Which Elephant Is Blocking Your Breakthrough?
Get it right before it goes
wrong
WELCOME
Are you dreaming of starting your own service-based but don’t know where to begin?
Are you tired of feeling stuck (in a job, in between jobs)?
Do you know this is the path for you, but feeling overwhelmed by what you think you need to know?
“8 Elephants: How to Succeed in Business
One Bite at a Time”
By Jo Self
Welcome! You’re one step closer to unlocking your potentials a successful solopreneur, creative, or disruptor. This book is a treasure trove of knowledge and practical advice because I know how hard it is to start a business on your own. I want to help others avoid the mistakes I made along the way.
By all means, you WILL make mistakes; but make the RIGHT ones – ones that move you forward and create opportunities. Not the ones that lead you to think you’re a failure and this was all for naught.
Meet the Elephants
Something’s slowing you down, but what is it?
Meet the 8 Elephants that sneak into every solopreneur’s journey.
Read through the list and pick the one (or two) that feel the most familiar right now.
Once you know your Elephant, we’ll help you take the first bite!
Get Clarity
“I don’t know where to start”
Mindset
“I’m not ready. I’m not legit. What if I fail?”
Nitty Gritty
“Admin, taxes, and biz structure make me want to cry.”
Process
“I’m dropping balls & making it up as I go.”
Marketing
“I hate selling myself and don’t want to sound fake.”
Client Connection
“I got a few clients… now what?”
Self-Care
“I’m exhausted, overwhelmed, or sliding into burnout.”
”Tools”
“What tech & tools do I actually need?!”
Feeling overwhelmed and unfocused?
Start with the first two elephants — Clarity + Mindset. This $9 guide helps you stop overthinking and start moving, even if you’re brand new.
WHO AM I?
I’m someone who’s been on this journey as an entrepreneur since 2007. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, so I know the challenges and obstacles that can hold you back from realizing your dreams. My mission is to empower aspiring entrepreneurs like you to navigate this exciting journey with ease and avoid common pitfalls.
Frankly, getting stuck in overwhelm is possibly the biggest obstacle for someone starting their own business (well that and imposter syndrome). And how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. This eBook helps break down the fundamentals of starting a business into 8 tasty elephants and all the considerations that come with each. This is not a How-To book necessarily, but it will give you comprehensive and concise information on all the pieces to consider when starting your business.
WHY 8 ELEPHANTS?
It’s short and easy to read, but chock full of essential advice. Your style is very conversational and inviting. I feel like… I’ve just made a new friend.
– Cheryl P., US
It’s like a starter kit for someone like me…You’ve laid it out very well and yet it doesn’t feel too overwhelming. It reads like a mentor or big sister giving me advice. – Genette B., Philippines
WHAT’S INSIDE?
Get Clarity
Know where you are and where you want to go
Mindset
Get your head straight and set the right expectations from the get-go
The Nitty Gritty
The bits and bobs that you need to make a business work
Processes
The pieces that keep you moving and growing
Marketing
It’s about quality and not quantity – though repetition is a must
Client Connection
The personal touches and the communication points
Self-Care
Without you, the business doesn’t exist, so take care of YOU
Tools
A few options to get you started at the lowest cost
WHAT’S THE VALUE?
This guide is built on $15,000 worth of mistakes, $7,000 in certification costs, and a lot of hard-earned lessons from doing it the wrong way so you don’t have to.
I spent $12K on branding and a website I didn’t even use. Another $1,500 on a marketing course that didn’t land — because I didn’t yet know who I was. I thought someone else had the answers. Turns out, I had to build my own playbook.
This mini-guide isn’t some recycled checklist. It’s everything I wish someone had handed me when I was just starting out — real talk, not recycled fluff. It won’t magically fix everything, but it will help you skip the confusion, second-guessing, and money pits I fell into.
It’s $7. That’s the price. But the real value? That’s up to what you do with it.
Jo has an ability to break down daunting, complex concepts into practical & manageable chunks, indeed like eating an elephant, one bite at a time…
The accompanying journal is a great addition as a practical tool to write down all your own personal learnings.
Her passion for the subject matter permeates throughout. Highly recommended.
This has been a game-changer for me! This book is like having a personal business coach by your side, guiding you through every step of building a successful coaching or consulting business. Jo’s approach is refreshingly straightforward and fun, making it easy to absorb and put into action.
The journal is a gem! It allowed me to delve deeper into my thoughts and gain clarity about my goals and ideal clients. The coaching questions were thought-provoking and immensely helpful.
SUPPORT OPTIONS
Download the Free Checklist
Grab the Clarity & Mindset Starter Guide
Purchase the complete Guide on Amazon for $19.97
About the author.
What sets me apart from other marketing or branding coaches?
I do it all through CliftonStrengths. Building a business around your natural talents will not only make the job easier, but it will also make it more fun! You’ll look forward to each day with energy instead of dread. If you don’t know your strengths, no worries, we can take care of that. You don’t need to know them to make the most of this book, but it will help you get there faster if you do.
The question I am most often asked is, “Why do you do what you do?” The most honest response I can give is that I wish there had been a me for me when I was starting out as an entrepreneur back in 2007. I spent a lot of money on all the wrong things thinking it would magically give me the answers – or at least get me a bit closer to success. Frankly, it was frequently the opposite. And even though I knew my CliftonStrengths, I wasn’t making the most of them or using them to their advantage.
As an entrepreneur since 2007, I’m focused on the lone wolves and small businesses who are dedicated to their vision and seek collaboration to make it happen. Set a solid foundation for success by unleashing your superpowers, claiming your authentic voice, and building a successful brand. I’ll be with you all the way.
Jo Self
Other books
Parenting
Career Success
Communication Styles
Upcoming books!
Not only our the Practical Strengths Books currently being translated into Arabic, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish, there are three new titles in the works and should be published late 2025 and early 2026.
Be sure to join the email list to learn of their release and possibly contribute your stories to one of the books!
