The Grit Files: Recent Episodes
Loralyn Mears, PhD
The path to entrepreneurship is bumpy with many ups and downs. Being a startup founder requires grit and resilience. We tap into the founder's purpose and passion to better understand what propels them forward, even when things get tough. And we tease out the best bits of advice from one entrepreneur to another.
S6:E66
The Real Story About Scaling & Selling a Business with Bryan Clayton Bryan has actually done the thing entrepreneurs dream about: built a traditional business to $10M, sold it, then built again in an entirely different arena.
Nobody wants to buy your basket of problems.
That's Bryan Clayton's wonderfully direct description of one of entrepreneurship's great misconceptions: owners often start thinking about selling when they're exhausted, margins are squeezed, employees are unhappy, and they desperately want out.
By then, the business may be least attractive to a buyer.
Queue up this episode of Small Business Stories for a refreshingly unglamorous conversation about what building, selling, failing, learning, and scaling actually look like.
Dr. LL talks with Bryan Clayton, co-founder and CEO of GreenPal. Bryan started mowing lawns in high school, eventually grew his landscaping company to roughly $10 million in annual revenue, sold it to a national company, and then made the improbable leap from blue-collar operator to tech founder.
If people don't trust the experience you're delivering, adding more customers doesn't solve the problem.
And in an AI-driven marketplace, inconsistent experiences create inconsistent signals. Scaling those signals can increase misinterpretation rather than visibility.
⚠️ Core Problems * Waiting until burnout to prepare a company for sale * Mistaking fast growth for healthy growth * Believing entrepreneurship produces overnight—or passive—success
🥡 Practical Takeaways * Build with the end in mind, even if selling isn't currently the plan. * Fix the customer experience before pouring fuel onto growth. * Your operating experience can become an enormous competitive advantage. * Don't confuse investor expectations with customer needs. * Failure only becomes valuable when it changes what you do next.
⏱️ Timestamps 01:30 Lawn care operator → technology founder 05:38 The reality of selling a $10M business 15:21 Building trust through data and AI 20:55 What entrepreneurs should actually learn from failure 25:48 Why GreenPal chose customers over investors
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Founders building toward scale, entrepreneurs considering an eventual exit, blue-collar business owners, bootstrapped startups, and anyone tired of entrepreneurship being presented as an overnight-success story.
At STEERus, we see the same principle from another direction: scale magnifies the signal already there. If the market misunderstands your value at 100 customers, reaching 10,000 customers doesn't necessarily correct the misinterpretation—it can amplify it.
Subscribe and share Small Business Stories for more grounded conversations about what entrepreneurship actually looks like.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast #businessgrowth
S6:E65
Buying a home as an entrepreneur often feels like playing by a different set of rules.
In this episode, Dr. LL speaks with mortgage specialist David Ostrowsky about what self-employed professionals need to understand in today's housing market. Together they discuss lending, affordability, market psychology, interest rates, and why perception frequently outweighs reality.
If people make financial decisions based solely on headlines, they often overlook opportunities that still make mathematical sense. The challenge isn't simply access to financing; it's separating market noise from personal reality.
👤 Guest David Ostrowsky Loan Originator, CrossCountry Mortgage
Helping entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals navigate mortgage financing with confidence.
⚠️ Core Problems * Mortgage approval for entrepreneurs * Housing decisions driven by fear * Misunderstanding current market conditions
🥡 Practical Takeaways * Understand how lenders evaluate entrepreneurial income. * Separate media narratives from your individual financial situation. * Let data guide major financial decisions.
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Self-employed lending
02:20 Market realities
04:00 Ignoring the headlines
15:10 Mortgage strategies
31:40 Advice for business owners
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs, founders, freelancers, real estate professionals, and self-employed buyers.
At STEERus, we continue to see that the quality of a decision depends on the quality of the information behind it. When fear replaces clarity, businesses—and people—often misinterpret opportunities that are still very much within reach.
Subscribe and share if conversations like these help you make better business decisions.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast #loan #mortgage
S6:E64
Every entrepreneur has numbers.
Not every entrepreneur knows how to listen to them.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with fractional CFO Matt Putra to discuss how financial data becomes a decision-making system rather than simply an accounting exercise. Together they explore profitability, funnel analysis, constraints, ROI, and why the best businesses don't just measure performance; they understand what drives it.
If people don't understand the financial story behind their business, they often invest in the wrong priorities. Likewise, if AI systems or decision-makers only see isolated metrics without context, they can misinterpret the health and value of an organization.
👤 Guest Matt Putra Founder of Eightx
Fractional CFO helping founders improve profitability, financial clarity, and long-term enterprise value.
⚠️ Core Problems * Revenue growth masking deeper operational issues * Limited visibility into financial drivers * Decisions based on instinct instead of evidence
🥡 Practical Takeaways * Treat financial statements as diagnostic tools. * Analyze the entire customer funnel—not just revenue. * Direct investment toward measurable constraints with the highest ROI.
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Reading the story behind the numbers
03:00 Funnel diagnostics
10:40 Financial intelligence
22:15 High-ROI decision making
35:30 Increasing business value
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Founders, CEOs, finance leaders, agency owners, consultants, and entrepreneurs seeking smarter growth.
At STEERus, we continue to observe that better decisions begin with better interpretation. Whether it's financial data or market perception, clarity reduces misinterpretation and helps businesses become easier for both people and AI systems to understand.
Subscribe and share if conversations like this help you build a stronger business.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast
S6:E63
An optional title for this episode is, "Agentic AI, Human Judgment & Cognitive Organizations with Kenneth Corrêa."
AI is moving faster than most organizations can absorb it.
The temptation is to automate whatever already exists. But Kenneth Corrêa argues that this misses the deeper transformation: businesses must redesign their products, services, workflows, and organizational structures around humans and AI agents working together.
Queue up this episode of Small Business Stories as Dr. LL and Kenneth explore agentic AI, cognitive organizations, privacy, adaptive leadership, critical thinking, and the capabilities people will need as execution becomes increasingly automated.
If people do not trust how AI is being used, they will resist the systems built around it. If customers, employees, and AI systems cannot clearly understand where human responsibility ends and automated authority begins, the organization creates credibility risk instead of confidence.
👤 Guest Kenneth Corrêa Author of Cognitive Organizations AI strategist and entrepreneur specializing in agentic AI, emerging technology, organizational transformation, and human-AI collaboration
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed * AI adoption driven by pressure rather than strategic purpose * Organizations automating inefficient or outdated processes * Privacy, intellectual-property, and accountability risks * Weak investment in critical thinking and human judgment
🥡 Practical Takeaways * Start with the purpose of the business, not the newest tool. * Design for humans plus AI agents—not humans versus AI agents. * Use AI to reduce administrative friction while preserving human judgment. * Build teams that question assumptions rather than simply execute instructions.
⏱️ Timestamps 00:58 Surviving the flood of new AI tools 06:43 Personal data, privacy, and the value exchange 11:17 Why Dr. LL rejected an intellectual digital twin 23:21 Moving from automation to organizational redesign 28:21 Critical thinking and the future value of people 31:41 The central argument behind Cognitive Organizations
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Founders, executives, consultants, operations leaders, AI practitioners, and anyone responsible for introducing AI into a working organization.
At STEERus, we continue to see that technology cannot correct an unclear business signal. When companies automate before clarifying their purpose, value, responsibilities, and decision boundaries, they scale the very misinterpretation they hoped AI would solve.
Subscribe and share this episode with someone trying to introduce AI thoughtfully, not simply quickly.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast #aiagents #AI
S6:E62
Success becomes surprisingly heavy when you're carrying someone else's expectations.
In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with leadership coach Michelle Pollack to explore why entrepreneurs become exhausted by constantly chasing external definitions of success instead of intentionally building businesses aligned with their own values and strengths.
If people don't trust themselves, they begin borrowing certainty from everyone else. And when businesses repeatedly shift direction based on outside opinions, customers (and increasingly AI systems) receive fragmented signals that make the business harder to understand.
Together they discuss discernment, intentional leadership, decision-making, burnout, and building a business that reflects who you actually are.
Core Problems * Entrepreneur burnout despite constant effort * Conflicting advice creating decision fatigue * Misalignment between values and business strategy
Practical Takeaways * Develop a filter for evaluating business advice. * Measure progress against your own definition of success. * Consistency begins with internal clarity before external execution.
Timestamps 00:00 Why burnout isn't always about workload
02:30 Too many experts, too many opinions
08:45 Creating a discernment filter
18:20 Defining success
34:10 Sustainable leadership
Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs, founders, executives, coaches, and business owners seeking sustainable growth.
At STEERus, we continue to observe that businesses communicate externally what leaders first establish internally. Clarity of leadership produces clarity of signal, reducing misinterpretation for both people and AI systems.
Subscribe and share if thoughtful conversations like these help you build a stronger business.
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast #leadership
S6:E61
Building a business is difficult.
Building several businesses at the same time requires a different way of thinking.
In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with entrepreneur Kelvin Abrams to discuss multiple revenue streams, planning for seasonality, learning through discomfort, and building businesses designed to weather uncertainty.
If people don't trust your ability to adapt, they hesitate to invest, partner, or buy. Likewise, if AI systems cannot consistently interpret your business as resilient and relevant, visibility alone won't create long-term growth.
Together they explore why diversification matters, how far ahead entrepreneurs should be planning, and why discomfort is often part of meaningful progress.
Core Problems * Revenue concentration risk * Seasonal business volatility * Reactive planning instead of strategic planning
Practical Takeaways * Diversify thoughtfully rather than impulsively. * Build next year's strategy while running today's business. * Seek mentors who have already solved the challenges you're facing.
Timestamps 00:00 Multiple income streams
02:20 Planning ahead
08:15 Managing seasonality
20:40 Getting uncomfortable
35:10 Building resilient businesses
Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs, founders, franchise owners, and business leaders navigating uncertain markets.
At STEERus, we continue to see that resilience isn't communicated through words alone. It becomes visible through consistent planning, thoughtful execution, and signals that demonstrate a business is prepared for change—not surprised by it.
Subscribe and share if thoughtful conversations like these help you build a stronger business.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #mindset #smallbusiness #faith
S6:E60
Not every successful business measures success the same way.
In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with Vernon Oakes, founder of Everything Cooperative, to explore how cooperative business models create stronger alignment between ownership, employees, customers, and communities.
If people don't trust the systems behind a business, long-term resilience becomes difficult. And if AI systems (or prospective customers) cannot understand how your organization creates value, your impact often remains invisible.
Together they discuss employee ownership, cooperative economics, local wealth creation, and why governance can become a competitive advantage rather than an administrative burden.
Core Problems * Traditional ownership models concentrating wealth * Weak alignment between incentives and outcomes * Limited awareness of cooperative business structures
Practical Takeaways * Different ownership models produce different organizational behaviors. * Shared governance requires intentional communication and trust. * Long-term resilience often begins with aligned incentives.
Timestamps 00:00 Understanding cooperative businesses
02:20 Four cooperative models
11:15 Shared ownership
23:40 Building resilient communities
38:20 Advice for entrepreneurs
Who This Episode Is For Business owners, economic development professionals, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in alternative business models.
At STEERus, we continue to observe that businesses become stronger when their purpose, ownership, and value creation are clearly understood by both people and increasingly by AI systems.
Subscribe and share if thoughtful conversations like these help you build a stronger business.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #leadership #coop
S6:E59
Every invention begins with an idea. However, very few ideas become sustainable businesses.
In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with inventor and entrepreneur Juliette Fassett to explore what really happens between inspiration and commercialization. She talks about validating demand and protecting intellectual property (she's in litigation with Walmart!!!) to manufacturing, pricing, and scaling consumer products.
If people don't understand why your product matters, they won't buy it. And if AI systems or prospective customers can't accurately interpret the problem your product solves, visibility alone won't create demand.
Together they discuss why market validation matters more than enthusiasm, how founders should think about pricing and margins, and why speed has become a competitive advantage in today's marketplace.
Core Problems * Falling in love with ideas before validating demand * Weak pricing and margin strategy * Competing in markets where copycats move quickly
Practical Takeaways * Validate the problem before building the solution. * Understand your economics before scaling. * Move quickly once product-market fit is proven.
Timestamps 00:00 Finding product-market fit
05:45 Learning from failure
17:00 Protecting innovation
24:30 Manufacturing realities
37:15 Advice for new inventors
Who This Episode Is For Inventors, founders, consumer product entrepreneurs, and innovators preparing to launch new products.
At STEERus, we continue to see that products succeed when customers—and increasingly AI systems—can immediately understand what problem they solve and why they matter.
Subscribe and share if thoughtful conversations like these help you build a stronger business.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast #invention
S6:E58
Every customer journey begins long before someone clicks "buy."
In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with Jason Fishman, founder of Digital Niche Agency, to explore how customer trust is built through repeated interactions, thoughtful messaging, and data-informed marketing, not isolated campaigns.
If people don't trust what they see, they won't move forward. And if AI or prospective customers misinterpret your business, visibility alone won't produce growth.
Together they discuss why conversion rates depend on more than traffic, how AI is reshaping buyer research, and why consistent communication across every customer touchpoint has become a competitive advantage.
Core Problems * Low conversion despite strong traffic * Inconsistent customer journeys * Misunderstanding how buyers make decisions
Practical Takeaways * Build trust before expecting conversions. * Use analytics to understand real customer behavior. * Design marketing around relationships instead of isolated campaigns.
Timestamps 00:00 Why customers hesitate
03:00 Trust through multiple touchpoints
12:15 AI and modern buying behavior
24:10 Learning from customer data
37:40 Creating loyal customers
Who This Episode Is For Founders, growth leaders, marketers, agencies, and entrepreneurs scaling customer acquisition.
At STEERus, we continue to observe that visibility without understanding rarely creates lasting growth. Businesses become easier to choose when every touchpoint reinforces the same clear, credible signal.
Subscribe and share if conversations like these help you build a stronger business.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
S6:E57
Leadership has never been more complex.
Organizations have more technology than ever, yet many leaders feel less connected to the people they lead.
In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with leadership expert William Davis to discuss why communication, empathy, accountability, and genuine relationships remain the foundation of effective leadership.
If people don't trust your leadership, they won't fully engage with your vision.
William explains why leadership is fundamentally different from management, why retention begins with relationships, and why technology should never replace authentic human connection.
William's LinkedIn banner says, "Become the leader people brag about - not the one they have to survive." I think that says it all!
Core Problems * Employee disengagement * Weak communication * Confusing management with leadership
Practical Takeaways * Build relationships before expecting commitment. * Practice empathy without sacrificing accountability. * Invest in conversations—not just communication tools.
Timestamps 00:00 Leadership today
01:30 Communication challenges
08:10 AI and relationships
11:20 Empathy and accountability
22:45 Leadership versus management
Who This Episode Is For Leaders, founders, executives, and managers building high-performing teams.
At STEERus, we increasingly see that trust is interpreted before it is experienced. When leaders consistently communicate with clarity, empathy, and integrity, they reduce misinterpretation and strengthen the signals others use to decide whether to follow.
Subscribe and share if these conversations help you lead with greater intention.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast
S6:E56
Feeling stuck in a career or business that no longer fits?
Reinventing yourself doesn't always mean starting over. Sometimes it means trusting your curiosity and allowing yourself to grow into what's next.
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Many entrepreneurs quietly struggle after success. They build the business, earn the recognition, and then discover they've outgrown the identity that created it. The difficult question becomes: Who am I now?
👤 Guest Ryan Estes
Entrepreneur, investor, podcaster and former CEO
Expertise: Entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and human performance
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed • Feeling trapped by your professional identity
• Losing enthusiasm after reaching success
• Finding purpose beyond career achievement
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees Identity Lock-In
Across hundreds of founder conversations, one pattern keeps surfacing: people become so closely associated with one role that they struggle to evolve. As markets, technology, and careers change, others continue interpreting them through yesterday's identity instead of today's capabilities.
🥡 Practical Takeaways • Curiosity is often the first signal it's time to evolve.
• Your identity can expand without abandoning your experience.
• Long-term success comes from continual reinvention, not permanent specialization.
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Curiosity and entrepreneurship
07:15 Why successful founders keep reinventing themselves
18:45 Podcasting as meaningful conversation
24:00 Purpose beyond business
30:00 Life after entrepreneurial success
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs, executives, founders, creators, and professionals considering what's next.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#Entrepreneurship #Leadership #CareerGrowth
S6:E55
Markets shift. Policies change. Supply chains break. Yet businesses still need to serve customers, protect margins, and make decisions.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Abe Orgel, founder of Simple Forwarding, to discuss what entrepreneurs can learn from navigating global shipping during one of the most unpredictable periods in recent memory.
If people don't trust your ability to adapt, they begin questioning your reliability. And when businesses appear unprepared or reactive, opportunities quietly move elsewhere.
Guest Abe Orgel Founder, Simple Forwarding Global shipping and logistics strategist
Core Problems * Operating amid tariff uncertainty * Managing risk without perfect information * Building contingency plans that support growth
Practical Takeaways * Expect change and prepare for multiple outcomes * Make decisions using scenarios instead of assumptions * View resilience as a business capability, not merely a personality trait
Timestamps 00:00 The reality of global shipping in 2026 02:00 What customers truly care about 11:30 Forecasting versus predicting 13:00 Why Plan B matters 15:20 Building resilience as a competitive advantage
Who This Episode Is For Business owners managing inventory, economic uncertainty, or complex operations.
At STEERus, we continue seeing a similar challenge: organizations often underestimate how uncertainty affects perception. Businesses that cannot communicate preparedness and adaptability are frequently misunderstood, overlooked, or perceived as higher risk.
Subscribe and share if these conversations help you think differently about business.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast
S6:E54
What if the real measure of wealth isn't income?
What if it's time?
In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with George Thomas, Founder of Financial Freedom Builders, to discuss financial literacy, investing, wealth-building habits, and why so many people remain financially stressed regardless of income level.
If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you.
If people don't understand you, they won't refer you.
And if people misunderstand the difference between income and wealth, they can spend decades chasing financial goals that never create freedom.
Guest George Thomas Founder, Financial Freedom Builders
Core Problems * Living paycheck to paycheck * Confusing income with wealth * Trading time for money indefinitely * Adapting to economic and workforce shifts
Practical Takeaways * Wealth is a behavior before it becomes a balance sheet * Time is often a more valuable asset than money * Financial freedom begins with intentional choices * Investing is increasingly important in an AI-driven economy
Timestamps 00:01 Financial literacy and the current economic reality 04:15 Understanding wealth-building behavior 08:30 Why income alone doesn't create freedom 11:00 Pursuing moments instead of money 16:00 AI, employment, and future financial resilience
Who This Episode Is For Professionals, entrepreneurs, parents, and anyone seeking greater financial stability.
Invisible brands don't make money. Likewise, invisible financial habits quietly shape outcomes long before anyone notices. The decisions people make repeatedly often matter more than the income they report publicly.
Subscribe, share, and join us for more conversations with entrepreneurs and experts navigating an increasingly complex world.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast
S6:E53
What happens when a founder becomes the single point of failure?
Many entrepreneurs spend years building successful companies only to discover the business cannot function without their constant involvement.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Forrest Derr, Founder of Derr Consulting and Fractional COO, to explore why operational structure, decision-making systems, and strategic clarity matter more than hustle alone.
If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you.
If people don't understand you, they won't refer you.
And if a business cannot operate without its founder, growth often becomes constrained by the founder's own capacity.
Guest Forrest Derr Founder, Derr Consulting
Core Problems * Founder bottlenecks * Lack of operational systems * Undefined exit strategies * Leadership dependency
Practical Takeaways * Build systems that reduce founder fragility * Create simple plans that guide decisions * Define your long-term outcome before making short-term choices * Go before you're ready
Timestamps 00:01 Reluctant entrepreneurship 03:00 Fractional COO leadership 09:00 Business vs. job ownership 11:00 Business planning and decision-making 15:00 Confidence and action
Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs, founders, executives, and business owners preparing for growth.
Invisible brands don't make money. Increasingly, founder-dependent businesses struggle as well. Sustainable growth requires that the business become understandable, repeatable, and transferable beyond the founder alone.
Subscribe, share, and join us for more conversations with entrepreneurs building something meaningful.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast #burnout #mentalhealth
S6:E52
The platforms are changing.
Search is changing.
Customer acquisition is changing.
So what remains stable when everything else feels uncertain?
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Ismael Wrixen, Founder and CEO of ThriveCart, to explore how entrepreneurs, coaches, and creators can build businesses that are resilient to shifting algorithms, rising advertising costs, and AI-driven disruption.
If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you.
If people don't remember you, they won't refer you.
If people can't find you when AI interprets the market, visibility becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.
Guest Ismael Wrixen Founder & CEO, ThriveCart
Core Problems * Customer acquisition is becoming more expensive * Search behavior is changing due to AI * Businesses are overly dependent on platforms they don't control
Practical Takeaways * Build owned communities around your expertise * Increase customer lifetime value through relationships * Use AI to accelerate execution without replacing human connection * Reduce dependence on a single traffic source
Timestamps 00:01 Creator economy trends 03:30 AI and learning opportunities 05:45 Customer acquisition challenges 20:00 The future of creators and coaches 38:50 Growth strategies for entrepreneurs
Who This Episode Is For Coaches, creators, consultants, educators, and growth-minded entrepreneurs.
Invisible brands don't make money. Increasingly, businesses that rely entirely on borrowed attention don't either. Sustainable visibility comes from building relationships, trust, and communities that endure beyond any single platform.
Subscribe, share, and join us for more conversations with entrepreneurs building something meaningful.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast
S6:E51
What if the biggest limitation in your business isn't your circumstances?
What if it's the story you've accepted about what is possible?
In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Patrick Engasser, who is blind. He is an exceptional speaker, coach, and author whose life challenges conventional assumptions about adversity, resilience, and achievement.
If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you.
If people don't remember you, they won't refer you.
If people misunderstand your capabilities, they may never fully see your value.
Patrick shares how being born blind shaped his perspective, how coaching transformed his sales career, and why confidence is built through action rather than waiting until you feel ready.
👤 Guest
Patrick Engasser Speaker, Author & Coach
His book is called, "If I Can Do It, YOU Can Do It!"
⚠️ Core Problems
- Fear-driven procrastination
- Lack of confidence
- Entrepreneurial isolation
- Resistance to uncomfortable growth
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Action creates confidence
- Coaching accelerates growth
- Mindset often determines outcomes more than strategy
- Difficult experiences can become assets
⏱️ Timestamps
00:01 Patrick's story and perspective 07:30 Coaching and business transformation 10:00 The role of mindset in success 11:00 Entrepreneurship and adversity 15:00 Building confidence through action
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
Entrepreneurs, professionals in transition, leaders, and anyone trying to achieve something difficult.
Invisible brands don't make money. Increasingly, invisible expertise doesn't either. In a world shaped by AI summaries and rapid decisions, clarity and credibility matter more than ever.
Subscribe, share, and join us for more conversations with entrepreneurs building something meaningful.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast
S6:E50
A lot of businesses think they need more marketing.
But better marketing is only part of the equation.
In this episode, Jimi Gibson, marketing strategist and former professional magician, explains how the psychology of magic can improve storytelling, create curiosity, and help brands communicate in ways that capture attention and build trust.
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Jimi walks through his "magic script" framework, showing how connection, curiosity, and payoff shape memorable messaging. He also shares why executives and founders still need to show up as the human face of expertise in a world increasingly shaped by AI search.
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees Signal Dilution
Jimi's work focuses on storytelling and marketing psychology. But underneath that sits a broader business challenge Dr. LL sees across industries: businesses often create communication that is active, but not specific enough to help buyers, partners, or AI systems interpret what the company is truly known for. Marketing may attract attention, but understanding determines whether trust and visibility actually follow.
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Use connection, curiosity, and payoff to improve messaging
- Focus your communication around a few areas of expertise
- Understand that attention and understanding are not the same thing
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Founders, marketers, executives, and entrepreneurs trying to communicate more effectively in a noisy world.
Invisible brands don't make money. But increasingly, businesses are becoming invisible because their expertise is scattered, generic, or difficult for AI systems to interpret.
Subscribe, share, and follow Small Business Stories for grounded conversations about visibility, entrepreneurship, trust, and growth in 2026.
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#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast #AI #digitalmarketing
S6:E49
Yes, you can charge premium pricing - but only if your customers feel the difference.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Vance Morris, founder of Deliver Service Now and former Disney leader, to explore how businesses can design experiences that justify higher prices and build stronger trust.
If people don't trust you, they hesitate. If they don't remember you, they don't refer you. If they can't explain why you're different, your value gets misread.
Vance breaks down how Disney-inspired systems, origin stories, waiting-period engagement, and small customer journey details can turn ordinary services into memorable experiences.
Core Problems
- Premium pricing without premium cues
- Customer journey friction
- Weak differentiation in commoditized markets
- Business owners undervaluing their own service
- Lack of systems for consistent customer experience
Practical Takeaways
- Build "tellable" moments into your customer journey
- Use experience design to create perceived value
- Communicate price increases clearly and strategically
- Map the journey from the customer's point of view
- Systemize the experience so service quality is repeatable
Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs, service providers, operators, and founders trying to escape commodity pricing.
