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Joining me today is KJ Blattenbauer, a publicist with 30 years of experience, who has seen just about everything when it comes to visibility. KJ and I talk about why so many of us hide behind our screens, and she shares what it actually looks like to step into your expertise without feeling awkward or salesy.

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

• Visibility isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s an asset that supports you and your business long-term.
• You don’t need more credentials to be visible. You need to own the expertise you already have.
• Local visibility can be just as powerful (and sometimes more effective) than chasing social media reach.
• PR doesn’t have to feel intimidating or out of reach. It can be practical, intentional, and aligned with how you actually run your business.
• The questions your clients already ask you are often the best starting point for PR and visibility.
• PR isn’t about chasing fame. It’s about building credibility and a business that lasts.
• Your story matters. Sharing it thoughtfully helps people connect with you in a real way.

Mentioned in this episode...

• Hearsay PR
• Follow KJ on Instagram
• Pitchworthy by KJ Blattenbauer

Links to connect with me...

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

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Your business needs to evolve to carry the weight of business growth. Let's move from survival to sustainable and get your house in order.

Early on in our business there was this clear path to follow. It may not have felt clear, but looking back we can see there was a checklist of sorts to complete that put systems in place that would support us so we could officially say, “I am open for business.” Once that checklist was completed it was time to get down to the business of building our business. We networked, collaborated, and of course sought out new clients, and kept a pretty busy schedule trying to fit it all in, all while those systems were in the background doing their job.

Like me, you might not have checked in on those systems all that much. After all it wasn’t like you didn’t have other pressing and more urgent things to take care of. And no doubt what you put into place to get things going has probably served you well, but here is something we don’t often think about…

Those systems we initially put into place to support our business were designed by and for a startup fledgling business.

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

• Getting your house in order today, makes everything easier as your business moves through the new year
• What worked for you when you set your business up may not work for you today
• The foundation you created for your business needs to evolve if it is going to carry the weight of our business growth.

Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode...

• Find Your Marketing Zen
• Darkside of Marketing
• Interior Design Contracts from Profit Insiders Coaching
• DIY Legal Templates from Lisa Fraley, The Legal Coach
• WaveApps

Links to connect with me...

• Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
• Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

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The new year is in full swing, and I don’t know about you, but every year at this time I take a long hard look at my business, and ask one simple question…

“How can I make things run more smoothly?”

Thankfully this year I have someone I can lean on when things get too complicated, and she happens to be our guest on The Solo Grind today.

Tori Chassé with Grow & Thrive Business Solutions is here to share the importance of streamlining business processes to enhance efficiency and reduce stress.

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

• What streamlining really means in a solo business
• How automation can support your workflow without replacing your humanity
• Why flexible systems work better than rigid, overly complicated ones
• How to identify and map your processes so you can work smarter
• Practical ways to implement changes without overwhelm
• The importance of keeping a human touch, even in an automated world
• How small, intentional shifts can create big improvements in your business

The cool stuff mentioned in this episode...

• Connect with Tori personally at https://growthrivesolutions.com
• My client management system: https://www.dubsado.com

Connect with me...

• Book a Consult HERE! https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/
• Email me HERE! theperfectblend@caffeinecreative.io
• Follow me on Substack HERE! https://substack.com/@thecaffeinecreative

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We spend a lot of time trying to keep clients happy and coming back. We tweak our services, refine our systems, and look for the next thing that will make us stand out. But real loyalty is often in the small moments that happen along the way. Today, we’re mapping those moments intentionally, so the client experience you're creating matches the kind of business you want to build.

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

• Customer loyalty is built through connection, not just great services or smooth systems
• Every interaction is a touchpoint, whether you’re aware of it or not
• Small, thoughtful moments often matter more than big gestures
• As a solo business owner, your flexibility is a powerful advantage
• Clear communication and consistency build trust faster than perfection
• A strong closing matters just as much as a strong first impression
• Staying connected after the work is done keeps relationships alive
• Loyalty grows when clients feel seen, supported, and valued

Links to connect with me...

Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)

Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

Find me on Substack!

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Today isn’t about strategies or to-do lists. It is all about reflection my friends. And as this is the final episode of 2025, I thought I would share five lessons I’m taking with me into 2026. Lessons shaped by experience, perspective, and a whole lot of living in the in-between.

