Podcasts about small business owners

A tax problem does not always start with bad intentions. Sometimes it starts with messy records. In this episode of Small Business Finance, Tiffany Phillips explains five recordkeeping problems business owners should clean up before year-end. You will learn how payment apps, cash deposits, mixed accounts, home office records, and contractor paperwork can create problems when the numbers do not match or the documentation is weak. Tiffany also explains important 2026 reporting changes, including the new $2,000 federal Form 1099-NEC threshold, and walks through simple systems that can make January much easier. These practical tax tips can help you strengthen your tax planning, protect legitimate deductions, and build better business finance habits before filing season begins. Next Steps:

Is your best employee asking for a promotion, and did your stomach just drop?The question isn't "Does John deserve it?" It's "What does the business need?"Spoiler: the right answer might be a promotion, a brand-new hire, or a retention bonus and a firm "not yet."If you've got a team member asking for more money, more responsibility, or more autonomy (or you already promoted someone and it isn't working), this episode walks you through the process Melissa honed in corporate and brought into small business. You'll learn how to decide who to promote, when to do it, and how to set them up to succeed, so you can say yes, not yet, or "what we actually need is this" with clarity instead of panic.In This EpisodeWhy promotion conversations start, and why your gut panics when your longtime team asks for moreWhy specialists and people managers are rarely the same person (and what Bob taught Melissa about it)The one question to answer before you promise anyone a promotion: what does the business need?Why you need to know if the role is permanent or seasonalThe 5 questions to answer before you say yes, including the backfill math most owners skipWhy retention has nothing to do with title, and the alternatives to considerHow to onboard a promoted employee like a new hire with a 30-60-90 planWhat to do if you already promoted the wrong person (and why you can't sit on it)Your homework: Before you talk to anyone, write down what your business needs at your current goal and the one after it. Connect with Melissa:Book a free consultation with Melissa → https://www.melissafranks.comLearn more about On Call COO fractional services → https://www.melissafranks.comWatch the Episodes on YoutubeInstagram: instagram.com/melissa_franks LinkedIn: Melissa Franks

Aubrey Masango speaks to McCoy Mrubata small business owner at the Joy of Jazz about their businesses, experiences and opportunities in the industry. The Aubrey Masango Show is presented by late night radio broadcaster Aubrey Masango. Aubrey hosts in-depth interviews on controversial political issues and chats to experts offering life advice and guidance in areas of psychology, personal finance and more. All Aubrey’s interviews are podcasted for you to catch-up and listen. Thank you for listening to this podcast from The Aubrey Masango Show. Listen live on weekdays between 20:00 and 24:00 (SA Time) to The Aubrey Masango Show broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and on CapeTalk between 20:00 and 21:00 (SA Time) https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk Find out more about the show here https://buff.ly/lzyKCv0 and get all the catch-up podcasts https://buff.ly/rT6znsn Subscribe to the 702 and CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfet Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The busy Holiday season is upon us - and you need to plan. So many small business owners, especially new ones, don't plan far enough ahead to maximize sales and prevent burnout. Today we talk about 4 things you can do right now to have an efficient and prospers Q4 in 2026! Whether you're a service business owner or product business owner - or any other type, this is for you!

Burnout, imposter syndrome, and people-pleasing may not be the real problem. Today's episode reveals the hidden success wounds underneath them. In this episode, executive coach Brooke Taylor and Natalie discuss why so many high-achieving women tie their self-worth to success and how that pattern can lead to burnout, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Brooke breaks down the five “success wound” archetypes, why ambitious women often over-function in business and relationships, and how personal development can help separate achievement from identity. They also explore success addiction, firstborn-daughter patterns, fulfillment, and how women in business can pursue big goals without constantly feeling like they are not enough. In this episode, Natalie and Brooke will discuss: (00:00) The Success Wound in Small Business Owners (03:58) Why Eldest Daughters Are More Likely to Burn Out (07:16) The Drastic Effect of Over-Performing in Every Area of Life (10:36) The Five Types of Success Wounds and How They Show Up (15:55) How Our Different Parts Show Up in Business (20:17) Discovering Who Your True Self Is and Learning to Trust Her (24:46) Addressing the Fear of Losing Your Drive While Healing (27:51) Imposter Syndrome and Burnout Are Symptoms, Not Causes (35:37) Navigating Addictions to Alcohol vs. Success (44:38) Tips to Step Into Your True Self as a Business Leader Today Brooke Taylor is a keynote speaker, former marketing lead at Google, and executive coach for women in tech, finance, healthcare, and consulting. She's also the author of Healing the Success Wound, the go-to guide for separating your self-worth from your productivity so you can build a career that actually feels fulfilling.  Sponsored By:  Fora Travel - Visit⁠⁠ foratravel.com/bossbabe⁠⁠⁠ to learn how to turn your love of trip planning into a business. FreshBooks - Get FreshBooks for less than $3 a month for your first four months at ⁠FreshBooks.com/podcast⁠.  Faire - Sign up today and get 50% off your first wholesale order, up to $100 at ⁠faire.com/bossbabe⁠.  AG1 - Save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at ⁠drinkAG1.com/bossbabe. ⁠Hostinger - Go to ⁠Hostinger.com/bossbabe⁠ and use code BOSSBABE for 10% off. Resources Mentioned: Steve Jobs's 2005 Commencement Speech Brooke's Book, Healing the Success Wound Brooke's Coaching Program, Finally Fulfilled Connect with Brooke: Website LinkedIn Instagram Connect with Natalie:  Instagram LinkedIn Website YouTube Natalie's Book, The Freedom-Based Business Method burnout, imposter syndrome, people-pleasing, personal development, women in business, Brooke Taylor, Natalie Ellis, success wound, burnout recovery, women entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs, entrepreneur burnout, overcome imposter syndrome, stop people-pleasing, perfectionism, self-worth, personal growth, success addiction, high-achieving women, women in leadership, business mindset, work-life balance, career burnout, ambitious women, healing burnout, business coaching