Invisible brands don't make money. But misunderstood value gets underpriced. STEERus helps businesses clarify their signal so customers understand why they are worth choosing.
Subscribe, share, and follow Small Business Stories for grounded conversations on entrepreneurship, visibility, trust, and growth.
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
S6:E48
The pressure to automate everything is reshaping entrepreneurship. But faster content does not automatically create deeper trust.
In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Allan Ngo, founder of Digital Solopreneur, to explore the tension between AI efficiency and human connection in modern business building.
If people don't trust you, they hesitate. If they don't remember you, you disappear. And in an AI-saturated economy, businesses increasingly risk becoming invisible because they sound indistinguishable from everyone else.
👤 Guest Allan Ngo Founder, Digital Solopreneur Helping solopreneurs use AI and systems without sacrificing authenticity
⚠️ Core Problems
- Burnout inside solopreneur culture
- AI-generated sameness in online content
- Over-automation weakening trust and sincerity
- Entrepreneurs hiding behind tools instead of connection
- The myth of passive income and effortless scale
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Using AI as a support tool instead of an identity
- Creating guardrails around work and personal life
- Turning lived experience into trust-building content
- Why sincerity remains a competitive advantage
- Building businesses that support life, not consume it
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Burnout, freelancing, and digital entrepreneurship 08:00 Passive income myths and entrepreneurial reality 15:00 Using AI productively without losing your voice 22:00 Trust and human connection in an AI economy 31:00 Content sincerity versus AI saturation
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs, creators, consultants, digital marketers, and solopreneurs navigating AI-era visibility.
Invisible brands don't make money. But increasingly, businesses are not becoming invisible because they lack content. They're becoming invisible because buyers can no longer distinguish what is genuinely human.
Subscribe, share, and join us for more conversations decoding trust, visibility, leadership, and entrepreneurship in the AI era.
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Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneur #solopreneur #AI #digitalmarketing
S6:E46
More entrepreneurs are investing in ads, automation, and AI-generated content, yet many are still struggling to convert customers.
In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Carolyn Lowe, founder of ROI Swift, to explore what actually drives profitable growth on Amazon and why relevance now matters more than visibility alone.
If people don't trust you, they hesitate. If they don't understand your value quickly, they move on. And if your messaging is generic, AI-driven systems may quietly deprioritize your brand altogether.
Carolyn shares practical insights from managing more than 200 Amazon brands, including how businesses misuse advertising, where AI genuinely helps, and why human connection still matters in a highly automated environment.
👤 Guest Carolyn Lowe Founder of ROI Swift Expert in Amazon sales optimization, e-commerce strategy, and AI-assisted retail growth
⚠️ Core Problems
- Brands overspending on traffic instead of improving conversion
- AI-generated outreach damaging trust and engagement
- Businesses failing to configure Amazon systems correctly for growth
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- How to identify whether you have a traffic problem or a conversion problem
- Why imagery and positioning influence buying behavior more than keywords alone
- How Amazon's AI tools can level the playing field for smaller businesses
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 The evolution of e-commerce and Amazon 08:00 Personalized search and behavioral targeting 13:00 Human connection in an AI-heavy world 18:00 Why product pages matter more than ad spend 29:00 The hidden power of Amazon B2B
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs, Amazon sellers, marketers, and small business owners navigating AI-enabled commerce.
Invisible brands don't make money. Misinterpreted brands lose trust even faster. STEERus helps organizations reduce misinterpretation risk so customers, partners, and AI systems understand them correctly.
Subscribe, share, and follow Small Business Stories for grounded conversations about entrepreneurship, visibility, and growth in 2026.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLLSmallBusiness
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Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast #amazon #amazonseller #amazonFBA #ecommerce
S6:E45
What happens when a business grows faster than its structure, messaging, or leadership capacity?
In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with James Brown, founder of Business Accelerator Institute and Perseverance Squared, to discuss why so many entrepreneurs become trapped inside businesses they worked hard to build.
If people don't trust what they're seeing, they hesitate. If the market cannot clearly categorize your value, visibility declines. And in the AI-search era, operational confusion increasingly becomes a credibility problem.
James Brown brings decades of experience in business growth, strategic management, marketing systems, and leadership development. After building and scaling multiple companies himself, he has helped hundreds of business owners create more sustainable operations and clearer growth strategies.
Together, Dr. LL and James explore the operational and visibility consequences of founder overload, inconsistent marketing, unclear positioning, and businesses built entirely around personal sacrifice. We're open and honest about it because we've both been there - and got the t-shirt.
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed • Why many entrepreneurs become operational bottlenecks • The hidden costs of inconsistent marketing strategy • How unclear business identity weakens market trust
🥡 Practical Takeaways • Build systems that reduce dependency on founder availability • Tie marketing activity to measurable business intent • Create operational clarity before scaling visibility
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 The hidden cost of founder dependency 07:12 Why most marketing feels disconnected 14:25 Building repeatable business systems 22:41 Visibility breakdowns in growing companies 31:08 Redefining sustainable entrepreneurship
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Founders, operators, consultants, professional service firms, and growth-stage entrepreneurs navigating scale, visibility, and leadership pressure.
At STEERus, conversations like these continue revealing how signal clarity, operational trust, and decision integrity increasingly shape business visibility.
Subscribe, share, and follow Small Business Stories for grounded conversations with leaders navigating modern entrepreneurship.
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Follow STEERus on social media:
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Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast #burnout
S6:E44
Marketing typically fails because of misalignment between the message and the buyer. Product market fit, or the lack thereof, is a business death nail.
Many founders are active across multiple channels, yet their message doesn't land. The result is lower conversion AND confusion in the market about what the business actually does and who it serves.
If people don't understand your message, they won't act. If your positioning is unclear, they won't remember you. If your signal is inconsistent, both buyers and AI will misinterpret you.
Amber Gaige Farrell joins Dr. LL to explore why marketing breaks down—and how clarity across the customer journey restores both trust and conversion.
👤 Guest Amber Gaige Founder, Far Beyond Marketing Specialist in marketing strategy, brand clarity, and customer experience
⚠️ Core Problems
- High activity with low conversion
- Misaligned messaging across platforms
- Poorly defined customer journey
- Inconsistent brand signal
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Define a clear problem and audience
- Align every channel to that core message
- Build a cohesive customer journey
- Prioritize clarity over volume
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 The conversion gap 7:10 Messaging breakdowns 15:30 Customer journey clarity 25:40 Channel alignment 36:20 Founder priorities
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
Founders, marketers, consultants, growing businesses
Clarity is not a branding exercise—it's a growth requirement. This is where signal integrity begins. Presented by STEERus.
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#marketingstrategy #marketing #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #smallbusiness
S6:E43
Growth is often treated as proof that everything is working.
But internally, it can signal the opposite. And growth can BREAK you and your business.
Many businesses expand faster than their systems can support. What once felt agile becomes chaotic. Decisions stall. Teams drift. And over time, the business becomes harder to run, even as it looks more successful from the outside.
If people don't understand how your business works, they can't support it. If your systems don't scale, your growth becomes fragile. If your signal is unclear, both the market and AI will miscategorize you.
Brian Mattocks joins Dr. LL to unpack what actually breaks inside growing organizations—and how leaders can restore clarity, alignment, and execution discipline.
👤 Guest Brian Mattocks Expert in operational systems, scaling businesses, and organizational alignment
⚠️ Core Problems
- Operational breakdown during growth
- Lack of clarity in roles and accountability
- Reactive leadership cycles
- Misalignment between strategy and execution
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Design systems intentionally, not reactively
- Clarify ownership across teams
- Align structure with growth stage
- Build operational discipline early
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 Growth vs. stability tension 6:45 Why systems fail 15:20 Role clarity gaps 24:10 Designing scalable operations 35:30 Founder priorities
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
Scaling founders, operators, leadership teams, consultants
Clarity in structure creates clarity in signal. That's where sustainable growth begins—inside and out. Presented by STEERus.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
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#business #businessstips #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship #businessgrowth
S6:E42
The market is louder than ever, yet trust feels like a rare commodity. Many founders are visible but not chosen. They generate impressions, traffic, and activity, yet still lack meaningful conversations with ideal buyers.
If people don't trust you, they won't engage. If they don't remember you, they won't refer you. If your growth depends only on ads, it remains fragile.
Tom Schwab joins Dr. LL to discuss how podcast guesting can create a more durable path to authority, relationships, and revenue.
👤 Guest Tom Schwab, Interview Valet Leader in podcast interview marketing and relationship-based lead generation
⚠️ Core Problems
- Transactional outreach fatigue
- Overreliance on paid traffic
- Weak authority positioning
- No system for converting credibility into pipeline
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Go where trust already exists
- Share expertise in long-form conversations
- Build follow-up systems after appearances
- Measure relationships, not just reach
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 The trust deficit in marketing 7:18 Why podcasts work differently 15:42 Authority through conversation 26:10 Systems that convert interviews 36:40 What to build next
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
B2B founders, advisors, agencies, consultants, executives
Signal clarity grows when trust precedes promotion. Presented by STEERus.
Subscribe, share, and follow for more grounded conversations.
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Follow STEERus on social media:
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Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#podcasting #podcast #marketing #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E41
Growth exposes what founders postpone (isn't that the truth?!). Many businesses believe HR is just paperwork. In reality, HR often determines whether growth compounds, or fractures.
If people don't trust your standards, culture weakens. If systems don't support growth, margins erode. If leadership delays hard decisions, costs multiply quietly.
In this episode, Michelle Griffin joins Dr. LL to discuss what really happens when small businesses grow faster than their people infrastructure.
👤 Guest Michelle Griffin, Griffin Resources Specialist in HR systems, hiring compliance, workforce growth strategy
⚠️ Core Problems
- Reactive hiring decisions
- Contractor classification risk
- Culture dilution during growth
- Weak accountability systems
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Build structure before scale
- Hire with clarity, not urgency
- Protect standards early
- Understand people risk as financial risk
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 Hidden growth risks 7:42 Expensive hiring errors 16:10 Classification issues 25:18 Culture and accountability 34:40 What to fix now
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
Executives, founders, operators, scaling small businesses
Signal clarity often starts where leaders least expect it: internal decisions. Presented by STEERus.
Subscribe, share, and follow for more grounded conversations.
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Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#HR #hiring #mistakes #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness
S6:E40
Most businesses either have a revenue problem or an operating problem.
In this episode, Dr. LL explores why capable founders often stay trapped inside businesses they built: overloaded, reactive, and too central to everything. "Founder fatigue" is real, folks.
If people can't move without you, the company is constrained. If every issue escalates to the founder, scale is fragile. If systems are weak, growth becomes expensive.
Dan Norcross shares a grounded perspective on building businesses that function with more discipline and less drama.
Guest Dan Norcross Entrepreneur / Operator
Core Problems
- Founder dependency
- Poor delegation structures
- Operational chaos
- Growth without leverage
Practical Takeaways
- Systemize recurring decisions
- Build accountability into roles
- Reduce founder dependency
- Mature operations before forcing scale
Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:00 Why chaos persists 11:00 Systems and leverage 18:00 Accountability culture 26:00 What mature businesses do differently
Who This Episode Is For Founders ready to run a company, not just carry one.
This conversation reinforces a core STEERus™ principle: When the founder becomes the business, the business cannot fully grow.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
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Follow STEERus on social media:
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Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#burnout #entrepreneurship #growth #growthmindset #smallbusiness
S6:E39
Trust isn't built by showing up more. It's built by being understood.
In this episode, Dr. LL explores a recurring challenge facing entrepreneurs: why visibility alone isn't translating into credibility or growth.
If people don't trust you, they don't buy. If they don't understand you, they can't trust you. And if your signal is inconsistent, you remain invisible, no matter how often you show up.
Kira Shishkin brings perspective on what it actually takes to build trust in modern business environments, where attention is fragmented and skepticism is high.
Guest Kira Shishkin Entrepreneur
Core Problems
- Confusion between visibility and trust
- Weak or inconsistent messaging
- Lack of intentional relationship-building
- Difficulty standing out in crowded markets
Practical Takeaways
- Trust requires clarity before consistency
- Messaging must be simple enough to repeat
- Relationships drive conversion—not exposure
- Credibility is earned through alignment
Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 04:00 Trust challenges today 09:00 Visibility vs credibility 15:00 Relationship dynamics 22:00 Converting trust into growth
Who This Episode Is For Founders and operators trying to strengthen credibility and build trust with their audience.
This conversation reinforces a core STEERus™ principle: When your signal is unclear, trust breaks and growth stalls.
Subscribe and share if this resonates.
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#trust #sales #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E38
Access to capital isn't just a financial decision. It's a strategic one - albeit increasingly confusing.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Kunal Bhasin to explore how the lending landscape has evolved—and why many small business owners struggle to navigate it effectively.
If people don't trust the process, they hesitate. If they don't understand their options, they default to urgency. If decisions are made under pressure, long-term stability suffers.
Kunal brings a grounded perspective on how marketplaces create optionality, how lenders actually evaluate risk, and why transparency is becoming a defining differentiator in financial services.
Guest Kunal Bhasin Founder of OneWest
Core Problems
- Lack of transparency in lending decisions
- Overreliance on traditional banks
- Confusion around loan structures and tradeoffs
- Emotional decision-making under financial pressure
Practical Takeaways
- Capital should expand opportunity—not delay failure
- Multiple options improve decision quality
- Transparency builds long-term financial trust
- The lowest rate isn't always the best decision
Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:00 Evolution of lending 07:00 Marketplace dynamics 13:00 Meaning of capital 20:00 Borrowing decisions 26:00 Defining success
Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs and operators seeking a clearer, more grounded approach to financing decisions.
This conversation reinforces a key STEERus™ principle: Clarity drives better decisions especially when stakes are high.
Subscribe and share if this resonates.
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Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#finance #loan #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E37
Franchising is often misunderstood. Many assume it's "passive income" that prints cash in the backyard. NOTHING is really passive! Especially not at first. Others think franchising is low-risk, or limited to fast food. In reality, it requires discipline, self-awareness, and the ability to follow systems. This is something many entrepreneurs resist. Giuseppe Grammatico breaks down what actually determines success, and why most people are evaluating the wrong things from the start.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Giuseppe Grammatico to unpack what franchising actually requires—and why so many people approach it with the wrong expectations.
If people don't trust your consistency, they hesitate. If your decisions aren't grounded in reality, they stall. If your role isn't clear, execution breaks down.
Giuseppe brings a practical lens to business ownership; one that challenges the idea of passive income and reinforces the importance of fit, structure, and long-term thinking.
Guest Giuseppe Grammatico Franchise consultant and founder of The Franchise Guide
Core Problems
- Treating franchising as passive income
- Choosing based on trends, not alignment
- Lack of clarity around role and expectations
- Ignoring process and system discipline
Practical Takeaways
- Ownership requires alignment between skill set and business model
- Systems only work if they are followed
- Franchising reduces risk—but doesn't remove effort
- Clear expectations prevent early failure
Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:00 The myth of franchising 08:00 Fit vs opportunity 14:00 Red flags in franchise selection 21:00 The reality of ownership 27:00 When things don't work
Who This Episode Is For Individuals considering franchising or business ownership and seeking a more grounded understanding of what it actually takes.
This episode reinforces a core principle behind the STEERus™ Decision Integrity System: Better decisions come from alignment—not urgency.
Subscribe and share if this resonates.
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Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#franchise #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E36
Many founders don't talk about this - but we do. Burnout doesn't happen all at once. It builds through small, misaligned decisions over time.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Jessica Volker to explore what sustainable growth actually requires and why so many entrepreneurs unintentionally build businesses that drain them.
If people don't trust your consistency, they hesitate. If your priorities aren't clear, your execution suffers. If you're doing everything, nothing compounds because you and your signal are spread too thin.
Jessica brings a grounded perspective on prioritization, energy, and the discipline required to build something that lasts.
Guest Jessica Volker Entrepreneur and business strategist
Core Problems
- Overextension disguised as ambition
- Lack of prioritization in growth decisions
- Building systems that are unsustainable long-term
- Confusing activity with meaningful progress
Practical Takeaways
- Focus is a strategic advantage, not a limitation
- Sustainable growth requires intentional boundaries
- Decision clarity reduces unnecessary effort
- Long-term success is built through consistency, not intensity
Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Small Business Stories 03:00 Burnout and entrepreneurship 08:00 Why more isn't better 12:00 The role of prioritization 18:00 Sustainable growth mindset 24:00 Long-term success
Who This Episode Is For Founders and leaders who want to grow their business without sacrificing clarity, health, or long-term viability.
This episode reinforces a core principle behind the STEERus™ Decision Integrity System: When decisions lack clarity, effort increases but results don't. And we want to change that for you, just like we changed it for ourselves!
Subscribe and share if this resonates.
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Follow STEERus on social media:
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Burnout #wellness
S6:E35
Some of the strongest businesses are built without a clear path.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Nicholas Breedlove, CEO of NVB Playgrounds, to explore what it really takes to build and scale a business in a niche industry without prior experience, without a playbook, and without external validation.
If people don't trust your capability, they hesitate. If your positioning isn't clear, they overlook you. If you wait for credentials, you delay momentum.
Nicholas shares his journey into the playground industry and how he built a widly successful company focused on safe, inclusive, and community-driven spaces. His experience reflects a broader entrepreneurial truth: many founders start without a roadmap, but succeed by staying focused, resilient, and aligned with real market needs.
Guest Nicholas Breedlove CEO, NVB Playgrounds
Core Problems
- Waiting for experience or validation before starting
- Misunderstanding the realities of niche industries
- Struggling to scale without overextending resources
- Building without a clear framework or guidance
Practical Takeaways
- Action builds credibility faster than credentials
- Specialization creates opportunity in overlooked markets
- Resilience is a requirement, not a trait
- Community impact can be a competitive advantage
Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Small Business Stories 02:00 Entering a new industry without experience 06:00 Niche business realities 11:00 Scaling challenges 17:00 Leadership and culture 23:00 The power of purpose
Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs building in unfamiliar spaces and leaders navigating uncertainty without a clear roadmap.
Invisible businesses don't make money -- but neither do businesses waiting to feel "ready."
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Follow STEERus on social media:
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Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Startups
S6:E34
If people don't trust what they see, they won't engage with what you say. And for many small business owners, that breakdown starts with their image.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with photographer Olga Mischenko to explore the intersection of visual identity, authenticity, and the real demands of entrepreneurship. This conversation moves beyond photography to surface a deeper issue: the gap between how entrepreneurs present themselves and who they actually are.
👤 Guest Olga Mischenko Founder, Photography by Olga Mischenko
⚠️ Core Problems
- Misaligned personal and brand imagery
- The hidden workload of entrepreneurship beyond the craft
- Over-curation that weakens credibility
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Authentic representation builds stronger trust than perfection
- Networking remains essential—even in a digital-first world
- Business success requires far more than technical skill
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 The role of image in business 06:00 Customer connection and empathy 10:00 Visibility through networking 13:00 The business behind creativity 17:00 Authenticity in branding
This episode reinforces a core principle behind the STEERus™ Decision Integrity System: When your external signal doesn't match your internal value, the market miscategorizes you.
Subscribe and share if this resonates.
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Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io
#branding #entrepreneurship #marketing #photography #smallbusiness
S6:E33
If people don't hear from you, they don't wait. They interpret. And most of the time, they get it wrong.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with renowned executive coach, Ash Seddeek, to explore what leadership communication actually requires in today's environment where visibility is constant, trust is fragile, and silence carries weight.
This is a conversation about responsibility, meaning, and the unseen consequences of how leaders show up - or don't.
👤 Guest Ash Seddeek Founder, Executive Greatness Institute
📖 Books
Ash has written several books on leadership.
Buy them here:
👉 https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00VOS0T1W
⚠️ Core Problems
- The hidden cost of leadership silence
- Confusing vulnerability with credibility
- Treating communication as performance instead of purpose
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Leaders must actively shape the narrative—or others will
- Meaning creates alignment more than messaging ever will
- Followership is earned through connection, not authority
⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Leadership beyond communication skills 07:00 Vulnerability done right 13:00 Meaning vs performance 17:30 Silence and its consequences 24:00 Redefining greatness
This episode reinforces a core truth behind the STEERus™ Decision Integrity System: When leaders lack clarity in how they show up, the market—and their teams—misinterpret them.
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#leadership #communication #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
Some businesses attract more fantasy than fundamentals. Real estate is one of them.
In this episode, Dr. LL talks with Jose Berlanga, CEO of Onyx Land Partners and author of Dirt Rich, about what actually separates durable success from aspirational noise in land development, home building, and entrepreneurship.
If people don't trust your judgment, they won't invest with you. If you don't understand the market, you will mistake motion for traction. If you build from ego instead of demand, the market eventually corrects you.
Jose brings a sobering, practical perspective shaped by decades in Houston real estate. He explains why steadier end-user markets can outperform flashier speculative ones, why specialization matters more than people think, and why so many newcomers fail when they assume all real estate is the same. One of the strongest threads in this conversation is his insistence that real estate is not a shortcut business. It is cyclical, risky, technical, and unforgiving when approached casually. He also connects development directly to product-market fit, arguing that builders fail when they create for themselves rather than for the actual buyer. Houston's steady expansion, Onyx's focus on transitional inner-city neighborhoods, and his warnings about "passive income" all reinforce the same deeper truth: sustainable growth comes from patience, repetition, restraint, and staying in the lane you truly understand.
Guest Jose Berlanga CEO, Onyx Land Partners Author, Dirt Rich and The Business of Home Building
Buy his book here 👉 https://www.amazon.com/Dirt-Rich-Jose-M-Berlanga/dp/B0FRXTN2FL
Core Problems
- Entrepreneurs being sold unrealistic timelines and low-effort wealth narratives
- Investors entering markets or asset classes they do not understand
- Builders confusing personal taste with buyer demand
- People raising outside money before they have earned the right to manage it
Practical Takeaways
- Specialize before you diversify
- Study the local market instead of assuming one city behaves like another
- Start with smaller, lower-risk decisions and build judgment over time
- Track record and references matter more than polished social proof
- The longer road is often the safer road
Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Small Business Stories 01:06 Why Houston remains attractive 05:35 Cycles, bad actors, and market cleanup 10:34 What buyers and investors should watch for 15:06 Transitional neighborhoods and Onyx's specialty 18:26 Why product-market fit matters in real estate 21:19 Fractional ownership, research, and risk 24:44 What Dirt Rich really argues 29:20 Passive income myths and entrepreneurial patience 34:48 Where to find Jose and his books
Who This Episode Is For Founders, investors, and growth-minded entrepreneurs who are trying to build something durable instead of chasing speed.
Invisible brands don't make money, but neither do businesses built on borrowed certainty and thin expertise.
Subscribe, share, and send this episode to someone who needs a more grounded conversation about entrepreneurship and risk.
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#RealEstateInvesting #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #entrepreneur
S6:E31
There is no shortage of marketing tools right now. There is a shortage of clarity.
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact (you know - the pioneer of eMail marketing with revenues still over $250 million per year), to unpack what is actually happening beneath the surface for small business owners trying to stay visible in 2026.
If people don't trust you, they won't respond. If they don't understand you, they won't refer you. If your message keeps shifting, they won't remember you.
Dave shares insights from Constant Contact's small business research, including a sharp drop in marketing confidence, rising overwhelm, and the growing tension between activity and actual results. The conversation brings us back to fundamentals: connection, consistency, and clarity.
Guest Dave Charest Director of Small Business Success, Constant Contact
Core Problems
- Founders trying to be everywhere instead of being effective somewhere
- Marketing activity replacing intentional strategy
- Message inconsistency weakening trust and referrals
- Overreliance on tools without understanding audience needs
Practical Takeaways
- Focus on one primary channel and build from there
- Use email as a relationship channel, not just a sales tool
- Match frequency to relevance, not arbitrary rules
- Use AI to support thinking, not replace it
- Build real-world relationships and use digital to sustain them
Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Small Business Stories 03:00 What has changed and what hasn't in marketing 05:45 Overwhelm and channel fatigue 09:38 The real role of email in 2026 18:30 Why consistency builds trust 22:00 Message clarity and referrals 27:00 Confidence drop in small business marketing 31:00 AI, confusion, and content quality 39:00 What small businesses should do now
Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs and small business owners who feel like they are doing everything but still not getting traction.
Invisible brands don't make money, but neither do businesses that are active everywhere and clear nowhere.
Subscribe, share, and send this to someone trying to simplify their marketing without losing momentum.
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#EmailMarketing #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E30
What happens when leadership is treated like status instead of stewardship?
In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Jim Matuga, founder of Interaction Media, longtime entrepreneur, podcast host, spirit "ambassador" for West Virginia, and author of Humble Influence. We had a grounded conversation about culture, followership, faith, community, and what it really takes to lead people well in a turbulent era.
If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If they don't feel seen, they won't stay. If leadership is performative instead of relational, culture eventually breaks under pressure.
