Lifestyle Business School

nline business is changing. With the prevalent decrease in the social media engagement, here's three very specific and practical things I'm doing to adapt to the new environment.

In this episode, I’m breaking down how I’ve traditionally captured it (hello Instagram, podcasting, and email marketing 👋), how much time I’ve been pouring into each platform, and the results I discovered when I did a little au...

I haven't launched anything for nine months. I have been dark on social media, and I have only sporadically appeared on this podcast. So you might be wondering - Stevie, where have you been? What have you been doing and what is coming next? And if you have, you're gonna love today's podcast episode.

And if you haven't, then this is the episode that you didn't even know that you wanted!

Episode Shownotes:

00:00 Introduction and where I've been
00:52 The concept of seasons in business
05:16 Rediscovering myself: music and reading<...

Read this series on Substack: https://lifestylebusinessschool.substack.com/

For your lifestyle business to really SING, there’s one final step in the four part personal brand series – to turn what you’ve conjured up so far and giving it a talkaboutable edge!

Getting this right from the outset is like sprinkling magic fairy dust on your business.

Having a talkaboutable edge to what you do bakes BUZZ right into the very fabric of your business, and makes people stop, sit up and pay attention when you start...

Welcome to Part Three of our five-part series on setting up your personal brand for success! 

In this episode, we dive deep into the crucial art of positioning. It's not just about finding a niche; it's about understanding the customer journey, choosing the right market and how marketing and positioning work hand in hand to make your brand irresistible.

You can view Part One and Part Two of this series here,  and subscribe to the podcast to be notified when the next part is released.

Ready to turn your ni...

To stand out and sell — always, but especially in 2025 — you’ve gotta niche.

Happily (especially if you are a personal brand), that DOESN’T mean putting your sweet little multi-passionate self into a box for twenty years and throwing away the key.

But it DOES mean that you should create individual PROJECTS under your personal brand (I talk about that more in part one of this series here) and niche them sufficiently so as to cut through.

How? Choose a market that has in-built demand, and then...

This one is aimed squarely at you, my little ‘personal brand-based’ founder darlings — in other words, the current and aspiring content creators, consultants, coaches, freelancers, creatives and knowledge-based founders of the Internet.

Over a series of five podcasts (because brevity ain’t my strong point), I’m going to break down for you everything I know about how to set a personal brand based business for big fun, big freedom and BIG money.

In this episode, we're starting strong 🥃 

I'm covering how to set yourself up as a personal brand based business the right way from...

Your offer suite is the beating heart of your business. Without it, you don’t have a business. 

In this episode, I will show you how to map out an offer suite with one flagship offer as the crown jewel. You'll discover why small (and might is best) and the ONLY three offers you need to hit a million dollars (plus, how to structure to reach your time and money goals. 

I cover: 

In this week's podcast, we'll be revisiting through our Podcast Best Of series on how we make, manage and grow money in order to make work optional.

Active income is never passive. 

Work is work.

But the income from your work can be funneled into assets that CAN be passive – and that, ultimately, is the game.

These days, I am passionate about sharing that message with others. 

Even moreso in this online business world, where we have the capacity to build high profit marg...

Let's talk about finding alignment and balance in new motherhood, especially when your traditional business model and success no longer serves the life you want to create.

In this podcast episode, I share my experience with running a business and raising 2 young kids, finding myself again and building a business that truly lights me up.

This is an interview that first aired on Rachelle Saevils 'Behind the Fold' podcast, where she shares interviews breaking down the real and raw BTS of motherhood and business. 

We d...

Ahhhh, attention (aka traffic, aka your ‘top of funnel’ in marketing speak). 

The darling of the Internet!

Understandably so, it’s the tip of the proverbial Internet iceberg and the ONLY thing that’s visible when we’re scrolling online. And for that reason, we’re obsessed with it and start to think that the ultimate success of our online businesses lives and dies by it. 

And whilst it’s true that it matters, it’s just one piece of the marketing funnel pie. 

Let’s talk all things top of funnel – aka traffic...

Recently, Google embarked on a mission to answer one question: 

‘How do consumers decide what they want to buy and who they want to buy it from?’

