This episode is very different from what I typically do on this show.

It’s a candid conversation between Sarah Greesonbach and me on a number of random topics.

Sarah is not only a very talented B2B writer, she’s also the founder of the B2B Writing Institute, an excellent coach to other B2B writers, a coaching client of mine, and a friend.

We get into a number of topics, including where and how we face resistance ... where we fall short ... life experiences that shaped who we are today ... how we make big decisions ... fear ... being kind to yourself ... our pet peeves about the freelance industry ...

And even the songs we have on our playlists that we’re embarrassed to admit to. What we love. And what we feel is overrated.

After our interview, I then share a raw and open account of my business struggles last year—what happened, why, and what I’ve done to navigate these challenges.

If you’re only looking for straight up advice for your business, this is not really that kind of episode. So feel free to skip it.

But if you’re curious about how Sarah and I have struggled. What we’ve learned. And what makes us who we are, give this one a listen.

It’s a long episode. The longest, in fact, of any episode I’ve created in my 11 years doing this show.

But I didn’t want to hold back. I wanted this to be exactly the kind of conversation Sarah and I might have at a Starbucks. And I wanted you to have an opportunity to listen to us talk with no filter. 

Hope you enjoy it!

2023 has not been a great year for many writers and solo marketing professionals.

And when business is not great, one of the first things we ask ourselves is, Should I change or modify my offerings? Will that make a difference?

It’s a great question to ask yourself. But it’s important that you go about your decision in a more methodical way. So rather than just go with your gut, you’ll make better decisions if you take a more analytical approach to this challenge.

In this episode, we’re addressing this question head on. My guest is Nikki Rausch. Nikki is a selling coach and the CEO of Sales Maven. She has over 25 years of selling experience. And her specialty is helping entrepreneurs, small business owners and solo professionals sell successfully and authentically.

This is Nikki’s third appearance in the podcast. She and I are very well aligned in our marketing and sales philosophies, and I love having these important conversations with her. I always walk away with a bit more wisdom and lots of new ideas to think about and implement.

We not only address the issue of service offerings in this conversation, we also get into the importance of lifetime client value, tracking and doubling down on your best marketing strategies, and the biggest mistakes solo professionals make in their sales process when they’re facing a difficult economy.

I hope you enjoy our conversation!