Business Success By Design

James Lawson & Angela Inzerillo (Sometimes :-)

Details

The Business Success By Design Podcast is our opportunity to share our experiences as small business owners along with the ups and downs that comes with that. We also have the added dynamic of being a husband and wife team since 2009! We share not only what’s it’s like trying to start and grow a coaching and consulting business, we also share some of the best strategies that have allowed us to grow into a complete lifestyle business…meaning something we can run from anywhere in world!

Recent Episodes

SEP 16, 2025
Burned, Broke, and Busy: The Truth About Bad Marketing Advice
Listen, if you're Tired of trying “all the things” and still not landing clients? You’re not alone and you’re not the problem. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on why so many coaches, consultants, and service-based business owners feel burned by marketing advice that overpromises and underdelivers. I'll break down: The difference between strategy and tactics (and why most people get this wrong) How shiny object syndrome keeps you stuck and scattered The 5-part foundation every small business needs to market with clarity, confidence, and actual results If you’re ready to stop guessing and start growing, this is the reset you’ve been looking for. Hello! We are James and Angela, entrepreneurs and strategic marketing coaches living in Northern Virginia! Nice to meet you! We began our entrepreneurial journey in 2009 after spending 25+ years as Sales and Marketing execs in high-tech Corporate America generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues earning multiple 6-figure incomes. Our mission - to help NEW or Early Stage Coaches, Consultants and Small Businesses, COMPRESS the time it takes to get to a 6-figure revenue stream without the stress, overwhelm and costs of advertising, hours on social media and complex sales funnels. We quickly learned that NO amount of success at the corporate level would prepare us for such an income level as brand new business owners. After too many years of scrambling trying to get clients and build predictability and consistency in our business, we finally decided to get out of our own way and got some coaching help (every business owner, especially coaches, should have a coach!) We re-examined WHO we wanted to help and WHAT problem we best solved. BOOM! In less than 9 months, we were generating 6-figures using our own methodology and have helped hundreds of small business owners, coaches and consultants do the same. It all comes down to 3 core concepts - CLARITY in your messaging, CONFIDENCE in your offer and CONTROL in your business.
13 MIN
AUG 7, 2025
Curbing The Feast or Famine Cycle
The "Feast Famine.mp3" excerpts from the Business Success by Design Podcast address the common "feast or famine" cycle faced by early-stage coaches and consultants. Host James Lawson, joined by Angela Inzerillo, explains that this unpredictable income flow stems from a lack of consistent client acquisition systems rather than a reliance on hope. The podcast highlights the significant costs of this cycle, including financial losses from missed sales, decreased confidence, pressure to discount services, and a negative impact on client experience and reputation. To overcome this, the speakers propose four key strategies: consistently blocking time for lead generation, focusing on one lead generation system, implementing a simple follow-up system, and building offers that encourage client retention. Hello! We are James and Angela, entrepreneurs and strategic marketing coaches living in Northern Virginia! Nice to meet you! We began our entrepreneurial journey in 2009 after spending 25+ years as Sales and Marketing execs in high-tech Corporate America generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues earning multiple 6-figure incomes. Our mission - to help NEW or Early Stage Coaches, Consultants and Small Businesses, COMPRESS the time it takes to get to a 6-figure revenue stream without the stress, overwhelm and costs of advertising, hours on social media and complex sales funnels. We quickly learned that NO amount of success at the corporate level would prepare us for such an income level as brand new business owners. After too many years of scrambling trying to get clients and build predictability and consistency in our business, we finally decided to get out of our own way and got some coaching help (every business owner, especially coaches, should have a coach!) We re-examined WHO we wanted to help and WHAT problem we best solved. BOOM! In less than 9 months, we were generating 6-figures using our own methodology and have helped hundreds of small business owners, coaches and consultants do the same. It all comes down to 3 core concepts - CLARITY in your messaging, CONFIDENCE in your offer and CONTROL in your business.
10 MIN
JUN 26, 2025
Your Offer - If You Have to Explain It, You Can’t Sell It