How do you find the confidence to raise your prices without losing sleep over it? That's exactly what I get into with Nicole Crone, co-host of My Aligned Purpose, on our very first collab together! Nicole is the co-founder of My Aligned Purpose with her business partner Kaila Pilecki, and together they've built a coaching business for women entrepreneurs that crossed a million dollars in revenue after making one of the scariest pivots of their business: moving forty-six one-on-one clients into a group coaching program.We get into the real, unfiltered story behind that pivot, the bathtub-crying moment, the WhatsApp chats, the clients who said yes at the start, and how it grew from there. I also share my own experience raising membership prices at Benchmark and why it feels so personal even when the business isn't named after you!Tune in to hear more about:Why Nicole and Kaila moved forty-six one-on-one clients into a group coaching program, and what it took to make it workThe real, honest story behind raising your prices, and why it feels so personalTreating your business decisions like data, not failure, is the key to trying new thingsThe mindset shift that turns "I'm doing pretty good" into a full “quantum leap”What it looks like to build a business partnership as a visionary and an integratorWhy Nicole believes friendship, not competition, is the foundation of a strong business partnershipRaising your prices is scary, but staying stuck is scarier. If this episode gave you the confidence you needed to make that leap, I'd love to hear about it! Send me a DM on Instagram @AlliArruda and let me know what stood out to you!Connect with Nicole:• Instagram: @myalignedpurpose  // @nicolecrone__• Podcast: My Aligned Purpose Podcast• Website: myalignedpurpose.comLet's Connect!• INSPIRE + MOVE EVENTS• Instagram• Private Coaching• BENCHMARK FITNESS• Website• Facebook• TikTok

Professionalizing Your Small Business: Systematizing Leadership, Scaling Past the Founder Bottleneck, and Preventing Burnout with Kenneth KollaschIn a recent episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur Podcast, host Josh Elledge sat down with Kenneth Kollasch, Owner and Certified Business Coach at Kenneth Coaches, to examine how seasoned business owners can escape the operational friction of the "mom-and-pop" stage. Kenneth, a business growth architect specializing in 12-month transformation frameworks, details how founders who have been in business for five years or more can double revenue and build scalable operational infrastructure without risking personal burnout. This conversation delivers an actionable operational guide for entrepreneurs, agency owners, and service leaders looking to diagnose their leadership operating system, transfer decision-making authority to middle management, and install cohesive business systems that drive sustainable enterprise valuation.The Small Business Scale-Up Framework: Systematizing Leadership, Delegation, and AutomationThe primary operational constraint preventing established small businesses from breaking through revenue plateaus is owner-centric decision-making. Kenneth Kollasch explains that many business owners remain stuck in the "mom-and-pop" phase—regardless of gross revenue or headcount—because every critical process, client issue, and strategic choice funnels directly through them. To transition from owner dependency to scalable enterprise, founders must execute a comprehensive leadership audit, documenting their decision-making frameworks so team members can act autonomously. Installing a structured leadership suite before scaling sales and marketing ensures that the company's operational capacity expands in tandem with pipeline demand, preventing customer fulfillment breakdowns and eliminating the owner as the primary business bottleneck.Preventing founder burnout requires a proactive alignment of operational supply and market demand, supported by clear delegation channels rather than sheer hustle. Burnout is rarely caused by hard work alone; it stems from working without leverage in an environment dominated by constant firefighting and undocumented processes. Business leaders can eliminate daily operational chaos by installing predictable meeting cadences, developing middle-tier managers, and implementing the "Small Business Flight Plan" framework to balance capacity. By training team leaders to own specific business outcomes, founders free up cognitive bandwidth, shifting their daily focus from reactive crisis management to high-leverage strategic vision, key partnership development, and long-term enterprise growth.Furthermore, accelerating modern business growth demands an intentional integration of artificial intelligence and workflow automation that enhances, rather than replaces, human relationship-building. While younger entrepreneurs routinely leverage automated scheduling, software-driven invoicing, and AI-powered customer service agents, mature business owners often struggle to balance digital efficiency with personal touch. The solution lies in identifying low-value, repetitive administrative tasks and delegating them to modern software engines while reserving human interactions for high-stakes sales conversations, strategic client onboarding, and team development. When disciplined leadership documentation, proactive management delegation, and targeted workflow automation are synthesized into a single operational architecture, founders eliminate growth plateaus, protect personal well-being, and predictably multiply enterprise valuation.About Kenneth KollaschKenneth Kollasch is the Owner of Kenneth Coaches, a certified business coach, and an expert in small business scale-up architecture. Based in Valparaiso, Indiana, Kenneth draws from years of hands-on entrepreneurial experience to help established business owners professionalize their operations and double revenue. He is the creator of the signature 12-month Small Business Flight Plan program, a structured coaching methodology designed to help founders build self-sustaining companies, develop strong leadership teams, and achieve long-term time and financial freedom.About Kenneth CoachesKenneth Coaches is an elite business coaching practice and executive consultancy engineered to help small business owners and service-based entrepreneurs scale past operational bottlenecks. The firm specializes in delivering comprehensive leadership diagnostics, operational systems design, manager development playbooks, and strategic growth coaching. Through structured frameworks and resources like the Small Business Flight Plan, Kenneth Coaches enables business leaders to eliminate owner dependency, install predictable systems, and maximize enterprise equity.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeKenneth Coaches Official Website: kennethcoaches.comKenneth Kollasch on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kennethkollaschKey Episode HighlightsEscaping the Mom-and-Pop Operational Trap: Identifying owner-centric bottlenecks and establishing scalable systems that operate independently of founder intervention.The Small Business Flight Plan Framework: Deploying a 6-step growth blueprint that starts with leadership development and progresses through team execution and financial control.Diagnosing Your Leadership Operating System: Documenting decision-making frameworks to transfer authority to middle management and build organizational autonomy.Proactive Founder Burnout Prevention: Balancing operational supply with market demand to replace daily firefighting with predictable management rhythms.Strategic AI and Workflow Automation Integration: Automating repetitive administrative processes while preserving high-touch human relationships across sales and client onboarding.ConclusionThe conversation with Kenneth Kollasch reinforces that transitioning from an owner-dependent business into a scalable enterprise requires an intentional focus on leadership systems and operational leverage. By standardizing internal decision-making frameworks, empowering key managers, and integrating modern automation, business leaders can transform an overwhelming daily operation into a highly profitable, self-sustaining corporate asset.More from The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

Send us Fan MailYou didn't fail because you missed. You're stuck because you're still staring at the shot you already missed while the next one is already on its way.This week's Monday Morning Motivation compares two ways of running a business: like a racehorse with blinders on, charging down a track you already mapped out — or like a tennis player, prepared but never quite sure what's coming across the net next. Most small business owners are trained to think like the racehorse. But business doesn't work like a racetrack. It works like a rally — one unexpected shot after another, and the only real skill is staying in position for the next one.You'll learn why preparation was never about predicting the future, why "that didn't work" and "I'm bad at this" are two completely different sentences, and how to trade the identity of the achiever (who only asks "did I win?") for the identity of the experimenter (who asks "interesting — why?").If you've been replaying a mistake instead of getting ready for what's next, this episode is your reset.

