Shows
On Your Terms®I’m Back—with $338k Launch Secrets Coming Your WayI’ve been a little quiet here on On Your Terms—but for good reason. In this quick update, I’m sharing where I’ve been (hint: launching a book!) and what’s coming next (some juicy behind-the-scenes lessons I’ve learned after 2 super successful launches so far in 2025). If you think that online business is dying or you’re wondering whether it’s true that things are changing, next week’s episode is definitely for you. Can’t wait to be back in your ears this Monday, May 12.RESOURCES:Order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be...2025-05-0506 minOn Your Terms®233: The Business Advice That’s Keeping You Stuck (And What Actually Works) [Happy Trap Series #2]Have you ever felt like every business "guru" is shouting about one perfect strategy—the magic formula for hitting $10K months? But no matter what you try, nothing seems to stick?Yeah, I’ve been there too. When I started my legal templates business eight years ago, I kept hearing that I had to run my webinar live first before making it evergreen. But life had other plans—my dad was sick, and I simply didn’t have the time. So, I went against the advice of all the experts and launched my webinar as evergreen right away. An...2025-03-1021 minOn Your Terms®232. Why Hitting Your Goals Won't Make You Happy (But What Actually Will) [Happy Trap Series #1]Remember when you first started your business? You might have had all these goals, dreams, and ambitions, and thought that once you hit those milestones, you'd be happy and finally feel successful. So what's the deal, then, when you've come so far and achieved so much…but you still aren't happy?In this episode, you’ll hear…What the Happy Trap is, and how we fall into it as entrepreneursWhy success in your business won't necessarily make you feel fulfilledWhy you feel stuck after hitting goals you thought would bring you happinessWhat you should actually be focusi...2025-03-0312 minOn Your Terms®231. Why You’re Not As Lost As You Think (+ BIG NEWS!)Ever feel like you’re the only one who doesn’t have it all figured out? You’re not alone. In this episode, I share the surprising story of how Saturday Night Live stars Bill Hader and Andy Samberg met for the first time—each one secretly convinced that the other was the one "doing it right". Spoiler alert: they both were.This story perfectly captures one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves in business, creativity, and life: that everyone else knows what they’re doing while we're somehow lost or that we need to follow what *they...2025-02-2413 minOn Your Terms®230. The Future of Online Business: 4 Game-Changing Trends You Need to Know in 2025It's been a weird couple of months on social media, from content policing to apps disappearing and reappearing, new features and different trends - things have definitely changed and reached a tipping point for 2025. So how are you going to ride the wave, and keep your sanity amidst this ever changing landscape?In this episode, you’ll hear…What types of content people will be drawn to, and how you can create it without burning yourself outWhy "old fashioned" marketing and connections are seeing a big comebackWhen to use AI to your advantage without replacing yourselfHow you...2025-02-1722 minOn Your Terms®228. The Surprising Shift That Took My Business From $0 to 7-FiguresWhen you first start a business, much of your day may be spent casually networking or binging all of the free content related to entrepreneurship (that was me! 🙋🏻). It's very tempting to get caught up with consuming rather than doing, so it's important to check in with yourself and determine if what you're filling your days with in the now will help to build your business in the long run.In this episode, you’ll hear…The mindset shift I needed to implement early and often to build a successful businessWhy it's vital to have measurable, concrete a...2025-01-2018 minOn Your Terms®227. My Top 3 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Email List (From Someone With 45K Subs)+ HUGE BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!After becoming BFFs with Google, I learned all I could about email lists, freebies, and landing pages; my mind was overflowing! Now I’m eight years and almost 45,000 subscribers into my legal business, and I can confidently say that my email list is the foundation of my business’s success. I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned along the way to help you build your own email-driven success story (and I’m also very excited to fill you in on how you can get my new book when it drops this spring!).In this episode, you...2025-01-0735 minOn Your Terms®226. Part 2: What You're Missing in Your 2025 Business Plan (I'll Fix It)Welcome to a new approach to goal setting and personal growth. As we prepare to step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what might be missing from your current business plan and decide on what to implement if you're a new business owner. I’m sharing strategies for creating a plan that feels authentic and motivating. In this episode, you’ll hear…Insights into setting focused and achievable goals for 2025How to stay open to change and new ideas in your business journeyUnderstanding the value of KPIs in guiding your business decisionsCreating quarterly focuses...2024-12-1614 minOn Your Terms®225. Part 1: The Online Business Year End Review That Could Transform Your 2025Have you ever taken a moment to look back on where you’ve been and how far you’ve come? Lately, I’ve been doing just that, reflecting on my journey throughout 2024. It’s been a year filled with growth, unexpected challenges, and valuable lessons. I'll be sharing a few insights from my experience that might inspire your own reflections as you look ahead.In this episode, you’ll hear…Insights into balancing personal well-being with professional goalsHow personal experiences can impact business and lifeStrategies that led to revenue growth and a successful book dealThe importance of evolving...2024-12-0922 min
