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/

Ryan Baum is a growth consultant and content strategist who's redefined his path in the solitude of solopreneurship.

In this episode, Ryan shares his unconventional journey, battling the fast-paced tech industry's "build the plane as you fly it" mentality, and finding clarity through authentic connections and an ADHD realization. From LinkedIn ghostwriting to the intricacies of content operations, Ryan shares his mission to solve real problems for content marketers while fostering meaningful relationships.

00:00 Marketing that matters

03:06 How cold DMs can build connections

06:54 The journey from in-house to solopreneur

10:01 Slowing down in a fast-paced tech environment

22:18 How to use AI in content creation

35:11 Success using unconventional business models

41:52 Struggles with productized services

55:20 Emotional tolls on content marketers

58:23 The future of SEO and content marketing

--

Follow Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanbaum/
--

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/

Tommy Walker is the founder of The Content Studio and he develops content programs for high growth startups and Fortune 1000 enterprises.

In this episode, Tommy shares the struggles he faced, from living in a boarding house with a cracked laptop to scoring a life-changing business opportunity with LinkedIn. He reflects on the highs and lows of transitioning from freelancing to roles at CXL and Shopify, and his eventual pivot to consulting. Tommy discusses the importance of intentionality, the rigors of market research, and the creation of a digital offer ladder.

(00:00) The responsibility of being a solopreneur

(03:36) Starting a business during a recession

(05:10) The struggles of having your first client

(13:14) How to apply acting skills in marketing

(22:28) Building The Content Studio

(28:34) The challenges in building online courses

(31:37) How discontent reports can lead to valuable insights

--

Follow Tommy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommyismyname
--

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/

Devin Pickell is a solo content and SEO strategist who took the leap into entrepreneurship after being laid off during the 2023 tech layoffs.

In this episode, Devin reflects on his journey from working with big names like G2 and Nextiva to building his own business. He shares the challenges of going solo, the importance of building a reputation versus a personal brand, and how he navigated the ups and downs of solopreneurship.

(00:00) 2023 tech layoff experience

(01:10) How 'Do I Need SEO?' started

(02:07) Building a network in the tech space

(08:03) The impact of personal branding

(11:25) Going solo as a content and SEO strategist

(19:49) Navigating risk as a solopreneur

(24:29) Leveraging LinkedIn for client acquisition

(32:41) Balancing client work and personal marketing

(45:00) The importance of business strategy and self-promotion

(49:15) The rewarding journey of solopreneurship

--

Follow Devin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-pickell/
--

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/

Bobby Gillespie is the founder of Propr, an advisory and creative services agency he’s run for nine years - he’s currently transitioning to being 100% solo.

In this episode, Bobby reflects on his journey from running an agency to becoming a solo entrepreneur. He shares his emotional challenges, the pressures of market demands, and the transition to advisory and consulting work. Discover Bobby's raw and honest take on the evolving nature of markets, the importance of brand reputation, and why centering on shared principles with customers is crucial.

(00:00) Transitioning to solopreneurship
(02:22) Leaving the big agency life
(04:22) Building a boutique agency
(06:14) The shift to consulting
(09:48) Reflections on the design industry
(18:07) Market perceptions change, strategy is key
(27:53) Giving back to the design industry

--

Follow Bobby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatbobbyg/
--

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/

Dylan Ciaccio is the Marketing Director of Black Camel Agency and the host of the B2B Strategy Podcast.

In this episode, Dylan talks about transitioning from running the experiment of running something on his own to going back in-house. Dylan shares his insights on aligning incentives, the importance of marketing the problem, and establishing "problemotional advertising." He also opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, the vital role of mentorship, and his ultimate goal to create a new category in B2B advertising.

(00:00) Dylan’s solopreneur journey

(02:15) The birth of Rekorded

(06:32) Client acquisition and content strategy

(08:12) Existential crisis and category design

(15:22) Transitioning to an in-house role

(24:57) A new perspective with Black Camel Agency

(26:17) The power of ‘problemotional’ advertising

(28:56) Navigating partnership dynamics

--

Follow Dylan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-ciaccio
--

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/