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

• Boredom can lead you far far away from your goals, so be careful my friends!
• Curiosity can be an incredible guide when used well.
• Focus is everything. The trick is to find it and use it well.
• When a trend conflicts with your goals, its best to skip it.
• We all need to step back and make time for rest if we want to achieve our goals.

Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode...

• Episode 50, When it stops being fun is it time to break up?

Links to connect with me...

Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)

Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io

Find me on Substack!

Send us a text

Today in this short and sweet episode, I am reflecting on what happens when we keep pushing through just because we can. This drive to keep going may feel necessary, even like growth, but the constant giving just a little bit more comes at a price, that can cost us our dreams if we aren't careful.

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

• There is an incredible power in the pause...
• These quiet little moments help us see what we want and what we don't
• They help us choose where to give our time and energy
• Are necessary to build the life of our dreams.

Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode...

• Small Business Casual with Emily Aborn episode From Depleted to Restored: Which Type of Rest Do You Need Most?
• Teddy Bridgewater commercial

Links to connect with me...
Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
Email: theperfectblend@caffeinecreative.io
Find me on Substack!

Send us a text

We talk a lot about discovering our strengths. But knowing what you’re good at is only the first step. The real shift happens when you stop collecting insights and start using what you know about yourself to make better decisions, avoid unnecessary detours, and build a life and business that actually fits.

Today, I am sharing my own experience with discovering my strengths and how I have used that knowledge to build the business and life I was dreaming of. I am sharing a few different assessments, how to quickly analyze the results so you can actually benefit, and how to find the right people to fill in the gaps where you need extra guidance and support.

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

• Knowing your strengths is just one tiny piece of unlocking the puzzle for success
• Understanding what is shared and applying that knowledge is to key to moving the needle forward
• When we can recognize our strengths with clarity, and own them with confidence we can better see where we shine.
• How to understand those assessments so we can put this knowledge to good use.
• Where we struggle isn't a weakness. It is where we need guidance, support or plain old release and delegation
• It's okay to look beyond your inner circle to find the support you need to build the business and life of your dream.

Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode...

CliftonStrengths Assessment
Kolbe A Index
Enneagram
Two Question Enneagram from Simply.Coach

Links to connect with me...

Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
Email: theperfectblend@caffeinecreative.io
Find me on Substack!

Send us a text

Have you ever found yourself reading a book or listening to podcast, that grabs you so much you drop what you are doing, grab your notebook and start taking notes? That is what happened, when I first listened to the episode The Cost of Yes: Saying 'no' with kindness and ease on The Small Business Casual podcast by Emily Aborn. I started by jotting a few key phrases down on post-it notes, as ideas to work into my own podcast. Soon, I was curled up in my favorite chair with notebook in hand scribbling down all sorts of ideas and repeatedly say, "Yes! So true!"

Maybe this was because I had just recorded our Tuesday episode Saying “No” as a Growth Strategy with Lesley Myrick, or perhaps it was because I know how important a kindly shared "no" can be when growing your business. Whatever the reason, I knew I had to bring Emily's words of wisdom to my own show.

So I reach out and asked if I could re-air this episode here on The Solo Grind! And that is what we are sharing in this episode.

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

☕ Behind every yes, there is a cost.
☕ Every yes subtracts from somewhere else.
☕ Those ‘quick questions' are rarely quick!
☕ No isn’t selfish. It’s a strategy.
☕ Be careful of the yes that comes from obligation.
☕ A resentful yes is more damaging than a clear, kind no.
☕ A quick yes often leads to a complicated no
☕ When yes becomes your default, your life fills with things that don’t fit.

I want you to fill you life and the new year ahead with the things that bring you joy, and to do that you've got to get really good at saying 'no'. Here is how you can do that with kindness and ease.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

☕ Heather Maguire (The Unconventional Intuitive) Instagram
☕ Setting Boundaries for Business & Life Episode
☕ 4 Questions to Ask Before Saying Yes Episode
☕ 4 Top Takeaways from 53 Podcast Guest Interviews Episode

Links to connect with me...

☕ Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
☕ Email: theperfectblend@caffeinecreative.io
☕ Find me on Substack!