The Ultimate Bundle®Q3: September 2024 Live Q&A with SamThank you so much to everyone who joined the live Q&A on September 26, 2024 with our special guest, Keila from Little Fish Accounting! We had some great questions including...What should I be supplying my accountant with for annual taxes?What counts as a write-off or business expense in my business?Do I need to disclose gifts to clients/customers in my tax return?Are pro-bono services able to be written off?...and SO much more!Want to hear more from Keila and Sam? Check out the On Your Terms® podcast episodes featuring Keila:2024-10-051h 31On Your Terms®224. Why I'm Taking a Break [we'll be back!]Knowing when to take a break is important. I am listening to my own advice and taking a break from the podcast. I need time and mental space to finish my book.In this episode, I explain my thought process. I also explain where listeners can find my educational resources while I am out. Check out the Resources links below to my YouTube, Substack, etc.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why I am taking time off from the podcast to finish my book and restThe power of zooming out to see the big pict...2024-07-2916 minOn Your Terms®223. ☀️ How a Rude DM Inspired Me to Do This [Summer Series]The other day I received a comment on social media about how I did not look great in a video. In the past, I would have been reactive. Instead, I just laughed out loud.In today’s episode, I share my practice in becoming more confident and comfortable with myself and my online business.It has been a journey, and it is definitely still ongoing, but if this Philly-born, 90s era-raised girl can do it, so can you.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why perfectionism is the enemy of contentHow changing the st...2024-07-2217 minOn Your Terms®222. ☀️If Social Media Sucks… Where Can You Grow Your Online Business? [Summer Series]In the last episode, I talked some smack about social media: It’s bad for your mental health, your content won’t have great longevity or searchability, etc. So this episode I cover what to do instead, or in addition to, social media. First, I break down discovery vs. nurturing. Then, I explain why email is a great nurturing platform. And finally I talk about when social media can be an effective marketing tool, if you still really want to use it.I hope you’re enjoying these “Online Business Summer School” episodes, including the background...2024-07-1515 minOn Your Terms®221. ☀️ Social Media Wrecked My Brain [Summer Series]Social media is designed to be addictive. Summer can be a great time to evaluate your social media usage– both consumption and creation. In this episode, I describe my experience scaling back on social media and scaling up in other areas of my personal life and business. I give you tips in case you want to do the same. I cover delegating to team members, pivoting towards more evergreen content, and re-evaluating your production approach.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why you might want to scale back on social mediaThe power of everg...2024-07-0815 minOn Your Terms®220. ☀️ Real Talk: I Need a Bit of a Reset [Introducing: Summer Series]Welcome to the first episode of the Summer School series! This summer I’ll be creating short weekly episodes on the go- while I’m at the gym, on a walk. etc. In each one, I’ll share one lesson I’ve learned about business and life.Today’s lesson: Find a balance between creativity and strategy in your business content creation. Don’t let strategy strangle your creativity and joy. But, of course, don’t get too far away from your business objectives.In this episode, you’ll hear…What you can expect from the Summer Sc...2024-07-0110 minOn Your Terms®219. How to Start an Online Business in 2024Today’s episode is a recording of my new free legal training “Five Steps to Legally Protect and Grow Your Online Business”. I share the step-by-step plan you need to do to set the legal foundation to protect yourself, your business and have the ability to grow and scale successfully.Step one is adjusting your mindset. Step two is how to register as the right kind of business entity. Step three is getting business insurance in place so you don’t owe anything if you get sued. Step four is how to protect your boundaries with contracts. And step...2024-06-241h 08On Your Terms®218. Why You Might Not Own Your Canva Graphics or AI ContentPeople are often surprised when I tell them they might not own the content they create on Canva. That’s why in today’s episode I give a quick overview of what you should be aware of in terms of content creation, including AI generated content, and copyrights.I walk through Canva, ChatGPT, and a few other tools, explaining what to look for in their licenses.As a business owner, the buck stops with you. You’re the one responsible for ensuring your business’s content is legal and protected. I hope this episode gives you a li...2024-06-1724 minOn Your Terms®217. Do Free Contracts Protect You At All? My honest takeAre you using the free contracts provided by platforms like Thinkific or Kajabi to protect your online business? If so, you might be wondering if they’re really enough to keep you legally covered. Today, I'm breaking down why these default terms of use might not be as protective as you think and what steps you can take to ensure your business is truly safeguarded. We'll explore the inadequacies of these free contracts and discuss how to create customized terms that reflect your unique business needs.