Jim brings a perspective shaped by entrepreneurship in West Virginia, decades in media and marketing, and the lessons behind his book Humble Influence. The book is especially compelling because it pushes against a familiar leadership distortion: the idea that everyone must be the leader, or that followership is somehow lesser. Instead, Jim makes a thoughtful case that healthy followership is a choice, humility is strength, and better leadership often begins with understanding how to support, empower, and elevate others. Faith is part of that foundation too, not in a heavy-handed way, but as a steady moral center around service, love, and responsibility. I thoroughly enjoyed his book and read it cover to cover.
Guest Jim Matuga Founder, Interaction Media Host, Positively West Virginia Author, Humble Influence
BUY HIS BOOK HERE 👇
https://www.amazon.com/Humble-Influence-Strength-True-Followership/dp/B0F9WJFTSJ
Core Problems
- Founders assuming titles create followership
- Culture being treated as branding instead of operating discipline
- Teams underperforming when leadership becomes too centralized
- Small businesses trying to navigate AI disruption without losing their humanity
Practical Takeaways
- Culture pays dividends when it is practiced daily, not admired conceptually
- Strong businesses are built with people, not around one personality
- Followership is not weakness; it is a conscious form of contribution
- AI may disrupt execution, but trust, judgment, and human alignment still matter
- Community can become a strategic asset when people genuinely want each other to win
Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Small Business Stories 01:29 What keeps Jim going after 500 episodes 05:35 What West Virginia teaches about business and belonging 11:15 Winning with people and building around excellence 15:16 Why culture became a turning point 17:14 The story behind Humble Influence 21:09 Leadership as a choice, not a title 24:24 AI, StoryMaker, and agency disruption 34:30 Faith, love, and the deeper why behind business
Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs, founders, managers, and leadership-minded professionals trying to build trust, strengthen culture, and lead with more humility and clarity.
Invisible brands don't make money, and neither do businesses whose leadership signal is distorted from the inside out.
Subscribe, share, and send this episode to someone building a business with people at the center.
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#Leadership #CompanyCulture #Entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E29
Some leaders are trying to be more human and still losing traction. Others hold the line so hard that people stop trusting them. In this episode, Dr. LL and Holly Golebiowski explore the tension between empathy, authority, accessibility, and real leadership growth.
If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If they don't remember you, they won't look for you. If your leadership creates distance, even unintentionally, people may comply for a while, but they will not stay deeply engaged.
Guest Holly Golebiowski, known as Holly G Leader Skills Executive coach, facilitator, leadership development expert
Core Problems
- Leaders confusing empathy with over-accommodation
- Teams disengaging when leaders feel inaccessible or performative
- Coaching and leadership development becoming harder to evaluate in a crowded market
Practical Takeaways
- Empathy works best when it is paired with standards, clarity, and accountability
- Leaders need to ask what they may be doing to create the friction they see on their teams
- Strong leadership development is not about polish alone. It is about usefulness, credibility, and change people can actually apply
Timestamps 00:00 Accessibility, names, and first impressions in leadership 03:58 Reading a room and knowing whether learning is landing 08:27 Empathy without losing authority 12:12 Credible coaching versus performative branding 19:37 Internal coaching, AI coaching, and where the field may be heading
Who This Episode Is For Entrepreneurs, managers, facilitators, and founders trying to lead people well in a crowded, overstimulated, high-pressure environment.
Invisible brands don't make money, and inaccessible leaders don't keep trust for long.
Subscribe, share, and keep building with clarity.
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S6:E28
Trust is rarely lost in one dramatic moment. More often, it slips through small signals of distraction, misalignment, or weak preparation.
In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Glenn Poulos, President of Prague USA and author of Never Sit in the Lobby, to talk about the discipline behind long-term sales relationships, the difference between activity and progress, and what it really takes to stay credible over decades.
If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you. If they don't remember you, they won't call you.
Guest Glenn Poulos President, Prague USA Author of Never Sit in the Lobby
👉 BUY HIS BOOK HERE --> https://www.amazon.com/Never-Sit-Lobby-Winning-Business/dp/1777939135 Expertise: sales discipline, customer relationships, professional presence, and long-term trust building
Core Problems • Sales teams mistaking busyness for effectiveness • Relationship erosion caused by distracted, low-readiness interactions • Overinvesting in digital visibility while underinvesting in real-world credibility
Practical Takeaways • Why readiness before the meeting shapes the meeting • How genuine rapport is built without becoming performative or pushy • Why the best long-term sales relationships come from discipline, memory, timing, and trust
Timestamps 00:00 Power, infrastructure, and why Glenn's industry matters 05:35 The meaning behind Never Sit in the Lobby 13:53 Pre-call preparation and remembering faces 17:16 Motion vs. progress in sales 24:26 Personal brand, company brand, and staying credible 35:13 Longevity, resilience, and the next right thing
Who This Episode Is For Founders, sales leaders, consultants, and professionals who want to build durable trust instead of relying on performative visibility.
Invisible brands don't make money, and neither do businesses that send mixed signals when trust is on the line.
Subscribe, share, and follow Small Business Stories for more grounded conversations on visibility, credibility, and growth.
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#sales #success #relationships #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E27
A lot of founders are generating revenue and staying busy, yet still feeling unclear about their finances and unsure about what to do next.
Queue up episode In this episode of Small Business Stories, Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka Dr. LL talks with Emil Abedian, founder and CEO of Counsel CPAs, about what happens when entrepreneurs stay trapped in compliance mode and never fully step into strategic financial leadership.
If people don't trust you… If people don't trust you, they hesitate. If they don't remember you, they move on.
Guest block Emil Abedian is the founder and CEO of Counsel CPAs and the author of Counsel to Counsel. He works closely with solo and small law firms to help them move beyond tax prep and bookkeeping into stronger cash flow, profitability, and strategic decision-making.
Core Problems
- Founders treating the business like a job instead of an asset
- Revenue growth without enough profit clarity
- Missed financial signals that create avoidable stress and burnout
Practical Takeaways
- Use your numbers to guide decisions, not just satisfy compliance
- Watch for early warning signs before the business drifts off track
- Build financial support that helps you think, not just file
Timestamps
- 00:00 Intro and Emil's founder story
- 03:10 Why time with family changed his perspective
- 06:20 The writing of Counsel to Counsel
- 10:15 From compliance to strategic partnership
- 17:40 Why solo businesses need financial guidance early
Who This Episode Is For Solo founders, small business owners, law firm leaders, and service-based entrepreneurs trying to grow with more clarity and less chaos
Invisible brands don't make money. And invisible financial patternsdrain momentum, confidence, and growth.
Subscribe/Share CTA Subscribe, share, and send this episode to a founder who is working hard but still feeling financially foggy.
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#cashflow #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness
S6:E26
Consumers want healthier food. But building those products is far more complex than most people realize.
Queue Up Episode In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Kash Rocheleau, CEO of Icon Foods, to explore the intersection of food innovation, consumer behavior, and leadership.
If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you. If consumers don't understand what's inside a product, they question everything about it.
Kash shares insights from inside the ingredient supply chain and explains how consumer trends, health movements, and industry innovation are reshaping the future of food.
👤 Guest Kash Rocheleau CEO, Icon Foods Food industry executive specializing in sugar reduction ingredients
Core Problems • The technical challenge of reducing sugar in food products • Confusion surrounding "clean label" and health claims • Leading teams and companies through industry disruption
Practical Takeaways • Transparency builds stronger consumer trust • Leadership requires both strategy and compassion • Market trends often reveal deeper shifts in consumer priorities
Timestamps 02:30 What Icon Foods does in the ingredient supply chain 05:20 The rise of sugar reduction in consumer products 14:00 Why "clean label" terminology creates confusion 21:00 Building a growth mindset inside teams 27:00 Women in leadership and speaking with conviction
Who This Episode Is For • Entrepreneurs building product-based businesses • Leaders navigating fast-changing industries • Consumers interested in food innovation
Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible complexity creates misunderstanding.
Season 6 of Small Business Stories continues decoding the patterns that shape how businesses are seen, trusted, and understood.
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#food #healthyfood #sugar #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E25
Raising capital is rarely just about money.
It is about trust, credibility, and whether investors believe in the people behind the idea.
Queue Up Episode In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with angel investor and author Marcia Dawood to explore the realities of early-stage investing.
If people don't trust you, they won't invest. If investors don't believe the founder understands the problem, the funding rarely follows.
Marcia shares insights from more than a decade inside the angel investing ecosystem and discusses why capital decisions are often far more human than founders expect.
👤 Guest Marcia Dawood Angel Investor Author of Do Good While Doing Well Host of The Angel Next Door
Core Problems • Why founders misinterpret how angel investors make decisions • Persistent funding disparities for women-led companies • The emotional strain facing founders navigating uncertain funding markets
Practical Takeaways • Investors respond to founders who demonstrate deep customer understanding • Bootstrapped progress signals resilience and credibility • Capital often follows relationships built over time
Timestamps 00:01 Discovering angel investing 05:00 The funding gap facing women founders 11:30 When founders approach investors the wrong way 16:00 AI investing and real problem solving 26:00 Signals investors watch for before writing checks
Who This Episode Is For • Entrepreneurs considering venture funding • Startup founders navigating early-stage capital • Leaders interested in ethical and values-aligned investing
Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible credibility gaps quietly stall funding.
Season 6 of Small Business Stories continues decoding the structural patterns that keep capable founders unseen.
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#fundraising #startup #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #angelinvesting
S6:E24
Many founders start businesses seeking freedom. Then accidentally build companies that consume their lives.
Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Jesse P. Gilmore, founder of Niche In Control, to explore what happens when marketing agencies grow faster than their systems.
If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If your business depends entirely on you, it can't scale.
Jesse shares the painful lessons from dissolving three successful businesses due to founder burnout, what he learned working inside a $4B corporation, and how systems thinking transformed the way he approaches agency growth.
👤 Guest Jesse P. Gilmore Founder, Niche In Control Agency Growth Strategist
- Scalable Agency Accelerator Trial - https://www.nicheincontrol.com/triangle - Book - https://www.nicheincontrol.com/book - Website - https://www.nicheincontrol.com - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessepgilmore/
Core Problems • Founder dependency limiting business scalability • Confusing marketing deliverables with strategic outcomes • Burnout created by trading time directly for revenue
Practical Takeaways • Specialization cuts through competitive noise • Systems remove single points of failure in organizations • Time leverage allows founders to survive the entrepreneurial marathon
Timestamps 02:30 The hidden growth ceiling inside agencies 09:30 Why Jesse dissolved three businesses 14:10 Viral success myths in entrepreneurship 20:00 Pricing for value vs pricing for hours 27:00 Where agency owners should focus first
Who This Episode Is For • Agency founders • Service-based entrepreneurs • Small business owners scaling their operations
Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible bottlenecks quietly stall growth.
Season 6 continues decoding the structural patterns that keep capable founders stuck.
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#digitalmarketing #digitalmarketingagency #entrepreneurlife #wellness #smallbusiness
S6:E23
Scaling a business doesn't reduce pressure. It refines it.
Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Borja Cuan, co-founder of 415 Digital, to explore what truly changes when companies move from startup to scale.
If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If your expectations drift faster than your clarity, growth fractures.
Borja shares what eight years of agency growth has taught him about client pushback, AI disruption, mindset discipline, and the emotional endurance required to scale.
👤 Guest Borja Cuan Co-Founder, 415 Digital Growth Marketing Strategist
Core Problems • Scaling expectations without aligned mindset • Confusing AI adoption with strategic clarity • Underestimating emotional resilience in entrepreneurship
Practical Takeaways • Mindset determines reaction to volatility • Growth marketing requires ICP precision and metric discipline • Endurance is a long-term competitive advantage
Timestamps 03:00 Why resilience is a founder's superpower 08:30 Managing client pushback 15:40 AI as a tool, not a replacement 19:30 Growth marketing at early-stage vs scaling companies 27:00 Remembering why you started
Who This Episode Is For • Founder-led service businesses • Agencies navigating AI disruption • Entrepreneurs scaling under pressure
Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible expectation drift erodes trust internally and externally. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that quietly destabilize capable businesses.
Please subscribe and share if this conversation resonates with you.
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#marketing #marketingdigital #agency #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E22
Marketing fails because of fragmentation across too many platforms.
Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Jensen Savage, founder of Savage Growth Partners, to unpack what really drives sustainable growth.
If people don't trust you, they won't buy. If your strategy isn't coherent, your signal gets diluted.
Jensen shares why ruthless prioritization matters, how ego interferes with data-driven decisions, and why marketing must connect to sales and operations to truly scale.
👤 Guest Jensen Savage Founder, Savage Growth Partners Marketing & Growth Strategist
Core Problems • Confusing tactics with strategy • Emotional resistance to performance data • FOMO-driven channel expansion
Practical Takeaways • Growth requires ecosystem thinking, not isolated wins • Data should inform, not intimidate • Sustainable brands are built on strategic coherence
Timestamps 01:30 Creative + analytical marketing 05:00 Why math matters in growth 11:20 Ego in business decisions 20:45 FOMO and overextending channels 24:50 Marketing as part of the business ecosystem
Who This Episode Is For • Entrepreneurs scaling past early traction • Founders navigating marketing complexity • Business owners seeking sustainable growth
Invisible brands don't make money. Fragmented signals don't scale. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that stall capable businesses. Subscribe and share if this conversation resonates.
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#marketing #marketingdigital #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E21
Most money problems are not mathematical. They are emotional.
Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Leisa Peterson, founder of WealthClinic.com and author of The Mindful Millionaire, to explore how scarcity thinking quietly shapes financial decisions. On a personal note, I was so compelled by what she had to say, I got her book and read it cover to cover. What it showed me is that I was spending out of fear, spending because I was missing something (someone), and was indulging in "retail therapy" to avoid the reality of patterns ingrained in childhood and what is happening to me today.
If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If you don't trust yourself, you won't build wealth.
From inflation and fiat currency to inherited shopping patterns and entrepreneurial overconfidence, this episode examines how money stress alters our cognition and identity.
👤 Guest Leisa Peterson Founder, WealthClinic.com Author, The Mindful Millionaire
Core Problems Discussed • How macroeconomic instability impacts personal psychology • Emotional spending and inherited money behaviors • The cost of overconfidence and delayed pivots
Practical Takeaways • Scarcity narrows mental bandwidth and lowers decision quality • Long-term confidence is built through iterative learning • Conservative strategies can still build significant wealth
Timestamps 02:10 Fiat currency and inflation explained 16:57 How scarcity lowers IQ under stress 22:10 The retail therapy pattern 26:35 Surviving trauma and choosing purpose 40:10 Costly entrepreneurial lessons
Who This Episode Is For • Entrepreneurs under financial pressure • Founders carrying debt from past pivots • Leaders rebuilding confidence after losses
Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible money patterns quietly distort decision-making. Season 6 continues decoding the forces that shape how capable entrepreneurs show up.
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#finance #investing #wealth #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E20
Most entrepreneurs fail because of what happens in their head AFTER the market shifts.
Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Chris Prefontaine, founder of Smart Real Estate Coach, to unpack what happens after financial collapse, and the guts (along with everything else) that it takes to rebuild.
If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If you don't trust yourself, you won't move.
Chris shares how the 2008 crash wiped him out financially, the four-year mental spiral that followed, and how creative real estate became the vehicle for reinvention.
👤 Guest Chris Prefontaine Smart Real Estate Coach Creative Investor | Author
Core Problems Discussed • Ego shock after financial loss • Market fear and media-driven paralysis • The myth of overnight success in entrepreneurship
Practical Takeaways • Wealth is often created during uncertainty • Blinders for 3–7 years beat reactive decision-making • Mentorship shortens emotional recovery time
Timestamps 00:02 Losing everything in 2008 and rebuilding 06:30 The 4-year mental battle after financial collapse 13:45 Why uncertainty creates opportunity 17:40 The 7-year entrepreneurial timeline 22:30 Investing without large capital
Who This Episode Is For • Entrepreneurs rebuilding after setback • Investors navigating volatile markets • Founders questioning their timeline
Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible readiness keeps entrepreneurs stalled. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that quietly limit growth.
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#RealEstateInvesting #Entrepreneurship #PassiveIncome #smallbusiness
S6:E19
Having authority does not mean you have followers.
Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with executive coach and M&A advisor Joseph Incrocci to explore how leadership expectations have shifted in founder-led and middle-market businesses.
If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If they don't believe you can take them somewhere better, they won't align.
Joe brings decades of experience scaling companies, selling businesses, and coaching CEOs through ego resistance, succession challenges, and growth strategy.
👤 Guest Joseph Incrocci Incrocci Consulting Executive Coach | Author | M&A Specialist
Core Problems • Ego blocking growth and succession • Authority mistaken for leadership • Employees demanding more access and context
Practical Takeaways • Leadership is proven by voluntary followership • Profit growth reduces resistance to change • Courage to fail is foundational to scaling
Timestamps 00:02 What defines real leadership 03:40 Why credibility determines followership 08:30 Ego as the CEO's biggest obstacle 12:00 Succession and building internal growth 19:00 Courage to fail and imperfect action
Who This Episode Is For • CEOs of $50M–$500M companies • Founder-led firms preparing for succession • Entrepreneurs navigating generational workforce shifts
Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible leadership erodes trust. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that limit growth.
Subscribe and share if this conversation resonates.
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S6:E18
You can be fully booked and still be building a fragile business.
Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Mark Osborne, founder of Modern Revenue Strategies and author of Are Your Leads Killing Your Business?
If people don't trust you, they won't buy. If you don't differentiate, you attract the wrong buyers.
Mark explains how chasing more leads can erode margins, as well as lead to team burnout and stalled growth. He introduces the concept of "only-ness" and breaks down the three interlocking systems that drive scalable enterprise value: attraction, acceleration, and activation.
👤 Guest Mark Osborne Founder, Modern Revenue Strategies Certified Exit Planner
Core Problems • Revenue ceilings caused by poor product-market positioning • Overreliance on first-time sales • Lack of systematic renewal and referral processes
Practical Takeaways • Shift from volume to fit • Build systems that set you free • Create recurring and expansion revenue models
Timestamps 00:04 Why "more leads" can backfire 06:00 The 3 types of killer clients 17:00 Building recurring revenue from one-time services 23:00 The 3 interlocking revenue systems 26:30 Product-market fit vs go-to-market fit
Who This Episode Is For • Small business owners nearing $1M revenue • Founders pushing toward scalable growth • Entrepreneurs thinking about exit strategy
Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible systems don't build enterprise value. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that limit growth.
#leadgeneration #revenues #business #growth #entrepreneurship
S6:E17
Everyone wants the shortcut. No one wants to hear there isn't one.
Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with technical advisor and business coach Matthew Mamet to unpack what AI is actually changing and what it is not.
If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you. If they can't distinguish your expertise from a bot, they won't remember you.
Matthew brings perspective from the dot-com era through today's LLM shift, explaining why growth hacks fail and why authority now matters more than ever.
👤 Guest Matthew Mamet Technical Advisor & Business Coach Former Java engineer | Growth strategist
Core Problems Discussed * AI content saturation and declining SEO returns * Confusing automation with innovation * Decision paralysis in the age of infinite tools
Practical Takeaways * Authority beats automation * Human-in-the-loop content preserves differentiation * Most business decisions are reversible — act accordingly
Timestamps 00:02 The shift from SEO to AI discoverability 05:45 Why backlinks no longer move rankings alone 08:10 Google's EEAT and authority signals 11:50 Human-in-the-loop content creation 26:30 Type 1 vs Type 2 business decisions
Who This Episode Is For * Digital entrepreneurs navigating AI * Founders building long-term authority * Small businesses questioning growth hacks
Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible expertise doesn't scale. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that undermine credibility.
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#ai #digitalmarketing #seo #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E16
If you keep hearing about the short-term rental tax loophole but it feels confusing, this episode makes it easy-peasy to understand. We unpack how 100% bonus depreciation can create big paper losses that may offset active income when structured correctly.
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Overview A lot of smart, high-earning people are trying to "do the right thing" financially, but they are quietly stuck in analysis paralysis, platform dependence, or bad assumptions about what's actually possible. This episode sits inside that tension: you want real assets and real leverage, but you also want clarity, guardrails, and a plan that does not take over your life. That's the difference between buying a property and building an asset that actually performs.
👤 Guest Madeleine Raiford-Holland The Lux and the Short of It (podcast) | Short-term rental investor + educator Based in Athens, Georgia
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeleineraifordholland
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed * People want wealth-building options but get stuck in market selection and "where do I even start?" * Regulations and HOA rules can quietly kill a deal if you do not check early * Running a short-term rental can become chaotic without systems, coverage, and a boots-on-the-ground team
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees Invisibility pattern: Rented Audience Dependence When your revenue engine relies on platforms you do not control, you can look "successful" while your leverage stays fragile. You are visible inside someone else's ecosystem, but you are not building an asset that reliably compounds for you.
🥡 Practical Takeaways * Start with your constraints first (cash, time, support), then reverse-engineer the market * Treat regulations, HOA docs, and insurance as part of deal quality, not admin paperwork * Build an owned book of business (direct booking, repeat guests, referral loops), not platform-only volume
⏱️ Timestamps (key moments) * Short-term rentals as a wealth strategy under current macro pressure * How the short-term rental tax "loophole" works in real life * Picking markets: hidden gems within an hour, plus when distance is fine * Systems that keep the property from "running you" * Regulations, HOAs, and coverage: how to reduce ugly surprises
🔖 Who This Episode Is For * Small business owners trying to diversify income without chaos * High earners exploring real estate but overwhelmed by complexity * Operators who want systems, not another hustle
Hashtags #shorttermrental #realestateinvesting #taxplanning #realestate #investing #taxes
S6:E15
What happens when the thing you built your identity around disappears?
Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with former professional skier turned Denver real estate agent Athena Brownson. She's incredible! Introspective, resilient, and inspirational.
Follow her on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/athenabrownsonrealtor_/
If people don't trust you, they won't hire you. If they don't see the real you, they won't connect with you.
Athena's journey moves from elite athletic performance through devastating injuries and chronic Lyme disease to building a thriving relationship-based real estate business.
👤 Guest Athena Brownson Denver Realtor Former Professional Skier
⚠️ Core Problems
- Identity loss after physical setbacks
- Building trust in a saturated real estate market
- Managing discipline without self-destruction
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Resilience is trained, not inherited.
- Trust compounds faster than transactions.
- Discipline must evolve from punishment to promise.
Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible leaders don't scale. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that keep capable entrepreneurs unseen.
⏱️ Timestamps 00:01 Athlete-to-entrepreneur mindset and fear 00:07 When identity gets forced to change 00:12 Mentorship and relationship-based real estate 00:24 Lyme disease, capacity, and self-kindness 00:32 Building a team that holds the business steady
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
- Small business owners who feel stretched thin
- Consultants building trust online
- Solopreneurs who feel unseen or misread
Hashtags #RealEstate #DenverRealEstate #Entrepreneurship #olympics #resilience
S6:E14
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Most founders are carrying more than they admit, and still trying to look "put together" while the ground shifts underneath them. In 2026, it is easy to confuse polish with progress, and busyness with momentum. This episode lives in that quiet gap between how entrepreneurship is pictured and how it is actually lived. It is also a reminder that the story people see is rarely the full story.
👤 Guest Jennifer Johnson True Fashionistas (Naples, Florida) and The Confident Entrepreneur (platform offering a popular podcast, coaching, and motivational speaking for women business owners) Luxury resale retail founder, small business coach, speaker, and author
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed
- The hidden operational load behind running a retail resale business that looks "fun" from the outside
- How image, wardrobe, and self-expression affect confidence and presence for entrepreneurs
- The "overnight success" myth and how curated visibility creates false expectations
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees: Curated Confidence When entrepreneurs feel pressure to appear effortlessly successful, they start performing confidence instead of building it. The result is a public story that looks stable, while the private reality stays unspoken, making it harder for customers, partners, and even the founder to trust what is real.
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Confidence is often less about style rules and more about removing doubt from what you wear and how you show up.
- Business ownership can be deeply fulfilling and still require sweat-level effort that rarely makes it into the highlight reel.
- Reframing hard seasons as "what can I learn from this?" helps restore agency when things feel chaotic.
⏱️ Timestamps
- 00:01:07 True Fashionistas: what a "lifestyle resale store" really is
- 00:03:14 "Dress for the job you want" and why presence matters
- 00:08:59 Fashion myths that keep people second-guessing themselves
- 00:10:48 The romanticized business-owner story vs reality
- 00:24:23 The "say your name" reset for finding the lesson
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Small business owners who feel stretched thin Consultants building trust online Solopreneurs who feel unseen or misread
Hashtags: #SmallBusinessOwner #ResaleFashion #Entrepreneurship #consignment #shopping
S6:E13
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Overview A lot of founders are stuck because their identity is still anchored to safety, approval, and "the responsible choice." So the goalposts keep moving. The bank balance is never enough, the timing is never right, and the dream stays theoretical. This shows up as overwork, over-functioning, and businesses that look "successful" but feel misaligned and unsustainable.
