Freedom Entrepreneur Podcast | Online Business Tips, Business System Strategy, Marketing Training, Entrepreneur Mindset

You're hustling on social media.

Creating content for your podcast, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook.

Putting in the work every single day.

But your business isn't growing the way you thought it would.

Here's why:

You're treating social media like a billboard and not like a business.

Think about it: How many billboards do you pass on your way to work? How many do you actually take action on?

Exactly.

Social media is an audience. Not a customer base.

And if you're not...

$650,000 in debt.

Four kids to feed.

A business partner who backed out the day after she signed a three-year lease.

No job. No money. No Plan B.

That's where Nancy Benet found herself.

Most people would've given up. Filed bankruptcy. Walked away.

But Nancy made a decision: I'm going to make this work. No matter what.

And she did.

Fifteen years later, she's the CEO of a thriving CPA firm with a team of 11, building a national brand—and helping other women do the...

The biggest mistake most entrepreneurs make?

They build something nobody wants to pay for.

Not because their idea is bad. But because they skipped the ONE step that makes everything else work: nailing the transformation.

You might think you know what people need. You might be passionate about solving a specific problem. But here's the hard truth: What you THINK people want isn't always what they'll actually PAY for.

In this episode, I'm breaking down how to validate your transformation BEFORE you build anything—so you don't waste months (or years) crea...

Do you have "Entrepreneur Enthusiasm Disease"?

You know the symptoms: You get a brilliant new idea. You dive in full force. Then another opportunity pops up and suddenly you're chasing that instead. Before you know it, you've started and stopped a dozen things and haven't finished any of them.

Sound familiar?

This isn't about lack of motivation or poor time management. It's about discipline—specifically, learning to say NO to things that pull you off course.

After years of falling into this trap (and spending tens of thousands of dollars chasing shi...

Lack of confidence is the #1 thing holding entrepreneurs back—not lack of knowledge, not lack of effort, but the inability to take that first imperfect step.

Dr. Christiane Schroeter, business professor and TEDx speaker, knows this firsthand. As a German immigrant teaching entrepreneurship in California, she noticed something that shocked her: America's hustle culture was burning people out before they even got started.

The problem? Entrepreneurs are waiting for perfection. They're stuck comparing themselves to competitors. They're overwhelmed by the size of their goals.

In this episode, Christiane shares her STEP framework—a simp...

Are you chasing every new strategy that promises quick money online? AI prompts, faceless videos, "10K months" formulas—they're everywhere. And they all sound so promising.

But here's what they're NOT telling you: The strategy is secondary.

After spending tens of thousands of dollars on coaches, burning out from constant learning and implementing, and fragmenting my energy across a dozen different approaches, I finally figured out what actually works.

It's not about finding the "perfect" way to make money online. It's about building a foundation first.

In this episode, I'm sharing the...

We have a scintillating conversation for you on the Freedom Entrepreneur Podcast today! Joining me are TWO guests - Alan Lazaros, co-founder of Next Level University and Chelsea Rosner, founder of Be Your Own Black Sheep.

Both took a side - Collaboration vs Competition and what is a more effective leadership style.

Chelsea was brave and took the unpopular opinion that Competition is more favorable, while Alan touted Collaboration's good side.

Tune in to hear the surprising summary that we all took away from this fun and dynamic conversation!

Join the...

28,000 people. Two years of work. No successful business to show for it.

That's the reality Cliff Ravenscraft discovered after helping over 40,000 people launch podcasts. And the reason they failed wasn't what you'd think.

They weren't lazy. They showed up. They created content. They did the work.

But they were focused on the wrong thing.

They focused on the VEHICLE (the podcast, the social media, the platform) instead of building the BUSINESS first.

In this episode, I break down what those 28,000 people were missing—and how you can avoid making th...

Have you ever signed up for a high ticket coaching program that was promising you the moon and felt betrayed because you did not walk away with the business they promised you would build?

I have.

And, guess what. I learned what I DON'T want to do for my clients. In fact, I can't even do that. For me, business, your business, is personal. More importantly, your satisfaction is personal.

That is why I've developed a 3 pillar framework that will help you build a business you love and should still love 5 years from...

In this episode of the Freedom Entrepreneur Podcast, host Lindsay Sutherland sits down with Kelsey Green of Kelsey L. Green Communications for a powerful conversation about finding balance in the digital age.

