Personal Business

This is the story of how a stuffed dragon on a stick turned things around for a Major League baseball team and... me? How and why I'm prioritizing fun in my business this summer.Join the free Just Enough Session on July 21! And download the Metrics Make Us Feel Things: Small Business Survey Report.

Earlier this year I had a brilliant new idea for a 1:1 and got to work on building it out, starting with market research.But once I had the research results I realized I didn't need a new offer, I needed to update the messaging and positioning I was using for the Slow & Steady Decelerator.In this episode I share why I believe that market research is one of the most powerful but underused tools for solo business owners and how I used market research to reposition the Decelerator ahead of the spring cohort launch.→ Join the Decelerator waitlist! Registration opens April 30-May 7!→ Download Metrics Make Us Feel Things: Small Business Survey Report

It was about a year ago when the seed for the Slow & Steady Decelerator were beginning to germinate. And now, we're opening the doors to the third cohort!In this episode, I share my reflections on one year of the Decelerator - the good, the not-so-good and everything in between.REGISTRATION FOR THE SPRING DECELERATOR COHORT OPENS APRIL 30!Click here to join the waitlist - save $300, get early access to limited spots and unlock the curriculum library + Slack channel to get support right away.

Dropping in to your feed today to let you know the pod is coming back for a micro-season next week – I’ll be sharing insights from the past year, two cohorts of the Decelerator and all of the personal business that comes with it.Doors to the spring Decelerator cohort are opening for early enrolment to the waitlist on April 30! → Click here to join the waitlist + save $300 Plus get early enrolment all the best registration bonuses!

Today I am thrilled to welcome Sonja Seiler, personal chef, Nurture retreat host and Decelerator alum to share her personal business on the podcast. In this episode, Sonja and I chat about: Her tumultuous 2025 - both personally and professionally - and why her story feels more real than a case study with outrageous results How being a part of the Decelerator helped her weather the storm Early results from her market research and how this information has led her to pause her retreats for the coming year Brainstorming ideas for how to use what she's learning to shape her next steps in business I think you're going to like this one! Connect with Sonja at https://nurtureretreats.com/ and https://ko-fi.com/nurtureretreats. ✴️ Registration for the winter Decelerator cohort is open January 22-29! Sign-up before 01/26 to save $250 and get a bonus 60-minute strategy session. Learn more & join here.

Today is the day! The Decelerator winter cohort is officially open for registration!Launching the same offer a second time isn’t the same as starting from scratch — and pretending it is can make things harder than they need to be.In this episode, I’m breaking down how I’m approaching the second launch of the Slow & Steady Decelerator, including what I didn’t prioritize this time around, why second launches often feel tougher than the first and why I chose capacity and alignment over growth.✴️ Registration for the winter Decelerator cohort is open January 22-29! Sign-up before 01/26 to save $250 and get a bonus 60-minute strategy session. Learn more & join here.Mentioned in this episode:Moving from overthinking to clarity in the Decelerator with Heini TallentThe Science & Soft Underbelly of Visibility with N. Chloé NwangwuRIP my audio course with Taylor Elyse Morrison What does Amelia Hruby think I should do? 2026 Creative Small Business Marketing Trends Nicole Cloutier // Copy Poetics

Today I have a very special guest joining me on the podcast: Heini Tallent, health, wellness and running coach, founder of Elements Running Education and founding Decelerator cohort alumni! In this episode Heini shares her own personal business - her business evolution from massage therapist to running coach, how 2025 left her feeling overwhelmed and stuck in chronic overthinking and how the Decelerator helped her to move from ideas to action, rekindling the joy of building her business with a new found confidence to do it on her own terms, without relying on social media. Connect with Heini: Elements Running website🐌 Save $250 off Decelerator registration when you join the waitlist for the winter cohort starting February 2!

Happy new year! In this episode, I'm sharing six ways to slow down, do less and get more from your marketing without adding more platforms, content or pressure. We'll talk about why "just doing more" often isn't the answer, how to identify what's actually working in your business and what it looks like to build a marketing plan that supports you, instead of draining you. This is the work we do in the Slow & Steady Decelerator! A 10 week group program designed to help you simplify your marketing, focus on what matters most and move forward with clarity and confidence. Registration opens January 22 and we start on February 2. 👉 Get on the waitlist right here for early access, the best pricing and bonus goodies when you sign up!

