The Solo Grind

Using Naysayers, Copycats & Haters to Propel Your Success

As entrepreneurs, we’ve all had those moments when doubt and negativity block our path. it’s a naysayer questioning your dreams, a copycat mimicking your work, or a hater throwing shade your way, these challenges can feel overwhelming. But here’s the thing—they don’t have to hold you back. The good news is they don’t have to derail your success. In fact, they can actually help you reach new levels of success and it all comes down to how you respond the them. 

If you’ve ever felt frustrated or discouraged by someone doubting your abilities, copying your hard work, or criticizing your every move, this episode is here to help you rise above it all and succeed—no matter what anyone says!

Grab your coffee, tune in, and let’s face these negative Nelly's together!

For detailed Show Notes and the transcript for this episode CLICK HERE!

If you would like to connect with me outside of this podcast here is where you’ll find me… 

Website — CaffeineCreative.io
Facebook — Teresa Schlup,The Caffeine Creative
Instagram — The Caffeine Creative
LinkedIn — Teresa Schlup
Email — theperfectblend@caffeinecreative.io 

Please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Solo Grind Podcast!  

No Excuses: Owning Your Success, No Matter What Life Brings

In this episode of The Solo Grind, I’m sharing one of the hardest years of my life—a year that came with challenge after challenge, after challenge!  I faced a life threatening diagnosis then a heartbreaking family crisis, and that was just my January and February. It was one of those years with built in excuses to step back, throw in the towel, and say, “I tried, but life had other plans.”

But I didn’t give up! Instead, I chose to take charge of my journey and stay committed to the success I was working toward—even if the path looked nothing like I’d planned.

In this episode, I’m sharing how I kept going when life threw everything at me and what helped me stay focused on what mattered most. So if you’re feeling the weight of life’s obstacles and challenges or wondering how to keep your dreams alive, this one’s for you. Let’s talk about showing up for yourself, finding strength in the chaos, and staying on course—even when life has other ideas.

For detailed Show Notes and the transcript for this episode CLICK HERE!

If you would like to connect with me outside of this podcast here is where you’ll find me… 

Website — CaffeineCreative.io
Facebook — Teresa Schlup,The Caffeine Creative
Instagram — The Caffeine Creative
LinkedIn — Teresa Schlup
Email — theperfectblend@caffeinecreative.io 

Please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Solo Grind Podcast!  

Not According to Plan with special Guest Emily Aborn

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Solo Grind, I sit down with Emily Aborn—an incredible copywriter, speaker, and host of the podcast Content with Character. Emily and I share an up close and personal look at the unpredictable journey of entrepreneurship and explore what happens when life doesn’t go according to plan.

We share personal stories of pivoting, facing big decisions, and finding clarity in unexpected places. We also chat about the importance of knowing when to push forward and when to let go, how to evaluate if something aligns with your true self, and why sometimes a “no” opens doors to new possibilities. Emily brings insightful perspectives on resilience, authenticity, and the hidden power in re-evaluating our plans, so you really don't want to miss this episode.

This episode is for any entrepreneur who finds themselves questioning their path, feeling the pressure to “just keep going,” or looking for permission to pivot. 

Key Highlights

☕ Embracing the Pivot: Emily and I discuss the art of pivoting when things don’t go as expected, sharing insights on why sometimes it’s okay to step back or move in a new direction.

☕ The Power of a Well-Timed “No”: We highlight how saying no to one opportunity can create space for something better aligned with your goals and energy.

☕ Prioritizing Personal and Professional Alignment: Emily shares her approach to making decisions based on how aligned she feels in each role and project, a strategy she calls her “life audit.”

☕ Redefining ROI Beyond the Numbers: We talk about how Return on Investment (ROI) isn’t just about financial metrics, but also mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

☕ Navigating Obligations and Letting Go: Both of us share stories of when we held onto obligations that no longer served us, and how letting go can lead to personal and professional growth.

☕ Learning from Failures: Emily shares her approach of “failing forward”—viewing each setback as a lesson and opportunity to fine-tune and grow.