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why free contracts from platfo...2024-06-1013 minOn Your Terms®216. I Stopped My Hike to Call Myself Out on THIS Bad HabitThis episode comes to you from the M trail in San Luis Obispo, California. I realized I was falling back into a bad habit of mine so I pulled out my phone to make a voice recording to share with my future self and with all of you!While I was hiking, I was spending the whole time being worried about snakes, tarantulas, weird bugs, and being very, very high up. This is a bad habit of mine that I fall into with my business journey too. I focus so much on my fears. I fight and...2024-06-0309 minOn Your Terms®215. How Much Should Business Insurance Cost for Coaching Businesses?One of the core startup costs for an online business is business insurance. In today’s episode, I teach you about business insurance and the general cost you can expect.Business insurance is critical for financially protecting your business. Even if you just receive a nasty lawyer letter threatening to sue you for liability, your business insurance will step in with their own lawyer to act on your behalf. I go over the key terms you need to know: Premiums, deductible, liability limits, exposure, policy limits, and exclusions. Then I explain how they all interact to...2024-05-2716 minOn Your Terms®214. How To Start A Business on a BudgetStarting an online business is much cheaper than starting a brick-and-mortar shop, but it still has costs. So how do you navigate those costs before your business starts bringing in any money? That’s what we cover in today’s episode.I walk through the three-step process of how to start a business on a budget: Save, Research, Budget. I breakdown each one in detail, giving examples from my own experience.Being realistic in your projections and plans leads to the empowered, quality decision-making necessary to build a sustainable business. I hope this episode helps you...2024-05-2033 minOn Your Terms®213. Confessions of a Debut Author: Imposter Syndrome, Budgeting, and Trolls (ft. Money Expert, Jannese Torres)Writing a book isn’t just about writing a book. It brings up all kinds of business and personal dynamics, challenges, and opportunities for growth. Today fellow debut author, Jannese Torres, joins me to talk about why she chose to write a book as part of her personal finance business, and how she has made it work.Jannese is an award-winning Latina Money Expert. She helps her clients and listeners build successful online businesses that allow them to pursue financial independence and freedom. Her podcast, Yo Quiero Dinero® is a platform to de-stigmatize money as a taboo top...2024-05-1339 minOn Your Terms®212. How A Podcast Can Grow Your Online Business (ft. Podcast Expert, Michelle Rubinstein)This podcast episode is about podcasts. Our team’s podcast aficionado, Michelle Rubinstein, interviews me about how I utilize On Your Terms® to nurture my audience and aid in growing my business.We have a great conversation about how this podcast has been my most productive nurturing channel– helping people get to a place where they’re ready to purchase my product. We talk about voice of customer research, meeting listeners where they’re at, and providing in-depth, nuanced information. We also talk about why it’s important to pick a medium that you actually enjoy using.Then w...2024-05-0653 minOn Your Terms®211. Launch Series Pt. 4 | Post-Launch Audit: How to Use Data for Future Launch SuccessRight after launches, it’s normal to feel big feelings: Relief it’s over, excitement about success, sadness about failure. Feel your feelings, whichever ones they are, but don’t create unhelpful stories about them. Instead, channel your energy into getting the true story. Send out surveys to gather data.In this episode, I dive into everything you need to know about post-sale surveys and how to execute them. I teach you how to measure sale success and figure out which marketing channels produced a good ROI for your business. Plus, I touch on how to encourage post p...2024-04-2925 minOn Your Terms®208. Launch Series Pt. 1 | Behind the Scenes of a $300,000 Digital Product LaunchWelcome to the first episode of our series on how to run a launch! Lindsey Deatsch, my Director of Operations, is my special guest today. She’s a pro at launches– before she came to work with me, she was a launch manager at an agency, doing launches day in and day out.We cover how to make a product launch timeline and create a pre-launch marketing strategy: Schedule the anchor point, then the invite period, then the teaser period and learning phase, the “open cart” period, and the post-launch survey. We also spend a lot of ti...2024-04-0850 minOn Your Terms®208. Launch Series Pt. 1 | Behind the Scenes of a $300,000 Digital Product LaunchWelcome to the first episode of our series on how to run a launch! Lindsey Deatsch, my Director of Operations, is my special guest today. She’s a pro at launches– before she came to work with me, she was a launch manager at an agency, doing launches day in and day out.We cover how to make a product launch timeline and create a pre-launch marketing strategy: Schedule the anchor point, then the invite period, then the teaser period and learning phase, the “open cart” period, and the post-launch survey. We also spend a lot of ti...2024-04-0550 minOn Your Terms®206. How to Create Unique Content (Without Copying Your Competition)Following your competitors on social media can lead you down a self-doubt rabbit hole. In this episode, you’ll find inspiration so you can stand out to your audience and I’ll share 6 ways to create content that don’t involve following your competition.In this episode, you’ll hear…The pitfalls of looking at your competition’s digital marketingPractices that will help you generate creative content ideasConcepts that apply no matter what specific creative content tools you useClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RE...2024-03-2530 minOn Your Terms®Bonus. MAJOR BOI NEWS UPDATE (DO I HAVE TO FILE A BOI REPORT?)This is just a quick bonus episode on the breaking news about the BOI law (Beneficial Ownership Information). Yes, a federal court in Alabama has ruled it as unconstitutional. But you still have to file it (don’t worry its free and simple). Only the plaintiffs in the case don’t have to file. Check out the links below for help with filing your BOI. In this episode, you’ll hear…Breaking news about BOI from a federal court in AlabamaWhat it means for youLinks to help you file your BOIClick here to find the...2024-03-0706 minOn Your Terms®203. 