Are you using AI in your business without thinking about what happens when it touches employee data, hiring decisions, terminations, or critical business systems?AI can make a business faster and more efficient, but small business owners also need to understand the risks they may be creating along the way.Ewell Smith sits down with Sara Skowronsk, who brings 25 years of multi-state employment law and HR experience to the conversation.Sara explains why businesses need simple guardrails around AI rather than blindly adopting every new tool. That includes deciding which AI platforms employees can use, protecting sensitive information, keeping humans responsible for HR decisions, and maintaining backups of the AI assets your company depends on.Key Takeaways:Don't rely on AI alone to make hiring, disciplinary, or termination decisions.Establish clear guidelines for which AI tools employees can use.Protect Social Security numbers and other sensitive personal information.Consider company-sponsored AI accounts so the business controls its data and workflows.Keep external backups of important prompts, agents, and automations.Continue applying human judgment instead of automatically accepting an AI-generated answer.Memorable Moment“Anytime you let AI make a decision for you that you cannot justify.”That warning captures one of Sara's central points: AI may assist the process, but the business still has to be able to explain and stand behind consequential decisions.About Sara SkowronskSara brings 25 years of multi-state employment law and HR experience to her work with small businesses. Her work explores the intersection between HR and AI and how businesses can adopt AI while creating appropriate guardrails around its use.ConnectAI Clarity Roadmap: aiclarityroadmap.comEmail provided during the episode: sarah@eoshr.comSara also invites listeners to connect with her on LinkedIn.##Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they've been putting off. This isn't about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.Every episode is built around one thing:

Brent Stewart spent 20 hours a week for four months testing AI, and says refusing to use it is the real liability.Brent Stewart has practiced law for 30 years in Rock Hill, South Carolina, fighting insurance companies as a trial lawyer. He also owns the office buildings his own firm rents. Over the last four months he set aside 20 hours a week to work through every legal AI system he could find, and he came out of it with a position most people do not expect from an attorney: the people refusing to learn these tools are the ones creating exposure, for their clients and for their employer.This conversation gets into what he actually built, what it cost him, and what he got wrong first. He walks through why his AI is walled off from the open internet, the vendor contract structure he now insists on, and the mistake that cost him thousands of dollars before it taught him anything useful.On the real estate side, Brent bought his office buildings through a separate entity that rents to the law firm, then restructured ownership so his wife qualifies as active manager. That change let him run the losses against his law firm income instead of depreciating remodels slowly over time.What you will learn:Why he keeps his AI in-house and never lets it pull case law off the open internetThe AI vendor contract he recommends: lock the price for three years, keep a one-year outHow a 10 percent ownership change and active manager status unlocked accelerated depreciationWhy he tells his AI to argue with him instead of agreeing with himHow he can now spot which opposing counsel are using AI, just from how fast discovery comes backAbout the guest: Brent Stewart is the founder of Stewart Law Offices, a personal injury and workers' compensation firm he started in 1995 after running a market study to pick his location. He graduated law school in 1989 and still keeps every deadline in a paper calendar.Links:

Olivia Parks-May - Author, Speaker, writing Coach, faith based business strategist. A Navy veteran, a former elementary school teacher now author of 100+ books, writing coach -helping women and children write and self publish their own stories. Olivia is a faith based Small Business Owner. You can order her books and or/services on Amazon or her website: www.oliviaparks-mayconsulting.com

Your business can look successful and still be losing money. In this episode, Tiffany Phillips, CPA and Tax Strategist, breaks down the accounting and finance basics every business owner should understand. You'll learn what your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement actually tell you, and why revenue is not the same as profit. Tiffany also explains cash versus accrual accounting, profit margins, break-even points, cash flow forecasting, and the numbers that can help you make smarter money decisions. You do not need to become an accountant. You just need enough business finance knowledge to understand what is really happening with your money. If you are tired of guessing whether your business is truly profitable, listen now. These numbers could change the way you run your business. Next Steps:

From 1 April 2026, qualifying micro businesses with annual turnover of up to R2.3 million can opt into the system. The first R600,000 of turnover is taxed at 0%, meaning a qualifying business can make up to R600,000 in turnover without paying Turnover Tax on that amount. And it works differently from normal income tax: instead of taxing your profit, Turnover Tax is calculated on your turnover essentially the money your business receives from its business activities. So, for example, a business with taxable turnover of R900,000 would pay R3,000 in Turnover Tax not R3,000 every month, but R3,000 for the year. The system is optional, and you have to apply to SARS if you qualify. There are also specific eligibility requirements, so not every small business automatically qualifies. It’s essentially SARS saying: if you’re a qualifying small business, there’s a simpler tax system available but you need to know about it and choose to use it. Hang out with Anele and The Club on 947 every weekday morning. Popular radio hosts Anele Mdoda, Frankie du Toit, Thembekile Mrototo, and Cindy Poluta take fun to the next level with the biggest guests, hottest conversations, feel-good vibes, and the best music to get you going! Kick-start your day with the most enjoyable way to wake up in Joburg. Connect with Anele and The Club on 947 via WhatsApp at 084 000 0947 or call the studio on 011 88 38 947Thank you for listening to the Anele and the Club podcast..Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 to 09:00 to Anele and the Club broadcast on 947 https://buff.ly/y34dh8Y For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/gyWKIkl or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/K59GRzuSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover the transformative journey from corporate finance to entrepreneurial success with Shanli Liu, founder of Freedom Folio. What if leaving a steady career could lead to a more fulfilling life and business? Shanley's story is a testament to resilience and the power of personal connections, tracing her path from a childhood fundraising event in China to establishing her own CPA practice in Boston. The episode offers a candid look at the pivotal moments that fueled her transition, including learning from a seasoned CPA and leveraging her corporate experience to launch her own firm after motherhood inspired a new direction. Learn how tax planning can elevate your practice management strategies with insights from Shanley's collaboration with POSBOT and her mentor, Tyler Thompson. The episode explores her evolved mindset from merely fulfilling tasks to embracing the entrepreneurial spirit, emphasizing the importance of strategic client selection and holistic tax planning. Shanley's experiences underscore the necessity of educating clients about tax complexities and the pitfalls of fragmented approaches. Discover practical solutions for scalable client education that combat industry-wide misinformation, ensuring both practitioners and clients are aligned in achieving financial success. Explore the balancing act of entrepreneurship and personal life, as Shanli addresses the challenges of setting boundaries. Through personal anecdotes, including the extreme of taking a client call during labor, the conversation sheds light on the pressures faced by professionals, particularly women, in juggling work and family. Drawing inspiration from Tim Urban, the discussion highlights the need to prioritize family time amidst professional commitments. This episode is a heartfelt reminder of the importance of boundaries to prevent burnout and ensure you remain present for those who matter most. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome to the Podcast: Shanli Liu's Journey 00:00:12 - Shanley's Early Life and Inspiration from China 00:02:05 - Transition from Corporate Finance to Entrepreneurship 00:03:30 - Founding Freedom Folio and Building a CPA Practice 00:06:45 - Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship 00:09:15 - Importance of Learning to Say No in Business 00:11:37 - Embracing Entrepreneurial Mindset through Tax Planning 00:12:45 - Lessons from POSBOT and Training with Tyler Thompson 00:14:30 - Strategic Client Selection for Scalable Tax Planning 00:16:10 - Addressing Fragmented Tax Planning and Client Education 00:18:27 - Holistic Financial Planning for Small Business Owners 00:19:30 - Collaborating with Financial Advisors for Diversification 00:21:00 - Setting Boundaries to Maintain Work-Life Balance 00:22:36 - Challenges of Overworking and People-Pleasing 00:24:00 - Societal Pressures on Women Entrepreneurs 00:25:30 - Reflection on Family Prioritization and Tim Urban's Work 00:27:00 - Conclusion: Aligning Professional Success with Personal Well-being Episode Resources: Connect with Shanli here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanli-liu-234b16b/ Legacy Podcast: For more information about the Legacy Podcast and its co-hosts, visit businesslegacypodcast.com. Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review and rating on your preferred podcast platform.  