Are you an entrepreneur feeling torn between embracing technology and craving real, human connection? Kelsey shares her journey from environmental conservation to community strategist, and offers practical advice on setting digital boundaries, building authentic relationships, and finding true fulfillment—both online and offline.

Discover:

Where Do You Need More Simplicity?

I moved to a log cabin in Idaho for simplicity.

Quiet mornings on the porch. Space to breathe. Time with my kids.

But you know what happened? My business got complicated.

The more successful it became, the more it demanded. More offers. More platforms. More content. More hustle.

And suddenly, I was waking up, plugging into my computer, and not leaving my office except for bathroom breaks and food.

That's not why I moved here.

So I'm asking myself...

What if the very drive that built your business is also what's trapping you in burnout? In this powerful episode, Claudia Rucker, founder of Beyond Ordinary Business, shares her journey from entrepreneurial success to a dark night of the soul—and how she discovered the pattern keeping so many ambitious entrepreneurs stuck in what she calls "entrepreneurial poverty" (time poor, energy poor, and money poor). Claudia reveals why the hustle mentality that works in the beginning can become toxic as you scale, and introduces a radically different approach: reverse engineering your business around your actual life capacity. Learn how to...

For the full training email Lindsay at lindsay@bizinaboxsolutions.com and put Brand Training in the subject line.

Are you showing up vanilla in the marketplace?

Here's the problem: When you blend in with everyone else, you become shoppable by price. That's when you see the race to the bottom - courses for $17, everything on sale, competing on cost instead of connection.

But what if you built an audience that wouldn't buy from someone else just because it's cheaper?

What if they bought from you because they LOVE you?

...

What If You Started This Weekend? Here's How

What if you stopped waiting and just started? This weekend?

I know you're scared. I know you don't feel ready.

But here's the truth: You'll never feel 100% ready.

The first step isn't clarity. It's commitment.

Commit to yourself that you're done waiting. Done overthinking. Done letting fear decide.

Then comes clarity.

In this episode, I'm showing you exactly how to take your first step this weekend:

35 minutes this weekend: Watch my free training on how t...

You're working so hard. Putting in the hours. Showing up every day.

But something's not clicking yet.

And you're wondering: Am I doing this right? Is my idea even good? How much longer until this actually WORKS?

Friend, I've been exactly where you are.

And here's what I wish someone had told me from day one:

You don't need to figure this out through years of trial and error.

You don't need to learn from a dozen different experts and try to piece together the puzzle yourself.

What if having a great day isn't about everything going perfectly?

What if it's not about your calendar being light or life handing you zero problems?

What if a great day is something you can CREATE - no matter what chaos comes your way?

That's exactly what my guest Susanne Biro is here to teach you today.

Her definition of freedom stopped me in my tracks:

"True freedom is an inner state. It's freedom from the self-doubt, anxiety, and deep-seated fears that limit our potential. It's escaping the endless...

You've been hearing me say this:

If you don't have an email list, you don't have a business.

But here's what nobody talks about:

Not all lead magnets are created equal.

You could create a beautiful PDF guide, upload it, add a signup form, and get... crickets.

Or worse - you get signups, but months later those people are thinking "Who is this? How did they get my email?" and hitting delete.

Zero connection. Zero conversions. Zero business.

So what's the difference between a lead...

Let me ask you something:

Are you building a business on rented land?

Here's what I mean by that.

Most people launch a course like this:

And sure, you might make money. You might even make GOOD money.

But what happens when the ads stop working?

What happens when your ad account gets shut down? When Meta changes the algorithm? When you can't afford to keep paying for ads?

Your business...

JOING ME ON WEDNESDAY'S WORKSHOP - https://bizinaboxsolutions.com/courses

Are you stuck because you solve MORE than one problem?

You're multi-passionate. You have multiple skills. And everyone's telling you to "pick ONE thing" - but which one?

Here's an example scenario:

Maybe you're a photographer who could:

Two problems. Two avatars. Which do you choose?

Most people say: "Follow your passion."

I'm saying: Follow...

Friend, if you're looking to build scalable income - income that grows while your time investment decreases - listen up.

Because I'm about to tell you what nobody else is saying about building an online business.

Here's what everyone gets wrong:

They think: "I'll just build a course, run some ads, and make money!"

And sure, you probably will make some money. But you know what you won't have? A sustainable business.

The truth nobody tells you:

Building a course is the EASY part. YouTube can show yo...

Friend, have you ever found yourself stuck in that "waiting place"?