👤 Guest Jenna Harrison The Uncommon Way Life coach for women entrepreneurs (identity, nervous system, and business redesign)
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed
-Why people keep postponing the leap, even when the numbers look "ready"
-Over-functioning as a learned survival strategy that becomes a business model
-The hidden cost of building a business that does not match your real life
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees: Identity Safety Loop
When your identity equates safety with external structures (titles, paychecks, "the right way"), you keep re-negotiating your own goals to avoid the discomfort of change. Across founders, this loop creates a visibility problem too: your message stays cautious, your offers stay diluted, and your decisions stay reversible, which makes trust harder to earn.
🥡 Practical Takeaways
-If you keep adding "just one more condition," it is probably an identity issue.
-Overwork can feel like virtue, but it quietly shrinks creativity, clarity, and staying power.
-Your business gets easier to explain when your decisions stop hedging and start matching the life you actually want.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:01 Moving to Mallorca and choosing the uncommon path
03:30 The "moving goalposts" trap (savings, salary, safety)
06:10 Over-functioning and why it stops being sustainable
09:45 The "fishbowl" metaphor for limited possibility thinking
14:50 Going off social media and growing anyway
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
Small business owners who feel stretched thin
Consultants building trust online
Solopreneurs who feel unseen or misread
👉 Learn more about Jenna and the Uncommon Way here:
https://www.theuncommonway.com/
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#WomenEntrepreneurs #BusinessCoach #EntrepreneurMindset #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
S6:E12
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Overview Sometimes the issue is not your talent. It is that people cannot verify it fast enough to feel safe choosing you. In a world where AI can generate endless output, the quiet problem becomes trust, proof, and what feels "real." This episode sits inside a recurring Season 6 thread: capable people getting overlooked because their credibility is not legible at first glance. If you have ever felt like the work is strong but the market still hesitates, there is more going on here than effort.
👤 Guest Name: Tim Packer Company: Tim Packer Art Academy Area of expertise: Professional artist and educator helping artists build skill and income. He's earned his own place in the world, but many people consider him as "the Bob Ross of the 21st Century."
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed
-Why many creators try to sell before they have visible proof of results or outcomes
-How complex offers require longer-form trust-building, not quick ads and quick claims
-What AI changes about visibility, and why human-made work still matters to buyers
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees Invisibility pattern: Credibility Gap When proof is missing, unclear, or hard to find, people default to caution, even if the work is excellent. Across industries, this is why strong operators get underpaid: credibility is present, but not legible in the formats people and algorithms actually trust.
🥡 Practical Takeaways
-Build credibility from demonstrated results and recognizable proof, not volume of promotion
-Match your marketing format to the complexity of what you sell (short-form is not always honest)
-Use AI for support work, but protect your unique voice as the core differentiator
⏱️ Timestamps
00:04:30 Growth mindset and the turning point that brought Tim back to art
00:16:01 The "30-minute" commitment that gets you past resistance
00:18:49 What makes an online course credible enough to sell
00:21:03 Why long-form content builds trust for complex transformations
00:31:44 AI, human-made work, and why process visibility matters
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
Small business owners who feel stretched thin
Consultants and coaches building trust online
Solopreneurs who feel unseen or misread
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@steerus
#artist #ai #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #bobross
S6:E11
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Overview There's a subtle moment many business owners miss: when growth doesn't stall because of effort, but because clarity slips. The work still happens, but the signal becomes harder to read. Over time, audiences feel unsure how to describe what you actually do. This episode sits inside a recurring pattern Dr. LL sees across businesses that are active, capable, and quietly misaligned.
👤 Guest Larissa Banting Company: Larissa Banting Publicity Public relations, media visibility, credibility building ⚠️ Core Problems Discussed Pivoting too far away from proven expertise Confusing novelty with strategic growth Losing credibility through scattered offers and messaging
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees The invisibility pattern here is Expertise Drift. Across hundreds of conversations, Dr. LL sees capable founders slowly dilute trust by moving away from what audiences already recognize and value. Visibility grows when expertise compounds, not when it constantly resets.
🥡 Practical Takeaways Visibility strengthens through repetition, not reinvention Trust grows faster when your work is easy to name Going deeper often creates more momentum than going wider
⏱️ Timestamps
00:07:23 Media visibility creates legitimacy
00:14:44 The moment of returning to core expertise
00:18:32 Squirrel brain and scattered focus
00:21:36 Why depth beats breadth
00:27:10 Trust signals in AI-driven search
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
Small business owners who feel stretched thin
Consultants and coaches building trust online
Solopreneurs who feel unseen or misread
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
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TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@steerus
#ai #marketing #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #digitalmedia #trust
S6:E10
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Overview There is a specific kind of frustration that does not look dramatic from the outside: you are doing the work, you are buying the tools, you are trying to keep up, and somehow things feel harder, not easier. You are not "behind," you are managing a system that is quietly becoming unmanageable. In 2026, the gap between what you know you should do and what you can realistically maintain is where a lot of businesses get misread. And when your backend is messy, your signal gets messy too.
👤 Guest Jennifer Christensen Founder, Spark Story Marketing Marketing strategist focused on small business foundations, AI-informed execution, and practical visibility (including GEO conversations) ⚠️
Core Problems Discussed Small businesses are overwhelmed by disconnected tools, logins, and platforms that do not integrate cleanly AI can amplify confusion when the underlying foundation is inconsistent or broken Many founders chase "viral" outcomes while the basics (listings, website, credibility signals) quietly degrade
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees This episode reflects the invisibility pattern Tool Pileup: when a business stacks tools faster than it can integrate or maintain them, and the brand starts leaking trust in small but costly ways. It is not a motivation problem, it is a signal integrity problem. In a world where customers and AI systems scan for consistency, Tool Pileup can make capable businesses look fragmented, unreliable, or harder to verify.
🥡 Practical Takeaways Before adding a new tool, confirm your "foundation layer" is clean: access, ownership, listings consistency, and one source of truth Use AI to support execution, not to compensate for a broken system underneath Measure success by real outcomes (referrals, qualified leads, conversions), not vanity metrics or follower counts
⏱️ Timestamps
00:08:27 – Why misalignment shows up in health, energy, and performance
00:16:24 – The real-world panic founders feel after buying tools that do not work together
00:19:13 – Why "basic info cleanup" can create a real business boost
00:22:31 – Why limiting your core tools can protect your clarity
00:35:12 – Reframing "a few thousand followers" as real trust, not a small number
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
Small business owners who feel stretched thin
Consultants and coaches building trust online
Solopreneurs who feel unseen or misread
Potential Next Step: If you're noticing this pattern in your own business, STEERus offers structured clarity for leaders who want to be seen without becoming louder or losing themselves.
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Follow STEERus on social media:
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#ai #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #marketing
S6:E9
Pattern Discussed: Borrowed credibility, unearned trust. A founder attaches themselves to a "known" brand, platform, or business model and assumes it will carry visibility and trust, but the local operator work that actually earns belief (standards, reputation, community proof, consistency) still has to happen. How it keeps good businesses unseen, untrusted, underpaid, or underperforming: it creates a quiet mismatch between what the audience expects and what they experience, so people hesitate, churn, or never refer. Why it shows up across many businesses: I hear this across franchises, startups, and service businesses: people buy "brand" or "marketing," then discover the real differentiator is still execution, clarity, and credibility signals at the ground level.
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Overview There's a quiet frustration many owners do not say out loud: you can do "the right things," spend real money, and still feel like momentum never arrives. Sometimes the issue is not effort, it's the assumption that a name, a model, or a platform will do the trusting for you. Across hundreds of conversations, Dr. LL keeps hearing the same underlying tension: people want a clearer path, but they keep getting sold shortcuts. This episode sits right in that gap.
👤 Guest: Alex Smereczniak Franzy Franchising education, franchise matching, and business ownership pathways
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed: - The myth of "passive" franchise income and what ownership actually requires - How "brand" reduces some risk, but does not remove execution risk - The broken incentives in parts of the franchise-broker ecosystem and how buyers get misled
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees: Across business models, a recurring credibility trap shows up: people borrow authority (a brand, a system, a market trend) and assume it will translate into trust, sales, and stability. But customers and communities still decide based on the proof they can feel locally: standards, consistency, reputation, and clarity. Challenges that surfaced in this episode: - Confusing "de-risked" with "effortless" - Underestimating how much operator quality protects (or damages) trust - Following incentives that benefit intermediaries more than the buyer
🥡 Practical Takeaways: - Treat franchising like a major life decision, not an "asset class" shortcut - Evaluate fit as much as brand, your skills and the model must align - Look for transparency in incentives, avoid pathways that hide who profits from your choice
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:02:25 Franchising is not mailbox money
00:04:14 What happens when a franchisee hurts the brand
00:10:06 The real value of built-in peer community
00:14:42 Why Franzy was built and what it fixes 00:23:14 "Balance" vs "harmony" for founders
🔖 Who This Episode Is For: Small business owners who feel stretched thin Consultants and coaches building trust online Solopreneurs who feel stuck or unseen
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🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
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#entrepreneur #smallbusiness #franchise #growth
S6:E8
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Core pattern: People assume their capability will speak for itself, then accidentally leave their "first impression story" to chance. When that happens, others decide what you mean, what you're worth, and whether you're credible, before you ever get to show your work. This shows up everywhere: founders, consultants, leaders, job seekers. They are doing real work, but their presence, framing, and positioning are not carrying it.
Overview There's a quiet mismatch many business owners and leaders feel but rarely name: you are doing the work, yet people still do not read you the way you intended. You show up sincere, capable, and prepared, and somehow the room lands on a different story. Then you spend the rest of the conversation trying to undo an impression you did not choose. This is a pattern that shows up across industries: when presence is unclear, perception takes over.
👤 Guest: Vernessa Hopkins VHH Consulting Leadership influence, executive presence, and change management
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed: - Why titles do not automatically create leadership, influence does - How appearance, energy, and "approachability" shape credibility in the first seconds - Where people get stuck: limiting beliefs, perceived barriers, and giving away the driver's seat
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees: - Across many businesses, visibility breaks down when people expect competence to carry the message without actively shaping the context. - When you do not define your brand in the room, others do it for you, fast. - The result is that good leaders and strong operators get underestimated, misread, or priced below their value.
🥡 Practical Takeaways: - Decide what you want to be known for before you walk in, then make your choices match it - Reduce "interpretation space" by naming who you are and how you work in a grounded way - Use strengths as a strategy tool: build around what you reliably do well, and stop apologizing for what is not you
⏱️ Timestamps (high value moments):
00:03:19 Influence starts with you, and "what got you there won't keep you there"
00:06:53 How "showing up" has shifted, and why brand decisions still matter
00:12:09 The reality of being assessed fast, and how to work with it
00:21:14 The Influence Matrix and building stabilizing statements for hard moments
00:28:10 "Don't be mad at where you're parked when you let someone else drive."
🔖 Who This Episode Is For: Small business owners who feel stretched thin Consultants and coaches building trust online Solopreneurs who feel stuck or unseen
A Supportive Next Step This episode highlights a pattern we see often: you are capable and committed, but your credibility is not arriving at the same speed as your effort. You might be getting polite interest instead of clear yeses. You might notice that people "don't quite get it" until you over-explain, over-prove, or over-deliver. That can feel personal, but most of the time it is not. It is a visibility gap: the way your value is framed, found, and understood is not keeping pace with the work you are actually doing.
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#entrepreneur #leadership #smallbusiness #professionaldevelopment #coaching
S6:E7
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here.
Overview
There's a specific kind of fatigue that comes from "doing the right things" and still feeling ignored. You show up consistently, you post, you refine the offer, you keep building, and yet traction stays unpredictable. Often the issue is not effort, it's misalignment: the message is landing in the wrong place, or the experience is quietly breaking trust before people ever become customers. This is one of those patterns that looks like a marketing problem, but behaves like a credibility problem.
👤 Guest: Michael Dodsworth Fanfare.io Improving high-demand launches and fan experiences in live events and retail drops
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed: -Launch-day demand creates queues, bot activity, and broken purchasing experiences -Big platforms often tolerate frustration because they do not feel enough incentive to change -Founders can pour energy into the wrong channels, missing where customers actually are
🧠 The Bigger Pattern Dr. LL Sees: Across many small businesses, visibility stalls when the customer experience and the communication channel are out of sync. You can be excellent and still be overlooked if the buyer cannot access you easily, trust the process, or even find you where they already spend attention. The fix is rarely "more content." It is clearer alignment between audience, channel, and experience.
🥡 Practical Takeaways: -Treat the customer experience as part of your credibility, not a technical detail -Choose channels based on where buyers behave, not where founders feel comfortable posting -Use failures as feedback loops: fix process gaps, then document what changed
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:01:22 The real problem behind "bad launches"
00:08:44 Why early-stage teams feel customer pain more clearly
00:13:00 "Run at the failures" and what founders avoid
00:18:29 Finding your customers in the right channels
00:20:44 Examples of major launch failures and what they reveal
🔖 Who This Episode Is For:
Small business owners who feel stretched thin
Consultants and coaches building trust online
Solopreneurs who feel stuck or unseen
A Supportive Next Step If this episode hit a nerve, you might be carrying a very specific worry: "What if my business is good, but the way people experience it is quietly turning them away?" That can feel personal, even when it is just a systems issue. Many founders default to working harder: more posts, more tweaks, more tools. But the deeper pattern is often alignment, not effort. The audience is somewhere else, the message is slightly off, or the path from interest to yes has friction that erodes trust.
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🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
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#entrepreneur #smallbusiness #customerexperience #ticketmaster #concerts
S6:E6
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here. When the world feels heavy and your business still needs you to show up, it's easy to live in a constant state of pressure. This episode is a calm conversation about building something real, staying steady through uncertainty, and creating structure that supports your life instead of consuming it.
👤 Guest: Jack Clark founder of 180Water Water well and filtration services, manufacturing, and franchising
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed: Managing seasonality and keeping revenue stable in a service business Growing through franchising without losing quality, trust, or values Working hard without burning out or becoming hardened
🥡 Practical Takeaways: Use simple structure and clear daily steps to reduce mental load and regain control Protect your relationships with defined boundaries that you can actually keep Grow in a way your customers recognize as trustworthy, not "corporate" or distant
⏱️ Timestamps:
02:44 Seasonality shifts: filtration and manufacturing to stay steady
06:18 Why franchising fits a "mom-and-pop" industry, and how trust scales
07:43 A realistic version of balance: home for dinner, clean lines, valued time
09:37 Avoiding burnout: refusing "stupid rules" and building real accountability
14:17 Rural perspective and the mental shift that helps you sleep again
🔖 Who This Episode Is For: Small business owners who feel stretched thin Consultants and coaches building trust online Solopreneurs who feel stuck or unseen Invisible brands don't make money. At STEERus, we help small businesses get seen and get paid without losing their voice or their values.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on visibility, leadership, and growth
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
A Supportive Next Step After listening to Jack, you might notice a familiar tension: you are trying to hold growth, responsibility, and family life at the same time, and it can feel like there is never a clean finish line. Even when things are "going well," your brain may stay on alert, scanning for the next problem, the next expense, the next customer issue. That is not a character flaw. It is what happens when you have been carrying the business alone for too long. If you want a calmer way to move forward, one gentle next step is a STEERus Visibility and Credibility Diagnostic. It helps you see what your market is actually experiencing when they find you online, what is unclear, what is missing, and what you can simplify so trust builds without you having to shout. If you're noticing this pattern in your own business, this is a steady place to start.
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#farming #smallbusiness #entrepreneurlife #franchise #worklifebalance
S6:E5
Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka, "Dr. LL," loves bringing you entrepreneurs, small business owners, and actionable advice to you every week. Thank you for joining us! When the world feels overwhelming, clarity isn't a luxury. It's a survival skill. This conversation is for anyone trying to lead, build, or simply stay grounded in uncertain times.
👤 Guest: Luz Gonzalez Founder, EQ Refined Emotional intelligence educator, leadership and communication coach
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed Navigating emotional overwhelm in the workplace Misunderstanding assertiveness as aggression Losing clarity and focus in high-pressure environments
🥡 Practical Takeaways How emotional intelligence begins with self-awareness Why boundaries without awareness can block healing How clarity and focus help leaders conserve energy and lead with intention
⏱️ Timestamps
02:12 – Why emotional intelligence changes how teams work together
05:04 – Authentic assertiveness vs. workplace "costumes"
07:12 – Why visibility feels risky and how to regulate that fear
14:55 – Focus as an act of self-respect
20:35 – Learning from patterns instead of repeating them
BUY her new book: Authentic Assertiveness
https://success.eqrefined.com/authentic-assertiveness-book
ENROLL in her upcoming 2-day workshop, "Clarity in Focus" Jan 30-31, 2026 https://success.eqrefined.com/clarity-in-focus-offer
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
Small business owners who need a little help
Consultants and coaches building trust online
Solopreneurs who feel stuck Invisible brands don't make money.
At STEERus, we help small businesses get seen and get paid without losing their voice or their values. ✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
Facebook: https://facebook.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@steerus
#leadership #smallbusiness #entrepreneurlife #emotionalintelligence #professionaldevelopment
S6:E4
Starting a business can feel overwhelming, especially when the rules keep changing and the pressure never lets up. This conversation is a reminder that growth doesn't come from shortcuts, it comes from patience, learning, and staying human.
👤 Guest: Nivedita Lahiri, PhD Founder, Counsel Academy STEM educator and small business owner helping students build strong foundations in science, math, and critical thinking
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed
- Transitioning from academia into entrepreneurship
- Losing money on marketing that doesn't deliver results
- Trying to do everything alone and burning out
🥡 Practical Takeaways
- Why trial and error is not failure, but progress
- How to protect limited budgets from cookie-cutter marketing
- The importance of building a trusted team instead of doing it all yourself
⏱️ Timestamps
- 05:42 – The steep reality of moving from science into business
- 07:25 – "I was crying:" facing overwhelm as a founder
- 09:31 – When marketing finally started to work
- 14:35 – The hidden cost of generic marketing services
- 27:18 – Why slowing down helped everything fall into place
🔖 Who This Episode Is For
- Small business owners who need a little help
- Consultants and coaches building trust online
- Solopreneurs who feel stuck and overwhelmed
Invisible brands don't make money. At STEERus, we help small businesses get seen and get paid without losing their voice or their values.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on visibility, leadership, and growth 🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
#EntrepreneurJourney #WomenInSTEM #tech #STEM #smallbusiness
S6:E3
When growth gets hard, shortcuts start to look tempting. This conversation is about what happens when you don't cave into the pressure to take shortcuts. Dr. LL chats about wellness in keeping with January's theme.
👤 Guest: Jessica Lowery Founder, The Power of Elderberries Values-driven wellness entrepreneur and product innovator
⚠️ Core Problems Discussed Growing a product business without compromising integrity Navigating debt, lawsuits, and emotional burnout Standing out in crowded wellness and supplement markets
🥡 Practical Takeaways Why clarity of values matters more than speed How reframing product positioning can save a struggling launch What real customer trust looks like beyond marketing claims
⏱️ Timestamps 02:44 – Why an 8-year-old business still thinks like a startup 05:19 – Pivoting when COVID shut retail doors 11:06 – When customers reject your product and what to do next 16:53 – Purpose as an anchor during lawsuits and debt 29:51 – The non-negotiable rule for long-term brand trust
🔖 Who This Episode Is For Small business owners who need a little help Consultants and coaches building trust online Solopreneurs who feel stuck but still care deeply about what they're building
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
Facebook: https://facebook.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@steerus
#smallbusiness #entrepreneurlife #trust #customerservice #values #personalgrowth
S6:E2
If you're carrying a lot right now, like work stress, business pressure, and "life stuff," this episode is a breath of steady encouragement. Season 6 is focused on health & wellness for real-world entrepreneurs, and this conversation is about something deeper than the gym: it's about how community and consistency keep you going when motivation disappears.
In this episode, we talk about what actually builds trust over time: showing up, staying connected, and doing the next right thing, especially when life gets loud.
👤Guest: Stan Radomski Fitness Instructor • Mr. New Jersey Body Builder • Community/Scientific Events Coordinator (And a lifelong "connector" who's built networks that lasted.)
⚠️Core Problems Discussed Wanting results fast (in fitness and business) while life is already exhausting Feeling intimidated to start then getting stuck in "safe zone" habits Losing community over time (and wondering why motivation disappears)
🥡Practical Takeaways Why relationships that "breathe" often become your strongest long-term network How to avoid the treadmill-only trap: build a simple plan that creates progress A healthier mindset shift: you can't change the past: focus on present & future
⏱️Timestamps 01:19 – Relationships that matter (even when you don't talk often) 05:18 – The invisible work behind building community (and burnout) 10:09 – Why making friends gets harder as we age 16:04 – The treadmill "safety zone" (and why most people quit) 22:28 – You're not late: start now and stop punishing yourself
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
Facebook: https://facebook.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@steerus
#smallbusiness #entrepreneurlife #menshealth #wellness #bodybuilding #fitness
S6:E1
When everything feels like too much, small business owners don't need more noise. They need steadier conversations they can trust. In this episode, we sit down with Lily Kunning, founder of Haven Herbs, to talk about wellness and business driving connections in a way that's practical, grounded, and genuinely human. If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you. If they don't remember you, they can't look for you.
👤Guest: Lily Kunning / Haven Herbs / Herbalist, educator, wellness founder focused on ethical, sustainable, customer-centered care
⚠️Core Problems Discussed:
*Feeling dismissed or unseen by "systems" (and what that does to trust)
*The tightrope business owners walk: education, compliance, and credibility
*Scaling with automation without losing the human connection
🥡Practical Takeaways:
*Why proactive communication reduces customer anxiety and support load
*A simple anti-overwhelm practice: choose 3 priorities a day (and feel accomplished again)
*How to design systems (CRM, workflows, FAQs) that sound like you and not a bot
⏱️Timestamps:
01:19 – Lily's origin story: when herbalism helped her feel heard
08:58 – The business/legal line: what you can say (and why it matters)
14:20 – Building a CRM so no customer falls through the cracks
17:56 – "Pick 3 things every day" — a real-world approach to overwhelm
25:40 – Automation that still feels human (language, tone, relationship)
LEARN MORE about LILY KUNNING & SHOP HER FABULOUS HERBS HERE: https://havenherbs.com/
🔖Who This Episode Is For:
*Small business owners who need a little help
*Consultants and coaches building trust online
*Solopreneurs who feel stuck Invisible brands don't make money.
At STEERus, we help small businesses get seen and get paid without losing their voice or their values, especially when the world feels heavy and attention is scarce.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on visibility, leadership, and growth
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
#smallbusiness #entrepreneurlife #holistichealth #herbalism #entrepreneur
Follow STEERus on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
Facebook: https://facebook.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@steerus
S5:E40
If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you. If they don't remember you, they won't find you again.
In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Robert Kennedy III breaks down how storytelling, video, and authentic communication help small businesses move from invisible to influential.
👤Guest: Robert Kennedy III CEO, Kinetic Communications Storytelling, video, and communication strategist
⚠️Core Problems Discussed
Business owners relying on data instead of connection
Fear of visibility and vulnerability on camera
Confusing "stage" with "stadium"
🥡Practical Takeaways
Why your origin story builds trust faster than credentials
How to open presentations by focusing on your audience, not yourself
Why authenticity outperforms polish, filters, and scripted humor
⏱️Timestamps
05:00 – "I'm a light": redefining leadership and presence
11:35 – Origin story vs. sales pitch (Warby Parker example)
20:40 – The best way to open any talk: ask a question
24:30 – Why AI jokes fall flat (and what works instead)
36:05 – Redefining "stage": YouTube, libraries, local rooms
🔖Who This Episode Is For:
Small business owners who struggle with visibility
Consultants and coaches building trust online
Solopreneurs who know they need video but feel stuck Invisible brands don't make money.
At STEERus, we help small businesses get seen and get paid without losing their voice or their values.
✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on visibility, leadership, and growth
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard
#StorytellingInBusiness #PersonalBranding #SmallBusiness #PublicSpeaking #Marketing Follow STEERus on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus Facebook: https://facebook.com/steerus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@steerus
S5:E39
When education and society feels tense, the leaders who make the biggest difference aren't the loudest -- they're the clearest. In this episode, Edgar Palacios shares what it means to build belonging, representation, and opportunity for Latino students and why that work improves outcomes for everyone.
Edgar is the founder of RevED (Revolución Educativa) & is a positive force in Latino education anchored in community leadership.
What we cover (practical takeaways):
🔹Why "being seen and heard" is reciprocal and what belonging really requires
🔹What schools miss when they focus on outcomes but ignore human experience
🔹Why representation (educators/administrators) matters for student success
🔹How leaders can "be a lighthouse" without losing their grounding
⏱️Timestamps:
00:03 – Edgar's personal reset: nature, reflection, and leading with presence
06:40 – "Be a lighthouse in the storm": why voices matter even when it's risky
12:15 – The real gap: representation & retention (not just recruitment)
18:05 – What schools get wrong: outcomes without humanity
24:10 – "Seen and heard" isn't a slogan, here's what it requires in real communities Who this episode is for: School leaders, educators, nonprofit founders, civic leaders, and mission-driven business owners who want to lead with clarity without losing their humanity.