We use the Callaway and Good Good Golf controversy to talk about content approval, co-branded risk, and why your apology plan matters more than your apology.Www.the-spacesocial.com

Chapter 1: What is agentic commerce? How AI is transforming the future of shopping AI is changing the way consumers discover, purchase and manage products. In this episode of Just Good Business, Jordan Williamson from Moneris explains agentic commerce and how AI-powered agents can help consumers shop more efficiently by managing shopping lists, comparing options and making purchases securely on their behalf. In this episode, you'll learn: What agentic commerce is and why it matters How AI shopping agents work The potential benefits for consumers and businesses Key considerations around trust, security and payments What the future of commerce could look like Whether you're a business owner, retailer or technology enthusiast, this conversation will help you understand one of the most important emerging trends in digital commerce. Listen now and explore the future of AI-powered commerce. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:49 - Chapter 1: Tracey McLennan of Edward Jones on Smart Financial Planning for Small Business Owners 00:13:37 - Outro Links of Interest: Moneris.com Moneris Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server Press Release Moneris Social Channels: FB | IG | LI | TT | YT Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you'd like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

In this episode, I brought on health insurance expert Nick Lease to answer the question I get from business owners constantly."What are my actual options?"Because most owners feel like they're either paying too much, getting too little, or both. Nick breaks down level-funded plans, HRAs, self-funding, health shares, and the strategies that can cut costs without gutting benefits. The options are better than most people think.You just have to know what to ask for.------✅ Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✅ My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thomaskopelman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Leketa Hawkins. Also known as the Pocketbook Strategist. She is a financial literacy advocate and business consultant based in North Carolina, offering tools and resources to help individuals and small business owners take control of their financial futures.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Leketa Hawkins. Also known as the Pocketbook Strategist. She is a financial literacy advocate and business consultant based in North Carolina, offering tools and resources to help individuals and small business owners take control of their financial futures.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Leketa Hawkins. Also known as the Pocketbook Strategist. She is a financial literacy advocate and business consultant based in North Carolina, offering tools and resources to help individuals and small business owners take control of their financial futures.

Five essential marketing automations that save small business owners hours every week. From automated lead capture to content repurposing with AI, learn how to build a cohesive system that keeps your marketing consistent without the constant manual effort. Profit Acuity City: Pittsburgh Address: 239 Fourth Ave, Ste 1401 #8511 Website: https://app.profitacuity.com Phone: +1 877 624 1229

On this episode of the Deal Farm®, Kevin and Ken sit down with Chris Gursky, founder of The Credit Genius, to explore his remarkable journey from competitive swimmer in Germany to building a banking and credit consulting firm in Miami. Chris shares how the American credit system's accessibility and entrepreneurial culture drew him in, what it took to navigate the E2 investor visa process after six years of working toward his goal, and why understanding business credit is one of the most overlooked advantages available to small business owners today. He breaks down the three pillars of building a strong financial profile — personal credit, business credit, and banking relationships and walks through exactly how to establish and grow a business credit score from scratch in as little as six to twelve months. He also dives into the critical mistakes business owners make, including which credit cards can silently hurt your personal credit score without you even knowing it. If you're a small business owner or real estate investor looking to unlock more capital and build a stronger financial foundation, this episode is essential listening.

Can you deduct your dog, pay your child tax-free, or claim the kitchen table as a home office? Tax rules for small business owners aren't always straightforward. Wrong assumption could lead to missed deductions or problems with the IRS.In this Q&A episode, Mike answersyour questions. He explains which expenses may qualify when a dog is used for marketing, how hiring children differs between an S corporation and a sole proprietorship, and what happens when a child turns 18.He also covers mileage tracking, missing receipts, home office requirements, unreported Venmo income, retirement plan deadlines, college funding strategies, and whether health-sharing payments qualify for the self-employed health insurance deduction. 

