Two of Christopher G. Fox’s biggest wins looked like giving up from the outside.

Christopher is the managing partner at Ideas Led Growth, but he started out in academia before shifting to consulting. In this episode, he uncovers his transition strategies, overcoming academic burnout and leveraging thought leadership to cultivate long-term client relationships. This conversation explores how Christopher turned setbacks into successful entrepreneurial ventures while maintaining the delicate balance between personal and professional growth.

(00:00) Perception shapes our sense of failure
(10:05) Results-oriented over influence-oriented environments.
(16:59) The side hustle that became a full-fledged business
(20:05) The beauty of the hub and spoke business model
(22:09) What it means to optimize the consequences of your decisions
(28:06) The rare and remarkable long-term clients
(34:38) The importance of idea articulation for client relations and product development
(41:37) How thought leadership differs from educational content
(44:24) The entrepreneur's evolution from accepting any client to specializing

--
Follow Christopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophergfox/
--
Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/
Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/

Shannon Curran, founder of SSC Consulting and a Fractional CMO, has a dream of what her life will look like and is building her work around that.

In this episode, Shannon opens up about her transition from full-time roles to a fractional CMO determined to balance life and work on her terms. From navigating organizational changes post-maternity leave to defining her niche in the crowded fractional leadership space, Shannon shares her journey and strategies. Learn how she supports tech startups, juggles multiple clients, and dedicates time to personal commitments—all while staying true to her values and aiming to create a sustainable business for her family's future.

(00:00) Defining why your work matters

(05:38) Jumping from full-time to a business of one

(09:17) “Babies make you brave”

(12:19) The challenge of closing a deal

(18:18) The evolution of skill sets over time

(25:33) Understanding the ebb and flow of solo work

(31:01) What’s working well for Shannon

(37:09) Niching in on a problem

(45:30) Can we stop the winning in public facade?

--

Follow Shannon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran-55332942/

--

Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/

Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/

Garrett Jestice, founder of Prelude Marketing, hit a wall of burnout that spurred a dramatic career shift.

In this episode, Garrett talks about his journey from a marketing leader in early-stage B2B software companies to thriving as a solopreneur, navigating the difficult path of client acquisition and scaling a business without scaling time. Garrett shared his insights for solopreneurs on honing sales and writing skills, leveraging networks, and productizing services to stand out in a crowded market.

(00:00) The two most important solopreneur skills

(01:28) How to navigate the transition to solopreneurship

(05:51) Strategic growth tips for entrepreneurs

(15:18) Transforming fractional CMO role into a productized service

(24:22) Tips to refine the consulting process

(28:06) How to market to different business types

(29:22) Leveraging niche problems to draw in diverse industries

(38:18) How solopreneurs adapt in an oversaturated market

--

Follow Garrett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettjestice/
--

Subscribe to the 1,000 Routes Newsletter: https://1000routes.com/

Get my free blueprint for Solopreneurs - ⁠The Digital Consulting Blueprint: 5 Steps To Acquire New Clients, Stabilize Your Income, And Capture The Value You Create⁠: https://becomeadigitalconsultant.com/