Episode 233

5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started My Online Business

You're working so hard. Putting in the hours. Showing up every day.

But something's not clicking yet.

And you're wondering: Am I doing this right? Is my idea even good? How much longer until this actually WORKS?

Friend, I've been exactly where you are.

And here's what I wish someone had told me from day one:

You don't need to figure this out through years of trial and error.

You don't need to learn from a dozen different experts and try to piece together the puzzle yourself.

You don't need to keep pivoting every time something feels hard.

What you need is the COMPLETE framework. All the pieces. Connected. From the start.

That's what I'm giving you today.

The 4 things that work TOGETHER to build a real online business:

  1. ONE problem you solve (the deeper transformation that keeps you interested)
  2. ONE human you transform (specific enough that they feel SEEN)
  3. ONE product ladder (so they keep buying from you, not just once)
  4. ONE platform (master it before you try to be everywhere)

But here's the most important part - the thing I'm saving for the end:

It's not a strategy. It's a piece of ADVICE that will either make or break everything else.

And if I could go back and tell myself just ONE thing? This would be it.

Because here's the truth:

Most people don't fail because their idea was bad.

They fail because they never gave it enough TIME to work.

They quit three months before the breakthrough. Six months before real traction. Right before everything was about to click.

Don't be that person.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • How to pick the ONE problem that lights YOU up (not just what sounds profitable)
  • Why getting specific about your ONE human actually attracts MORE of the right people
  • The product ladder strategy that turns one-time buyers into lifetime customers
  • How to choose your platform based on where your energy meets your audience
  • The one mindset shift that separates people who make it from people who quit

And the big one: How long you actually need to commit before you pivot (this will surprise you)

Plus, I'm giving you access to a free workshop where I'll show you how to VALIDATE your idea before you spend a year building it.

Because you don't have to guess if your idea is good. You can KNOW.

Text FREEDOM to 55444 to get the free workshop.

Listen, I know you're tired. I know you're wondering if this is ever going to work.

But you're closer than you think.

You don't need a new idea. You don't need a new strategy.

You need the complete framework. And the patience to work it.

That's what this episode gives you.

Hit play. Take notes. And let's build this thing the RIGHT way.

You've got this. I believe in you.

Now let's get to work.

About the Podcast

Show artwork for Freedom Entrepreneur Podcast | Online Business Tips, Business System Strategy, Marketing Training, Entrepreneur Mindset
Freedom Entrepreneur Podcast | Online Business Tips, Business System Strategy, Marketing Training, Entrepreneur Mindset
Helping You Engineer Your Freedom & Your Business Success

About your host

Profile picture for Lindsay Sutherland

Lindsay Sutherland

Lindsay Sutherland is a business consultant, speaker, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping business owners build companies that run with freedom, purpose, and profit. With over 20 years of leadership and sales experience in the automotive industry, Lindsay understands the challenges of growing a business that feels more like a burden than a blessing. After leaving corporate life, she co-founded Biz in a Box Solutions, a CRM and automation company that empowers small service-based businesses to streamline their operations and reclaim their time.

Her signature consulting program, The Clockwork Method, guides overwhelmed business owners through the process of systemizing, scaling, and stepping back into the true role of visionary leader. Lindsay’s approach blends practical business systems with faith-led alignment, helping entrepreneurs not only make more money but also create a business that supports their life — not the other way around.

As the host of The Freedom Entrepreneur Podcast, Lindsay shares strategies, stories, and mindset shifts that challenge conventional thinking and inspire business owners to grow without burning out. She also co-owned Off Grid Unlimited Installations, an electrical and renewable energy company in Idaho, where she lives with her husband and four children on their family farm.

Passionate about redefining success beyond hustle culture, Lindsay helps leaders build businesses rooted in clarity, sustainability, and freedom. Whether she’s speaking on stage, consulting with executives, or mentoring faith-led entrepreneurs, her mission is the same: to help people transform their business into a vehicle for purpose, profit, and lasting impact.