✅ Subscribe for new episodes of Small Biz Stories
🔁 Share this episode with someone who leads people—and wants to lead better.
#Education #Latino #Community #Leadership #Belonging
Follow us on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
Facebook: https://facebook.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@steerus
E5:S38
Most small businesses don't have a marketing problem: they have an audience clarity problem.
In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Nathan Yeung, founder of Find Your Audience, to break down why perfectionism, feature overload, and poor framing keep brands invisible and how to fix it.
🔹 What You'll Learn Nathan shares practical insights on:
- Why 80% execution beats 99% perfection every time
- How consumer psychology influences buying decisions (even when customers can't articulate their needs)
- Why pricing, framing, and choice matter more than features
- Where AI supports marketing and where human judgment is still essential
🔹 Episode Highlights (Timestamps) * 00:02 – Why perfectionism blocks go-to-market success * 06:30 – AI as a tool, not a shortcut * 12:40 – Why customers don't actually know what features they need * 18:10 – How framing and pricing reduce buyer hesitation * 26:00 – Becoming the benchmark customers compare everyone else against
🔹 Who This Episode Is For This episode is for:
- Small business owners struggling with visibility
- Consultants and solopreneurs refining their positioning
- Founders overwhelmed by marketing choices and AI tools
- Anyone trying to attract the right audience not just more noise
🔹 Curious? Invisible brands don't make money. At STEERus, we help small businesses get seen, get clear, and get paid—by focusing on strategy, positioning, and execution that actually works in the real world.
If this episode helped you, please:
- 👍 Subscribe to Small Biz Stories
- 🔁 Share this episode with another business owner
- 💬 Join the conversation in the comments
#SmallBusinessMarketing #EntrepreneurMindset #MarketingStrategy #AudienceBuilding #BusinessGrowth #marketing #entrepreneurship
S5:E37
Small business owners: your phone experience is part of your brand. In this episode, Jessica Volker (Business Development Director at Responsive Answering Service) sits down with Dr. LL and breaks down why "scripted and offshore" support is driving customers crazy. She shares how human-first answering, smart automation, and better processes can protect your reputation and capture more leads.
Top takeaways and timestamps:
⏱️3:56 — Why overly scripted customer service destroys trust (and how to sound human again)
⏱️5:36 — The answering service evolution: from "take a message" to virtual receptionist + CRM/EHR updates
⏱️7:28 — AI in customer service: where it helps (wrap-up tasks) and where humans still win
⏱️12:33 — Work-life reality: how flexibility creates better employees (and better outcomes)
⏱️20:53 — What's coming in 2026: expanded omnichannel support (social, email, text, scheduling, integrations)
Follow us on social media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
Facebook: https://facebook.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@steerus
#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #CustomerService #CustomerExperience #AnsweringService #smallbizstories
S5:E36
In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Cary Prejean, founder of Strategic Business Advisors, to unpack a bold but proven claim: most business owners are the biggest bottleneck to their own growth. With decades of experience helping companies scale profitably, Cary explains why micromanagement kills morale, how lack of systems traps founders in the day-to-day, and what it actually takes to double profits — sometimes in as little as 9 months.
This conversation goes deep into leadership psychology, trust, processes, and the mindset shifts required to move from stressed operator to confident owner. If you want a business that runs without you hovering — and still grows — this episode is required listening.
⏱️ Value Timestamps
03:22–03:50 — The moment founders shift from overworked W-2 employee to real business owner.
05:10–06:35 — Why micromanagement destroys trust, morale, and productivity (and how owners cause it unintentionally).
08:41–09:18 — The hard truth: If you can't step away, you're the bottleneck.
18:49–19:12 — How asking employees for solutions creates ownership (vs. issuing commands).
29:11–29:26 — The math behind doubling profits: small 1–2% improvements across key strategies.
✴️ Don't forget to follow us everywhere!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess
Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus
Facebook: https://facebook.com/steerus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@steerus
#SmallBusinessGrowth #Entrepreneur #Leadership #BusinessSystems #ScaleYourBusiness #ProfitStrategy #smallbusiness
S5:E35
In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Iri Greco, co-founder of Brakethrough Media, to talk about why stock photos are killing your brand – and what to do instead. Iri shares how she builds authentic, human-centered photo 📸 and video 🎥 for small and mid-size brands, why the future of marketing is less content but more meaning, and how solopreneurs can get high-quality visuals without monthly photo shoots.
You'll hear how she turned a nonlinear career (chef to food stylist to producer to media founder) into a visual storytelling studio that survived the 2008 recession and COVID. And she shares why community, connection, and lived experiences are now the strongest "growth hacks" your brand can have.
⌚Timestamps with Takeaway Tips
00:08:21 – 00:08:53 — "Less content, more meaning." Iri explains the shift away from "feed the machine" posting toward less frequent but more meaningful, story-driven content. Small brands don't need to flood the feed; they need clear stories and human moments.
00:11:31 – 00:12:23 — Design an experience, not just an ad. She breaks down how brands can think in terms of brand experiences instead of just ads: scenes, feelings, shared moments, not just product shots.
00:12:49 – 00:13:18 — How to mix pro shoots with DIY content. Iri gives practical advice: use pro shoots strategically for anchor content, then fill the gaps with simple behind-the-scenes content you create yourself. You don't have to choose between "all pro" or "all DIY."
00:15:35 – 00:16:13 — Hate being on camera? This is your workaround. She explains why you shouldn't force a camera-averse founder onto video. Instead, she uses direction + environment to help people relax – or suggests using a brand ambassador if you truly can't stand being on camera.
00:21:26 – 00:22:13 — Why pop-up events are exploding. Iri talks about the rise of intimate pop-ups and IRL experiences as an antidote to digital overload. For small businesses, this is a powerful way to build real relationships, not just collect likes. "Bonus" timestamp:
00:26:37 – 00:31:19 — The power of a nonlinear career. Iri walks through her journey from chef → food stylist → producer → media founder and gives implicit permission to pivot when you outgrow a role. Learn more about Iri and her work:
✴️https://www.brakethroughstudios.com/ ✴️https://www.brakethroughstudios.com/portfolio/portraits-business-headshots ✴️https://www.brakethroughstudios.com/portfolio/events-activations
Don't forget to follow our YouTube channel @Midlifesuccess - we'd love it if you did!
#entrepreneur #smallbusiness #photography #smallbizstories #marketing #storytelling
S5:E34
In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with the brilliant, intuitive, plant-loving fractional CFO Natalia Zacharin, a woman (and DEBT-SLAYER) who sees patterns in numbers the way gardeners see growth in spring. What starts as a conversation about debt and bookkeeping unfolds into a deeply relatable discussion on emotional decision-making, confidence, financial empowerment, and learning to trust yourself as a founder.
Natalia shares why so many entrepreneurs unintentionally bleed cash, how EIDL loans became both a lifeline and a trap, and the real reason checking your bank balance is not the same as knowing your financial health. She talks pricing, delegation, forecasting, and how to find "hidden money" inside your business without burning yourself out or giving up lattes or joy. Her advice is firm, but nurturing, and she displays high emotional and intellectual intelligence.
She delivers a 1-2 punch with strategy with heart. Just what women entrepreneurs (and honestly, all business owners) need more of. If you've ever felt guilty raising prices, avoided looking at your books, or delayed firing someone because you're kind and human, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale and a warm "you've got this."
🔥 Key Moments + Value Timestamps (With special guest appearances — The Cat) 🐱
Time Moment
04:21 — How cheap EIDL loans quietly became long-term business debt many founders now feel trapped by.
06:08 — Natalia reveals the #1 financial mistake she sees: founders don't review their numbers, they just hope they're okay.
09:04 — We debunk the myth: "My CPA will figure it out later." Spoiler: that's how profit leaks happen.
10:28 — CAT CAMEO #1 🐾 Kitty strolls into frame like she owns the company.
11:04 — Natalia breaks down how forecasting works even when you "have no idea what you'll make."
13:50 — Where to find "hidden money" in your business: pricing, subscriptions, efficiency and people.
14:53–15:45 — Permission slip moment: You're allowed to raise your prices without guilt.
17:16 — Why women often undercharge + fire slowly and how Natalia trains herself to stay firm with love.
20:13–21:10 — The 3-interview hiring method + why character and culture fit matter more than resumes.
24:21 — CAT CAMEO #2 🐈 Everyone politely pretends to keep talking while the cat insists on being acknowledged.
25:47 — What business schools should teach: financials + SALES (even if you hate it).
27:55 — A mic-drop moment: don't outsource sales until you're near $750K in revenue.
32:42–33:58 — Girl Scout wine-opening survival story — worth the episode alone. 😂🍷
You can learn more about Natalia and her accounting services for small businesses here:
👉https://zacharinconsulting.com/
Don't forget to 👍LIKE this episode and ✴️ follow @Midlifesuccess on YouTube!
#entrepreneur #smallbusiness #money #accounting #podcast #SmallBizStories
S5:E33
In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Stephen Sakach, founder of aiCMO.io, to unpack how small businesses can use AI without losing the human, emotional core of their brand.
Stephen has spent years sitting between technology, marketing and leadership — and he's using that experience to build an "AI CMO" that doesn't just spit out content, but helps founders think more clearly, act more ethically, and market more effectively.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- 00:06:16 – Why more tools isn't the answer, and how to put boundaries around tech so it serves your business instead of swallowing your time and attention.
- 00:08:33 – How to root your marketing in emotional truth (not just features and funnels) so customers actually feel the change your product creates.
- 00:11:40 – Stephen's vision for AI as a collaborator that nudges you toward better, more empathetic decisions instead of optimizing for profit at all costs.
- 00:13:15 – The hidden cost of saying you care about people and the planet in your messaging… while your behind-the-scenes behavior tells a different story.
- 00:19:12 – How to treat AI like a surfboard, not a life raft—using small experiments, feedback and data instead of gambling your whole marketing budget on hunches.
If you've ever thought "I know I should be using AI and better marketing… but I don't want to become a robot or sound like everyone else," this episode is your blueprint.
You can learn also listen to Steven here:
👉 Producer and Host of The Bliss Business Podcast
👉 https://aicmo.io/about-us
✴️ And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel @Midlifesuccess and follow us at STEERus
#smallbusiness #marketing #ai #cmo #entrepreneur
In this episode S5:E32 of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Jeremy Bower, founder of Givr Packaging, chemical-engineer-turned-eco-entrepreneur, and one of the most refreshingly honest voices in sustainability. Jeremy doesn't just sell boxes — he rethinks packaging from the ground up.
You'll hear how his background in paper science (yes, they actually award degrees for this specialty science and Jeremy has one) and sustainability led him to start Givr Packaging, why he fights to protect small businesses from predatory packaging minimums, and the surprising truth: most small businesses get packaging wrong and waste thousands.
From sustainable materials like bio-polymers and chitin foam, to the brutal realities of recycling, to Jeremy's no-minimum-order philosophy that helps startups scale responsibly — this episode is packed with practical insights and contrarian wisdom.
⏱️ Timestamp Highlights (Entrepreneur Value Moments)
[3:03] — "I'm good at contrarian thinking." → Jeremy shares how seeing holes others miss gives him a competitive edge.
[7:25] — "We give sustainable startups traction they'd never get on their own." → How Giver helps eco-innovators break into the market.
[14:16] — "Our minimum order is one. People are shocked." → Why serving tiny startups can produce massive long-term wins.
[20:57] — "Get paid. Protect yourself. Only 2% will try to screw you — but they will." → Critical advice for entrepreneurs dealing with receivables, contracts, and bad actors.
[24:02] — "Don't print your boxes. You don't need it." → The #1 packaging mistake entrepreneurs make that wastes thousands — and what to do instead.
AND here's a first - we would have easily kept talking for another hour or so, but we lost power due to a thunderstorm and that was the end of the show!
Clearly he has something against the letter "E" ... but you can follow Jamie:
👉 Instagram @boxbuildr
👉 Web https://givrpackaging.com
✴️ You can follow @STEERus on Instagram and @MidlifeSuccess on YouTube
#smallbusiness #entrepreneur #packaging #waste #sustainability
S5:E31
In this radiant and deeply human episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Dr. Roz, founder of the Love Revolution and creator of the Debt-Free Degree movement.
Together, they unpack how love, intention, and emotional presence can transform not only your relationships — but also your leadership, your business, and your day-to-day life.
Dr. Roz shares her philosophy of letting others voluntarily evolve (the real meaning behind Let Them), how to lead with compassion even when life is chaotic, and how entrepreneurs can infuse love into their brand, team, and daily choices.
This episode is warm, funny, raw, and revolutionary. If you've been feeling drained, disconnected, or discouraged, this conversation will light you up.
⏱️ Timestamp Highlights (5-6 moments with value for entrepreneurs) [4:23] — "I'm good at love." Dr. Roz explains how knowing your core identity gives you business clarity and confidence.
[9:00] — "Love is letting others voluntarily evolve." A powerful reframe for entrepreneurs dealing with difficult clients, team members, or partners.
[12:11] — "Love is intentionality — not conditions." Why conditional relationships (professionally or personally) destroy collaboration — and how to fix it.
[20:17] — Handling conflict with compassion. Her "restaurant story" becomes a masterclass in emotional intelligence and leadership under pressure.
[36:22] — "Your day is better if YOU feel better." A mindset reset for entrepreneurs who constantly push through burnout.
[45:07] — "Why not always choose love?" Dr. Roz delivers a groundbreaking truth: positivity is a competitive advantage.
#love #relationship #business #connection
S5:E30
Tired of agencies that overpromise, underdeliver, and burn your cash? Meet Brandon Willington, the straight-talking founder of WHERE U? [https://whereu.com.au/], who teaches small business owners how to generate their own leads—fast. And profitably. All without losing their minds.
From humble beginnings as a broke DJ in Perth to spending $4,000+ a day on ads, Brandon has cracked the code on simple, scalable marketing. He calls it "Chadvertising" no fancy funnels, no endless A/B tests, just basic things done well.
If you've ever been burned by a marketing agency (or a couple of them!!) or felt overwhelmed by lead generation, this episode is your wake-up call. Brandon breaks down exactly what works, what doesn't, and how to build a lean, effective ad strategy that you control.
🕒 Timestamp Highlights
[3:30] – "Understanding your customer trumps any dorky nerd marketing you can do on the internet." → Brandon explains why small business owners—not agencies—should run their own marketing.
[6:45] – "You don't need seven ad sets and 15 creatives; you need one ad done well." → His "Chadvertising" approach simplifies ad success.
[8:02] – "If someone guarantees you results, run." → Why most agency promises are red flags and how to spot the fakes.
[10:09] – "In a skeptical world, the truth sells. I literally run ads about my 4/10 reviews." → How honesty and vulnerability outperform "perfect" marketing.
[32:00] – "Clicks from the right person. Landing pages that convert. Conversations that close." → Brandon's 3C formula that drives real results for small businesses.
#smallbusiness #marketing #advertising #ads #entrepreneur
S5:E29
In this eye-opening episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Jeff Greenfield, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Provalytics, to unpack why most small business owners are tracking the wrong marketing metrics - and what to do instead. With decades of experience in attribution modeling, Jeff reveals why clicks lie, cookies are crumbling, and why you're probably misjudging your Meta ads.
If you've ever wondered why your Google Ads "work" but your Meta ones "don't," this episode will blow your mind. And flip your funnel.
Whether you're spending $500 or $5M a month, Jeff explains how to:
✴️Follow the money trail beyond misleading dashboards
✴️Measure the halo effect of ad impressions across platforms
✴️Build your own DIY analytics dashboard (no expensive tools required)
✴️This one's a must-listen for anyone struggling to make their ads pay off.
⏱️ Timestamp Highlights
[5:01] – "I'm really good at taking an idea and bringing it to market." → Jeff shares how his entrepreneurial brain works—and why chaos excites him.
[10:01] – "Most entrepreneurs gloss over the data—until it's too late." → The ADHD struggle is real. Learn how to ground your optimism in reality.
[14:00] – "Your Google Ads didn't win the sale. Your Meta ad planted the seed." → A masterclass on attribution and what your analytics dashboard won't tell you.
[25:00] – "Most people optimize for clicks. But impressions are what drive sales." → The biggest DIY marketing tip for budget-conscious entrepreneurs.
[27:00] – "Stop tracking only clicks. Track attention." → Jeff walks through exactly what to change in your ad tracking Google Sheet.
🌟 Don't forget to follow us on YouTube @Midlifesuccess
#entrepreneurship #digitalmarketing #advertising #googleads #smallbusiness
S5:E28
If "AI" still feels like magic tricks and missed ROI, this episode will flip the switch. Dr. LL sat down with Jim Weldon (Founder/CEO, Prospect.ai) (one of the sharpest systems thinkers she has ever interviewed) to map a practical path to cash with agentic AI.
Here's what you'll walk away with:
✴️A meta-model you can explain to your team in 60 seconds so everyone finally understands where AI value lives.
✴️A 2-week innovation cadence you can copy-paste into your org and no enterprise budget required.
✴️The lane strategy for seasoned operators vs. young ideators so you stop competing in the wrong game and start compounding wins.
✴️The unsexy USP that beats competitors: nail the basics (speed, follow-up, clarity, billing, referrals).
✴️How to become a utility in your market (the "water & power" behind others' growth) instead of an easily replaced vendor.
If you lead a small or midsize business and want results in the next 30 days, not theory, then this is the episode.
0:53 — Superpower: synthesis over "speeds & feeds." Jim explains how to ignore noise and frame problems so solutions map to real market opportunities.
3:15 — The Meta-Model for AI. A memorable analogy for LLMs (answers), agentic flows (task chains), and enterprise-grade platforms plus where value will concentrate next.
10:45 — Beat "aging out": redefine your lane. Mindset + role clarity: younger teams dominate ideation; experienced operators win in innovation, beta, and scale where cash is created.
11:58 — Two-week innovation cadence. Jim's playbook: 48-hour prototype only after value is proven. Use no-code + agents to compress cycles.
34:16 — The most overlooked USP: do the basics flawlessly. Answer the phone, quote fast, follow up, bill clearly, ask for referrals. Master baseline execution before hunting fancy differentiators.
✴️You can find Jim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimweldon/
✴️Don't forget to subscribe to YouTube @Midlifesuccess
#ai #agenticai #technology #entrepreneur
S5:E27
In this episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. Loralyn Mears chats with Laurie Genevish, founder of My Ideal College, who helps teens and entrepreneurs cut through the noise, plan their next chapter, and make confident decisions about their future. From college prep to career pivots, Laurie shares candid lessons on goal-setting, entrepreneurship, and the art of saying no to distractions.
Timestamps & Key Takeaways:
[5:00] – “No one has the same path.” Laurie explains why comparison is toxic for both teens and entrepreneurs.
[8:00] – The planning mindset: How quarterly goals and imperfect launches drive momentum.
[11:15] – The truth about “shiny object syndrome” and how to stay aligned with your mission.
[15:00] – Why goal-setting isn’t optional and how accountability partners keep you moving forward.
[22:00] – Debunking the “Instagram millionaire” myth: real talk on what it takes to build a sustainable business.
[27:00] – The #1 red flag in business: “If you have to drag them in, you’ll be dragging them the whole time.”
[31:00] – Laurie’s “Next Chapter” program: empowering teens to make confident college and career choices.
🎧 Listen now to hear how to plan smarter, focus longer, and chase purpose, not perfection.
✴️ Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube @MidlifeSuccess
#entrepreneurship #mindset #smallbusiness #coaching #wellness
S5:E26
In this punchy, practical episode of Small Biz Stories with Dr. LL, John Horn, CEO of StubGroup (a Google Premier Partner - note that very, very few companies have this distinction and honor!!), breaks down how small businesses can turn Google Ads into reliable profit instead of a money pit. From the Search Terms Report to negative keywords, smart budget math, and review mechanics, John gives you a field guide you can use today.
KEY TIMESTAMPS
[06:03–07:34] Cut wasted spend fast: Use the Search Terms Report and add negative keywords (e.g., “Dollar Tree” for a tree service) to block irrelevant clicks.
[08:20–10:26] Budget reality check: Why ~$2K/mo is a sensible baseline (context matters by CPC), and why you must allow time to learn, iterate, and improve.
[19:51–22:20] Prep before ads: Dial in your Google Business Profile, reviews, and get familiar with LLM-driven search (ChatGPT/Perplexity) to stay findable beyond Google.
[23:33–25:28] Website that sells: Treat your site as your 24/7 reputation with proof, offers, awards, reviews, working links, and helpful content that establishes expertise.
[26:46–28:43] Reviews that move the needle: Ask every time, make it frictionless (texted link/QR), and try incentives tied to the rep who served the customer.
One-liners you’ll take away:
• “Google makes it easy to spend money and hard to make it back.”
• “PPC works when you measure, prune, and iterate.”
• “Your website and reviews are the runway and ads are the takeoff.”
⭐Why listen now: StubGroup sits in the top 1% of Google partners, with 3M+ leads and $400M+ in revenue generated. John turns “complex” into checklist.
❇️ Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to YouTube @Midlifesuccess for more great content like this!
#googleads #smallbusiness #leadgeneration #digitalmarketing #entrepreneurship #advertising
S5:325
In this episode of Small Business Stories, host Dr. LL sits down with Emil Abedian, CEO of Council CPAs and newly minted author of Council to Council. Emil shares candid lessons from 15+ years in entrepreneurship, scaling from a solo CPA to a trusted partner for law firms nationwide.
🚨 Most entrepreneurs make this $100,000 mistake.
They treat their business like a job instead of an investment.
My guest on Small Business Stories, Emil Abedian, learned this lesson the hard way — grinding through 80-hour weeks, doing everything for everyone, and nearly burning out.
Then he made the shift: 👉 He niched down to focus only on law firms. 👉 He reframed compliance accounting into strategic partnership. 👉 He scaled his CPA practice into a thriving business — all while reclaiming time for family.
In this episode, Emil breaks down: ✅ How to avoid the “hamster wheel” trap. ✅ The KPI red flags every small business owner should track. ✅ Why niching down is the fastest path to scaling up. ✅ The 80/20 rule for launching ANY product (including a book).
If you’re a solopreneur, lawyer, or small business owner wearing 17 hats — you can’t afford to miss this.
🔑 Key Moments & Takeaways for Small Business Owners:
[00:05:30] Balancing Business & Family: Emil reveals the tipping point that forced him to shift from 80-hour work weeks to protecting time with his kids — and how entrepreneurs can do the same.
[00:12:45] Mindset Shift from Job to Business: Why too many professionals see their firm as a “job” instead of an investment, and how reframing this accelerates growth.
[00:20:10] Lessons from Success vs. “Less Success” Stories: Emil explains why learning from both wins and mistakes helps entrepreneurs shorten the path to growth.
[00:34:50] Beyond Compliance — Becoming a Strategic Partner: How CPAs (and other service providers) can add real value by moving from “check-the-box” compliance to year-round strategic insight.
[00:47:15] Riches Are in the Niches: Emil’s bold pivot to exclusively serving law firms — and why specialization was the best business decision he ever made.
👉 follow us on YouTube @Midlifesuccess
#smallbusinessstories #entrepreneurship #financetips #worklifebalance #finance #podcast
S5:E24
In this soul-shifting episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. LL sits down with Sofia Rozhko, a powerhouse mindset and visibility coach who helps high-achieving women and visionary entrepreneurs show up as their most authentic selves. With roots in Ukraine and a global impact, Sofia reveals the inner transformation needed to unlock business success from rewriting your self-worth to crafting an aligned personal brand.
She shares how she turned years of survival into a thriving practice, and why your energy and mindset (not your tactics) determine your outcomes. If you’ve ever felt stuck, undervalued, or afraid to be seen—this episode is your permission slip to go big.
⏱️ Timestamp Highlights
[04:48] – “There’s no clarity without courage.” → Sofia explains why bold action unlocks mental clarity, not the other way around.
[09:21] – “When you lead with authenticity, the right clients come to you.” → Discover why showing your truth is the greatest marketing strategy.
[14:12] – “I’m a brand. You’re a brand. We’re all a brand.” → Sofia breaks down how to own your narrative as a personal brand—even if you're a solo founder.
[22:07] – “Most people sell themselves short. Literally.” → A powerful call to raise your rates, own your value, and shift from scarcity to sovereignty.
[30:18] – “Before strategy, we work on safety.” → Sofia explains why inner security is the true foundation of outer success.
Follow Sofia and learn more about her work as a nutritionist:
🌟https://www.instagram.com/sofi_rozhko/
🌟https://thebody.school/en/team/
🌟https://www.tiktok.com/@sofia.rozhko
And don't forget to subscribe ✅ to YouTube @Midlifesuccess !