You know the one. Waiting for the right timing. Second-guessing yourself. Paralyzed by fear. Stuck between knowing what you want and actually doing something about it.

My guest today, Jeanne Olmor, knows that place intimately. And she's going to show you how to break free.

Jeanne's story will blow your mind:

At 54, she was a single mom, a coach for 8 years, drowning in debt. All the old strategies—networking, speaking, endless hustle—weren't creating the income she needed.

Then...

3 Questions to Help You Clarify Your Online Course Calling

Friend, the biggest struggle any entrepreneur faces isn't building the business. It's clarifying the calling.

You're excited about passive income. Overwhelmed with ideas. But stuck asking: Which direction is right for me?

Even people in high-ticket coaching programs get stuck here. They just need validation. Permission to move forward.

That's what this episode gives you.

Three clarifying questions that create certainty:

We knew it was only a matter of time before AI regulations hit the scene—and now they're here. In this episode, Lindsay Sutherland breaks down the EU AI Act, the world's first major set of regulations for artificial intelligence, and what it means for online course creators and entrepreneurs. From requiring AI chatbots to identify themselves, to labeling AI-generated content, to banning dangerous uses of AI like social scoring—these rules are shaping the future of how we use technology in our businesses. While these regulations may start in the EU, just like GDPR, they'll likely impact US-based entr...

Tired of the "get rich quick" hustle mentality around online courses? In this episode, host Lindsay Sutherland reveals why treating course creation as a quick transaction is keeping you stuck—and shares the powerful mindset shift that leads to sustainable income and fulfillment. Through a real-life example of a lighting consultant who almost talked herself out of her expertise, Lindsay shows you how to stop comparing yourself to others in your space and start building a course-based business that truly serves. If you've been thinking your knowledge isn't "worthy" or that the market is too saturated, this episode will ch...

Friend, here's a question: Can you peek under the hood of your competitor's course to see what they're really offering?

No? Then why are you basing your pricing on theirs?

If you're building one $100 course and hoping to make money, we need to talk. Because you're leaving thousands on the table.

The two traps I see constantly:

You price too low because "I'm just starting, I don't have testimonials..."

Or you overprice trying to make back all your hours on one sale.

Both are wrong. And both...

Welcome Freedom Seeker! You're staring at this massive course project thinking, "How do I find time to build ALL of this before I can make money?"

Here's the secret: You don't.

Sell your course first. Then build it module by module while your students go through it.

Sounds backwards? It's actually genius.

Why drip delivery makes pre-selling work:

You're not scrambling. You build Module 1, deliver it, then create Module 2 while students implement Module 1. It's rhythmic, manageable, way less pressure.

Your students actually get BETTER results. They're not o...

Freedom Seeker, I need to tell you something that might sting a little:

You could spend six months building a course – mapping curriculum, recording videos, creating workbooks, setting up tech, writing sales pages – and launch it to crickets.

No sales. No interest. Just a beautiful course nobody wants.

I've watched it happen. And it's heartbreaking.

But here's what most people don't know: You can validate your course idea in days or weeks, not months.

In this episode, I'm giving you three tests to find out if people will actually pay f...

Freedom Seeker, let me ask you something: Have you been told the course market is dead?

That you missed the boat? That it's too saturated?

I'm going to tell you why that's wrong – but also why it's not as simple as it used to be.

Here's what's changed:

The pandemic created a gold rush. People were home, had time, had money, and were buying courses like crazy. If you launched something during that time and it sold? That was real.

But now the game is different. And if you do...

I need to tell you about a conversation that happened in a coffee shop four years ago that completely changed how I see myself – and my business.

I was drowning in self-doubt. "I'm not enough. Someone else knows more than me. Who am I to teach this?"

My friend put her fist down on the table, looked me dead in the eye, and said five words that I didn't believe at the time: "You are the real deal."

I'm sharing this because I know you're holding yourself back from something right now. Maybe it...

Friend, I know you're seeing ads everywhere telling you ads are dead, this strategy is dead, that tactic doesn't work anymore. It's hard to know what to do anymore or who to trust.

That's why I brought on John Horn from Stub Group to have a real conversation about how you can actually experience ROI from your ads – even if you're in a crowded, competitive market.

In this episode, we dig into:

Why I wanted John specifically: His agency has worked with over 2,000 clients and overseen a couple hundred million dollars in ad spe...

Friend, are you tired of hustling on social media, feeling like you're talking to the same people over and over with average results?