☕ Staying Authentic: The conversation touches on how to show up as your true self in all areas of life and business, letting go of “role selves” and embracing authenticity.

 

More about Emily 

Emily Aborn is a Copywriter who specializes in working with interior designers and home trade professionals as well as coaches and consultants. She helps relationship-based, small businesses refine their message and grow their impact. Emily takes the mission, vision, and ideas in your head and weaves them into a creative, compelling, copy that connects to your ideal clients and reflects YOU. 

She’s also the host of the Content with Character podcast and speaks on marketing-related topics for organizations and groups. 

She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Jason, and their dog, Clyde. She enjoys hiking, reading, all the word and nerdy brain games, and even in her free time… you guessed it, writing. 

Links to Contact/Connect

Website: emilyaborn.com

Email: emily@emilyaborn.com

Instagram: instagram.com/emilyaborn

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emilyaborn

Substack: substack.com/@emilyaborn

Resources Mentioned: 

• Content With Character Podcast
• "Failing Forward" by John C. Maxwell – A book on transforming failures into stepping stones for success.

For detailed Show Notes and the transcript for this episode CLICK HERE!

If you would like to connect with me outside of this podcast here is where you’ll find me… 

Website — CaffeineCreative.io
Facebook — Teresa Schlup,The Caffeine Creative
Instagram — The Caffeine Creative
LinkedIn — Teresa Schlup
Email — theperfectblend@caffeinecreative.io 

Please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Solo Grind Podcast!  

Are You Productive or Just Busy? Identifying and Eliminating Time-Wasting Habits

I’m diving deep into a topic that hits home for every solo entrepreneur—how to tell the difference between being busy and being truly productive. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if we’re constantly working, we’re making progress, but not all activity actually moves the needle forward in our businesses. I break down common time-wasters like obsessing over social media posts, endlessly tweaking your website, or getting lost in busywork that doesn't contribute to your goals.

I also share some personal insights on how I’ve learned to prioritize the tasks that really matter, focusing on building relationships and staying aligned with long-term goals. We all struggle with perfectionism, procrastination in disguise, and distractions from trends, but by recognizing these patterns, we can start to make more intentional choices about how we spend our time. If you’re ready to cut through the noise, stop wasting time, and get back to what really matters, this episode is for you!

🎙️ Highlights: 

☕ Busy vs. Productive: Learn to differentiate between staying busy and being truly productive.
☕ Common Time Wasters: Identify time-wasting tasks like perfecting social media posts, endlessly tweaking your website, and over-researching.
☕ Perfectionism vs. Mastery: Understand the difference between striving for perfection and focusing on mastery through action and improvement.
☕ Procrastination in Disguise: Spot tasks that feel productive but are actually delaying important work.
☕ Building Relationships: Prioritize real connections with clients over relying solely on tech and automation.
☕ Time-Wasting Habits: Assess whether you're falling into common time traps like chasing trends or constantly planning.
☕ Action Steps: Focus on high-impact tasks that align with your goals and drive real business growth.

Resources Mentioned: 

• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
• Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
• First Things First by Stephen R. Covey, Roger Merrill, and Rebecca Merrill
• Stephen Covey Put First Things First Big Rocks Coach
• Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
• The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
• The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
• Content with Character Podcast by Emily Aborn

For detailed Show Notes and the transcript for this episode CLICK HERE!

If you would like to connect with me outside of this podcast here is where you’ll find me… 

Website — CaffeineCreative.io
Facebook — Teresa Schlup,The Caffeine Creative
Instagram — The Caffeine Creative
LinkedIn — Teresa Schlup
Email — theperfectblend@caffeinecreative.io 

Please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Solo Grind Podcast!  

The Metrics That Matter: How to Measure Real Business Growth

In this episode of The Solo Grind, we take a deep dive into the world of metrics and why focusing on vanity numbers like social media followers, website views, and email open rates can steer us away from real success. Host Teresa Schlup shares her insights on why these popular metrics don’t always paint the full picture of a thriving business and discusses what truly matters when it comes to measuring success as a solo entrepreneur.