Summary In this episode of Business Success by Design, James Lawson discusses the critical elements of creating an irresistible offer for businesses. He identifies three common mistakes that business owners make when crafting their offers: vagueness, overstuffing, and lack of appeal. Lawson emphasizes the importance of clarity in defining the outcome of the offer, simplifying the components to avoid overwhelming potential clients, and making the offer attractive and engaging. He introduces the Irresistible Offer Formula and outlines the Client Flow Program, which helps business owners refine their offers to better attract clients and drive sales. Takeaways Your offer must clearly define the outcome for clients. Avoid vague language that doesn't specify what you're selling. Overstuffed offers can overwhelm potential clients. Focus on the simplest path to the desired outcome. Make your offer appealing and engaging to attract interest. Names and positioning should reflect the transformation offered. The Irresistible Offer Formula helps clarify and structure offers. Business owners should package their offers smarter, not harder. The Client Flow Program guides businesses through refining their offers. Don't settle for a boring offer; make it stand out. Chapters 00:00 Understanding the Irresistible Offer 01:05 Common Mistakes in Offer Creation 03:27 The Importance of Clarity in Offers 05:56 Making Your Offer Stand Out 08:40 The Client Flow Program Overview -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello! We are James and Angela, entrepreneurs and strategic marketing coaches living in Northern Virginia! Nice to meet you! We began our entrepreneurial journey in 2009 after spending 25+ years as Sales and Marketing execs in high-tech Corporate America generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues earning multiple 6-figure incomes. Our mission - to help NEW or Early Stage Coaches, Consultants and Small Businesses, COMPRESS the time it takes to get to a 6-figure revenue stream without the stress, overwhelm and costs of advertising, hours on social media and complex sales funnels. We quickly learned that NO amount of success at the corporate level would prepare us for such an income level as brand new business owners. After too many years of scrambling trying to get clients and build predictability and consistency in our business, we finally decided to get out of our own way and got some coaching help (every business owner, especially coaches, should have a coach!) We re-examined WHO we wanted to help and WHAT problem we best solved. BOOM! In less than 9 months, we were generating 6-figures using our own methodology and have helped hundreds of small business owners, coaches and consultants do the same. It all comes down to 3 core concepts - CLARITY in your messaging, CONFIDENCE in your offer and CONTROL in your business.
12 MIN
JUN 10, 2025
What to Do When You're Stuck in a Client Drought
Crickets in your inbox? Proposals going nowhere? You might be in a client drought just be aware it’s more common than you think. In this episode of Business Success by Design, James breaks down: Why client droughts happen (even when you’re doing “everything right”) The 3 silent killers that might be blocking your next client How to reconnect with your warm network (without being weird) The simple “Now Offer” you can roll out this week to get traction Whether you're in a dry spell right now or want to prevent one, this episode gives you real, practical steps to get your momentum (and revenue) flowing again. 👉 If you're ready to shake things up, grab a notepad and hit play. Mentioned in this episode: Want help fixing your message or building your quick-win offer? Book a Core Marketing strategy chat Here: CMS Call Hello! We are James and Angela, entrepreneurs and strategic marketing coaches living in Northern Virginia! Nice to meet you! We began our entrepreneurial journey in 2009 after spending 25+ years as Sales and Marketing execs in high-tech Corporate America generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues earning multiple 6-figure incomes. Our mission - to help NEW or Early Stage Coaches, Consultants and Small Businesses, COMPRESS the time it takes to get to a 6-figure revenue stream without the stress, overwhelm and costs of advertising, hours on social media and complex sales funnels. We quickly learned that NO amount of success at the corporate level would prepare us for such an income level as brand new business owners. After too many years of scrambling trying to get clients and build predictability and consistency in our business, we finally decided to get out of our own way and got some coaching help (every business owner, especially coaches, should have a coach!) We re-examined WHO we wanted to help and WHAT problem we best solved. BOOM! In less than 9 months, we were generating 6-figures using our own methodology and have helped hundreds of small business owners, coaches and consultants do the same. It all comes down to 3 core concepts - CLARITY in your messaging, CONFIDENCE in your offer and CONTROL in your business.
16 MIN