5 Things to Tell Yourself When You Feel Like QuittingFeel like quitting? Don’t worry, I’ve been there. Being an entrepreneur can be super lonely, especially when you’re struggling. That’s why in this episode I share 5 things to tell yourself when you feel like quitting. I use them myself and I really hope you find them helpful too. In this episode, you’ll hear…The power of giving yourself permission to quit, or better yet, pauseHow to stop equating yourself with your resultsWhy you should ask yourself, “Am I done or am I disappointed?” The importance to expect things to be hardWhy you need to honestl...2024-03-0434 minOn Your Terms®183. Stop Playing Small [Monday Motivation!]Starting an online business can often feel like navigating uncharted waters, especially for women entrepreneurs who face unique challenges. In this journey, it’s crucial to recognize the seriousness and legitimacy of your venture. As someone who transitioned from a corporate lawyer to an online business owner, I understand the hurdles and skepticism that can come your way. But it’s time to stop playing small and start seeing your business for the powerhouse it can be.In this episode, you’ll hear…How women entrepreneurs often face significant challenges in being taken seriously in the business...2023-12-2520 minOn Your Terms®168. What to Do When a Client Doesn't Pay YouEver had that sinking feeling when a client's payment doesn't go through or when they outright refuse to pay? We've all been there, and it's a situation that's more common than you might think. But the real challenge arises when you're uncertain about the next steps. In today's chat, we'll discuss a structured approach to navigate such situations, ensuring you're equipped to handle them with grace and professionalism.In this episode, you’ll hear…The commonality of client non-payment situations and how not to take them personallyThe paramount importance of contracts in addressing payment disputesStrategies for paym...2023-11-0224 minOn Your Terms®143. Conquer Your To-Do List + Be More Productive [ft. Online Business Strategist, Louise Henry]Picking a productivity system for my business was an absolute game-changer — and I credit Louise Henry with giving me the tools to take full advantage of it. In our conversation, we deep dive into productivity, goal-setting, and identifying the perfect platform for your content. Believe it or not, you can truly scale your entrepreneurial productivity without putting in extra hours—all you need are systematic processes and clear-cut daily priorities.In this episode, you’ll hear…Unexpected challenges and benefits of starting an online businessTop three pointers for budding entrepreneursShowing up on YouTubeWhy systems are so importan...2023-08-0759 minOn Your Terms®141. How to Get People On Your Email ListHey there! I'm beyond excited to talk about a topic that has been such a pivotal part of my business journey - email marketing. It's not just about the sales; it's the intimate and personal connections I've been able to build with my subscribers that make it so special. Remember those days when email lists were all the rage, then somehow fell out of favor? Well, I stuck to it, and now look at the resurgence of email newsletters and platforms like Substack! My main advice - focus on the type of content your audience wants and align that...2023-07-3156 minOn Your Terms®119. 10 Lessons from My Team Break-UpsAs an entrepreneur who has built a multi-seven-figure business, I've had my fair share of experiences when it comes to hiring and firing employees and contractors. In this episode, I want to share my top 10 tips for managing these relationships and navigating the complexities of staffing your business. My goal is to help you build a successful team while maintaining healthy working relationships with your employees and contractors.In this episode, you’ll hear…Getting clear on what you’re hiring forHiring slow, firing fastHow to hire like a professionalOwning your mistakes…and more!If you’d...2023-05-1528 minOn Your Terms®117. How I've Grown My Business During Tough TimesStarting and growing a business is hard. And then, you still have to deal with all of the hard stuff that life regularly throws at you on top of all that. Over the years, I have experienced some of the most challenging times of my life, from brain surgery and caring for my father during his battle with cancer, to coping with the loss of my father and my mother's ongoing health struggles. So, we're breaking our usual routine to have a heart-to-heart conversation about how I’m coping and finding ways to keep (some of) it together....2023-05-0825 minOn Your Terms®115. My Book Update!Have you ever considered writing a book? There’s a stat floating around that says 81% of people hope to write a book one day, so chances are you’re one of them — and so am I! I’m going to share what my journey of writing a book proposal and querying agents has looked like so far, and what’s happening next. I’ll also give tips I’ve learned from my writing coach as well as naturally along the way.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why I’ve always wanted to write a bookWhere I’m at in the writin...2023-05-0125 minOn Your Terms®95. "I Can Do It Better Myself" - What to Outsource + Do YourselfDo you need to be a jack of all trades to run an online business? This episode explores the dilemma of having to wear multiple hats as a business owner. I share my personal experience and how I balanced my passions with the demands of running a business. Listen to learn how you can grow your business without sacrificing your sanity — and still indulge in your favorite business activities.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why some business owners struggle to hand off tasks and delegateThe skills most business owners should take ownership ofThe first things you ca...2023-02-2032 minOn Your Terms®94. Can I Teach What I Learn in My Certification Program?In this episode, I'm tackling a question about scope of practice in the health and wellness field. But don't tune out just yet, because this applies to all types of coaches, regardless of industry.In this episode, you’ll hear…Understanding scope of practiceWhat dictates what you’re allowed to teach in your businessDoing your homework on what you can legally teach as a coachIf you’d like a shoutout (and a chance to win a $20 gift card), just leave a review on Apple Podcasts and send a screenshot of it to me on Insta...2023-02-1609 minOn Your Terms®93. Sustainable Scaling [ft. Business & Mindset Coach, Naomi Powell]Naomi Powell is the owner of The Lifestyle Edit, and she joins me to chat about business, money mindset, and how our childhood and experiences influence us as