I get it. You're creating content every single day. You're spending hours preparing, publishing, getting it out there. Maybe you're even running ads to get new eyeballs. You're doing all the right things.

But today I want to share three powerful strategies that will help you expand your reach and get in front of new audiences – without expensive or time-consuming systems.

Why this matters:

These aren't just audience ex...

Friend, have you ever felt like the world of technology and business is moving at the speed of light – faster than you can keep up? It's not just a feeling. It's a fact. This is the new age we live in, where information flows at us like a fire hose.

Are you wondering if what you're doing now will be obsolete in six months? Today's guest is here to help you future-ready your mindset and your business so you don't get left behind.

Meet Allister Frost: Author, former Microsoft leader, and specialist in change and tra...

Hey Freedom Seeker, you built your service business for freedom. But right now? You're exhausted, overwhelmed, and trapped. Your calendar is full but your soul feels empty.

I want to share something vulnerable with you today – the principle that completely transformed my life and business: God first, family second, career third.

I wasn't raised religiously. I didn't trust people who wore their faith on their sleeves. I was spiritual but skeptical of Christianity. Thirteen years ago, I heard this principle from my Mary Kay director and thought "that's nice" – but I had no idea how to a...

You're drowning. Too much to do, not enough time, can't keep up, exhausted, burnt out.

You know the solutions. Hire someone. Delegate that task. Invest in a system. Sometimes you even do these things.

But more often? You don't.

Six months pass and you're having the same internal conversation. A year later, you're still in the same place. Still overwhelmed. Still stuck. Still doing everything yourself.

This episode isn't about time management. It's not about productivity hacks. It's about something much deeper: Why are you choosing to stay overwhelmed when help...

It's Q4, and you know what that means: time to start planning for next year. And if you're like most entrepreneurs, you're already brainstorming what new products to launch, what additional services to offer, what more you can add to your business.

But here's what nobody tells you: that approach is exactly what's keeping you overwhelmed, scattered, and stuck.

In this episode, we flip traditional business planning on its head with a counterintuitive challenge: what if instead of adding more next year, you went deeper on what you're already doing?

Why "more" is...

What does cutting your hair have to do with finding your life's purpose? For today's guest, it was everything.

Renae Williams spent years in the financial industry, straightening her hair since childhood because society told her that was the standard of beauty. But when she finally made the decision to cut it all off and return to her natural curls in 2012, she discovered something unexpected: the journey wasn't just about hair – it was about reclaiming her authentic self.

In this powerful episode, Renae shares how a simple haircut turned into a life-altering journey of self-discovery th...

That old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," might work for your grandfather's lawnmower, but it's killing your business. While you're telling yourself your systems "work well enough," your competitors are innovating, your customers are comparing you to newer alternatives, and you're slowly becoming obsolete without even realizing it.

In this episode, we tackle one of the most dangerous mindsets in entrepreneurship: the belief that if something isn't completely broken, you shouldn't touch it. The problem? By the time something is obviously broken, you're already behind.

In this episode, you'll discover:

What if you could predict and prevent the costly mistakes that sink most businesses before they happen? In this episode, I sit down with William Holsten, a Business Mistake Prevention Specialist who's on a mission to help entrepreneurs avoid the expensive blunders that derail success.

Bill shares his own entrepreneurial journey – including the painful "uh-oh moment" when multiple customers called to complain about his invention after launch. He'd spent nearly $100,000 producing 100 units of a carnival game without proper testing, and the pieces were literally falling apart. The mistake nearly destroyed his business, but the lessons he learned tr...

Are you stuck in a maddening cycle where you keep recreating the same problems without realizing you're the common denominator? Maybe you're the solopreneur who quits their W-2, struggles to get the business off the ground, retreats back to employment, gets miserable, and starts the whole cycle over again. Or perhaps you're the business owner who hires a team, watches things go great for a while, then suddenly everything falls apart and you're left wondering why people just can't stick around.

In this Friday mindset episode, I'm diving deep into the real culprit behind these self-sabotaging patterns...

Watch the video on YouTube https://youtu.be/t8dC3ufcypo

I used to think hiring a VA to build my funnels was the smart, budget-friendly move. Then I realized I was making a costly mistake – and I see other entrepreneurs making it all the time.

Here's what I've learned: most VAs are order-takers. They'll build exactly what you ask for, but they won't question whether what you're asking for actually makes sense from a customer psychology standpoint. And that's where things get expensive fast.

In this episode, I'm sharing a real client st...