The answer was.. squiggly, the say the least. 

To stand out and sell in 2025, you’re not just ‘one funnel away’ anymore. Instead, it’s essential to build an ecosystem of touchpoints to satisfy the savvy, skeptical buyers that you’re the real deal. 

The 'middle of funnel' is more important (and squiggly) than ever, and to stand out and sell? Yours needs to be robus...

Marketing has changed. If you want to drive the volume and quality of traffic you need to sell your scalable offers in 2025, this is for you. 

Side note — this is absolutely NOT for the full-time content creators, and the people who spend their days marketing online for a living. It’s for the people who NEED to understand how this stuff works to build the thing they ACTUALLY DO (without it taking 18,273 hours a week). 

Episode Show Notes:
00:45 Understanding the marketing funnel
02:09 The Importance of messaging in marketing
07:10 Building an effect...

[🎉 New!] Subscribe to Stevie's Substack for weekly articles and behind the scenes: https://lifestylebusinessschool.substack.com/

If you love behind the scenes episodes, this is for you. 

After spending a year building out my new business model, it's time to take everything I've created and grow it.

To "stay the course", as my friend Odette said to me at brunch last week.

So today, I want to share with you my 2025 game plan, real numbers and all! 

Episode Shownotes:
00:00  Introduction: Transparency and Real N...

🏜 We're officially in a trust desert, people. Your future buyers still want to buy, sure. 

But, the times are a changin' and to keep up, we need to level up. 

Here's just a few of the changes in the online business landscape that have accelerated over the past 12 months: 

🤠 We're all super aware that there are cowboys in the industry, and many of us have been burnt by them;

💸 We don't have as much free cash to splash, and we're super wary of ensuring it goes to the right person for the job; 

In the past month, I experienced the “tipping point” in the leveraged business model I started building out from scratch 12 months ago.

All leveraged expertise-based models have them, IF YOU KNOW TO STICK WITH IT LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO THE MAGIC ✨

But, this isn’t always in line with the rhetoric online.

We hear of “quick wins”, “six figure launches” straight out of the gate and unicorns who build their dream business in a year.

And sure, with some business models, that may actually be possible.

Take a service-based or...

It’s official ONE WEEK until my 7th business birthday (and my ACTUAL birthday! 🎈), so I thought it a good time to reflect on 7 lessons I’ve learnt from 7 years in business. 

Here goes!

1️⃣ It’s okay to leave money on the table. 

2️⃣ Traditional business advice might not apply. 

3️⃣ There isn’t one right way of doing business. 

4️⃣ Everything is a solvable problem. 

5️⃣ Take the action and the outcome will (eventually) take care of itself.

6️⃣ On indecision. 

7️⃣ Make your success a habit. 

Read the full blogpost here.

⏰ PSA: The price for Lifestyle Business School increases by up to $900USD in 24 hours, and we have just added a new super accessible payment plan. Click here.

This is a business strategy podcast Q+A, where I am answering some JUICY questions.

Let’s call it a big ‘ol business strategy sesh!

I answer:

➡️ I am a creative and I want to expand my clients/audience with a leveraged offer like a digital course or products. What is the best way to do this?

➡️ I want to create a low cost digit...

I’m launching this week (could you tell? 😆) In the lead up, I committed to something that I have been going back and forth on for literal MONTHS:

Switching Lifestyle Business School from LIMITED TIME ACCESS (one year) to UNLIMITED ACCESS (for as long as the course exists). It’s a nuanced decision, and I still don’t know what the right answer is.

But intuitively, I really felt a pull to test it — and so, a week ago I pulled the trigger.

So in today's podcast I'll be talking abo...

This is the replay of the workshop I hosted earlier this week. It's absolutely PACKED with value, and will be taken down in a few days, so enjoy!

PS Doors to Lifestyle Business School are currently open with some very special added bonuses only available in this launch.

1️⃣ I’ve added a FULL course as a Fast Action Bonus (Avail Now): Operational Elegance -- which is the full back end blueprint for systemising and streamlining your business.  Think finances sorted, project management, systems, structure and about 500% less stress on the daily. 