#entrepreneur #mindset #coaching #nutrition #wellness
S5:E23
College financial planning meets entrepreneurial reality. Brad Baldridge, host of Taming the High Cost of College, breaks down complex rules into simple moves any small business owner can use to lower net price and avoid bad loans. He sat down with Dr. LL to share some INCREDIBLE cost-savings tips that you, as a small business owner, can do if you have a child in college.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[06:04] FAFSA rule change for businesses.Small businesses under 100 employees now must be reported as assets. Brad explains what has value (e.g., real estate) vs. low-value consultancies—and why outdated blog posts still say otherwise. Takeaway: get current, not cached, guidance.
[08:01] Put your kids on payroll (the right way). Paying teens legitimately can lower parent income without hurting aid (up to ~$11k earned income). Takeaway: move from “cash for shifts” to payroll to help taxes + aid eligibility.
[08:50] Create a tuition reimbursement plan. Even small firms can mirror big-company education benefits (with rules—talk to your tax pro). Takeaway: convert wages into structured, policy-based education support.
[11:06] How to negotiate offers. It’s not lawyer-vs-lawyer; it’s “can you help us?”—often led by the student. Many private schools discount; appeals are strongest with documented changes (disaster, disability, divorce, business shock). Takeaway: ask, document, and appeal respectfully.
[27:11] Plan early with look-back income. Aid uses prior-prior year taxes (e.g., Class of 2025 aid uses 2023 income).
MAIN Takeaway: founders who can shift income should start in 9th–10th grade to optimize the right tax years. Bonus gems throughout: model multiple income scenarios (7:20–7:44), understand “merit vs. need” by school type (18:01–19:50), and compare net prices across acceptances before falling in love with a brand name (16:15–17:12).
Brad’s site & podcast: Taming the High Cost of College
👉https://tamingthehighcostofcollege.com/
Baldridge College Solutions / Wealth Management
👉https://baldridgewealthmanagement.com/
🔻And don't forget to ✅SUBSCRIBE to YouTube @Midlifesuccess !
#college #tuition #finance #smallbusiness #entrepreneur
S5:E22
In this episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. LL is joined by Justin Abrams, a Business & Strategy Consultant who's helped over 250 companies achieve an average 350% sales growth and 10x audience expansion. Justin is the head of Aryo Consulting Group. Both the host and guest are among UpWork's Top 1% of more than 17,000,000 freelancers, so the conversation gets interesting!
We dive deep into:
✴️Why your Google and Meta ads aren't working
✴️How to run smarter, low-cost TikTok Shop campaigns
✴️The truth about LinkedIn ad funnels
✴️How to get more Google reviews (even in “boring” industries)
✴️Why most lead generation tactics fail and what actually works Justin unpacks myths, shares insider strategies, and outlines a flywheel approach that helps small businesses outpace the competition in today's oversaturated, AI-noisy market.
⏱️ Timestamps (Valuable Nuggets for Entrepreneurs)
[06:27] – Why Google and Meta ads are 4x more expensive and what to do instead Justin explains how ad costs have skyrocketed and why small businesses need to rethink their marketing budgets.
[11:12] – The secret edge in 2025: Combine digital strategy with physical space Learn how businesses in "unsexy" industries are dominating with smart SEO and CRO tactics.
[16:02] – Why A/B testing is dead and how A to Z testing wins on TikTok Shop Justin shares a low-cost, influencer-driven strategy that outperforms traditional ad campaigns.
[20:22] – Newsletter marketing that works: The “flywheel” funnel that fuels 20% conversion rates Ditch the book flogging—this circular approach builds trust, authority, and recurring revenue.
[25:40] – The #1 hack to get more Google Reviews without being pushy From tipping staff to donating to charities, Justin shares genius ways to ethically increase 5-star reviews.
👉 follow us on YouTube @Midlifesuccess
#podcast #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #smallbizstories #marketing #leadgeneration
S5:E21
In this Small Biz Stories episode, Dr. LL sits down with Michael Barbarita, Jr., a fractional CFO, award-winning speaker, author of Powerful Business Strategies, and serial entrepreneur who's helped generate millions across industries from retail to manufacturing. With over 40 years of financial leadership and firsthand entrepreneurial grit, Michael shares how small business owners can make smarter financial decisions, structure irresistible offers, and unlock hidden value in their companies.
You’ll walk away with tactical advice on:
💰Making compelling offers rooted in financial logic
💰Avoiding rookie money mistakes
💰Scaling sustainably using simply money-making moves to sell more product
💰Building a business that sells itself—with numbers to back it If you’ve ever thought, “I need someone to make sense of my business finances,” this episode is for you.
⏱️ Highlights (Tips & Insights):
“It’s not just about revenue. It’s about value.” Michael explains why adding real business value requires more than top-line growth; it’s about strategic financial infrastructure.
“A compelling offer starts with understanding your costs.” Learn why most business offers fail and how anchoring your offer in margin and value unlocks results.
“Hire a fractional CFO before you think you need one.” The right time to bring in financial help isn’t when you're drowning; it's before the flood. Michael explains when and why.
“Small business owners should stop guessing and start forecasting.” Discover a simple forecasting framework any founder can use to predict cash flow and growth opportunities.
“Financial clarity builds confidence for you and your investors.”
Michael reveals how financial reporting done right can turn uncertainty into investor-ready trust.
Don't forget to subscribe to YouTube @Midlifesuccess
#entrepreneur #business #money #smallbusiness #finance
You when you just "hit it off" with a total stranger? Watch the ideas fly! What a fabulous guest and learning experience! Filip is easy going and curious which is a terrific combination to understand how to get unstuck in the customer journey.
In this episode, Filip Sardi, founder of Client Flow™, reveals to Dr. LL how online entrepreneurs can stop chasing new clients and start multiplying results with the ones they already have. Drawing from 11+ years in coaching and eLearning, Filip shares actionable strategies to make client success predictable, scalable, and profitable. From onboarding to upsells, he explains how to create lasting growth engines that build trust, retention, and referrals.
Key Takeaways:
✴️ Why focusing on existing clients generates more profit than constantly hunting new ones.
✴️ How to design an onboarding experience that builds trust quickly and sets clients up for success.
✴️ Identifying drop-off points in client momentum—and what to do about them before they churn.
✴️ Using the ClientFlow Pulse™ AI tool to see which clients are thriving, stuck, or ready for more.
✴️ Designing upsells that feel like a natural next step, boosting revenue without feeling “salesy.”
Whether you’re a course creator, high-end service provider, or membership owner, this episode will give you concrete systems to increase retention, referrals, and long-term profitability.
To learn more about Filip's work 👇 https://filipsardi.com/
Follow Filip on Instagram 👇 https://www.instagram.com/filip.sardi/
🔻And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube @Midlifesuccess
#business #entrepreneur #sales #growth #smallbusiness #learning
S5:E19
In this inspiring episode of Small Biz Stories, we sit down with New Jersey photographer and former educator Janet Joyner, founder of Janet Joyner Photography📸, to explore how she empowers women (especially those over 40) to rediscover their beauty, embrace confidence, and show up strong in a digital world. Janet shares invaluable photography tips, branding insights, and her journey of starting a business at 50 after leaving education.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a woman reinventing herself, or just camera-shy, this episode is packed with wisdom on how to be seen, and remembered.
💡 Timestamps & Takeaways:
📸[2:45] Starting at 50: Reinventing Yourself Is Always Possible “You're never too old. I love photography—so I said, why not try it?”
📸[4:45] How to Make Anyone Feel Beautiful in Front of a Camera “I sell you the way the world sees you—not the way you see yourself.”
📸[7:54] Top 3 Photo Tips for Women Over 40 "Back straight, create space, and 'turtle' your neck for a slimmer profile."
📸[10:55] Why Great Headshots Matter More Than Ever “People make snap decisions based on your headshot—invest in it.”
📸[15:35] Genius Business Card Strategy That Gets Remembered “Each card features different client portraits—people remember the card and the photographer.”
✨ Bonus: Hear how Janet fosters authentic community through love-tapping and weekly support circles—boosting visibility, connection, and confidence for women entrepreneurs.
💡 Learn more about Janet's work: https://janetjoyner.com/index.html
*️⃣Don't forget to follow us on YouTube @MidlifeSuccess!
#smallbusiness #entrepreneur #photography #headshot #women
S5:E18 In this heartwarming and brilliant episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL welcomes Jonathan Mast, affectionately known as “The Whitebeard of AI." He is a generous educator, strategist, and AI expert with a mission to make AI accessible for small business owners. Jonathan reveals the top 3 AI tools every entrepreneur should be using, how to overcome fear and overwhelm with technology, and how to create an AI-powered board of advisors (fictional and real!). He also shares touching and unexpected ways he’s used AI from health advocacy to writing a tear-jerking Mother’s Day letter.
Whether you're AI-curious or already deep in prompt engineering, this episode will inspire you to embrace the future with practical tips, humor, and a Santa-sized dose of generosity.
🧠 Topics Covered:
Must-have AI tools for beginners
Prompting frameworks that work
Overcoming AI fear with confidence
Building your own AI board of advisors
How AI can support emotional intelligence and relationships
🎯 Perfect for: Small business owners, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, consultants, and coaches.
LEARN MORE ABOUT Jonathan Mast
👉https://jonathanmast.com/
JOIN his AI Entrepreneurs HUB
👉https://tac.whitebeardstrategies.com/communities/groups/ai-entrepreneurs/home
✴️And don't forget to follow us on YouTube @MidlifeSuccess
⏱️ Timestamp Highlights (SEO-Rich Tips): 1:12 – “You don’t need the perfect tool. You just need a tool—and start!”
➡️ Stop chasing perfection—Jonathan breaks down 3 simple tools to start your AI journey: ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Midjourney. 9:00 – “Use this 4-step framework for perfect prompts.”
➡️ Jonathan reveals his prompting method: declare the expert, give context, ask a question, then say: “Ask me any questions you have.” 15:13 – “I built a board of advisors using AI—real, fictional, and even dead people.”
➡️ A mind-blowing technique to simulate advice from Steve Jobs, Tony Stark, and others using generative AI. 23:00 – “The fear of AI is like asking someone out—you overthink it. Just try it.”
➡️ Jonathan likens AI hesitation to dating nerves—his advice? Jump in! It’s not scary, and it won’t bite. 26:22 – “Search ‘white beard AI guy’—you’ll find me.”
➡️ Jonathan’s signature branding: a heart-led leader whose goal is to help you save time, make money, and grow smarter with AI.
🔖#AI #JonathanMast #Entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #podcast
S5:E17
In this high-voltage episode, Dr. LL sits down with Neil Twa, substack writer of column, ⚡"High Voltage Business Builders" and author of Almost Automated Income with FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon). He shares hard-won lessons from going bankrupt to building a multimillion-dollar Amazon consulting business. Whether you're trying to break through a revenue plateau or reframe your leadership mindset, Neil's battle-tested advice is a game-changer for entrepreneurs ready to level up. For over 17 years, Neil has been constructing businesses both online and offline after departing his senior IBM role. Since 2012, he's launched 5+ personal brands, generated 10's of millions in revenues as 8 figures sellers, and assisted in the growth of 1000+ others through consulting, coaching, and mentoring alongside his partner, Reed, and their Voltage team.
🎯 Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs:
Letting Go to Scale: Neil explains how fear and scarcity mindsets hold business owners back from reaching the $5M to $10M mark, and what it takes to shift.
Failing Forward: Hear why "failing forward" is essential to success, and how reframing mistakes as momentum-builders transforms your journey.
RGAs = Revenue: Neil introduces the concept of Revenue-Generating Activities and how focusing on RGAs keeps growth in motion.
Hiring with Common Sense: Discover his practical approach to interviewing and why "firing fast" saves your culture and cash.
Bankruptcy to Breakthrough: Neil opens up about hitting rock bottom—and how he rebuilt stronger by staying focused on the right high-leverage actions.
✉️neil@voltagedm.com
🌐voltagedm.com/
👨👧facebook.com/neiltwa/
📖to get a FREE copy of his book, enter the discount code SMALLBIZ on this website: https://www.voltagedm.com/freebook
❇️Don't forget to subscribe to ✅YouTube @MidlifeSuccess and to 👍like this episode!
#EntrepreneurMindset #AmazonFBA #SmallBusiness #businessgrowth #startup #ecommerce
Join Dr. LL for a value-packed conversation with George Otel, founder of US Business Funding and a top commercial real estate influencer. George shares actionable insights for small business owners and entrepreneurs on funding, mindset, and building lasting success.
Discover why adaptation, strategic learning, and the right financial moves can transform your business. Whether you're just starting or scaling up, this episode is your guide to smarter money decisions and entrepreneurial growth.
Key Takeaways & Time Stamps:
[1:13] Adapt to Thrive: George discusses the importance of adaptability in business, emphasizing that those who adapt faster and more efficiently gain the most benefits in today's fast-changing market.
[3:11] Delegate and Plan: He shares how reading, journaling, and planning personal development in 6-12 month increments has helped him focus on strategic growth and effective delegation within his business.
[10:51] Always Seek Options: George explains the biggest financing mistake business owners make: relying solely on their local bank. He urges entrepreneurs to seek multiple funding options and start looking for financing before it's urgently needed.
[13:05] Own, Don’t Rent: He highlights how small business owners can use government-backed SBA loans to buy their business property, often for less than their current rent, building equity and long-term wealth.
[21:15] Review and Refocus: George outlines his process of regularly reviewing what’s working in his business, doubling down on successes, and cutting out what drains resources—advice that can dramatically improve any small business in just a few months. Listen in for practical strategies, real-world examples, and the mindset shifts every entrepreneur needs to succeed in finance, real estate, and beyond!
👉 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and👍this episode! #realestate #investing #entrepreneur #money #rich
S5:E15
Discover how small businesses can punch above their weight with actionable PR strategies from Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases and renowned PR expert. In this episode, Mickie shares his journey from creative writing to building a leading press release distribution service, and delivers practical insights for entrepreneurs aiming for real media coverage, credibility, and results without the big agency price tag. Growth hacking at its finest!
Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners & Entrepreneurs via Mickie's discussion with Dr. LL: [4:15] The Power of Storytelling in Press Releases: Mickie explains how shifting from dry data tables to compelling stories in press releases led to major media coverage, opening new markets and building credibility for his company.
[7:24] Identifying Market Opportunities: He describes how listening to journalists' needs and early trends (like email distribution) inspired the creation of eReleases, showing the importance of adapting to industry shifts.
[9:00] Affordable Access to National Media: Mickie reveals how eReleases partners with PR Newswire to offer national press release distribution at a fraction of the typical cost, making media access feasible for small businesses.
[10:25] Knowing When to Make the Leap: For those balancing a day job and a side hustle, Mickie shares his conservative approach—saving six months of living expenses and waiting until his business generated double his living costs before going full-time.
[11:31] Financial Caution in Growth: He discusses the importance of financial reserves before hiring employees, emphasizing responsible growth and risk management for entrepreneurs. Whether you’re a startup founder, author, or small business owner, this episode delivers actionable PR tips and inspiring stories to help you gain real media traction and grow your business.
🤝 Connect with Mickie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/publicity/
📣 Learn how to get seen with Mickie's FREE resources regarding How to Win with Press Releases https://www.ereleases.com/
✴️ follow @MidlifeSuccess on YouTube and don't forget to 👍LIKE this episode!
#entrepreneur #marketing #pressconference
S5:E14
Think insurance is boring? Think again. In this episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. LL sits down with Michael Silverman, founder of Silver Lining Insurance Agency, whose story will change the way you think about life insurance—and relationships. With 40+ years of industry wisdom, Michael shares the powerful moment he delivered a $5 million life insurance claim, and how that moment cemented his shift from high-volume selling to values-based service. His approach goes far beyond premiums and policies—this is about building trust, forging deep connections, and putting people first.
If you're an entrepreneur or small business owner tired of the transactional hustle, Michael’s journey offers insight into how cultivating authentic client relationships can drive long-term success and leave a lasting impact.
🛠️ Learn how to: Turn obstacles into new business opportunities Move from selling to serving Build a network rooted in genuine connection
💬 “It’s not about the sale. It’s about what happens after the sale.” – Michael Silverman
✅ follow us on YouTube @MidlifeSuccess and help us spread the word about this #podcast
#smallbusiness #riskmanagement #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife
Join Dr. LL on Small Biz Stories as she interviews Sabir Semerkant, founder of Growth by Sabir and a billion-dollar eCommerce strategist who has worked with industry legends like Gary Vee and Neil Patel. Sabir shares actionable insights and candid advice for entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to scale, adapt, and thrive in today’s digital marketplace.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, Sabir’s wisdom and proven methods will inspire you to test, learn, and grow, one percent at a time. He convinces us that we need to just ONE thing better (at a time). Nail it - then move on to the next thing to improve.
Sabir is currently running a program called Rapid 2X, and in 2024 alone he helped 29 brands across 17 different product categories and the average brand experienced a 108% increase in growth in the first 21 days alone. 💥 Prior to 2024, Sabir implemented this exact system for over 150 brands with names such as Ashley Stewart who he took from 3M to 30M in two years when he was their head of growth, to household names like Canon, Young Nails, La Foi London, Sour Patch Kids, and Tommy Hilfiger, etc. [1:01]
Sabir’s practical tip for content creators: cover brand logos on your microphone to keep the camera focused on you, not the brand—a simple hack for better video quality. [3:19] The power of gratitude and adaptability in entrepreneurship: Sabir explains why setbacks are blessings in disguise and how every challenge can lead to unexpected opportunities. [4:09] Park your ego at the door: Sabir stresses the importance of humility and continuous learning—even from the youngest team members—to drive innovation and growth. [8:21]
Treat your business as a lab: Every working day should be an experiment aimed at improving key metrics. Sabir reveals how daily testing and focus can lead to exponential business growth. [11:03] The mathematics of 1% improvement: Sabir breaks down how making small, strategic changes every day can compound into massive results over time, using real-world examples from his career.
If you are in eCommerce, you NEED Sabir. Full stop! 👇
https://growthbysabir.com/
✅ Like this episode and follow us on YouTube @Midlifesuccess
#smallbusiness #entrepreneur #businesssuccess #digitalmarketing #startupadvice #money #shopping
In this inspiring episode (S5:E12) of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Luis Angel Torres Rodriguez, founder of Societal Bridge, Inc., to explore how positivity, the importance of life-long learning, and how second chances can transform the lives of returning citizens. Drawing from his own experience and award-winning advocacy with programs like NJ LEAD, Luis shares how he’s changing the narrative for individuals reentering society after incarceration, offering support, opportunity, and a judgment-free path to growth. Discover how Societal Bridge helps people reset their lives, build new skills, and find meaningful work, proving that everyone deserves a chance to thrive.
Connect with Luis and learn more about his work: Societal Bridge, Inc. TikTok: @louie.t8
✅If you’re moved by these stories of resilience and hope, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share Small Biz Stories for more real conversations that make a difference.
#podcast #nonprofit #inspiration #learning #incarceration #prisoner
Discover how to thrive in the new era of eCommerce with revenue optimization strategies that go beyond traditional marketing. Host Dr. LL sits down with Matthew Stafford, renowned founder of BuildGrowScale.com and the “eCommerce Wizard” behind the success of brands like ESPN, Discovery Channel, and Women’s Health Magazine. His experience has also allowed him to help hundreds of ecommerce brands scale past the million-dollar mark - with many hitting the $10 million mark. In this episode, Matthew reveals how to optimize your customer’s shopping experience, increase lifetime value, and boost sales—even after the game-changing iOS 14.5 privacy update. Learn actionable tactics to build high-converting stores, overcome ad tracking challenges, and master the Revenue Optimization Economy. Whether you run a growing brand or an established store, this episode delivers the insights you need to maximize profits and future-proof your business.
*️⃣It would be FABULOUS if you liked / subscribed to our show @Midlifesuccess !
#smallbusiness #digitalmarketing #shopping #success
Learn more about Matthew Stafford:
Website: https://buildgrowscale.com/book-a-call
In this episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. LL welcomes Christine Bernat, a certified EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) practitioner and holistic healing and stress management coach, to share her innovative approach to finding calm, focus, and healing in the fast-paced world of small business. Christine specializes in helping entrepreneurs and professionals overcome anxiety, stress, and self-limiting beliefs using her unique blend of EFT tapping, mindfulness, and energy work.
Discover Christine’s trademarked “new chill technique” called "Snap Tap Zap" that can help you reset your mind, boost your mental health, and unlock greater clarity and productivity-no matter how busy your schedule. Christine Bernat offers private sessions, group workshops, and online programs designed to support your journey toward emotional freedom and resilience. Christine is currently focused on THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF LOVE FOR DADS because dads are being left out of the help and healing equation!
Learn more about Christine’s work and book a session at ✨christinebernat.com✨ or connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
If you found value in this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share Small Biz Stories for more inspiring conversations and practical tools for your business and well-being!
#EFT #Healing #personalgrowth #selfcare #stressmanagement
S5:E9
Are old habits and limiting beliefs holding you or your business back? In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Marc Mathys, CEO of Reset-it, to explore how the innovative "neuro quantum" approach-blending neuroscience and quantum physics-can help you Reset, Reown, and Restart the way you work. We discuss how our brain’s wiring and subconscious conditioning shapes our professional life, and practical strategies to break free from invisible chains. All this so that we can create new, empowering mental patterns. Marc shares how the observer effect from quantum physics proves that shifting your focus can transform your reality, and invites listeners to open their minds to a revolutionary mindset and self-agency coaching method that leads to a more sustainable, fulfilling business and life.
Learn more about Reset-it here: ✴️https://reset-it.ca/
Comments, likes, and subscribing to our show makes a huge difference. We'd love it if you did!
#personalgrowth #neuroscience #attitude #limitingbeliefs #success
Join Dr. LL on Small Biz Stories as she sits down with Michael Pilla, founder of Pilla Creative Marketing, to uncover a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to web design that actually works. Michael shares his proven method for creating websites that not only look great but drive real business results-cutting through the fluff to help small business owners attract customers and grow their brand online. He shared two "wow" insights that really grabbed me regarding websites and their importance:
You'll never know about the business you're not getting You're one click away from oblivion
If you’re ready to stop wasting time and start building a website that delivers, I know a guy ... !
✴️ https://pillacm.com/
✴️ If you like what you see and hear, please subscribe and give us a thumbs-up!
#SmallBusiness #WebDesign #MarketingStrategy #DigitalMarketing
S5:E7
Join Dr. Darryl Stickel, the world-renowned "Trust Architect," as he shares breakthrough insights from his acclaimed trust-building model—developed as a Big 4 consultant, author, and thought leader with a PhD from Duke University. Despite navigating life with visual impairment, Dr. Stickel demonstrates that true vision goes far beyond sight, inspiring leaders to embrace vulnerability, foster genuine relationships, and cultivate high-performing, resilient teams. In this uplifting podcast, hear actionable guidance for transforming workplace culture, strengthening mental health, and unlocking the power of trust to create extraordinary organizations and connections. *️⃣ We're building trust with our community. To do so, we encourage you to like this video and subscribe to our channel @MidlifeSuccess💫
#growth #relationship #personalgrowth #resilience #disability
Books by Dr. Stickel: https://www.amazon.com/Building-Trust-Exceptional-Leadership-Uncertain/dp/1637630794
💪 At just 14 years old, Nick Prefontaine survived a traumatic snowboarding accident that left him in a coma, with doctors predicting he’d never walk, talk, or eat on his own again. Defying all odds, Nick not only walked but ran out of the hospital, proving the power of determination and resilience. 🌟 Today, Nick is a motivational speaker (named "Top Motivational Speaker" by Yahoo Finance in 2022), a 7-figure business owner, real estate investor, and Partner at Smart Real Estate Coach. He shares his incredible journey to inspire others—especially those recovering from brain injuries—to overcome adversity and achieve greatness. In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Nick discusses: 🌱 How his accident shaped his mindset and fueled his success 🏠 His journey as a Rhode Island-based real estate investor 🎤 His work as a motivational speaker helping brain injury survivors Nick’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the ability to turn life’s challenges into opportunities for growth. Watch now for an inspiring conversation that will leave you motivated to tackle your own obstacles!
#motivation #resilience #realestateinvestor #entrepreneurship #inspiration
In this eye-opening episode of Small Biz Buffet, we sit down with Eric Vincent, the "Excuse Killer," who just makes sh*t happen! He is the visionary founder of ProcurementCon and Black Ink Creative Partners. Eric shares his journey from the school of hard knocks to becoming a beacon of hope for small business owners everywhere. Discover how Eric's "The Deets" program is revolutionizing small business support, offering so much more than just a newsletter. Learn about the invaluable insights he's gleaned from his own experiences and how he's made them freely available to help others grow their businesses.
Eric's infectious enthusiasm and knowledge (yup - he is constantly researching & learning) and no-nonsense approach to business have not only captivated Dr. LL as our host but also led to an exciting new collaboration. This could be THE podcast that "started it all!" Tune in to hear about the birth of "How, Why, What?" - the new podcast where Eric and Loralyn join forces to dive deep into the world of small business success. And we strip out all the nonsense that gets in the way of all that.
This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur looking to navigate the choppy waters of small business ownership. Get ready for practical advice, inspiring stories, and a healthy dose of real-world wisdom that you won't find in any textbook.