 

The Power of Pivoting with Special Guest Crystal Nerpel

We have all heard about the power of the pivot, but what exactly does that look like, and what does it mean in this episode with my very first guest, my best friend, Crystal Nerpel. We dive deep into the power of pivoting in life and business—what it means, why it’s necessary, and how to overcome the fear and resistance that often comes with big changes. Crystal shares her own personal journey of navigating multiple pivots, from teaching and professional organizing to becoming an aspiring author, and Teresa reflects on her own experiences of embracing career shifts and the lessons learned along the way.

Is It Risk or Just Fear Holding You Back?

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Solo Grind, we’re diving deep into a common struggle for entrepreneurs—indecision and the fear of making a mistake. Are you frozen, stuck in perfectionism, and afraid to take the next step? What if the step you fear isn’t really a risk at all? What if it has little to no impact on the outcome of your business? Today, we’ll unpack how to assess what’s truly at stake and how to move forward with confidence.

What You Will Get From This Episode:

☕ The difference between striving for perfection and pursuing mastery

☕ Why focusing on perfection keeps you stuck in fear and indecision

☕ Practical risk assessment questions to help you move forward with confidence

☕ How even small steps toward mastery can boost your confidence and help grow your business

Risk Assessment Questions 

1. What’s the worst that could happen if I take this step?
2. Is the financial cost of this step smart for my business? 
3. Does this decision move me closer to my goals, or is it a distraction?
4. Who can I talk to for perspective on this decision?

For detailed Show Notes and the transcript for this episode CLICK HERE!

If you would like to connect with me outside of this podcast here is where you’ll find me… 

Website — CaffeineCreative.io
Facebook — Teresa Schlup,The Caffeine Creative
Instagram — The Caffeine Creative
LinkedIn — Teresa Schlup
Email — theperfectblend@caffeinecreative.io 

Please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Solo Grind Podcast!  

 

Where To Go When You Really Need Advice

Being a solo entrepreneur can be a wild ride—especially when it comes to making those big decisions. You’re wearing all the hats, juggling CEO duties with admin work, marketing, and everything in between. But when it’s time to make a tough call, who do you turn to for advice?

In this episode, we’ll explore the importance of having the right people in your corner. We’ll talk about whose advice you should probably avoid (hello, unsolicited Facebook advice), and more importantly, how to build your own personal Board of Directors. These are the trusted voices that guide you in different areas of your life and business, even if they don’t know they’re on your board!

What You Will Get From This Episode:

☕ The importance of having trusted people to lean on for business advice

☕ Why some advice (especially unsolicited or from social media) should be taken with a grain of salt

☕ How to build your own personal Board of Directors for decision-making support

☕ Why it’s important to find advice that aligns with your goals and values

🎙️ Highlights: 

☕ (3:57) Avoid the social media “experts”: Not all advice is worth following, especially if it’s from people who don’t run successful businesses themselves.

☕ (5:47) Unsolicited advice isn't always helpful: Friends and family mean well, but if their goals don’t match yours, their advice may not be right for you.

☕ (7:28) Build your own Board of Directors: Surround yourself with people you admire and trust. These people don’t even need to know they’re on your board—just let their wisdom guide you.

☕ (8:03) Diversify your board: Your board can include mentors, friends, family, or even authors and speakers whose work resonates with you.

 

Action Steps to Build Your Board:

Ready to build your own board of directors? Here’s how to get started:

1. Reflect on Your Needs
2. Identify Your Board Members
3. Diversify Your Board
4. Seek Out Mentorship
5. Use Your Resources

Resources Mentioned:

• Andy Andrews’ book, Mastering the Seven Decisions for Success – A great resource for learning how to create your own personal board of directors.
• Jen Sincero and Denise DT – Two of my go-to financial mentors whose books and advice keep me grounded.

For detailed Show Notes and the transcript for this episode CLICK HERE!

If you would like to connect with me outside of this podcast here is where you’ll find me… 

Website — CaffeineCreative.io
Facebook — Teresa Schlup,The Caffeine Creative
Instagram — The Caffeine Creative
LinkedIn — Teresa Schlup
Email — theperfectblend@caffeinecreative.io 

Please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Solo Grind Podcast!