and shift their entire business as a result. You can’t ignore this if Continue reading...
4 Glaring Mistakes I Made Early on in My Business and My Hard-Won Strategies for How You Can Avoid Them
March 1st marked the 4th anniversary of jennyshih.com. I can barely wrap my mind around the fact that I’ve been self-employed and financially supporting myself WITH MY BRAIN this entire time. How awesome is that?! I love love love how this internet age lets us make a living in new, novel, soul-enhancing ways. In reflecting upon the past four years and reviewing my Continue reading...
4 Essential Components You Need for Business Creation and Growth (No Matter What Stage of Business You’re In)
No matter what kind of business you want to create or grow, there are four unavoidable pieces you must have in place. These four pieces aren’t just for newbies, either. They’re essential components of business creation and growth at any phase. Today I’m going to share these four essentials with you, so you can see if you’ve got all bases covered or if there’s one or Continue reading...
Get It All Done: How to Balance Your Day-to-Day Tasks with Long-Term Projects to Keep Your Business Growing
Ever feel like there’s too much to do to both maintain and grow your business? I hear you! Keeping the ship running, as I say, can be challenging, especially when you want to work on projects that will grow your business. This is a challenge that all business owners face, and I’ve found a secret strategy that lets me do both. Today, that’s I’m sharing it with Continue reading...
The First Five Steps to Getting More Clients (Hint: You Must Do These in the Right Order to See Results!)
When you’re starting a business, the biggest question on your mind is this: How do I get clients? Today I’m going to walk you through the first five steps you need to take — they’re also the most important steps — so you can get moving and start getting clients. Let’s dive right in. Step #1 - Get Clear on YOU The first step to getting clients is getting clear on Continue reading...
Want More Clients? Here’s a Super-Simple Way to Fill Your Roster (That Most Business Owners Forget to Do)
Most business owners I know want more clients. You might be one of those people! Today I’m going to do two things to help you get clients. First, I’m going to give you the most straightforward and most essential advice you’ll ever get. One that people easily ignore, to their own detriment! Second, I’m going to help you share your business with more people (and Continue reading...
Want to “Make It” In Your Business? Successful Women Do This (Even When It Scares Them), And You Should Too
Launching a business is scary, and it comes with nearly endless unknowns. We often wonder if we’ll “make it” and what it actually takes to get there. I had these same thoughts when I was first starting and a friend gave me the best advice I’ve ever heard. (And I still count on her today to set me straight.) Today I want to share the advice she gave me and how I’ve Continue reading...
More Money, More Clients, More Time! You MUST Take This First Step If You Want to Achieve Big Business Goals
Can you believe we're nearly a week into 2015? Part of me feels like I'm still back in 2012... Time keeps moving forward, and we do, too. That’s why today I want to help you keep moving forward toward your big goals for this year. I want to talk with you about an essential first step toward hitting your big goals. You MUST start here if you want to be Continue reading...
Do This, Not That: Discover the Right Way to Take Action So Can You See Massive Results in Your Business
With a new year comes a fun new series I’ve been dreaming about for awhile: Do This, Not That. Today’s topic: action-taking. That’s right, we’re going to discuss the do’s and don’t’s of action taking. Because how you take action plays a key role in the results of your actions. I know you’re someone who wants to take action and see results, and that’s exactly what Continue reading...
See Your Business Soar: Get My Three Easy Steps for Making This Your Most Productive and Profitable Year Ever
This time of year everyone is putting their Big Ideas into motion, from lofty 6-figure business goals, to simple commitments like eating better or hitting the gym. January sparkles with possibility and determination, but as the months and year wane on, we quickly find ourselves and our goals derailed. Factors like bad time management, lack of motivation, and a general Continue reading...
Feeling Bogged Down By Your Business? How to Simplify, Streamline, and Systematize Your Most Common Tasks
During the holidays many of us set business aside and enjoy family time and down time. For others, you’re finding some solitude and quiet to make some big progress on your business while everyone else drinks egg nog and exchanges presents. Whichever way you roll, you have my full support, because I do a little bit of both! In order to create space for the holidays Continue reading...
Steal This! My Personal Business Building Action Plan For a Successful New Year [2nd Edition with Free Download]
As we near the end of another year, you’re probably doing what most smart business owners do: planning for next year. You’re looking at your goals, your action steps, your marketing plan, and your financial aspirations. And like the business owners who hire me, you’re a little uncertain about your plan. You think you know what you want to do, but the ideas also come Continue reading...