Welcome to the Financial Freedom & Wealth Trailblazers Podcast! In today's episode, we're talking about how to become a better leader and build confidence in your leadership skills so you can advance in your career. Laura Lorenz is the founder of Top Floor Mentoring and a business mentor who helps solopreneurs build profitable, sustainable businesses without feeling like they have to figure everything out on their own.With more than 40 years of business experience, Laura works alongside entrepreneurs to bring clarity to their vision, strengthen their messaging, improve their leadership, and create practical strategies that generate consistent growth. Rather than offering generic advice, she helps business owners identify what's holding them back, focus on the opportunities that matter most, and build systems that save time, increase confidence, and support long-term success.Whether she's helping a new entrepreneur attract more clients, guiding an established business owner through a growth stage, or developing leadership skills that prepare a business to scale, Laura's approach is practical, personalized, and results-focused. Her mission is simple: help solopreneurs stop spinning their wheels and start building businesses that give them the income, freedom, and impact they envisioned.Connect with Laura Here: www.linkedin.com/in/lauralorenzhttps://www.topfloormentoring.comGrab the freebie here: DM on LinkedIn "Trailblazer" for free book - "DO Leadership A Step by Step Guide to Doing Thought Leadership for Solopreneurs  and Small Business Owners"===================================If you enjoyed this episode, remember to hit the like button and subscribe. Then share this episode with your friends.Thanks for watching the Financial Freedom & Wealth  Trailblazers Podcast. This podcast is part of the Digital Trailblazer family of podcasts. To learn more about Digital Trailblazer and what we do to help entrepreneurs, go to DigitalTrailblazer.com.Are you a coach, consultant, expert, or online course creator? Then we'd love to invite you to our FREE Facebook Group where you can learn the best strategies to land more high-ticket clients and customers. QUICK LINKS: APPLY TO BE FEATURED: https://app.digitaltrailblazer.com/podcast-guest-applicationDIGITAL TRAILBLAZER: https://digitaltrailblazer.com/

Small business owners feel confident that their business is cyber resilient and can withstand a cyber incident – at least that's what they told us in this year's ESET Cyber Readiness Index. On this podcast we delve into timely data from this year's survey, including businesses' growing reliance on cyber insurers – not only to manage risk but oversee cybersecurity operations. As managed services become a strategic imperative for businesses, we delve into these new trends and the pitfalls of over-reliance on the cyber risk insurance market. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional legal, financial or insurance advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The content and views expressed are those of the host and guests.

Drew Forsyth is an award-winning portrait photographer and director based in the North West of England, working with commercial and advertising clients across the UK and internationally. His work centres on people who've given everything to be extraordinary at what they do — from dancers with English National Ballet and musicians of the BBC Philharmonic and the Hallé Orchestras, to Nobel Prize-winning scientists, politicians, and performers at the height of their careers. His photography has been featured by BBC News, The Guardian, The Times, and Rolling Stone, and recognised by the Royal Society of the Arts. He's an AOP Accredited Photographer and Fellow of the RSA, and speaks internationally at events like Photo North, Pas de Deux Photo Conference, and the Royal Photographic Society.In this episode, Drew and Nikki trace his path from a JCPenney-style family portrait studio to photographing world leaders, Nobel laureates, and major corporate campaigns — and he breaks down exactly how he prices that work today. They dig into setting boundaries on set (and how to say yes to more without losing your mind), why those early "conveyor belt" studio years became his real technical training, and why he believes his biggest competition isn't other photographers — it's being forgotten. Drew also walks through how he actually quotes corporate jobs (day rates, itemized breakdowns, and the cautionary tale of a client who blamed him for "cheap-looking" dresses), how personal passion projects like his "Breaking Ground" series and a helicopter shoot over Manhattan became his best marketing, and the "Helsinki Bus Station Theory" — his framework for why so many photographers give up on their style right before it becomes distinctive.Topics covered:Setting boundaries with clients without losing bookingsWhy "conveyor belt" studio work builds indispensable technical skillsThe accidental path from individual sessions to corporate/organizational clientsPricing corporate shoots: day rates, itemized quotes, and scope questionsWhy past-client relationships and personal introductions beat cold outreachMarketing through consistent presence, not constant hard-sellingPassion projects as a client-acquisition strategyThe Helsinki Bus Station Theory: staying the course creativelyIf you're building a photography business, want to grow your portrait photography income, or are curious about how to make money from photography online, this conversation is packed with actionable advice.

“It's not about cleverness, its about clarity.” Drew Dorenfest Top Five Tips For Small Business Owners To Get Found Online1.  Get more reviews. 2. Optimize your website3. Write content that cites sources4. Focus on your best social network5. Email your email list regularly TIME STAMP SUMMARY 02:00 Managing Negative Reviews and Optimizing Websites  06:06 SEO Practices and AI Content Creation 10:05  Focusing on the Best Social Networks 12:52  Email Marketing and Staying Top of Mind 15:20  Repurposing Content Across Social Networks  Where to find Drew? Website                         www.clientmagnetcrm.comLinkedIn                        https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-dorenfest-64688213  Drew Dorenfest BioDrew Dorenfest is a marketing expert who has worked with global brands such as Netflix, Apple, Warner Bros, The NFL and many more as video editor. Now with client Magnet CRM he's using his expertise to help fellow small business owners grow their brands through more clients, more 5-star reviews and more sales.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcast Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Mildred J. Mills. Topic: Life journey, resilience, and her memoir Daddy’s House: A Daughter’s Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs, and Rising Above Her Roots Mildred J. Mills shares her powerful story of growing up on a cotton farm in Alabama as one of 17 children, overcoming domestic violence, poverty, and systemic barriers to become a successful IT executive, author, podcaster, and motivational speaker. Her memoir is a testament to resilience, faith, and self-determination.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcast Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Mildred J. Mills. Topic: Life journey, resilience, and her memoir Daddy’s House: A Daughter’s Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs, and Rising Above Her Roots Mildred J. Mills shares her powerful story of growing up on a cotton farm in Alabama as one of 17 children, overcoming domestic violence, poverty, and systemic barriers to become a successful IT executive, author, podcaster, and motivational speaker. Her memoir is a testament to resilience, faith, and self-determination.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcast Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Mildred J. Mills. Topic: Life journey, resilience, and her memoir Daddy’s House: A Daughter’s Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs, and Rising Above Her Roots Mildred J. Mills shares her powerful story of growing up on a cotton farm in Alabama as one of 17 children, overcoming domestic violence, poverty, and systemic barriers to become a successful IT executive, author, podcaster, and motivational speaker. Her memoir is a testament to resilience, faith, and self-determination.

In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Nicole Grinnell - founder of Bosun Solutions and Mic'd Up Booking - to break down the exact financial and operational mechanics of scaling a small business. They pull back the curtain on payroll optimization, calculating the true opportunity cost of doing your own admin work, and why high-performing executive assistants are revenue multipliers, not expenses. Nicole walks through the spreadsheet arbitrage of fractional staffing, explaining how shifting from fixed W2 payroll overhead to variable fractional support insulates profit margins during market volatility (a model battle-tested during COVID-19). They dig deep into the hidden financial cost of a bad hire, the exact vetting processes needed to protect cash flow, and why Net Profit is the ultimate metric every scaling founder must track. Plus, Nicole outlines how to turn podcast guesting into a low-effort, high-ROI B2B sales engine that drastically shortens sales cycles.

