We recently connected with Carol Tice and have shared our conversation below.

Hi CAROL, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My dad was ahead of his time, telling his two daughters in the early ’60s that they should grow up to have their own income and take care of themselves. I’m sure I would never have gone into business for myself without that empowerment.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a longtime journalist and freelance writer. I started the Make a Living Writing blog in 2008 and the Freelance Writers Den paid community in 2010. I sold both those sites in 2021.

Since then, I have ghostwritten about a dozen books for thought leaders. I’m now launching a new community for coaches, consultants, and other mature experts interested in the paid community model: Community Growth Academy.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When my paid community for freelance writers seemed stuck at 1000 members, I hired a business consultant.

She pointed out that I was going in too many directions–besides the main paid community I had a small-group coaching program going, and co-owned another business that offered courses.

She pointed out that these side projects wouldn’t be of interest to a buyer when I got ready to sell the business — the coaching was all me and would go away, and I wouldn’t be able to include the co-owned business in a sale, either.

I needed to focus on my main, salable product: The paid community. Once I did that and cut all the other side projects, we were able to grow members 50%, to 1500, and position the community platform for sale.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I began with a passion for helping freelance writers avoid scams and get paid what they deserve… that’s why I started my blog and then founded a paid community that it served as the funnel for.

Along the way, I fell in love with the paid community model and its power to help you reach far more people with your knowedge while also earning a more reliable income with less marketing.

In my next iteration, I’m helping coaches, consultants and other mature experts how to monetize what they know through paid community, instead of the endless hustle for high-ticket clients or contracts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.skool.com/community-growth-academy https://www.caroltice.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-book-ghostwriter-community-entrepreneur-carol-tice/

Image Credits

I have permission.