Real Talk on Solopreneur Life: What I Shared on the Unbalanced Podcast
Disappearing to rural Alaska for work (and no one noticed), 18 years of building a business with zero ad spend, and hard truths most solopreneurs never hear
A few weeks ago, on St. Patrick’s Day, I sat down with Candy Bellau and Samantha Hallburn on the Unbalanced podcast for a candid conversation about what it actually looks like to run a solo business for nearly two decades.
The episode dropped last week, and I’m happy with how it turned out. We covered a lot of ground—from the realities of solopreneur life that nobody warns you about to the things that have actually worked for me over 18 years.
We talked about all kinds of things regarding being a small business owner. Here are some of the highlights:
How I traveled to remote Alaska villages (11 flights in all) for a project without most clients even knowing I was gone.
Why most businesses don’t need more marketing—they need clarity.
Growing a business through handshakes and relationships instead of ads.
The power of boots-on-the-ground research (vs. just Zoom calls) to uncover real problems.
The realities of entrepreneur life that nobody warns you about (surviving layoffs, total lack of safety nets, difficulties with producing financial documents, etc.)
And why “making the phone ring” is still the ultimate goal in marketing.
“A lot of times, people talk about marketing, but they really don’t need marketing. They need other things.”
If you’re a solopreneur, consultant, accountant, lawyer, or anyone running your own show, I think you’ll find some practical, hard-earned lessons here. I hope you find it helpful. You can find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or just listen to it right here—I’ve embedded the audio at the top of this post.
One fun surprise from the conversation: I gave Candy and Samantha a sneak peek of the book I just finished writing: The Solopreneur’s Survival Guide to Business Networking: How to Grow Your Business One Handshake at a Time.
It’s available for pre-order now and will be released on July 4th, 2026. That feels fitting—I’ll be celebrating America’s independence on the same day I celebrate my own independence as a business owner.
“Every dollar I’ve ever made started with a handshake — literal or figurative.”