entrepreneurs. We discussed building a business on our own terms, designing it around our lives instead of the other way around.In this episode, you’ll hear…How to build a successful business while enjoying the processHealing your relationship with moneyBeing adaptable to new trendsBuilding a business geared towards your actual goalsFinding a balance between short-term and long-term visionsIf you’d like a shoutout (and a chan...2023-02-1344 minOn Your Terms®92. Which Legal Contract Do You Need?Do you know what contracts you need depending on what you offer? In this week’s “Sam’s Sidebar,” you'll learn about the contracts and policies you need for different business situations.In this episode, you’ll hear…What contracts you need when working with clientsThe different contracts of agreements needed for websites, social media, and other contentHow the Ultimate Bundle® walks you through the process of filling out and using every contract templateIf you’d like a shoutout (and a chance to win a $20 gift card), just leave a review on Apple Podcasts and se...2023-02-0908 minOn Your Terms®91. Business Expenses 101Are you unsure about what qualifies as a business expense? Confused about when you can start counting them or what happens to expenses incurred before registering your business? In this episode, we'll be diving into all of that and more. Learn about what business expenses you may be missing out on — and what things you may think are an expense but actually aren't. Let’s make sure you're not missing out on any deductions for your business.In this episode, you’ll hear…What business expenses are and why they are so misunderstoodWhether or not you can dedu...2023-02-0629 minOn Your Terms®90. The Ultimate Bundle® FAQs: Answered!Let’s dive into your most-asked questions about my signature program, the Ultimate Bundle®. In this episode, you’ll hear…How the Ultimate Bundle® differs from what you get at big box legal storesWhether you should buy the Ultimate Bundle® before getting your first clientWhat it looks like inside the Ultimate Bundle® and how long it takes to useClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Get the Ultimate Bundle® right hereEpisode 88. What's in the Ultimate Bundle®?Episode 87. The Ultimate Bundle® IRL: How Real Customers Use...2023-02-0208 minOn Your Terms®89. How to Legally Protect Your Online BusinessFor the first-time ever, you can now access my full-length live legal training via podcast format! You’re busy. There’s a lot going on. At the end of a long work day, the last thing you want to do is sit at your computer for another hour. Even if that hour is spent learning how to legally protect your online business. That’s why I’m offering my newest live training – How to Legally Protect Your Online Business: Five Simple Steps That Every Entrepreneur Must Take (before it's too late) – here. Take me on your commute, walk the dog...2023-01-3057 minOn Your Terms®84. Is business insurance worth it?In this episode, we’re talking about whether or not business insurance is really worth it — and why.In this episode, you’ll hear…Whether business insurance is worth itThe kinds of business insurance availableHow to pick the type of insurance right for youWhy it’s so worthwhile Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Submit your legal question for an upcoming episode of On Your Terms®: https://samvanderwielen.typeform.com/to/UiUT1dEASign up for my 2x weekly emails here (and be the first to hea...2023-01-1206 minOn Your Terms®83. Legally Protect Your Online Biz: The Bare Minimum that Produces ResultsWhen we don’t know what we don’t know, we tend to build stuff up in our head. That’s especially true when it comes to legally protecting your online business. Let’s slow down the conversation and stop the overwhelm. Whether you’re concerned you haven’t done enough or you simply don’t know what to do first, I’m going to break things down and share my layered legal approach to getting your basics covered.In this episode, you’ll hear…The three foundations of legal protectionHow to get out of analysis paralysis and start...2023-01-0916 minOn Your Terms®82. Is my biz legally protected enough?In this episode, we’re talking all about what you need to do — at least officially — to legally protect your online business so you have the peace of mind you need to move forward. In this episode, you’ll hear…How to know when your business has enough legal protectionThe basic foundations of legit legal protectionAddressing new legal opportunities as they come upClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Free resource: Legally Legit Checklist: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/legally-legit-checklist/Submit your legal question for an upco...2023-01-0508 minOn Your Terms®81. Do You Really Believe In Your Business? (You're Not Alone)We could all use a bit of a pep talk now and then, right? Running your own business is hard, especially as a woman. People will often belittle your business or won’t take it seriously. We can’t wait for other people to buy into our dream — we must believe in our own businesses before we expect anyone else to. I’ve never talked about entrepreneurship in this way before – and it’s absolutely essential to do so.In this episode, you’ll hear…How to stop downplaying your own businesses when you talk about itWhy the genera...2023-01-0222 minOn Your Terms®80. What Can You Do Legally if Your Client Quits?In this episode, we’re talking about what to do if a client quits — or if you want to fire them.