Small Business Stories

Loralyn Mears, PhD
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Daily

Welcome to Small Business Stories, the podcast where we celebrate the real-life journeys of small business owners. We dig into inspiring tales of triumphs, challenges, and the tough lessons we learned along the way. Each episode is packed with relatable anecdotes and practical tips that you can use to fuel your own entrepreneurial dreams. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your business, you'll find motivation and insight in every story. Tune in and get ready to be inspired by the heart and hustle of small business owners just like you! We say it like it is - no filters. Being an SMB owner isn't easy, but we're compelled to do it.

  1. Why Customers Don't Buy - and What to Do with Jason Fishman

    7 hrs ago

    Why Customers Don't Buy - and What to Do with Jason Fishman

    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

    35 min
  2. You Might Also Like: Morning Brew Daily

    7 hrs ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: Morning Brew Daily

    Introducing American AI Companies Fend Off Chinese Copy Cats & Gen Z Loves Love Island from Morning Brew Daily. Follow the show: Morning Brew Daily #884: American AI companies are sounding the alarm on Chinese companies copying their models through “distillation.” Stellantis officially opens its doors to the sale of the tiny car priced at under $15,000. The US is seeing its middle-aged population slowly shrinking and which could harm the economy. Love Island USA has been a rare hit that has captured and retained Gen Z’s attention.  Get 10% off using MORNINGBREW10 at altrarunning.com/morningbrew  Get tickets for our trivia tournament! https://caveat.nyc/events/the-morning-brew-trivia-tournament-2026-07-30  Grab tickets to our Performance Revue show! https://www.morningbrew.com/events/brew-performance-revue-2026?utm_campaign=performance_revue_2026&utm_source=mbd Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. How to Be a Better Leader People Actually Want to Follow with William Davis

    17 hrs ago

    How to Be a Better Leader People Actually Want to Follow with William Davis

    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

    28 min
  4. How to Reinvent Yourself Without Starting Over with Ryan Estes

    Jul 1

    How to Reinvent Yourself Without Starting Over with Ryan Estes

    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

    39 min
  5. How to Prepare Your Business for Tariffs and Supply Chain Disruptions with Abe Orgel

    Jun 23

    How to Prepare Your Business for Tariffs and Supply Chain Disruptions with Abe Orgel

    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

    36 min
  6. Why You're Still Living Paycheck to Paycheck with George Thomas

    Jun 12

    Why You're Still Living Paycheck to Paycheck with George Thomas

    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

    41 min
  7. Founder Fragility: Forrest Derr has Some Thoughts About Building a Business Dependent on YOU

    Jun 6

    Founder Fragility: Forrest Derr has Some Thoughts About Building a Business Dependent on YOU

    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

    22 min
  8. How to Grow Your Business When Ads Stop Working in the AI Economy with Ismael Wrixen

    May 31

    How to Grow Your Business When Ads Stop Working in the AI Economy with Ismael Wrixen

    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

    42 min
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Small Business Stories, the podcast where we celebrate the real-life journeys of small business owners. We dig into inspiring tales of triumphs, challenges, and the tough lessons we learned along the way. Each episode is packed with relatable anecdotes and practical tips that you can use to fuel your own entrepreneurial dreams. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your business, you'll find motivation and insight in every story. Tune in and get ready to be inspired by the heart and hustle of small business owners just like you! We say it like it is - no filters. Being an SMB owner isn't easy, but we're compelled to do it.

Information

  • Creator
    Loralyn Mears, PhD
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) STEERus 2026
  • Show Website
    Small Business Stories