^{This 3-minute read brought to you by the team at Rogue Pine}

In this issue, you'll learn:

• Building Relationships That Actually Work

  • The Problem with Marketing

  • Collaboration as the Shortcut to Trust

  • Using AI as a Strategic Assistant

  • Building a Supportive Community

  • Key Takeaways

    • Take the Next Step

Building Relationships That Actually Work

In the latest episode of the Grow Rogue podcast, Reade Milner sat down with Jeremy Shere, founder of SPARK Catalyst, to talk about why so many solopreneurs hate marketing and how to make marketing work without burning out.

The Problem with Marketing

For most solopreneurs and small business owners, sales and marketing feel like a “necessary evil.”

You try LinkedIn posts, email campaigns, or networking calls, but the results are often inconsistent. 

As Jeremy puts it: “You spend hours filling your calendar with calls, but too often they end with, ‘Great to meet you, let’s stay in touch’—and nothing else happens.”

So how do you grow your business without losing the personal touch (or your sanity)?

Collaboration as the Shortcut to Trust

Jeremy discovered the answer while running his first podcast production business.

Inviting potential clients as podcast guests turned out to be one of the most effective sales strategies he’d ever tried. 

Why? Because it created collaboration, not just conversation.

Instead of vague networking, Jeremy advocates for working with prospects—on content, events, or even micro-projects. 

Collaboration builds trust faster, clarifies the relationship, and reveals whether someone is likely to become a client, a partner, or simply a connection.

Using AI as a Strategic Assistant

But as we all know, collaboration takes time. 

Researching people, preparing calls, and personalizing outreach can be overwhelming for a one-person business. 

That’s where AI comes in.

Jeremy doesn’t see AI as a content factory. Instead, he uses it as a strategist and assistant:

• Prepping for calls with tailored insights.
  

• Summarizing contacts’ interests and backgrounds.
  

• Helping small businesses personalize their outreach at scale.
  

One example is Call Ready, SPARK Catalyst’s new free micro-app.

It generates instant profiles and prep plans before your next meeting so you go in ready to make the conversation count.

Building a Supportive Community

Jeremy and his partner have also launched a free online community for solopreneurs. 

It’s a space to share resources, learn smarter approaches to sales and marketing, and connect with others who know how isolating it can feel to grow a business alone. Check it out on SPARK Catalyst’s website. 

Key Takeaways

• Stop hating marketing by ensuring it’s built on solving problems, not chasing hacks.
  

• Collaboration creates trust faster than endless cold calls.
  

• AI is an assistant, not a replacement so use it to prepare and personalize.
  

• You don’t have to build alone because community accelerates growth.

Take the Next Step

🎧 Listen to the full episode with Jeremy Shere on Grow Rogue
🌐 Explore SPARK Catalyst and try the Call Ready tool for free.
👥 Join SPARK Catalyst’s free online community for solopreneurs and small business owners.