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why it’s important to normalize negative client interactionsWhat to do if a client quits How things are different if you fire a clientClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Submit your legal question for an upcoming episode of On Your Terms®Episode 8. What Makes a Good Contract? How to Make Sure You're ProtectedVisit the DIY Legal Templa...2022-12-2907 minOn Your Terms®79. Feeling Business Burnout? Honor Your EnergyNobody wants to be burnt out from their business. But it often feels inevitable, and so many business owners approach entrepreneurship as “all or nothing.” Maybe you can relate to this? I know I can. Perhaps you’re posting content and showing up all the time, pushing yourself as hard as you can, until suddenly it feels like you can’t show up at all. Or maybe you’re like me, where you have an outgoing side, but you also have a quiet, introspective side to you as well. You need to balance both sides if you want to av...2022-12-2627 minOn Your Terms®78. Can I Work With Clients Overseas?This week, we’re talking all about working with clients overseas. We’re going to touch on something that we don’t talk about enough when it comes to legally protecting your business: Enforcement.In this episode, you’ll hear…One thing you must include in your contracts - no matter where you or your clients live Establishing what state’s laws apply to your business + contractsEnforcing your contract overseasUnderstanding the risks involved in business + how to reduce themHow to pre-qualify clients before they sign Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for...2022-12-2209 minOn Your Terms®77. Small Business Taxes 101 [ft. CPA, Keila Hill-Trawick, Little Fish Accounting]Let’s talk small business taxes. It’s a confusing, occasionally frightening, topic for many business owners — and rightly so! I have Keila of Little Fish Accounting here to break down all the basics: Why taxes are so confusingHow you can track your expensesWhen to hire a bookkeeperHow to pay yourself from your businessBy the end of this conversation, you’ll have a better grasp of what you need to know, and what you can leave to the experts.Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURC...2022-12-1951 minOn Your Terms®76. Can I use the © without registering?This week, we’re talking all about if you can legally use the © symbol, known as the copyright symbol, and whether or not you have anything registered.In this episode, you’ll hear…When you can (and can’t) use the © symbolWhat the © symbol doesWhat to do when it’s not practical to copyright everythingMy © Copyright Formula for content protectionClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Submit your legal question for an upcoming episode of On Your Terms® right here: https://samvanderwielen.typeform.com/to/UiUT1dEA...2022-12-1507 minOn Your Terms®75. How to Plan Your Business Year [free guide!]Planning out the next year of business in advance has been a game-changer for me — and it can be for you, too! This year, despite a number of personal challenges, I was able to hit every goal I set for myself at the end of last year. I’m even prouder of my new, updated planning process incorporating everything I’ve learned this year. And I’m going to share it all with you, along with a free Annual Planning Guide downloadable!In this episode, you’ll hear…The upside to planning your yearHow I go about planni...2022-12-1228 minOn Your Terms®74. What happens to my business if I die?This week, we’re answering questions about who owns your business if you pass away — and why it’s super important to start thinking about that now.In this episode, you’ll hear…Who gets control of your business if you passWhat happens if you don’t have a written willHow to get a legal will in placeClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:If this season has you feeling like you want to slow down, but you're not sure how to grow your biz at...2022-12-0808 minOn Your Terms®73. What 2022 Was Actually Like For Me (+ Free Annual Planning Guide for You!)At the end of every year, I take the time to reflect on the past 12 months, both personally and professionally, and how the two played together. In this episode, I share my reflection process so you can join me in thinking about what went well, what didn’t, what you might change, and how to carry those reflections forward into planning out the next year.In this episode, you’ll hear…Why you need to take time to reflect and celebrate the winsWhat happened in my business and life in 2022How to use what you learned this ye...2022-12-0531 minOn Your Terms®72. What Else Does Your Biz Need Besides an LLC?This week, we’re answering questions about liabilities beyond LLCs. In this episode, you’ll hear…What liability is — and why it matters to youThe difference between in-person and online liabilitiesHow to legally protect yourself from liabilityClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Episode 9. How to Register Your Business to Protect Your Personal AssetsEpisode 2. Scope of Practice for Coaches (What You're Legally Allowed to Do)Episode 69. What Coaches Can Legally Do (Scope of Practice Part 2)Pre-quality video training + 3 email templates: samvanderwielen.com/prequalifyLegal Workshop...2022-12-0107 minOn Your Terms®71. Legal Tips for Speaking EngagementsFor many business owners, speaking can be a huge way to make some money and gain awareness for your work. Whether you’re looking to start getting into public speaking as an arm of your business or you’re already doing it, you may have wondered: What am I supposed to do if any legal issues come up while speaking? And if you haven’t wondered that, even better! I’m going to share how to own your material, why you need to be thorough about your payment when signing a contract, what to do if something gets canc...2022-11-2825 minOn Your Terms®70. Ask Me Anything Q&A [business, grief, legal & behind the scenes!]Have you ever wanted to have your business, legal, or even personal questions answered directly by me? That’s what we’re doing here, where I opened up my Instagram to your burning questions. I was asked about HIPAA, the differences between business entities, how I repurpose my email content, branding tips, and more!In this episode, you’ll hear…Do you need HIPAA for a coaching or consulting business?What’s the difference between consulting and coaching, and how does that relate to legal or contracts?The top 3 differences between the most popular entitiesHow I repurpose...2022-11-2146 minOn Your Terms®68. Permission to Slow Down & Do Things On Your TermsOut of everything I’ve learned over the years of running a business, there’s one thing I wish I could go back and give myself the permission to do when I first started: Not turning everything I learn immediately into content for my business.Once I gave myself this permission, not only did it impact my business success and my bottom line, my mental