Today, we are going to walk through the EXACT steps for growing a leveraged, expertise-based online offer to a very specific revenue amount.

I want to make this really practical for you, so I will be specific with the numbers:

The goal? Get to a replicable $500k year with a $2k offer.

The first year is set up, the second year is going to be where we make it happen.

Both are important – and I will explain why knowing THAT is important, too.

And PS -- this isn’t even...

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Over the past two years, I have realigned, re-imagined and re-built my seven-figure business from the ground up to deliver high profits, working 5-hour days and with 400% more creative fulfillment on the daily.

It’s not hype – it’s the truth. 

And, it seems that many are following suit. 

It’s nice to be a...

Want to retire early in 10 years, and live on $80k forever?

With a lifestyle business, you can.

 [Read the full blog post here].

People want a quick win, and the industry sells the pipedream of a gazillion dollars in two seconds.. but if you’re willing to develop the skill of being a course creator?

A LOT can happen in 10 years ⌛️

A. LOT.

Here’s the cliff notes:

Invest $10k a month from the profits of your high cashflow online course business for 10 years (in...

In the past 12 months, I’ve created 8 online courses. 

That’s 680 lessons, according to my course platform.

[Read the full blog post here].

It’s all been part of a grand master plan I hatched in mid-2023 to build out the complete operating system for building a leveraged, expertise-based lifestyle business.

The eight courses are designed with that specific endgame in mind. 

Here’s a summary: 

To get sales, you need leads!

To get leads, you need traffic! 

So, how do you get it? 

What’s working now? 

[Read the full blog post here].

The truth is, times have changed. 

The landscape is crowded. 

Ads are costly. 

And getting attention feels about as easy as screaming to a band to pull you up on stage in the middle of a rock concert. 

So let me lift the lid on how I do it, and what’s working r...

So, you have big business goals – incredible!

What’s your plan to achieve them? 

Q4 is sneaking up on us, and as anyone in online business would know that means prime money-making season!

There is a lot of opportunity in the final three months of the year.

[Read the full blog post here].

Whether you’re well behind on your annual sales goal or you’re simply looking to maximise the opportunity that this time of year brings, preparation will give you the BEST chance of making this your...

You know the whole “money in your sleep” thing? 

“Build a funnel and watch the money roll in whilst you’re catching z’s”? 

The truth is, it’s real – but not in the same way it’s been taught, sold and done online for the past few years.

[Read the full blog post here].

The standard advice is that you set it up once, flick the switch to “on”, and watch the sales start rolling through the door. 

As much as I’d love to sell you that strategy, it doesn...

Active income is never passive. 

Work is work.

But the income from your work can be funneled into assets that CAN be passive – and that, ultimately, is the game.

[Read the full blog post here].

These days, I am passionate about sharing that message with others. 

Even moreso in this online business world, where we have the capacity to build high profit margin businesses.

And, where a little know how on what to DO with that income is life-changing. 

...

Truthbomb: The ONE metric just about every single person underestimates is the amount of traffic they are able to deploy for their online course or group offer launch.

[Read the full blog post here].

They put BIG effort into a launch, and maybe secure a handful of sales. 

On “paper”, it performed great and achieved all of the benchmarks for success. 

But still, THEY consider it a flop. 

The culprit?  

They simply didn’t drive the volume of traffic required to achieve their sales goals.

...

Building a successful online course business in 2024 requires an irresistible, hell-yes core offer.

[Read the full blog post here].

Here’s the kicker, though.

Whilst making sure your offer is irresistible to the person you’re selling it to is non-negotiable (something we covered in detail in last week’s piece, and this one too), it’s only step one.

Building an offer that sells is one thing. 

Building one that lights you up, fulfills you, gives you more of what you want and allow...

Recently, I embarked on an extended Euro-trip.

[Read the full blog post here].

EXCITING, of course – but, with a catch. 

The flight to Dubai en-route to Europe departed from Brisbane at 2am. 

Tricky in any event, but even moreso with a two and four year old to contend with. 

I did the sleep math olympics trying to figure out how to cope. 

