In this episode, Emily Court shares her unconventional journey from freelance writer to brand and web designer for solopreneurs. She opens up about the career-altering conversation that inspired her to pivot into design, what it was like to land her first high-stakes client project, and how she built a booked-out business without relying on inbound leads. Emily also talks about working through chronic illness, why she never thrived in traditional jobs, and how solopreneurship gave her freedom and purpose. She unpacks the emotional and strategic layers of building a business that actually fits—and sustains—her life, and why helping others break free from broken systems fuels her every day. Plus, she teases what’s next: a productized offer and a podcast of her own.

(00:00) Intro

(01:06) From freelance writer to designer

(02:32) The pivotal conversation with James Martin

(06:50) Emily’s first major design client

(09:33) Building credibility through public work

(12:59) Managing growth and booking out

(14:13) Client fit and discovery call red flags

(20:30) The balance between style and flexibility

(23:46) Lessons from cancer, chronic illness, and healing

(28:00) Designing for people like her

(30:25) Choosing meaning over scale

(32:34) Why working with solos feels different

(35:26) What Emily wishes she did sooner

(40:22) Outbound strategy that saved her business

(43:04) The power of short, human messages

(46:33) Don’t make it weird: authentic outreach wins

(48:16) What’s next: a podcast and productized service

(53:22) Emily’s last meal on Earth

Follow Emily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-court-website-copy-and-design/

Work with Emily: https://www.emilycourt.ca/

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Create your next digital offer: https://harnessandhone.com/

Join How Solos Scale: ​​https://www.howsolosscale.com/

Download the free roadmap: https://fullstacksoloroadmap.com/

In this episode, Jed Mahrle, founder of Practical Prospecting, unpacks the journey from sales manager to solopreneur: how he validated his business while still in a W-2 role, why he initially worked for free, and what gave him the confidence to charge. He shares how content became the engine for inbound opportunities, why he said yes to everything early on, and how he built multiple income streams—from consulting to affiliate deals to brand partnerships. Jed also reflects on what makes the work meaningful today, why freedom from “OPM” (other people’s meetings) matters, and what he hopes to build next beyond B2B sales.

(00:00) Intro

(02:09) From PandaDoc to Mailshake

(02:38) The leap to solopreneurship

(04:15) Building Practical Prospecting

(05:17) The power of consistency and writing

(13:24) Diversifying revenue streams

(19:29) The role of content and sponsorships

(24:34) Joining Sell Better

(28:03) Challenges of starting a business

(28:22) The stigma of going solo

(31:58) Building in public and learning out loud

(37:24) The fulfillment of helping others

(42:44) Building a media company

Follow Jed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/outboundsales/

Subscribe to Practical Prospecting: https://www.practicalprospecting.io/

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Create your next digital offer: https://harnessandhone.com/

Join Full Stack Solopreneur: https://fullstacksolo.com/

Download the free roadmap: https://fullstacksoloroadmap.com/

Sam Browne is a longtime entrepreneur, writer, and creator known for his unique voice and practical approach to personal branding. With nearly two decades of experience building creative businesses—from a chart-topping music career to a seven-figure wedding services agency—Sam now helps others grow their audiences and businesses through intentional content strategy and brand clarity.

In this episode, Sam shares how he transitioned from the New Zealand music and events industry into a successful content-driven business on LinkedIn. He walks through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the systems behind his prolific content output, and the real reason he’s pivoting toward personal storytelling over algorithm chasing. Sam also dives into the evolution of his consulting and digital product business models, and how he’s building a new SaaS product from scratch—all while staying grounded in craft and integrity.

(00:00) Intro

(00:46) The shift to content creation

(01:53) Balancing content and life

(03:12) Content creation strategies

(04:27) The Forever 50 system

(11:29) Challenges of video content

(16:20) Authenticity in content

(18:24) Navigating LinkedIn success

(23:35) The entrepreneurial journey

(26:32) Transition to LinkedIn strategy

(27:46) Starting a business from scratch

(28:37) Building Findaband and Auckland Weddings

(30:36) Challenges and lessons learned

(32:06) Music career and entrepreneurship

(35:17) LinkedIn journey and content creation

(43:15) Private coaching and consulting

(43:56) Evolving business models

(48:10) Importance of building an email list

(50:38) Upcoming projects and goals

Follow Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-browne

Built a Profitable Personal Brand on LinkedIn with Sam: https://sam-browne.notion.site/Build-A-Profitable-Personal-Brand-on-LinkedIn-1aacfae6146d804fb435c79d1018ff48

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Create your next digital offer: https://harnessandhone.com/

Join Full Stack Solopreneur: https://fullstacksolo.com/

Download the free roadmap: https://fullstacksoloroadmap.com/