I've been talking about my Summer SEO Challenge & my August SEO Sprint, which means I've been in my DMs. A LOT!Getting a LOT of questions. Lots of: Where should I start? What do I do first? Which option is best for me?The short of it is: get in the SEO Sprint & I'll guide you from there! But this podcast episode is the longer answer.Because I want you to have a clear idea of where to start, where to go next, & roughly the amount of time it takes to do all these things—and do them WELL. Plus what you can expect after doing all of said things!→ Go through the 3-Day Summer SEO Challenge: https://copybyb.mvsite.app/products/courses/view/1196724→ Save a seat for the August 10th SEO Sprint: https://brittanyherzberg.com/seo-sprint→ Get the full show notes here: https://brittanyherzberg.com/blog/the-best-way-to-approach-seo-as-a-small-business-owner——

Today, Nicole is teaming up with U.S. Bank to unpack the state of small businesses and what entrepreneurs can do right now to get ahead.  Nicole sits down with Shruti Patel, U.S. Bank's Chief Product Officer for the Business Banking segment, to unpack the findings from the bank's fourth annual Small Business Survey and what they reveal about the state of entrepreneurship right now. Shruti breaks down why small business optimism dipped from 93% to 83% this year even as resilience holds strong, why only 3% of owners are currently considering a sale or exit, and what that signals about the massive wealth transfer coming as Boomer-aged owners hand off their businesses to the next generation over the next decade. Then the conversation turns to Gen Z founders specifically: their appetite for bold, calculated risk, and the surprising trend of delaying life milestones like marriage and family to build their businesses… a bet that, according to the data, is actually paying off in faster growth. Nicole and Shruti also get tactical: how business credit actually works (and why your personal credit score matters more than you'd think) and the real documentation lenders want to see. Plus: how small businesses are using AI to cut costs (even when the ROI math gets murky), where digital currency payments stand today, and why frictionless checkout is a bigger deal than most owners realize.    Learn more about U.S. Bank's Small Business Banking solutions at: usbank.com  Check-out the results of U.S. Bank's Small Business Survey: https://www.usbank.com/business-banking/business-resource-center/small-business-survey.html Here's what Nicole covers with Shruti: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 00:43 Meet Shruti Patel, U.S. Bank's Chief Product Officer 01:20 Inside U.S. Bank's 4th Annual Small Business Survey 02:16 Why Optimism Dropped from 93% to 83% 04:45 Why Only 3% of Owners Are Considering an Exit 05:18 The Great Wealth Transfer and Succession Planning for the Next Decade 06:31 Inside Gen Z's Bold, Calculated Approach to Risk 07:37 Delaying Marriage and Family to Build a Business 09:03 "You Can Have It All, Just Not All at Once" 11:07 How Gen Z Defines Success 12:10 The Death of the "Shark Tank" Fundraising Dream 13:45 Debt vs. Equity: Rethinking How to Finance Growth 14:17 What Banks Look for Before Approving a Loan 16:08 Do Businesses Have Their Own Credit Score? 17:38 Personal Guarantees and the Documentation You'll Need 19:06 The SBA Loan Process 19:38 How Small Businesses Are Actually Using AI to Save Money 21:16 The "Digital Target Checkout" Problem with AI Costs 22:39 Where Digital Currency and Crypto Payments Stand Today 24:15 Why Frictionless Checkout Is Everything 26:03 Inside U.S. Bank's Business Essentials Launch 29:32 U.S. Bank's Partnership with the NFL and the Financial Edge Program 33:45 Shruti Patel's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Education · Julia Levine | Podcasting Strategy Coach (The Podcast Teacher™)

When President Trump invokes tariffs - he promises they'll benefit Americans. But the experience of some small business owners tells a different story. For this week's Reporter's Notebook, Host Debbie Elliott speaks with NPR Business Correspondent Alina Selyukh about what she learned about the unexpected costs small businesses are shouldering.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Gabriel Sanchez. Our director is Erika Ryan.It was edited by Emily Kopp and Adam Raney.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Federal small business certifications can multiply your contract opportunities when you know how to stack and leverage them correctly. In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, a veteran government contractor breaks down the five federal small business programs, why sole-source contract vehicles are the most underrated path to steady revenue, and how targeting the right agencies beats chasing every open bid. If you are trying to figure out which certification actually moves the needle, this episode maps it out. Learn why the SBA 8(a) program is considered the single most beneficial small business development certification available and how qualifying for four out of five programs at once strengthens your pitch to contracting officers Discover why federal contracts often outperform municipal and state work on cash flow, permitting speed, and profit margins, illustrated with a real side by side comparison of five to ten million dollar volume in both spaces Understand how multiple award contract vehicles and sole source awards reduce competition, including a real example of a five year, four million dollar a year Air Force contract won as the sole contractor Find out why chasing "low competition" agencies with smaller budgets can outperform crowded, high profile agencies when it comes to actual margin and win rate Get a practical framework for selling to the agencies that need your product or service instead of pitching your product broadly and hoping it lands Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.

Gregory Kovsky discusses small business owner secrets and the evolving market for buying and selling private businesses. He explained how the "silver tsunami" of retiring baby boomer business owners is creating a surge in businesses for sale, while strong buyer demand from entrepreneurs, private equity firms, family offices, and acquisition-minded companies continues to support the market. We explore business succession planning, SBA financing, valuation methods, tax strategies, and the role of commercial real estate in business sales. Gregory also shared insights into how private equity is reshaping the marketplace, the importance of considering employees and legacy alongside sale price, and the realities of entrepreneurship.  We discuss...  How the retiring baby boomer generation is creating a wave of business sales known as the "silver tsunami." Why many family businesses are sold rather than passed to the next generation. How SBA financing makes business ownership accessible with relatively little upfront capital. The strong demand for private businesses from entrepreneurs, private equity firms, family offices, and strategic buyers. The realities of entrepreneurship and why owning a business requires far more time and commitment than many people expect. How staffing challenges and employee turnover are common reasons business owners decide to sell. How private equity is influencing the small business market and the importance of evaluating buyers beyond just the purchase price. How commercial real estate factors into many business transactions and retirement planning strategies. Several tax strategies business owners may use to reduce taxes when selling their companies. How business valuations are determined using EBITDA, growth potential, industry trends, and market multiples. Concerns about inflated private equity valuations and the challenges firms face exiting investments.   Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Marc Walton | Forex Mentor Pro   Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/small-business-owners-secrets-gregory-kovsky-836 