This week, I wrapped up the very first cohort of the Slow & Steady Decelerator! In this episode, I'm reflecting on what shifted (for me and the program participants), what I didn't expect and celebrate the kind of wins that don't show up in launch metrics, but maybe matter even more. I also share what's next for the Decelerator (hint: the next round starts in February) and why I'm more committed than ever to support creative small business owners through Slow & Steady. Want to join the next round of the Decelerator? Enrolment is open and super early birds save $350 through December. All the details are at: https://www.slowandsteady.studio/decelerator-winter-presale

Lock in, we're launching! In this episode I share what I'm building, the 90(ish) day launch and program delivery roadmap I've laid out and what my core marketing objective will be for the second half of Q4. This is the final episode of Personal Business -- but it's not good-bye, just so long. Want to take a look at my launch plan on Notion? 💌 Drop me a line and I'll share a video walkthrough.

In this episode I talk about how "the 2025 of it all" has influenced my business strategy and decisions this year -- from diversifying revenue streams to a deep focus on establishing trust. Plus I reflect on my 20 year career communicating and marketing in uncertain times and how that has informed my approach to strategy and planning, no matter the market. Mentioned in this episode: Personal Business Episode #14 - The 2025 of it All📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline

In this episode I talk about some of the external factors affecting Slow & Steady and small businesses at large in 2025: the current economic uncertainty; increasing skepticism of online businesses and the "trust recession," and a constantly shifting media landscape. Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 7: What does Amelia Hruby think I should do?Episode #13: The Science & Soft Underbelly of Visibility with N. Chloé NwangwuYour Attention is Sacred book launch waitlistReferences:https://www-2.rotman.utoronto.ca/insightshub/economics-trade-policy/preparing-recession https://globalnews.ca/news/11355608/canada-gdp-june-2025/ https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/canada-in-recession-territory-as-trumps-tariffs-deal-blow-to-canadas-gdp-economists/ https://coachingfederation.org/resource/global-coaching-study-executive-summary-2023/ 📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline

In this episode I talk about some of the external factors affecting Slow & Steady and small businesses at large in 2025: the current economic uncertainty; increasing skepticism of online businesses and the "trust recession," and a constantly shifting media landscape. Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 7: What does Amelia Hruby think I should do?Episode #13: The Science & Soft Underbelly of Visibility with N. Chloé NwangwuYour Attention is Sacred book launch waitlistReferences:https://www-2.rotman.utoronto.ca/insightshub/economics-trade-policy/preparing-recession https://globalnews.ca/news/11355608/canada-gdp-june-2025/ https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/canada-in-recession-territory-as-trumps-tariffs-deal-blow-to-canadas-gdp-economists/ https://coachingfederation.org/resource/global-coaching-study-executive-summary-2023/ 📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline

Visibility is a buzzy concept in online business, but it’s also essential for achieving the success we desire. And since visibility is at the crux of Personal Business, I asked my friend Chloé Nwangwu (a.k.a. The Brand Scientist) to join me to break down the science of visibility and explain why it’s so damn hard. Chloé breaks down: ✨ Why attention is so hard to capture and keep in 2025✨ The unique challenges to visibility under recognized folks are up against (and why providing more free value is not a winning strategy)✨ Tow to move through the softer, emotional side of visibility. She also provides some generous advice on my next steps for visibility. Mentioned in this episode: All of Chloe's resources for under-recognized leadersPersonal Business Episode #2: Every good strategy starts with an audit🌐 Connect with Chloé at https://www.nobiworks.com/📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline 

It’s been a week now since I made a decision about what I want to build and launch this fall. And since then I have done more or less nothing to move the project forward – or at least it looks that way on the surface. In this episode I’m talking about the creative process, the internal alignment and manifestation as a tool for self expansion. Mentioned in this episode: Celina Rosso - Shit Your Spirit Guides Want You To Know Personal Business Episode #11 - Planting SeedsPersonal Business Episode #10 - RIP my audio course with Taylor Elyse Morrison 📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline

This morning I woke up with crystal clarity about what's next. 📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline

Last summer I worked with coach Taylor Elyse Morrison because… I felt like my business wasn't quite working. Together we mapped out a plan for an audio course that never saw the light of day despite being fully written and ready to go (with a waitlist).Today Taylor joins me on the pod to talk about that experience and how it ultimately planted the seed for Personal Business. We also chat about embracing a spirit of experimentation, ending projects and why taking a full time job right now would feel like failure, how primary parenting affects my creative energy and Taylor’s Whirl Effect Framework. 🌐 Connect with Taylor at https://www.taylorelyse.com/ and https://www.yourcareertailor.com/.📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline

