The Ask’s Top Ten Greatest Hits

Over the last few years I’ve written weekly online via Substack, my newsletter or this blog. There’s over 100 pieces of content online which have totalled almost 1m views now.

So, I have compiled 'Top 10 Hits' of blog posts, articles, downloads based on what was most popular (and helpful) to aspiring business owners like you.

Everything I write is aimed at helping people launch or grow their one person business faster. Why? Because I believe that by leveraging your Unique Contribution and building a business around your unique skills and interests, you’ll create value for the world at large whilst becoming happier and more fulfilled in your work overall. In three years of writing about entrepreneurship, career paths, decisions and goal setting I would expect you to find answers to some of the questions you have in this list right here. 

Keep reading for the top 10 best performing/most clicked/commented/liked/shared posts in that time ... in no particular order. 

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The Ask 'Top 10 Hits'

1. How to get your first 1,000 email subscribers
   After reaching this milestone for myself at the end of 2021 I detailed the exact methods I used to get there in this post! This newsletter has been the engine of my business and hitting 1k was a huge achievement I worked really hard towards in the early days.

2. How to build a business around yourself
   Part of a series on designing a business around yourself (other 2 parts are on The Ask blog). This post is about creating a sustainable business model doing what you love without the need for investment, a big team, huge overheads or unsustainable growth metrics. 

3. The 5-step Guide to building a service based one person business
   Many many hours have gone into this comprehensive Guide, and I'm happy that it's been very popular as a result. If you're in this line of work or exploring it, I promise this can help.

4. What you must consider before making a big change in your life or career
   Change is hard. That's why coaching is often so powerful to shift things in peoples' lives. Here I share what I've learnt helping people to change, and the reasons why changes to resistance occur.

5. How the desire to maintain a personal brand may be harming your business
   Too much emphasis is often placed on content creation or 'showing up online', but this shouldn't replace delivering a real service for your customers. Personal branding can be an expensive trap to fall into. This post was shared in many marketing circles in 2021.

6. How to figure out what to do next in your career
   Not sure where you're headed next? I literally broke down the steps I take clients through to make decisions in this post. NB this was when I was coaching on both career change and business. So its really for everyone!

7. How to plan ahead (through uncertainty)
   The start of the year is a big time for planning, but that doesn't mean you can't create a plan again at any month in time. This post breaks down the planning process that will help you.

8. Is it better to be a Generalist or Specialist in your Career
   An interview with the expert on hybrid professional identity Dr Sarabeth Berk on the age old debate - should you specialise or not? Lots to learn here.

9. How to carve a career path on your own terms
   Seeking more growth or fulfilment but feeling uncertain if you can work for yourself? This will help make that transition clearer.

10. What productivity tips actually help you get more work done?
    A post I would love to update as its a few years old but still so so relevant. I often walk clients through this content in sessions, and they find many ways they can improve their routines and habits.