The most successful entrepreneurs with ADHD don't rely on willpower, they build systems that support the way their brains naturally work. Running a small business with ADHD comes with unique strengths and equally unique challenges. Creativity, innovation, and big-picture thinking can fuel incredible success, but staying organized, prioritizing the right work, and following through consistently often require intentional systems. In this episode, Dave shares the 10 must-haves that have helped countless entrepreneurs and business owners with ADHD reduce overwhelm, improve focus, and spend more time growing their businesses instead of constantly putting out fires. Whether you're just starting out or have been in business for years, these practical strategies can help you work with your ADHD instead of against it. **Do you want to work with Dave one-on-one? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com and book an introductory Zoom chat. Or go directly to Dave's calendar; https://calendly.com/davidgreenwood1/15min   In this episode Dave talks about: Why every business owner needs one trusted system to capture ideas and tasks. How a weekly "CEO Meeting" with yourself creates clarity and direction. The importance of identifying your daily revenue-generating priorities. Simple ways to protect your time with healthier boundaries. Why financial visibility reduces stress and improves decision-making. How automation can eliminate repetitive mental load. The value of accountability through coaching, mentors, or peer groups. When and why delegation accelerates business growth. Why scheduling recovery time is essential for long-term success. How replacing self-criticism with self-compassion leads to better systems and better outcomes.

With so many new AI tools launching every day, it can feel like everyone wants another monthly subscription.So, what is actually worth paying for?In this video, I'm sharing the AI tools I currently pay for as a small business owner and content creator – including ChatGPT, Gemini, Canva, Descript, CapCut and a few platforms that have AI features built into them.I'm also sharing how I use these tools in my business, which AI features save me the most time and why I'm not paying for every popular tool on the market.For me, AI is not about replacing my voice, my content or my creativity. It is about saving time, improving the content I am already creating and helping me work more efficiently while still showing up as myself.In this video, we'll talk about:• Why I continue to pay for ChatGPT• How Gemini fits into our Google Workspace• The Canva AI tools I use most often• How Descript saves me hours editing videos and podcasts• Whether CapCut counts as an AI tool• The AI features included in Kajabi and Zoom• Why I am not currently paying for Claude• The difference between creating with AI and optimizing with AI• Why you should never blindly copy and paste AI-generated content• The importance of discernment when using AI for your marketingI would love to hear from you: Which AI tools are you currently paying for? Which ones are completely worth the investment – and which ones have you canceled?Also, should I finally upgrade to the paid version of Claude? Send me a DM!Want help creating a social media and AI strategy that still sounds and feels like you? Join us inside the #GetSocialSmart Academy!❤️ Join the #GetSocialSmart Academy: https://katielance.com/academy

Kansas City hosted six matches during the monthlong tournament, which cost nearly $200 million in public funds for this region's part alone. Did local businesses actually benefit in the end? Or will the event's impact only be felt years down the road?

Caroline White has been a professional photographer for 21 years — starting as an actress shooting headshots on the side before a burglary wiped out her equipment and pushed her into photography full-time. Since 2011 she's averaged six figures a year shooting personal branding for women entrepreneurs and coaches, and more recently has pivoted into a passion project: underwater portrait photography.In this episode, Caroline and Nikki dig into pricing high-touch branding packages (from $2,500 simple sessions to a $20,000 two-and-a-half-day shoot), the "asshole insurance" strategy that protects her boundaries while letting her overdeliver for great clients, how AI is affecting (and not affecting) the personal branding photo market, and her transition from packages to in-person sales for underwater work — including handmade, rhinestone-embellished prints. Caroline also opens up about the near-drowning experiences that shaped her fearlessness in the water and her ability to help nervous clients feel safe underwater.Topics covered:Building a 6-figure business without weddings or paid adsHow marketing lag works — and what happens when you stopAdd-ons that increase average sale (rush orders, retouching tiers, split-day shoots)"Asshole insurance": overdelivering for good clients, holding boundaries with difficult onesAI's real impact on personal branding photographyUnderwater photography: gear, safety, and working with non-swimmersTransitioning from packages to in-person sales (IPS)Handmade art pieces: painting on prints, Swarovski crystals, double exposuresIf you're building a photography business, want to grow your portrait photography income, or are curious about how to make money from photography online, this conversation is packed with actionable advice.

Government subcontracting is the fastest way to break into federal contracting when you have no money, no team, and no resources, and in this episode Eric Coffie shares the exact path he took the two times he was most broke in his career. Before he ever won a prime contract, Eric built his business by subcontracting for someone else, and he breaks down why that pathway still works for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs today. If you feel stuck trying to figure out how to break in, this episode maps out a real, repeatable route. How Eric won his first contract as a subcontractor on a $1.2 million project before ever bidding as a prime Why becoming a woman owned certified business helped one contractor go from employee to subcontractor with materials and estimating support provided How a $400,000 subcontract from a tribally owned company helped Eric recover from being $200,000 in the hole Why subcontracting works best for small businesses with limited resources, limited teams, and limited financials The real story behind a $500 payday loan and how it connects to Eric later landing a $5 million contract EPISODE CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Mindy AI sponsor message on finding federal opportunities 0:10 - Eric reflects on starting his journey as a subcontractor 1:03 - Rochelle's story from selling goods to first big contract 3:12 - How Rochelle became a certified subcontractor while employed 4:17 - Eric's first 1.2 million dollar subcontract as Evincoff 6:33 - Filling the gaps other founders leave out of their story 7:22 - The $500 payday loan behind Eric's $5 million contract Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.