And just like that… It’s August! In this episode I’m reflecting on the past month and how it’s felt a lot more like business as usual lately with a host of new client work. How did falling into old patterns and relying on tried-and-true tactics feel? And thinking about a new offer to launch for the fall. Mentioned in this episode: Personal Business #6 - What if I was wrong? Personal Business #7 - What does Amelia Hruby think I should do?Webinar to Nowhere Mini Map Audits 📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline

While I'm still a bit unclear as to how or if or when my offers and business model might be evolving here at Slow & Steady, I have landed on a pretty important (and exciting!) decision: my title. As of today, I am officially officially calling myself a Growth Marketing Strategist for creatives, solopreneurs and small businesses.In this episode, I'm sharing a bit more about how I landed on this title, how I'm defining Growth Marketing and why I think this is the best way to describe my work and approach to marketing strategy.📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline💌 Subscribe to the Slowdown

Sometimes business advisors need a little advice on what to do too. And when I’m in need of a fresh perspective, the first voice note I’m sending is always to my biz friend and host of Off the Grid, Amelia Hruby.  So of course Amelia is our inaugural guest here on Personal Business! I’m thrilled to share our recent conversation on everything from 2025 business trends (everybody is tired and everybody is launching) to my fear of inadvertently becoming a coach-coaching-coaches kind of coach.Plus, I reflect on what felt so good about the small group beta experiment I ran earlier this year and Amelia taps into my Sacral Generator Authority to ask me some yes or no questions about potential new offers. Could I be coming around to a done-for-you offer? Tune in to find out!🌐 Connect with Amelia Off the Grid, at Softer Sounds Studio or ameliahruby.com.📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline💌 Subscribe to the Slowdown

After a great week onboarding new clients, upward trending revenue and feeling like I’ve got my business groove back I start to question if maybe I was a little too quick to declare that my business wasn’t working? In this episode I reflect on: ✨ A recent conversation about the difference between something not working and not fully trying;✨ How I drastically underestimated my own grief and how that affected me and my business this year;✨ And a gentle, loving reminder from a biz friend that there were very real things that need to change to make Slow & Steady sustainable and profitable for the long term. Additional reading: How to write a newsletter from the depths of despair.--Head's up, the audio may be a little quieter than usual as I had some tech challenges (i.e. I forgot to turn on my mic so it was recorded through the inline mic on my headphones).--💻 Join the free Just Enough Session on July 16📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline💌 Subscribe to the Slowdown

So far I’ve talked to 14 of my current and past clients, the almost clients that I sent proposals to but didn’t convert and fellow small business owners to hear more about what’s hard about being in business in 2025; why they chose to work with me (or not); and what parts of my current offers were compelling and what doesn’t connect. 💻 Join the free Just Enough Session on July 16📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline💌 Subscribe to the Slowdown

It's been about a month since the Personal Business project began. Amanda Laird reflects on what she's learned over the past few weeks, dives into an exhaustive list of all she's done to learn about what is and isn't working in her business and shares a few updates on what's coming next. 📞 Leave a message on the Personal Business Hotline 💻 Join the free Just Enough Session on July 16 💌 Subscribe to the Slowdown Service providers mentioned in this episode: Andrea Reeves // Type C CreativeCeels Lockley Laura Sinclair // This Mother Means BusinessLindsay Little // Soma LinguaNicole Cloutier // Copy Poetics

Gather 'round while Amanda Laird shares the Slow & Steady lore - the seed that first planted the idea of entrepreneurship in her mind 12 years ago, how following the vibes and not a traditional business plan led her here today and staying open to the shape of the next chapter in work/life.Subscribe to the Slowdown, your free, weekly dose of marketing strategy that won't give you the ick.

Before jumping into new strategies and tactics, every Slow & Steady client engagement starts with an audit to figure out what works and what definitely doesn't. In this episode Amanda Laird turns the tables and uses the Just Enough Marketing Framework on her own business and uncovers some, let's say, uncomfortable truths about how she's showing up (or not). Subscribe to the Slowdown, your free, weekly dose of marketing strategy that won't give you the ick

In this prologue episode of Personal Business, I reflect on what's come up in the week since I announced my intention to rebuild my business Slow & Steady Studio in public and why even if the business isn't working that doesn't mean it's failing.

"My business isn't working." Marketing consultant and founder of Slow & Steady Amanda Laird is reimagining her business with fresh frameworks, customer insights and support from her business friends and trusted experts -- exploring what works (and what doesn't) in online business in 2025. Follow the podcast: slowandsteady.studio/personalbiz