health improved. I didn’t realize how exhausting it was, but once I took a step back and slowed things down, it was clear to me that this isn’t a good approach...2022-11-0717 minOn Your Terms®67. The Online Coach's Guide to What to Email Your ListWe’re back to talk all about email lists! In the first part of our series on email lists, we talked all about list-building strategies—with or without the freebies. But once you’ve built that list… what are you supposed to actually send them? Let’s dive into what you can email your list to keep them engaged, how important consistency is, and the different ways you can nurture your audience.In this episode, you’ll hear…03:21 - Approaching your email list with strategy, no matter the size10:19 - Looking at the big picture in your business1...2022-10-3144 minOn Your Terms®65. How to Build an Email List (with & without freebies!)List building advice is everywhere these days—from putting pop-ups on your website to creating “opt-ins” that give people a reason to sign up—but most of them don’t actually help you figure out how to get people to give you their email address. People often give us these individually dialed-in tactics without providing the actual high-level strategies necessary to make email marketing work for your business.In the first of a two-part series on email lists, we’re going to talk all about easy email list-building strategies that I’ve personally tried or seen with many others. T...2022-10-1754 minOn Your Terms®64. Hiring Contractors 101 [Everything Business Owners Need to Know]You might be getting ready to hire, you might even have some contractors or employees working for you. Wherever you are in that process, you’ll want to start laying the groundwork for this now and not just when you need it. It’s important that you get it right—a wrong move can really land you in legal hot water.We’ll talk about the difference between an independent contractor and an employee legally, how some of the different states define them, and the steps to find and hire an independent contractor who will stick with you....2022-10-1034 minOn Your Terms®61. Behind the Scenes of the Ultimate Bundle®In this episode, I’m sharing with you the backstory behind my signature product, the Ultimate Bundle®! I want you to experience it from the perspective of someone who has been passionately tinkering and perfecting this product until it’s the best it can be—AKA me! You’ll hear me dive into all the details, including what is included, what you can expect inside the bundle, whether you’re the right person or it’s the right time for it, and many more questions I get all the time.This bundle rarely ever goes on sale, and I am so p...2022-09-1936 minOn Your Terms®60. My Secret Success Strategy: Taking the 30,000 ft View of Your BusinessWhen we’re in the weeds it can be hard to see what the big picture is. Sometimes in business, we need to zoom out and see the whole thing from above ground in order to see the plan and how it all fits together. I’m going to share how I integrate this practice of high-level observation into my own business and the ways it benefits me—as well as how I make a flow chart to direct my marketing and business decisions.In this episode, you’ll hear…06:01 - The danger of getting into the weeds...2022-09-1239 minOn Your Terms®59. How to Be a Great Stage Speaker (+ speaking tips from Guest Mike Pacchione!)At the ConvertKit Craft + Commerce conference—which was full of mind-blowing moments for me—I attended a workshop hosted by the mega-talented speaking coach Mike Pacchione and it was so helpful. Public speaking is such an important skill to learn, and it can be a huge advantage in your business if you do it well. He gave tips and tactics I’ve never heard before such as using your body language effectively, pausing between sentences to let the audience absorb what you said, and being strategic about where you stand on stage. We talk about why speaking well is import...2022-09-051h 20On Your Terms®58. Paying Yourself 101 [Everything Business Owners Need to Know]Congratulations: Your Business, LLC has just made a sale! Time to go shopping—right? Hold up! That money actually belongs to your business, not to you. So how do you get paid? And how do you do it in a legally legit way? That’s what we’re going to talk about today. I’m going to share how I paid myself in the beginning, the step-by-step process I recommend for setting yourself a financial cushion, and how to get to a place where you can pay yourself consistently. In this episode, you’ll hear…02:58 - How I started...2022-08-2925 minOn Your Terms®57. Moving? What You Need to do to Register Your Business in Another StateDo you run a business and you’re thinking of moving? The moving process can already be enough of a hassle before you even consider the legal ramifications of it. Whether you’re already registered or holding off because you don’t know what to do, there are really just two options—and I’m going to break them both down so you can decide which is right for you.In this episode, you’ll hear…04:44 - Whether you need to register your business when you know you’re moving soon05:30 - Where you need to register your bu...2022-08-2221 minOn Your Terms®56. Mindset, Limiting Beliefs & Visualization [ft. Mindset Coach, Jen Diaz]Jen Diaz is the real deal when it comes to coaching. She’s a mindset and success coach who I personally work with and she knows her stuff when it comes to overcoming the beliefs that are holding you back.We talk about everything from mindset to Jen’s JAVA method (journaling, affirmations, visualization, action) and how you go about implementing it, how visualization actually works, how to improve your confidence when you’re just starting out, and so much more.In this episode, you’ll hear…04:04 - Why entrepreneurship pushes people to pursue personal d...2022-08-151h 23On Your Terms®55. Blowing the Lid on the Biggest Online Coaching SecretsI’ve seen a lot of nonsense in the online business industry—both during my time in it and well before then. I want to pull back the curtain a bit and show you some of the marketing tactics being used to get you to buy into courses and programs so that you can make better decisions. I also talk about the