Selling a highly appreciated asset can trigger a devastating tax bill, but it doesn't always have to. In this episode, Chad Ettmueller and Monty Walker break down a little-known tax strategy called the Structured Installment Sale. This approach allows sellers of investment real estate, farmland, timberland, or even closely-held businesses to defer their capital gains taxes while securing a guaranteed stream of income. Before you sign on the dotted line, discover how this unique financial tool works, who qualifies for it, and why it offers significantly more flexibility than traditional tax-deferral options. Key takeaways to listen for How a Structured Installment Sale differs from a traditional 1031 exchange Why timing matters when planning for capital gains taxes Which types of property owners can benefit most from this strategy How installment sales can help preserve wealth for future generations Why building the right advisory team before selling is critical   Resources mentioned in this episode https://sisresource.com   About Chad EttmuellerChad is Senior Vice President of JCR Settlements, LLC. Chad specializes in both personal and commercial general liability, trucking/transportation industry claims, medical malpractice and workers' compensation claims. Chad possesses significant experience working with Medicare Set-Asides (MSA's) in both Workers' Compensation and Liability negotiations.   About Monty WalkerMonty is a Certified Public Accountant with a diversity of experience in the private closely-held business arena. Monty supports Entrepreneurial Clients throughout the country. He is an extremely innovative advisor in the Business Transfer Industry providing support to Small Business Owners in the areas of Business Transactions, Business Structuring & Design, Business Tax Planning and Business Exit Planning.   Connect with Chad & Monty Website: JCR Settlements | Structured Installment Sales LinkedIn: Chad Ettmueller | Monty Walker Phone Number: (404) 661-3507 | (770) 886-7400   About Leigh BrownLeigh Brown is a keynote speaker and leadership expert who helps organizations navigate growth, conflict, and change with clarity and courage. Her message resonates with leaders facing real-world pressure—whether that's housing challenges, organizational friction, or cultural shifts. Her latest book, Next Is Now, equips leaders to stop reacting and start leading with intention.

How do you turn a side hustle into a nationally recognized beauty brand?   In this inspiring episode, Shan Berries shares how purpose, perseverance, and passion helped her build a cosmetics company that's changing lives.   After more than a decade in radio and television, Shan made a bold leap into entrepreneurship by launching Shades By Shan Cosmetics, a beauty brand now carried in over 600 JCPenney stores nationwide. Beyond creating high-quality beauty products, Shan built her company around a mission to support single parents through the The MamaBerries Nonprofit Foundation, which has already helped more than 100 families across the country.   In this episode, we discuss:   • Transitioning from broadcasting to entrepreneurship • Growing a side hustle into a national retail brand • The realities of fundraising and scaling a business • Building a purpose-driven company that gives back • Representation as a Latina founder in the beauty industry • Balancing ambition with impact   Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a beauty enthusiast, or someone looking for inspiration to pursue your purpose, this conversation will leave you motivated to dream bigger and lead with heart.   Connect with Shan  

Most entrepreneurs don't have a revenue problem—they have a delegation problem. In this episode,, entrepreneur and business coach Justin Lund explains why so many founders become prisoners in the businesses they worked so hard to build. The same hustle that helped you get started can become the very thing preventing you from reaching the next level. Justin shares the concept of the "Delegation Priority Pyramid," a practical framework designed to help business owners reclaim their time, build systems, and create a company that doesn't depend entirely on them. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, burned out, unable to take a vacation, or convinced that "nobody can do it as well as I can," this conversation is for you.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Mark Mascarenhas. Purpose of the Interview The interview aims to educate listeners—especially entrepreneurs, small business owners, and aspiring millionaires—on financial planning, wealth management, and risk mitigation strategies. It emphasizes the importance of discipline, clarity, and professional guidance in achieving financial success and sustaining wealth across generations. Key Takeaways Financial Planning is Foundational A written financial plan is the first step before any investment portfolio is built. Success is defined individually—financial, health, or lifestyle goals. Diversification & Risk Management Digital assets like Bitcoin should only make up 2–3% of a portfolio for high-net-worth clients with high risk tolerance. Fear and greed drive markets; advisors help clients maintain discipline. Long-Term Care & Insurance Planning for long-term care is essential, typically starting in your 50s. Term life insurance early locks in health; whole life policies provide stability and living benefits. Tax Strategy Use tax-loss harvesting, asset location strategies, and estate planning to minimize tax burdens. Estate planning focuses on transferring wealth tax-efficiently to future generations. Millionaire Mindset Millionaires are clear, disciplined, optimistic, and collaborative. 74% of millionaires work with financial advisors vs. 34% of the general population. Power of Compounding Compounding interest is the cornerstone of wealth accumulation—requires patience and discipline. Avoid lifestyle creep and impulsive spending, especially for younger millionaires and influencers. Fiduciary Responsibility Advisors act in the client’s best interest; success is mutual. Trust and transparency are critical in client-advisor relationships. Notable Quotes On Risk & Bitcoin:“You could potentially double your money, but you could also potentially lose 70% of it.” On Financial Planning:“Every dollar needs a job description.” On Millionaire Mindset:“Successful people view us as CFOs—they’re the CEOs.” On Compounding:“If you could win 72% of the time, would you play that game? Yes. That’s the stock market.” On Retirement Success:“Living the same or better lifestyle in retirement than you do today while working.” On Fiduciary Role:“We make more money when the client makes more money.” #SHMS #BEST #STRAWSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Mark Mascarenhas. Purpose of the Interview The interview aims to educate listeners—especially entrepreneurs, small business owners, and aspiring millionaires—on financial planning, wealth management, and risk mitigation strategies. It emphasizes the importance of discipline, clarity, and professional guidance in achieving financial success and sustaining wealth across generations. Key Takeaways Financial Planning is Foundational A written financial plan is the first step before any investment portfolio is built. Success is defined individually—financial, health, or lifestyle goals. Diversification & Risk Management Digital assets like Bitcoin should only make up 2–3% of a portfolio for high-net-worth clients with high risk tolerance. Fear and greed drive markets; advisors help clients maintain discipline. Long-Term Care & Insurance Planning for long-term care is essential, typically starting in your 50s. Term life insurance early locks in health; whole life policies provide stability and living benefits. Tax Strategy Use tax-loss harvesting, asset location strategies, and estate planning to minimize tax burdens. Estate planning focuses on transferring wealth tax-efficiently to future generations. Millionaire Mindset Millionaires are clear, disciplined, optimistic, and collaborative. 74% of millionaires work with financial advisors vs. 34% of the general population. Power of Compounding Compounding interest is the cornerstone of wealth accumulation—requires patience and discipline. Avoid lifestyle creep and impulsive spending, especially for younger millionaires and influencers. Fiduciary Responsibility Advisors act in the client’s best interest; success is mutual. Trust and transparency are critical in client-advisor relationships. Notable Quotes On Risk & Bitcoin:“You could potentially double your money, but you could also potentially lose 70% of it.” On Financial Planning:“Every dollar needs a job description.” On Millionaire Mindset:“Successful people view us as CFOs—they’re the CEOs.” On Compounding:“If you could win 72% of the time, would you play that game? Yes. That’s the stock market.” On Retirement Success:“Living the same or better lifestyle in retirement than you do today while working.” On Fiduciary Role:“We make more money when the client makes more money.” #SHMS #BEST #STRAWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Willie Jolley.