The Solo Grind cover art

The Solo Grind

The Solo Grind

Written by: Teresa Schlup The Original Caffeine Creative
Listen for free

About this listen

Welcome to the solo grind. Your weekly coffee break with a fellow solo entrepreneur who's right there in it with you. I am Teresa Schlup the original caffeine creative and this is where real business meets real life. No hype just honest conversations about building a business on your own terms. We talk mindset, strategy, burnout, breakthroughs, and everything in between because going solo doesn't mean doing it alone.

Grab a cup of coffee, find your favorite spot, and let's talk about what it really takes to do this thing solo.

© 2026 Teresa Schlup, The Solo Grind
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Pretty Doesn’t Mean It Works
    Apr 14 2026

    Send us Fan Mail


    Have you ever experienced something that looked amazing… but didn’t actually work?

    I have and today I am sharing a little behind the scenes of my trip to coast that sparked a bigger conversation about something I see all to often in business... Good ideas with good intentions, but poor execution.

    I'm sharing everything from the beautiful design details, incredible cookies, and sketchy bathroom that made it very clear that “pretty” isn’t enough.

    I will be chatting about intention and execution, and why choosing excellence (even when it’s harder) is what actually sets you apart from every other business out there!

    What I hope you take away from today's episode...

    • If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter how good it looks.
    • Good intentions don’t equal good delivery.
    • “Good enough” might be quietly costing you more than you realize.
    • Excellence doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing the right things well.
    • People remember how your work made their life easier... or harder.

    Links to connect with me...
    Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
    Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • The "Fairy Tale" Business Mindset
    Apr 7 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Have you ever caught yourself waiting for a "magic bean" or a "glass slipper" moment to finally catapult your business to the next level? I've been there, and even when it does happen it is never as great as we think it will be.

    Today, I’m taking a trip down fairytale lane to look at how the stories we loved as kids, and the ones we still tell ourselves today, that might be messing with our business mindset. ​

    I am sharing why I actually think Jack and the Beanstalk is really a story about a lazy thief how Cinderella is actually one incredibly empowered woman who didn't need saving.

    We’re diving into:

    • The Integrity Filter: Why popular opinion shouldn't dictate your business ethics.
    • The "Ever After" Shift: Lessons from my favorite movie, Ever After, on why you don’t need a fairy godmother (or a viral video) to save you.
    • Strategic Hard Work vs. Busy Work: Shifting the narrative from waiting for "the big break" to creating your own luck through resilience.
    • Dealing with the "Stepmothers": How to protect your energy from people who try to diminish your worth.

    What I hope you take away from today's episode...

    • Don't be afraid to let your ideas and perceptions be challenged.
    • Embrace the good in life... ALWAYS!
    • You don't need to be saved or rescued.
    • You create your own dream... your own success.
    • Only you can shift the narrative playing out in your mind.

    Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode...
    Movie: Ever After: A Cinderella Story

    Links to connect with me...
    Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
    Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • The Power of Design with Angela Cunningham
    Mar 31 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    One of the things I hear the most from new potential clients is, "I just don't know that I... have enough... am enough... to have a good website." And from my seat at the computer looking in I see how much modesty is getting in the way of letting them shine!

    Most of us are way better at what we do than we give ourselves credit for, and yet we sometimes still play small and hide waiting for "one day" when we are ready. Today I am chatting with my client, Angela Cunningham of Hemstitch Interior Design who decided not to wait, and who's new website has helped her shine for the world to see in new and unexpected ways.

    We talk about about websites, copywriting, the process of getting to launch and what it really looks like to be an interior designer.

    What I hope you take away from today's episode...

    • The importance of strategic content, including words and images, for SEO and client attraction
    • How a well-crafted website acts as a digital handshake and confidence booster
    • The process behind capturing a client’s personality and business essence
    • Overcoming modesty and self-doubt to confidently promote your expertise
    • Designing with purpose: reflecting processes, values, and personality

    Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode...
    Checkout Angela's website at https://hemstitchdesign.net/
    Meet our copywriter Emily Aborn at https://emilyaborn.com/

    Links to connect with me...
    Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
    Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
No reviews yet