My realisation?

From a toddler perspective, I was likely screwed regardless of HOW I decided to approach things (especially since those awesom...

Simple scale, complex fails.

Has a catchy ring to it, right.

And, a whole lotta truth.

Here’s how I know.

[Read the full blog post here].

As a person, I am naturally someone that tends to overcomplicate things. 

Give me a task to complete, and I will somehow singlehandedly find the most complex, convoluted way of completing it. 

Back in my corporate days, I worked as a Marketing Manager. 

Working closely alongside me was our PR Manager – who was the exact v...

This isn’t a piece on passive income. 

It’s not a piece on the freedom to work from anywhere. 

Or, to pick up and travel the world. 

Instead? It’s about building a drop everything business and how I built it.

[Read the full blog post here].

You see, when most of us think of course or digital-product based businesses we think of the fun freedom that it may one day give us the opportunity to enjoy. 

We aspire to build the “bucket list” business:

To sell an online course or leveraged offer, you need people to sell to.

[Read the full blog post here].

The problem? 

Those looking to build an online course business from scratch usually fall into one of two camps. 

1) They are existing content creators looking to leverage their extensive audiences by building a course based business around it; or

2) They are service providers seeking to take their skillset and build something more leveraged from it. 

My experience is that usually? 

In both cases, the...

Have you ever dreamed of jumping on a plane and running away?

[Read the full blog post here].

Wanting to live the laptop lifestyle and work from anywhere but unsure how to *actually* do it without your business burning down? 

Wonder how all of those people on Instagram every European summer actually afford to do it? 

In a week, I am jumping on a very last minute plane to Eurosummer, family (including a wild 2-year old and lively 4-year old) in tow. 

This hasn’t been something I’ve...

This is a story about grief, loss and how to navigate it as a personal brand.

[Read the full blog post here].

Almost six weeks ago now, I lost my beautiful mum. 

(It hurts to type that). 

It feels like my security blanket has been ripped from under me.

I feel alone, exposed and honestly? Just so very sad. 

Here’s the thing as a personal brand business. 

Personal things happen. 

They bleed into business. 

And as a result, running...

Pre PS  We've currently waitlisted our Lifestyle Business School program and we'll be reopening soon. Join the waitlist here if you want to get updated on the best deal and the special VIP bonuses soon as we re-open doors.

Last episode I talked about some of the cons of having a membership site as your offer. 

Now, let's switch sides and talk about the pros of building a membership site. 

And, when you go into it with realistic expectations - there are many! 
...

Pre PS  We've currently waitlisted our Lifestyle Business School program and we'll be reopening soon. Join the waitlist here if you want to get updated on the best deal and the special VIP bonuses soon as we re-open doors.

Should you create a membership site? 

So often, it's sold as the ultimate dream:

"Create a membership site and you too can enjoy recurring revenue - forever", they say. 

Which is kind of true.

Only, it also comes with a very, very big...

I am taking a short break of one to two weeks from new podcast episodes. Here’s a ‘best of’ episode from the vault until I’m back!

Last year, I spent in excess of about $35,000 on a huge rebrand. 

The thought process was this —> 

I want to build a company. 

I have a team and I don’t want it to feel like it’s just about me. 

Stevie Says Social no longer aligned. 

And, at the time, all of those things were true. 

Still are, really. <...

How do you create an online course that sells right now?

The truth is that times have changed, and what worked even just a few years ago no longer does. 

The online course market is maturing, and with the growth many are starting to wonder:

"Are people still buying online courses?"

Here's my two cents: 

Yes they absolutely are, but it’s uneven at the moment.

Some people are killing it and some are finding it tough. 

If you're wondering how you can create an onlin...

In 2007, I spent six weeks in a hostel in the middle of Guatemala just “because”.

Truly, I’d never felt so free.

The two years prior had been spent working like a donkey, with good people but in a field I hated.

The endgame? Admission to the Supreme Course of Queensland as a lawyer.

It was an accolade I spent 7 years working towards..

Only to quit, 6-weeks to the day later.

And so, there I found myself in a computer shop in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, on a steami...