fear that we’re creating a coaching micro-economy—where we coach future coaches in order to make money to hire more coaches—and the importance of getting outside of your business bubble. This is a conversation many people in...2022-08-0840 minOn Your Terms®54. Everything I Learned at ConvertKit's Craft + Commerce Conference (mind blown!)I recently got back from ConvertKit’s Craft + Commerce Conference in Boise, Idaho and my mind was BLOWN!The online business world is changing and we all need to adapt. This conference brought together some of the biggest names in the industry, but also the up-and-comers who are trying new things and finding out what works.I’m going to share some of my biggest takeaways, why I went, what I had hoped to get out of it, and what people are missing out on when they don’t go to conferences. I’ll also give you...2022-08-0158 minOn Your Terms®53. The Millionaire Myth in Online BusinessA lot of people throw around the word “millionaire” but when you look at the numbers it’s clear they are using a different definition of millionaire. My goal isn’t to trash talk business owners who call themselves millionaires, but to encourage you to be a savvy consumer—of both businesses and content—and to be aware of this when you’re looking at your own numbers and feeling like you’re behind. In this episode, you’ll hear…02:07 - Why this industry needs a reality check11:29 - The difference between revenue and income13:04 - Understanding net wor...2022-07-2523 minOn Your Terms®52. What's a D/B/A and Do I Need One?What is a d/b/a? You may have heard the term d/b/a before, but you don’t really understand what it is or whether or not you need one. Maybe you’ve already registered a d/b/a but you haven’t registered your business—is this out of order? Don’t worry, because I’ve got you covered! I’m going to teach you exactly what a d/b/a is, when you really need one, and how to go about getting one.In this episode, you’ll hear…03:51 - Common misconceptions about d/b/a05:31...2022-07-1828 minOn Your Terms®51. Goal Setting, Productivity & Evergreen Content [ft. Online Business Strategist, Louise Henry]Do you ever get to the end of the day and feel exhausted—but you can’t quite pinpoint what you actually did that day? It can feel overwhelming running an online business and trying to get all of your tools in order: Should you use Asana or ClickUp? Should you journal? How do you set reasonable goals? Where do you create content? It’s a lot to deal with!Thankfully, Louise Henry is joining me today to break it all down for you. We talk all about productivity, setting goals, and finding the content platform that works...2022-07-1159 minOn Your Terms®What I've Learned From Starting a PodcastIt seems like just yesterday I started this podcast—and at the same time like I’ve been thinking about starting one forever. It’s been a great connection point with my audience, and I’ve already seen direct results in my business. If you’re in the same boat as me, thinking of starting a podcast for too long but unsure of where to start, I’m going to share everything I’ve learned along the way that you can apply to your own podcast, whether you’re thinking of starting one or already have one running. I also share how t...2022-07-0439 minOn Your Terms®48. Do You Need a Business Coach?People ask me all the time: “Do I really need a business coach?” And my answer usually surprises people. There are plenty of great business coaches out there—but there are also a lot of bad ones. This is more my thoughts on the industry rather than individual coaches. It’s important to be discerning about who you get help from in your business and have clarity on what you actually need.I’m going to share tips on when you should and shouldn’t have a business coach, what to look for, my personal experience working with busines...2022-06-2024 minOn Your Terms®47. Losing My Dad, Emergency Plans & Push/RestTrigger warning: This episode talks about cancer, loss, and grief.When you’re running a business, you still have to manage to live your life alongside it. And when things happen in your life that demand your attention, you want to be able to give it the attention it needs. This came up personally for me when I had to take a sudden leave from work. Thankfully, I have systems in place that allow me to do this and still keep the business running smoothly.I share what happened in my life to prompt my br...2022-06-1357 minOn Your Terms®46. Your business’ growth is bigger than you (From the archives)A while back on Instagram, I posted about something I do to save money at the grocery store and someone commented: “Why do you care about saving money? Doesn’t your business make a ton of money?” There are a lot of misconceptions baked into that comment that relates to building an online business and that’s what I want to dig into today.In this episode, you’ll hear…00:43 - You are not your revenue03:01 - The fiduciary duty of any business owner04:45 - Why saving money is villainized06:32 - Growth vs. lifestyle businesses16:34 - The privileg...2022-06-0619 minOn Your Terms®42. Business Insurance Mistakes That Could Cost You BIGI get so many questions (and hear so much bad advice floating around) relating to business insurance. One of the worst things that could happen is thinking you’re fine, only to find out your coverage won’t do anything for you. That’s not what I want happening to you! Let’s break down the myths, teach you what business insurance really is, how it works, and what some of the most common mistakes are for people who already have it.In this episode, you’ll hear…03:17 - What business insurance actually is06:40 - The different ki...2022-05-0924 minOn Your Terms®41. Feel behind in biz? Listen to this.Are you not where you want to be in business? Either you feel like you’re not making as much money as you should be, your social media isn’t getting the attention you’d like, or you just don’t have as many clients as you’d like? We’ve all been there – including me.I’m going to help you learn how you can process those feelings and what to do with them. I have six tips to adjust your outlook and overcome this business-blocking mindset.In this episode, you’ll hear…03:15 - Two things that ma...2022-05-0237 min