👉Learn more about Eric and ProcurementCon Events here: https://procurementcon.com
🎙️Tune into How Why What? podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@ProcurementConBrand/podcasts
👉 It would be AWESOME if you could subscribe and share this episode with fellow small business enthusiasts!
🎙️ Small Biz Stories is thrilled to welcome Anubha Bhatla, founder of Curiosity Lab Inc. - she is a true Curiosity Crusader! 🌟 Recently named a grand prize winner in the Wells Fargo Works Project contest 🏆, Anubha shares her incredible 10-year journey of building a revolutionary science education program for youth ages 2 to 15. 🔬✨
In this inspiring episode, we dive into: 🌱 The conception and growth of Curiosity Lab Inc. 📊 How to use a "Wait List" as a go-to-market strategy for data-informed growth 🧠 The importance of curiosity and hands-on learning in shaping young - and old - minds 🎉 Celebrating 10 years in business—a milestone fewer than 10% of businesses achieve!
Anubha’s passion for igniting curiosity in children through science, engineering, math, and workshops is contagious. 🚀 Her advice on staying focused and being hands-on will inspire entrepreneurs and educators alike. 💡 Ready to learn how curiosity can drive success in both education and business? Tune in now!
👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with fellow small business enthusiasts and lifelong learners.
#success #entrepreneurs #smallbusinessowners #newjersey #education
🍽️ Welcome to another nourishing episode of Small Biz Stories, where Dr. LL serves up insights to help your business thrive! 🌟 Today, we're joined by Mary Adelman, a visionary yet grounded business coach who takes a wholistic approach to entrepreneur and small business wellness. 🌿💼 Discover how Mary's coaching goes beyond mere accountability: 🔍 Gain an unbiased, outside perspective on your business 🧘♀️ Learn to balance personal well-being with professional success 🚀 Unlock hidden potential in yourself and your enterprise Mary shares powerful insights on: ✴️The interconnectedness of entrepreneur health and business success ✴️Strategies for sustainable growth that don't sacrifice personal life ✴️How an external viewpoint can reveal blind spots and opportunities Experience the transformative power of coaching that nurtures both the business and the person behind it. Mary's approach could be the secret ingredient your venture needs to flourish! Ready to take your business (and yourself) to the next level? Tune in now and feast on this buffet of wisdom!
Don't forget to like, ✅subscribe, and share this episode with fellow entrepreneurs hungry for holistic success!
#entrepreneur #coaching #smallbusiness #success #wellness
Unlock the Secrets to Building Unbreakable Business Relationships!
Join us on Small Biz Buffet as we sit down with renowned sales consultant and relationship selling expert, James Jacobi! 🚀
In this episode, James shares his proven strategies for transforming your sales approach and building lasting connections with your clients. Discover:
📈 How to shift from transactional to relational selling 📊 The art of creating value-driven conversations 💼 Techniques for nurturing long-term business partnerships
Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your sales game and grow your business through meaningful relationships! James Jacobi's expertise will help you:
✨ Develop a deeper understanding of your customers' needs 📈 Increase customer loyalty and retention 💼 Build a strong network of advocates for your brand
Ready to take your business to the next level? Subscribe now and enjoy more insightful episodes from Small Biz Buffet!
#selling #revenuegrowth #entrepreneur #smallbusiness
Transform Your Sales Approach Today! 🚀
YouTube @MidlifeSuccess - Join the conversation and grow your business with us! 🌟
Want to be a guest? I'm easy to find online - DM me!
🍴 Ready for a taste of success? 🚀 Join us on Small Biz Buffet as we sit down with the incredible Melanie Rudin, marketing maven and owner of MiT Communications, and founder of the Jersey City Restaurant Owners Coalition (JCROC)!
🌟 In this episode, Melanie shares: 🍴 The inside scoop on JCROC and the upcoming Restaurant Week (March 3-9, 2025) 📅
💡 Her journey to defining success on her own terms 🌈
📈 Valuable marketing insights to spice up your business strategy 📊
Come hungry for both delicious eats and sage advice! Melanie's stories will inspire you to redefine what success means to you. Subscribe now for more Small Biz Buffet episodes and get ready to savor the flavors of entrepreneurship!
Want an amazing website and/or expert help on making your website work for you? Check out Melanie's company, MiT Communications here: 👉https://mitcommunications.com/
#smallbusiness #restaurant #entrepreneurship #marketing #newjersey
Welcome to a journey down a health path. This podcast is dedicated to exploring the world of chiropractic care and holistic health. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. David Lipman, the founder of Physical Evidence in Florida. With a wealth of experience as both a chiropractic physician and a patient, Dr. Lipman offers a unique perspective on managing musculoskeletal pain. Throughout our conversation, we delve into Dr. Lipman's personal journey with significant injuries and how they shaped his understanding of pain management. He shares his philosophy on treating dysfunction rather than merely addressing symptoms, emphasizing the importance of identifying the mechanical compensations that contribute to pain. Dr. Lipman also discusses various innovative therapies that have emerged in the field of chiropractic care, including Deep Tissue Laser Therapy, Whole Body Cryotherapy, and Mechanical Motion Therapy. We explore how these approaches can help individuals achieve better health outcomes and maintain functional movement. Whether you're curious about chiropractic practices or seeking a deeper understanding of pain management, this episode offers a thoughtful exploration of the healing journey.
Jennifer Moscato is the President of One-Third Stories, an innovative language-learning solution designed for children and the adults who are teaching them. In a clever "sneak attack," the stories begin in one language but slowly morph into another language so that people learn words and their context in a natural way. This improves learning and retention, plus it's fun! Jennifer was joined by her husband, Darren Moscato, who plays a supporting role with the operations of the business. "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." They share some of the lessons learned (the hard way) as entrepreneurs. And they talk about the "drill and kill" method at schools - which isn't working. *APOLOGIES for the suboptimal audio quality of our guests' microphone - we did our best to improve their sound.
Franca Borgia is a visionary, artist, and author. As a polyglot, she is hyper-aware of cultural sensitivies and the power of nuance: words have impact. She uses her artistry to create intricate, conceptual installations that are featured in several hotels and museums around the world. Her home - and her heart - is in Venice. This podcast was a special treat as we recorded it live as she strolled through Venice's famous landmarks and inserted quips about the city's rich history as we talked about mind-blowing ideas. For example, her monthly book series, could potentially go on for decades because she is unbound by spatial or contextual limitations. Her new book, "The Metabolism of the Mind," challenges conventional thinking about how fueling our bodies needs to go beyond the basic necessities of food and water. It is - and we are all - forms of energy that connect with each other to spark new forms. This is a fascinating discussion. I urge you all to open your minds and listen to Franca's incredible insights. You can find her on Instagram @r.a.r.a._international and on the web ... https://francaborgia.com
Denise Drinkwalter is one of those laid back, "take it as it comes," type of person that you can instantly relate with. Her Canadian roots and career in education as a teacher and principal offer immediate connection points and the confidence that she is going to help you get there - wherever it is that you are going. She is a life coach focused on middle-aged women transitioning from one life phase to the next, like rediscovering themselves, empty nesting, leaving a spouse, or finding a new one. Denise helps her clients reconnect with who they are and what they want out of life. Her philosophy is to do something daily that is, "for you, by you, or because of you." This mantra puts self-care into the spotlight and reminds all of us that taking the time to refuel is not only a good thing to do, it's essential. Find her at https://DeniseDrinkwalter.com
Danielle Perlin-Good has deep experience in digital marketing and ghostwriting. She takes her clients on a journey of personal discovery and healing as the "Soul-Aligned Ghostwriter." Danielle exudes cautious optimism and a time-proven process that takes her clients step-by-step through getting their book idea out of their heads on onto the digital shelves of amazon. For many, this can be a daunting process but she makes it simple and helps every aspiring author get their story out!
Dr. Brenda Boston is the President of the Dr. Marie Barney Boston Foundation which was founded by her late mother. It offers more than a scholarship to help students attend college, it also teaches accountability, responsibility, and giving back to the community. To date, since the foundation launched in 2015, they have helped 35 students with tuition in their respective pursuits of higher education. This nonprofit Foundation operates nationwide and is poised to continue enabling students to achieve more through the support of the community.
Jennifer Holmes founded Joyous Journeys - all because she was interested in "voluntourism" and "eco-tourism" but couldn't find the services that she needed to play her offshore vacations. She, like so many others, enjoys taking vacations but also wants to give back while she's holidaying. Whether it is for a day, a few days, or even the focus of the whole trip, Jennifer plans exciting excursions that enable people to do anything and everything from research with baby whale sharks to irrigation projects that help people access clean drinking water. Ecotourism is growing: globally, it's a $174 billion industry. The Grit Files dug into why Jennifer does what she does and what we can all learn from it.
Annie Mork is the founder of Jobs For Therapists, which is a job board made for theraplists including SLPs, PTs, OTs, and Psychs. She is helping connect recruiters and job seekers in the therapy world in a more meaningful way. Her training is in speech therapty where she now has a telehealth practice supporting children with speech challenges, many of whom are on the Spectrum with Autism. Annie offers some great tips on how to engage with your child - and that doesn't mean banning electronics from playtime.
Meet Brilly Semenova - a disability self-advocate who does not take 'no' for an answer. She has the tenacity, spunk, and knowledge of an entire team of advocates. As a child, she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and now has difficulty with daily living. But that hasn't stopped her from pursuing her Master's in Organizational Leadership and Nonprofit Management. Brilly is determined to change the narrative for the disabled, and she'll do it single-handedly if she has to. Good thing that she doesn't have to go it alone.
Accolade Wines is innovating everything from its bottles to its technology and production processes. Like bubbles? They have a new Prosecco ... and there are so many new ideas that will pop later this year. Enrique Morgan, managing director of the Americas, shares his gritty tales of beginning his wine journey selling to California gas stations to taking the helm of one of the largest wine companies in the world with a portfolio that is lauded worldwide.
Colin Darretta is a "reformed investment banker," serial entrepreneur, investor, and a journalist for Forbes, Inc, TechCrunch, plus other major media. He is the CEO and co-founder of Innovation Department, which spurs the brands of the future. Colin also co-founded FINN, which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. He lamented all the virtue signaling out there where "hustle culture" is a straight path to burnout for entrepreneurs who should be seeking health, wellness, and balance - in addition to moving their startups forward.
Colin Darretta is a "reformed investment banker," serial entrepreneur, investor, and a journalist for Forbes, Inc, TechCrunch, plus other major media. He is the CEO and co-founder of Innovation Department, which spurs the brands of the future. Colin also co-founded FINN, which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. He lamented all the virtue signaling out there where "hustle culture" is a straight path to burnout for entrepreneurs who should be seeking health, wellness, and balance - in addition to moving their startups forward.
Colin Darretta is a "reformed investment banker," serial entrepreneur, investor, and a journalist for Forbes, Inc, TechCrunch, plus other major media. He is the CEO and co-founder of Innovation Department, which spurs the brands of the future. Colin also co-founded FINN, which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. He lamented all the virtue signaling out there where "hustle culture" is a straight path to burnout for entrepreneurs who should be seeking health, wellness, and balance - in addition to moving their startups forward.
Christine Spang, founder & CTO of Nylas, has evolved over the last decade growing her software company which is essentially like "the plumbing for the internet" connecting code. She talks about how the highs are super high and the lows are super low but that foundation at MIT prepared her for the mental fortitude that she was going to need to lead her team on this journey. "Leadership is work and you have to work at leadership," is a lesson that she learned along the way. Along the way, she's discovered the power of yoga and rock climbing to challenge her mind as well as calm it.
Christine Spang, founder & CTO of Nylas, has evolved over the last decade growing her software company which is essentially like "the plumbing for the internet" connecting code. She talks about how the highs are super high and the lows are super low but that foundation at MIT prepared her for the mental fortitude that she was going to need to lead her team on this journey. "Leadership is work and you have to work at leadership," is a lesson that she learned along the way. Along the way, she's discovered the power of yoga and rock climbing to challenge her mind as well as calm it.
Christine Spang, founder & CTO of Nylas, has evolved over the last decade growing her software company which is essentially like "the plumbing for the internet" connecting code. She talks about how the highs are super high and the lows are super low but that foundation at MIT prepared her for the mental fortitude that she was going to need to lead her team on this journey. "Leadership is work and you have to work at leadership," is a lesson that she learned along the way. Along the way, she's discovered the power of yoga and rock climbing to challenge her mind as well as calm it.
Christina Richards is the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of Virtana - a software company specializing in cloud services. She took the road less traveled. Indeed, Christina calls it the "dark side" where she took a deep dive into engineering then evolved into marketing. With her role today, she has the opportunity to influence rising professionals in STEM and has a message (or two) for aspiring techies and marketers which can be distilled down to, "You don't know where life will take you - keep learning." She shares how mistakes can be fuel for better things ahead. Tune in for some words of wisdom!
Christina Richards is the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of Virtana - a software company specializing in cloud services. She took the road less traveled. Indeed, Christina calls it the "dark side" where she took a deep dive into engineering then evolved into marketing. With her role today, she has the opportunity to influence rising professionals in STEM and has a message (or two) for aspiring techies and marketers which can be distilled down to, "You don't know where life will take you - keep learning." She shares how mistakes can be fuel for better things ahead. Tune in for some words of wisdom!
Christina Richards is the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of Virtana - a software company specializing in cloud services. She took the road less traveled. Indeed, Christina calls it the "dark side" where she took a deep dive into engineering then evolved into marketing. With her role today, she has the opportunity to influence rising professionals in STEM and has a message (or two) for aspiring techies and marketers which can be distilled down to, "You don't know where life will take you - keep learning." She shares how mistakes can be fuel for better things ahead. Tune in for some words of wisdom!
Dr. Deborah Jonas is the director of SRI's Center for Education Research & Innovation. Yes, she has access to astronauts and researchers of the highest caliber in the world - but she focuses her efforts on community learning. Deborah shared her thoughts on how we can better support students to "fail productively" and essentially to fail forward so that our next generation of leaders learn how to learn by working through problems versus being given the answers. She had some insights into how colleges are challenged by the breadth of the diversity and needs of the students they need to support today - and she surprised me with her shoe choice!
Dr. Deborah Jonas is the director of SRI's Center for Education Research & Innovation. Yes, she has access to astronauts and researchers of the highest caliber in the world - but she focuses her efforts on community learning. Deborah shared her thoughts on how we can better support students to "fail productively" and essentially to fail forward so that our next generation of leaders learn how to learn by working through problems versus being given the answers. She had some insights into how colleges are challenged by the breadth of the diversity and needs of the students they need to support today - and she surprised me with her shoe choice!
Dr. Deborah Jonas is the director of SRI's Center for Education Research & Innovation. Yes, she has access to astronauts and researchers of the highest caliber in the world - but she focuses her efforts on community learning. Deborah shared her thoughts on how we can better support students to "fail productively" and essentially to fail forward so that our next generation of leaders learn how to learn by working through problems versus being given the answers. She had some insights into how colleges are challenged by the breadth of the diversity and needs of the students they need to support today - and she surprised me with her shoe choice!
What a breath of fresh air! It's so easy to feel intimidated, especially when it comes to things like interior design, "Will my home meet your standard?" But Jeanelle Ditto, founder of Blush Interior Designs, is one of the most fun, accessible, down-to-Earth, and overall joyous people that you'll ever meet. No judgment! She offers listeners great advice on how ups & downs are part of an entrepreneur's journey and encourages everyone to STICK WITH IT. Jeanelle also shared some interior design tips that we can all benefit from.
Lorrie Thomas Ross is a breath of fresh air. She's The Marketing Therapist(R) and founder of Wild Web Women and Web Marketing Therapy. She understands the value of relationships and follows the mantra, "to lead with love." Her best advice for other female founders out there is to, "Always do what you do best and let others do the rest."
Welcome to another episode of Grit Files! Joining us today is Ken Babcock, Co-Founder and CEO at Tango. Tango’s free-to-use product is a Chrome Extension that automatically creates written, step-by-step how-to guides in real-time without requiring video recording. Users complete their process in the browser while Tango transcribes actions, URLs, and screenshots. The resulting how-to guide can be easily pasted or exported to commonly used knowledge bases and learning management systems. They are inspired by a world where work is easier to get done, and learning on the job is frictionless. Tune in to learn more on this!
In this episode, we are joined by Sami Wunder, a leading international relationship and dating expert working with ambitious, high-achieving women, helping them attract lasting romantic love. Sami serves a highly engaged, global clientele of over 80K followers across 55 countries. Her clients range from Hollywood celebrities to UK TV stars to CEOs, bankers, lawyers, doctors, renowned authors, leading entrepreneurs, etc. She has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Time Magazine, Business Insider, Glamour, Thrive Global, The Huffington Post, New Zealand Breakfast Radio Show, UK Channel 5, Fox News, The Daily Mail, Elite Daily, The Metropolitan, and many others. Tune in to learn more about the different elements that make a healthy and long-lasting relationship!
John Glowacki, CEO of Combat Control Foundation, shares some deeply personal insights on life, loss, and leadership. He served our country in the role of combat control - for those unfamiliar with the role, it's like air traffic control but in a military application. Next year, a move feature a fallen combat control veteran will be released starring Jake Gyllenhaal and it will put this important but not well known military function and rising foundation on the map!
For something a little different, Loralyn Mears recorded this podcast live from Collision Conference in Toronto. She highlighted some of the key insights around the downward trend of venture capital investment and spotlighted some key innovations. WebSummit does an incredible job organizing this event and, as usual, they were spectacular and made the media, sponsors, startups, and attendees all feel like royalty.
Chris Beck is the VP of the Family Law division of Soberlink. Their mobile sobriety technology helps document sobriety in real-time to ensure that a child is being co-parented by a sober guardian. Think of it like a breatholyzer on demand, all to keep children safe. This is especially important when parents are divorcing and fighting for custody of their child when one, or both parents, have alcohol usage disorder. Soberlink also provides treatment services with access to professional counselors. Chris has been passionate about fostering children impacted by addiction. He works on treatment solutions to enable the future reunification of the biological parent with their child. And he's also adopted several children in need who have been affected by addiction.
Josh York, founder of GYMGUYZ, the global leader in personal fitness. He's elevated in-home training to a new level. But he had a rocky start and he openly shares how he's tapped into his unstoppable mindset, honed through fitness, to make the magic happen. Josh will challenge you to stop making excuses - and to just get it done. "Easy never pays well - you've got to do the work."
Meet Lucas Stoltze of ExitLag - the company behind-the-scenes of hundreds of games in countries around the world. They make your game connections faster so that you can communicate with other players sooner - maybe even before the bad guy sneaks up on your game buddy so that can avoid a takedown. Gaming can actually help improve soft skills like communication. Who knew?!
Nick Grewal, serial entrepreneur and investor, is on a mision to make electronic vehicles more efficient and sustainable. He shared a key tip for entrepreneurs, "Don't put your success in someone else's hands. Be prepared to do it yourself." He highlighted how you need to know who you are as a company - and who you're not, and that mistakes are par for the course. Every company has problems - how you solve them defines your success. Nick discusses his current venture, ePropelled, changing the motors on everything from 2- and 3-wheelers to drones.
Meet Ahsan Rizvi, founder & CEO of Kiddom, who is transforming digital education to bolster the success of the next crop of learners. He's got a lot of wisdom to share about managing startup fires and digging in to gut through those infamously tough and gritty, early days of entrepreneurship. He'd know - he built Kiddom from the bathroom of a studio apartment.
Learn. Teach. Serve. That's a powerful motto and corporate culture that GCSIT's CEO, Michael Norring, has instilled in the workplace. It's more than a motto - people stand behind it - and employees are proud of the culture that they're helping create. Michael joins our show and shares some insights around digital transformation and how to lead an organization for growth. Here's the TL;DR - build awesome teams!
Michael (Mikey) shares some details about his "unusual" background and gives us a glimpse into how he, as a serial entrepreneur and software engineer, frames new ideas. As a neurodivergent, he has an insatiable appetite for learning new things and offers a fresh approach on how to combine the new ideas he learns - and that's what makes him an incredible ideator and entrepeneur.
Bryan Fried is the founder and CEO of Pangea Global Technologies. They're been around for more than two decades, but they've never stopped innovating. They're taking LED lighting to the next level embedding private broadband internet access and enabling the commercial scale of crops - indoors - to address the global supply chain and hunger challenges. So, how many lightbulbs does it take to change the world? Tune in!
Meet Michael Esposito - a family man on a mission to be better and to do more. His inspiration, dedication to self-improvement, and commitment to his customers of DenTen insurance isn't something that you see much of these days. Tune in to get inspired.
Meet the co-founders of Branch Energy: Alex Ince-Cushman and Daniel MacDonald. They're making it easy for consumers to be smart about their energy consumption. They're growing quickly and offfered great advice for founders enduring "slogging through the minutia." They said, "Entropy of the world wants companies to come apart," and they offer advice how to manage it.
Teresa Heath-Wareing found her calling to inspire others when they get "stuck." She faced her personal challenges head-on and emerged stronger than before. Today, she's a TEDx speaker, coach, entrepreneur and best-selling author. Anything is possible!
This is a MUST-listen episode. Genecia Alluora, founder of Soul Rich Woman, will inspire and motivate you. At the brink of death, on the ledge of a 10-story building, she changed her life. Her mother pulled her back from the edge and said, "Turn your mess into your message." And she's never looked back.
Yuliia Mamonov is the Head of Content for Lemon.io, an innovative platform connecting clients to software developers on demand. Here's something you may not know - Lemon is based in Ukraine. Hear a first-hand account about some of the struggles trying to navigate the Russian war of aggression - and please do whatever you can to support Lemon and their staff.
Hair loss? Hair transplant? The field has shifted far from the era of late night infomercials touting the latest miracle cream. Andrew Kashian and his team at Solve Clinics are working hard to make the industry safer and more transparent to enable consumers to make better choices. Most entrepreneurs on our show struggle with growth - Andrew is struggling with hyper-growth and shares his inights on managing that.
Jim Barrood is the founder of Innovation+ and he's always on the cutting edge of what's new. The latest? Psychodelics - an industry which is still years behind the CBD industry but there's a lot of research in this area.
David Lokshin - and his father - have taken a road less traveled in entrepreneurship. With tenacity times ten, they adopted a "missionaries not mercenaries" philosophy until they found product market fit then never looked back. Trace is a wildy successful personalized sports memories solution: why watch every move by every member of the team when you only want to see your child or the one player you're coaching? SEE: https://traceup.com/
Justin Huddy founded Radius Care to help family members manage the care of their loved ones. What's even more exceptional is that Justin has made his app free; it ties into Medicare and helps people find the most cost effective care solutions. Justin shares his thoughts on what he would have done differently as entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey.
Jim Kniest is a gamer, software developer, and entrepreneur. For the last five years, he's been building a unique app which helps people discover their sexual play styles. You can find his app, Halos & Sins, on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09R9BHFPR
Muddu Sadhakar is an innovator and a serial entrepreneur pushing boundaries around personalization at the intersection of technology and humanity. He's the co-founder and CEO of Aisera.ai; a digital and voice assistant for enterprise companies who offer support to their customers. Muddu's team trained their tech on 1 Trillion words! And I loved his inspirational quote, "Your history is not an indication of what's to come."
Lauren Prager is the Chief Strategy Officer at Synapse, focused on building a tech ecosystem in Florida. She offered wonderful advice about aligning your heart with your purpose and how the community in Tampa is there for each other. When people align with what matters, and treat each other with kindness and respect, amazing advances are possible.
Read more at: https://gritdaily.com/lauren-prager-cso-for-synapse-florida-talks-about-what-really-drives-innovation/
Mo Fathelbab just has a special way of engaging with his audience. He's a best selling author of two books with an incredible client list of who's-who. Mo is also the executive director of the Young Entrepreneurs' Organization (YEO). His focus is helping others connect with their vulnerability to enable people to grow.
Victoria Loskutova recently founded, "Bad Ass Bureau," an online agency to help amplify the voices of female founders in particular (although not exclusively) as we all know that ALL voices matter!
Maximilian de Melo and Patrick Niederdrenk operate MxP Group, which includes America One Luxury Real Estate in Arizona. With an exceptional work ethic and attention to detail, the co-founders and friends bring complementary skills to the table. They share how their grit and professionalism meet - and exceed - the expectations of demanding clients.
This episode was both extra special and challenging to produce. As a breast cancer survivor myself, it was beautiful to hear Abby Match recount her dance with cancer and to learn about the advocacy work that she's doing to promote screening for Ashkenazi Jews who are carriers for the BRCA1 mutation. She's a force - leopard fierce! And she shares tips for building resilience and taming the Fear Monster.
Sachin Jhangiani co-founded Elevate Money after learning a thing or two on Wall Street. He wanted to find more purpose in his work so he created a platform where individuals can pool their resources and grow their assets together. Fractional everything is the current trend, and he's fully dialed into it to do good in the world and move towards equality. Sachin offers some extremely wise - and candid - tips about entrepreneurship that ever founder should take note of.
Dr. Valeria Kogan is the co-founder of Fermata diagnosing plant health. Each year, millions of crop harvests are wasted and the world is increasingly seeking foods grown without chemicals. AgTech is not the industry you'll typically find young, female founders - but Valeria isn't letting that hold her back. She's got the grit and talent needed for startup success and shares what she's learned along the way.
Claire Gunter has extensive experience in customer support, leveraging emotional skills to build relationships that last. She's worked at ZenDesk and is now the Latin America global manager of sales at eBanX, which is Brazil's first unicorn. Claire shares some tips on how to connect with customers and how to speak up to create opportunities for yourself. And she's vowed to never wear uncomfortable shoes again!
The Grit Files (formerly known as Like a Boss) gets into the gritty backstory of US Army veteran, Luke Ryan, a war poet and author. Luke recently published his first novel, "The First Marauder." His day job keeps him hopping as the social media manager for the fastest growing coffee company in America. Tune in!
Kanika Wahi took over the responsibility of developing a topical product originally designed by her father to better manage her sister's allergies. Since then, Trutek Corp. has grown and Kanika talks about the dynamics of being an executive - and a relative - in the world of formulation chemistry and business.
The Grit Files (formerly known as Like a Boss) with Loralyn Mears & Guest Brittany Woyma features the Startup Stories of WhereToBuy.io which offers the modern way to find the products you love on retail shelves. As a mother of three and former advertising agency executive, Brittany has embraced entrepreneurship and shares some tips on why she ditched advertising for startup tech.
Dr. José Morey is on a mission to make STEM accessible to everyone. As the Intergalactic Doctor, born in Puerto Rico but traveling the world supporting amazing projects like Elon Musk's Hyperloop, NASA, artificial intelligence for health at IBM Watson and more, his message is that STEM is for everyone because, in his words, "representation matters."
Ryan Walker founded one of the most successful social media management companies on the planet: TSMA. As in, "The Social Media Agency." His team pioneered the influencer economy engaging in celebrity social media management long before it became trendy to do so. He offers listeners some valuable insights and tips into how to grow your social media presence.
Need some inspiration? Maybe along with a side of motivation? Dr. Tommy Watson faced incredible hardships growing up with his five siblings and parents who were drug addicts and repeatedly incarcerated. He moved around a lot from one foster home to another, lived in motels, and lived apart from his siblings, but he grew strong fueled by the desire to be free to make choices. Check out his story here: https://www.tawatson.com/
Carole Burton isn’t afraid to tackle big initiatives within an organization. Like equity. She thrives on helping create lasting change. At her core, Carole understands people. And she's developed a model that helps people evolve their thinking and behavior to be more inclusive towards meeting the global goal - and need - for equity and cohesion.
Todd Belveal is a serial tech entrepreneur. He exited Silvercar, which he founded as one of the first connected car companies fully enabled by smart phones. His current venture, Washlava, brings tech to public laundromats - seemingly on a mission to put the quarter coin out of a job. He has some great advice for entrepreneurs.
Trung Tran is an exceptional serial entrepreneur. Not only has he raised millions and generated billions of dollars with his product ideas, but he also served as a Captain of the United States Air Force. His latest venture is Amplio.ai - an artificial intelligence wellness solution that creates your digital twin to track your emotional, mental, and physical health. The AI wellness solution assesses what is working for you - or not - and suggests how you should adjust your exercise, sleep, water intake, and so on, according to what is best for your body.
Andrea Iervolino, international filmmaker and founder of TaTaTu, a social media platform that rewards you for being entertained by up and coming talent, was our guest. He spoke about data privacy and his films which have included celebrity actors like Al Pacino, James Franco, and more.
Meet Tracy Rookard, an army veteran and former US medic. This week's Grit Daily Like a Boss podcast guest trained to be a respiratory therapist, but then entered the field of information technology. Along the way, she developed eczema, an irritable skin condition aggravated by environmental conditions and stress. A fateful appointment with her dermatologist set her on her current course.
Meet Nadia Okhunova, co-founder of K917 media. Two is better than one, right? She's combining brands and linking efforts in NYC + Moscow for a new edge in marketing mash-ups. Nadia is also embracing the emerging future or work trend of polywork.
Dr. Tatiana Fofanova is the founder of Koda Health which is a digital solution enabling people, particularly the lower income and overlooked population, to walk through a simple set of questions designed to answer the tough questions around end-of-life decisions. These conversations aren't easy - but they need to happen so that people can have their advanced directives registered with their healthcare team and families.
Luciana Carvahlo is the VP of People and Performance at Movile, Latin America’s largest tech investment group and accelerator. She’s the engineer of The Movile Way, a culture-building methodology that has been taught to entrepreneurs at Harvard and Stanford universities for more than five years. She and her team created the Mobile Dream internship program to train and recruit young, bright and diverse talent for Movile’s expanding portfolio of leading global technology companies.
You may think that you're "cleaning" your surfaces with bleach wipes ... but you may not realize that coverage and contact time (up to 5 min) may be required to disinfect the surface. Who knew?! Well, the three co-founders of Kinnos Inc knew. They saw an opportunity to tint bleach with a color-additive to make it easier to track what you cleaned. Katherine Jin, the company's Chief Technology Officer, joined the Like a Boss podcast to share her story as an entrepreneur and how she is operating beyond the prejudice and bias in society today.
It only took seven years for Erik Huberman to build an $80 million marketing company with 220 employees supporting more than 3,000 brands. Big brands, too, like Red Bull, Proactiv, and many others. In parallel, he's launched Hawke Ventures which funds interesting technology that Erik's clients can benefit from but his team doesn't have the time or expertise to build. It's a triple-win. Tune in to learn more!
Lynn Wood is the Chief Idea Spy at IdeaSpies. It's a tech platform for sharing good ideas and making them better. Students to seasoned entrepreneurs are invited to submit their ideas - in 100 words or less - and to mentor other entrepreneurs by offering constructive feedback. Lynn joins Loralyn to talk about innovation in society today.
Miriam Rivera is one of fewer than one percent of Stanford University graduates to be decorated with a Stanford Medal. She earned both her MBA and JD degrees there then went on to build one of the largest LatinX venture capital funds in the world. The fund hosts eight unicorns in its portfolio. Miriam founded the VC fund based on the thesis that diversity is more than trendy - it's profitable. The firm is now seeking to expand its executive leadership team. She now holds the role: CEO, Co-Founder and Managing Director Ulu Ventures.
Katie Ferraro is a tour de force! She is the founder of Fortified Family and wildly popular Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy Podcast. As a registered dietician with a specialty in infant feeding and an educator at University of California San Diego, you'd think that would be enough credibility. But there's more ... she gave birth to seven children within three years! A singleton, quadruplets, and then twins Her sister has twins, too so multi-births are common in her family. Having that many mouths to feed required smart planning and uber efficiency. Tune in to this episode to learn more or tune in to her podcast here: https://blwpodcast.com/
Consuelo Valverde is the founder and managing partner SV Latam Capital. She is the driving force behind making capital more accessible to more founders: "SV LatAm Capital partners early with extraordinary entrepreneurs that have the grit and ambition to transform societies, the environment, and health on a global scale. Whether you are a serial founder, a tech entrepreneur, or a scientist, we are here to help you build a breakthrough company, from the moment of inception."
https://www.svlatamcap.com/
Meet Simon Cohen, Chairman of Henco Global, a happy company that "just happens to do supply chain and logistics work." After a life-threatening cardiac event and the realization that he missed many years of his daughters' lives and time with his wife, Mexico's most trusted CEO had a change of heart. He developed the "High Performance, Happy People" model which has been featured at Harvard Business Review. Simon shares his story and his heart in his new book, Fulfilled.
Amanda Jacobson is the Chief of Staff for Oyster Financial, a neobank for SMBs that’s co-headquartered in Mexico City and San Francisco. Prior to joining Oyster’s executive management team, she managed a portfolio of nine fintech startups for Finlab, the innovation lab of Gentera, focused on generating sustainable solutions for financial inclusion. She also led the expansion of Village Capital, supporting 50 ventures and eight startups.
Bill Gladstone, founder of ViCiNFT, is doing good in the world and for the world with non-fungible tokens. They require a minimum of a 25% contribution to a charity for any NFT that they auction off. And, proceeds are also used for sustainable efforts that impact our environment including planting trees and other initiatives to offset their carbon footprint. From sports memorabilia to a funky seabass, it's possible to make money and help the planet with NFTs.
Christine McKay is known for a few things. One, international recognition as one of the world's leading negotiators. Two, her vibrantly colored hair which matches her personality. Three, her hard-earned rags-to-riches story. Tune in to get tips on negotiation and to be inspired by someone who's been there, done that, found a way to love herself, and to thrive. She shares her story here with Loralyn Mears.
Espree Devora is a serial media entrepreneur and the OG of podcasting, catching the wave back in 2013-14 before podcasting became the "thing" that it is today. All three of her podcasts are categorized as Noteworthy by Apple and her first podcast series, Women in Tech, has been critically acclaimed. To date, the show has posted more than 550 episodes. Today, Espree continues her journey as a serial media entrepreneur with her newest role - the face of Clubhouse. Her ask? Send her a quote that inspires you. Contact her at: espree@hey.com
Nick Palmisciano is a veteran and serial entrepreneur. He's faced challenges deployed for his country, been named on the ISIS Kill List, and was a single Dad raising an 1- and 3-year old in a warehouse when he was starting his apparel business. The man personifies what our show is about - GRIT. Nick is the only independent filmmaker with a #1 movie on Amazon which also boasts the highest contributions of any crowdfunded creative effort. He's incredible! And he wants you to give back - become a mentor at WarriorRising.org. Loralyn Mears and all of us at Grit Daily News thank Nick for his service and for inspiring us.
Lisa Bowman has held the role of Chief Marketing Officer at UPS and United Way. She didn't set out to become the poster child for #metoo or to take on the world's largest non-profit organization, but that's how things played out. Lisa was fired, but quickly regained her mojo, and here she is sharing her story with Loralyn Mears.
We caught up with Allie Xu, founder of Global Pharmacy Entrepreneurs. She's an expert in Chinese medicine, a pharmacist, a podcast host and a newly minted media company - Unicorn Fart Media. She has a grand vision to unify healthcare workers around themes of kindness, humanity, openness and collaboration to treat patients as whole humans with body and mind considered together.
Komal George left a prestigious position at the UK national level in pharmacy to become an entrepreneur and forge her own path towards health and wellness. Komal shares some of her insights along her journey and emphasizes how to leverage transferable skills. Join Komal with Loralyn Mears, PhD.
Tiffany Xingyu Wang is the co-founder of OASIS Consortium and co-founder of Spectrum Labs. She's traded commodities globally, lived in China, France and Singapore where she learned the value of community and has been a guest on numerous international TV programs and other media. OASIS is building the standard to create a safe space for consumers to interact with their brands. Tiffany shared insights on her incredible journey and success.
Robin Rotenberg, founder of Alpha Women Rock, has pivoted in her career from a corporate attorney to a communications manager to an author. Join this podcast hosted by Loralyn Mears to hear about some Robin's experiences - especially the ones she's had with the Queen Bees of the office.
Ganna Tymko is a brilliant, young entrepreneur who has chosen to meet HardTech and VoiceTech - head on. She's the founder of Claraphone which miraculously adjusts accents in real time to foster improved communication. She shares her insights as a startup founder and as one of the upcoming women in tech with Loralyn Mears.
Josia Nakash is the founder of The CEO Collective, an Israel-based company focused on forging deeper human connections in the workplace. She's developed "the integral method" as a means of identifying the gaps and bringing teams together. Josia shared her thoughts on a more connected workplace as a future state and the role that women will play.
Lan Phan was entrepreneurial even as a child. Over the course of the past two decades, she's founded several companies, commanded a global audience at Fortune and established Community of Seven - a group of experts aligned around a common purpose - to do good and change the world. She shares her insights as a startup founder and as one of the women in tech with Loralyn Mears.
Mae Karwowski is the Queen of Influencer Marketing. She was firing it up even before it became a "thing." Her company, Obvious.ly was voted AdWeek's fastest growing marketing agency in 2019. She shares her insights as a startup founder and as one of the women in tech with Loralyn Mears.
Hanan Kamal Eldhary, founder of Neighborhood Pal, is making the emotional experience of moving easier to manage. Her sound pin technology enables people to virtually visit new neighborhoods and to "drop in" on all the sights, sounds and reviews of what's going on the 'hood. She shares her insights as a startup founder and as one of the women in tech with Loralyn Mears.
Meet Sharmi Albrechtsen, founder of SmartGurlz & SmartBuddies who is making STEM fun for boys and girls. Good Housekeeping named their Code Camp the best available for children today and Sharmi turned down an offer on SharkTank! She talk with Loralyn Mears about alternative to VC funding.
Emily Leach has been a freelancer for over 25 years, organizing events like TEDtalks and building websites designed for optimal SEO. When she needed insights and support - she couldn't find any - so she founded the annual Freelancer Conference and Freelance Business Week to bring like-minded people together. She shares what she's learned along the way with Loralyn Mears.
Kristi Herold, founder of Toronto Sport & Social Club and JAM, connects people through play and builds communities in the gym, on the court and online. The pandemic forced her to pivot and make some tough calls, but she's focused on her vision of uniting 1 million people through play. She joined Loralyn Mears to share her story.
Mary D'Onofrio is every bit "Like a Boss." As the VP of high growth investments at arguably the oldest venture capital company in the world, Bessemer Venture Partners, she makes big bets for tens of millions of dollars, typically at the Series B and beyond stage. She sits on six Boards and makes critical decisions for SaaS companies with an emphasis on cloud technology. Here, she joins Loralyn Mears for some snappy insights on what to expect working with a late stage VC.
What a treat! Sally Williamson, coach, founder and podcast host of, "What's Your Story?" joined Loralyn Mears to speak candidly about communication trends, the level of self-awareness in leaders today and to offer some great tips for the next generation of women.
Sam Kamani, best-selling author of "30 Day Startup," serial entrepreneur and podcast host of "Want Money Got Money," joined Loralyn Mears to share his insights for tech founders on the development of an MVP (Minimum Viable Product). He highlighted the importance of networking and creating content.
Dr. Jenine Beekhuyzen is a STEMinist that is changing the world - one girl at a time as the founder of Tech Girls Movement. She encourages girls to think about STEM + X where X is anything that you're passionate about. "Sometimes you have to change behaviors before you can change attitudes."
Kathy Campbell aka @MrsSoup as she's known all over social media, helps female founders let go of what they believe they have to keep doing. She gives them "permission" to be free and creative. She's the hostess of the podcast, Friends in Your Ears, which is very meta - she hosts a podcast asking guests about the podcasts that they listen to. Here, she joins Loralyn Mears as we wrap up Season 1 of Like a Boss. Thanks for a great season!
Meet Jennifer Mercer, serial entrepreneur and female founder of Metazoa, a #1 tool for Salesforce.com. She shares lessons learned around fundraising, scaling too fast, equity dilution and leadership. "Entrepreneurialism has high highs and low lows."
Freelancers have been working from home for a long time. It's only been recently, in the wake of COVID, that the rest of the world left their offices for their kitchen tables and bedrooms as new places and spaces to do their work. The problem is that the long-term effects of isolation, poor ergonomics, eye-strain and so on aren't well known until they're too late to do anything about. Meet Daniel Hall, founder of Working Den, a health & wellness solution that aims to help us all.
Meet the pioneer of TatTech - Laura Schaack. Hear her founder story on how she merged tattoo artistry and tech to build one of the scrappiest startups around. She spent years learning about tech, engineering, marketing and more. Now, she's poised for tremendous success.
Janine Kelbach, a registered nurse, spoke to Loralyn Mears about burn out at the bedside and how pivoting to a career in writing helped her - and the other nurses she's helped - find balance and happiness in her life.
Luz Gonzalez, founder of EQrefined, dishes on EQ and the differences between emotional intelligence vs awareness. She offers insights on how to use EQ to build inner strength.
Feeling like 2020 is starting to get to you? You're not alone. The CDC reports that 40% of adults today are experiencing issues with their mental health. Today, Loralyn Mears offers 3 tips on how to manage burnout towards finding some peace of mind.
Meet Angela Ferrante, she's the founder of Laudable who's making it easy for customers to generate high quality video. She offered a unique perspective on keeping up with reading but stepping away from the biz books genre to allow her to relax and think more creatively. Angela shared numerous other insights with Loralyn Mears.
Are you one of those people that is ALWAYS late for everything? Maybe you've tried that "set-your-clock-ahead" trick and it didn't work for you. Not to worry, we've got you covered. Here are three coaching tips on how to overcome your punctuality problem.
Jess Green, serial entrepreneur and founder of GoGrow, is making it easier for network marketing people to grow their revenues. No more spreadsheets and scrap paper notes! She's designed a platform that's simple to use and is designed to overcome the 47% failure rate in the industry. She shares her insights with host, Loralyn Mears.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This week's theme is how to get back in front of the 8 ball, instead of being behind it all the time.
Promise Phelon is part of the 0.2% club in Silicon Valley, a growth warrior and serial entrepreneur who's raised over $100 million in capital. She's developed a conditioning program to help other underdogs find success as founders and fundraisers. Her State of the Underdog research report highlights that the gap is widening for underdogs to access capital despite the tremendous upside potential for investors.
In our longest yet perhaps most important podcast to date, Loralyn Mears speaks with Sheila North, former Grand Chief of Cree Nation Tribe and the only woman to hold that honor. Sheila shares her perspectives on the need to make indigenous people self-sufficient through training and augmented diversity and inclusion efforts. Her documentary, "1200+" will be airing soon and shares the tragic story of the 1,200 plus indigenous girls who have gone missing or murdered.
Loralyn Mears dives into this week's wine down and chill theme, frozen ground, with affordable wine, food, music and movie pairing suggestions including the Freixenet Ice Cuvee Especial. Learn about the Catalunya wine region of Spain and why these bubbles are so special.
Loralyn Mears talks about your life plan - we arbitrarily and loosely set goals for various milestones. However, when we don't hit those milestone goals, we become very critical of ourselves and often depressed because we've missed them. Here, I present tips on how to stop feeling like you're "behind" on your life plan.
Loralyn Mears speaks with Courtney Smith Kramer, founder behind the Human to Human Movement in marketing relationships. She describes how companies are like people; they have personalities and she theorizes that those companies without a soul who haven't yet identified what their heartbeat is won't make it through this pandemic.
Loralyn Mears dives into this week's wine down and chill theme, Bully for You, with affordable wine, food, music and movie pairing suggestions including the Sweet Walter White by Bully Hill Wines, paired with the movie "A Fatal Affair" served up with some delish banana boats!
Incredibly exciting for Loralyn Mears, PhD to host Dr. Michelle Dennedy, the authority on data privacy who has even written the manifesto on the subject! She's brilliant, funny and has incredible advice on how to think about your data as a valuable asset - and advice on how to move forward personally and professionally.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy podcast gives you that quick boost you need to get your week off to a fabulous start and to keep you pumped all week. This week's theme is how to prepare for back to school - without losing your mind!
Loralyn Mears, PhD hosts Rachel Schreiber, PhD, executive dean of Parson's New School of Design to talk about education equality and leadership in a pandemic.
Loralyn Mears dives into this week's wine down and chill conversation with Taylr Behnam Cuneo, managing director of Ram's Gate Winery to learn about the art of food-wine pairings and tips for women looking for a career in the industry.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy podcast gives you that quick boost you need to get your week off to a fabulous start and to keep you pumped all week. This week's theme is how be happier by smiling more!
Loralyn Mears, PhD spoke with Kathleen Inman, founder of Inman Family Wines, about her "eco-ethics," sustainability, unexpected but wholly defensible choice to use screwcaps on her premium wines and why her Pinot Noir is one of the best in all of Sonoma County.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy podcast offers tips on how to manage competing priorities. Don't get overwhelmed, take back control of your day!
Tammy Williams, CEO and founder of Envision2bWell is the pioneer of a new aspect of health & wellness - TELEwellness. Their team has a 1-stop shop app that's changing our personal, social & human engagement experiences.
Loralyn Mears interviews Leslie Frank, proprietor at Frank Family Vineyards to learn about what's trending in wine and how they are continuing a long-standing spirit of philanthropy to help restaurants and restaurant workers during this COVID crisis.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy 4-min podcast gives you that quick boost you need to get your week off to a fabulous start and to keep you pumped all week. This week's theme is how creatives can stay motivated and keep moving forward.
Loralyn Mears dives into this week's wine down and chill theme, Shelter Under my Umbrella, with affordable wine, food, music and movie pairing suggestions including the Moscato by Tiny Umbrellas and the Netflix hit series, The Umbrella Academy.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy podcast gives you that quick boost you need to get your week off to a fabulous start and to keep you pumped all week. This week's theme is dedicated to entrepreneurs to motivate you to keep going. NEVER EVER give up!
Loralyn Mears dives into this week's wine down and chill theme, Tickled Pink, with affordable wine, food, music and movie pairing suggestions including the Petite Verdot Rose by Strawberry Wine Company. We also had the chance to hear from the winery's co-founder, Kate Edgecombe.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy podcast gives you that quick boost you need to get your week off to a fabulous start and to keep you pumped all week. This week's theme is non-verbal communication and how to be a better body language "speaker" and "reader."
Curious about sustainability and green initiatives when it comes to wine? Loralyn Mears introduces listeners to a few of her favorite sustainable wineries. Music, movie, food pairings are suggested with this week's choice, including NY's Red Tail Ridge 2018 Good Karma Riesling.
Two PhDs walk into a podcast room ... no, that's not what happened. Dr. Amber Tichenor, a psychologist, is an expert in organizational change and female rivalry. She shared her insights on how to talk about this taboo topic to drive positive change.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy podcast gives you that quick boost you need to get your week off to a fabulous start and to keep you pumped all week. This week's theme is how to have both a learning summer AND a lazy summer!
Loralyn Mears dives into this week's wine down and chill theme, mercy, with affordable wine, food, music and movie pairing suggestions including the Mercy Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay, Riverbed.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy podcast gives you that quick boost you need to get your week off to a fabulous start and to keep you pumped all week. This week's theme is how to set priorities when every task is on fire.
Keith Kirkland, co-founder of Wear.works, has taken his industrial engineering and design experience to new levels. He's helping the blind and visually impaired SEE through touch. Haptic tech. He shared his inspiring story and humble beginnings with Loralyn Mears, PhD.
Loralyn Mears dives into this week's wine down and chill theme, patriotism, with affordable wine, food, music and movie pairing suggestions including Jersey Spirits' Patriot's Trail Bourbon.
Loralyn Mears, PhD talks about the power of optimism and "seeing the brighter side" to boost your mood and motivation. She shares three quick tips that work every day of the week!
Meet Karina Costa, president of LynQ and serial entrepreneur with experience backing more than 100 startups. She spoke to Loralyn Mears about the importance of perseverance and humility and shared other insights on how to find success.
VC Chats - Part 4 - Tips for Founders
Join serial entrepreneurs and investors Gina Tedesco & Mario Casabona who share their insights on VC funding in the era of COVID-19. Here's Part 4, it's the episode founders shouldn't miss!
VC Chats - Part 3 - Pitching in a COVID World
Join serial entrepreneurs and investors Gina Tedesco & Mario Casabona who share their insights on VC funding in the era of COVID-19. Here's Part 3.
VC Chats - Part 2 - How Venture Capital Has Changed.
Join serial entrepreneurs and investors Gina Tedesco & Mario Casabona who share their insights on VC funding in the era of COVID-19. Here's Part 2.
In a mood? Experiencing mood swings? Whether your moods are hormonally-driven or if you're experiencing them due to external factors, you're entitled to feel how you feel. However, your moods may be compromising your relationships so here's a few tips on how shift your mindset and get into a different frame of mind.
Loralyn Mears dives into this week's wine down and chill theme, 69, in celebration of our 69th column, with affordable wine, food, music and movie pairing suggestions including the bubbly Verdi Spumante Watermelon Sparkletini.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy podcast gives you that quick boost you need to get your week off to a fabulous start and to keep you pumped all week. This week's theme is how to get gritty.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy podcast gives you that quick boost you need to get your week off to a fabulous start and to keep you pumped all week. This week's theme is how to be less envious.
Loralyn Mears, PhD offers coaching tips on a different theme each week. This snappy podcast gives you that quick boost you need to get your week off to a fabulous start and to keep you pumped all week. This week's theme is summer health.
Loralyn Mears dives into this week's wine down and chill theme, JUNETEENTH, with affordable wine, food, music and movie pairing suggestions including the Petite Syrah by Black winery owner Theodora Lee, aka Theopatra - Queen of the Vineyard.
Laura Mignott has been running d-Flash for more than a decade, bringing extraordinary event experiences to guests around the world by making them all feel like they're at home. She spoke about the shift to virtual events during COVID-19 and the importance of self-care.
Loralyn Mears, PhD talks about this week's wine down and chill theme, ROSE ALL DAY, with affordable wine, food, music and movie pairing suggestions. Everything that you need to wine down and chill on your own or with some friends.