Small Business Stories

Loralyn Mears, PhD
  • 4.8 (20)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

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. Founder Burnout, Systems Thinking & Agency Scale with Jesse P. Gilmore

    18H AGO

    Founder Burnout, Systems Thinking & Agency Scale with Jesse P. Gilmore

    S6:E24 Many founders start businesses seeking freedom. Then accidentally build companies that consume their lives. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Jesse P. Gilmore, founder of Niche In Control, to explore what happens when marketing agencies grow faster than their systems. If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If your business depends entirely on you, it can't scale. Jesse shares the painful lessons from dissolving three successful businesses due to founder burnout, what he learned working inside a $4B corporation, and how systems thinking transformed the way he approaches agency growth. 👤 Guest Jesse P. Gilmore Founder, Niche In Control Agency Growth Strategist - Scalable Agency Accelerator Trial - https://www.nicheincontrol.com/triangle - Book - https://www.nicheincontrol.com/book - Website - https://www.nicheincontrol.com - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessepgilmore/ Core Problems • Founder dependency limiting business scalability • Confusing marketing deliverables with strategic outcomes • Burnout created by trading time directly for revenue Practical Takeaways • Specialization cuts through competitive noise • Systems remove single points of failure in organizations • Time leverage allows founders to survive the entrepreneurial marathon Timestamps 02:30 The hidden growth ceiling inside agencies 09:30 Why Jesse dissolved three businesses 14:10 Viral success myths in entrepreneurship 20:00 Pricing for value vs pricing for hours 27:00 Where agency owners should focus first Who This Episode Is For • Agency founders • Service-based entrepreneurs • Small business owners scaling their operations Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible bottlenecks quietly stall growth. Season 6 continues decoding the structural patterns that keep capable founders stuck. Subscribe and share if this episode resonates.   ✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship 🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard Follow STEERus on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io   #digitalmarketing #digitalmarketingagency #entrepreneurlife #wellness #smallbusiness

    33 min
  2. You Might Also Like: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    18H AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Introducing "Chi-Con" (w/ Maggie Winters) from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Follow the show: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang Live, laugh and love along with Matt, Bowen + their guest, comedian and Chi-con (Chicago icon) Maggie Winters! She's in the studio to say, "hey! watch my solo show MARGUERITE on YouTube on March 17th!" And with THAT said, the girls get into it all: the bean soup theory, spices, spice racks, Padma Lakshmi, being Irish, drinking young, and what it means to be Chicago Fried. Also, HBO's Industry, TGIF pizza night and the theme songs of Nickelodeon. All this, having Paris Hilton feet (laudatory), Ghostfaces' various reasonings, and the question, 'are substacks blogs?' Find out (but not really) on this episode of... Las Culturistas! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 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. Mindset, Metrics & Modern Growth - Scaling a Company with Borja Cuan

    6D AGO

    Mindset, Metrics & Modern Growth - Scaling a Company with Borja Cuan

    S6:E23 Scaling a business doesn't reduce pressure. It refines it. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Borja Cuan, co-founder of 415 Digital, to explore what truly changes when companies move from startup to scale. If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If your expectations drift faster than your clarity, growth fractures. Borja shares what eight years of agency growth has taught him about client pushback, AI disruption, mindset discipline, and the emotional endurance required to scale. 👤 Guest Borja Cuan Co-Founder, 415 Digital Growth Marketing Strategist Core Problems • Scaling expectations without aligned mindset • Confusing AI adoption with strategic clarity • Underestimating emotional resilience in entrepreneurship Practical Takeaways • Mindset determines reaction to volatility • Growth marketing requires ICP precision and metric discipline • Endurance is a long-term competitive advantage Timestamps 03:00 Why resilience is a founder's superpower 08:30 Managing client pushback 15:40 AI as a tool, not a replacement 19:30 Growth marketing at early-stage vs scaling companies 27:00 Remembering why you started Who This Episode Is For • Founder-led service businesses • Agencies navigating AI disruption • Entrepreneurs scaling under pressure Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible expectation drift erodes trust internally and externally. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that quietly destabilize capable businesses. Please subscribe and share if this conversation resonates with you.   ✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship 🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard Follow STEERus on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io   #marketing #marketingdigital #agency #entrepreneur #smallbusiness

    33 min
  4. Ego, Ecosystems & Sustainable Marketing Growth with Jensen Savage

    MAR 1

    Ego, Ecosystems & Sustainable Marketing Growth with Jensen Savage

    S6:E22 Marketing fails because of fragmentation across too many platforms. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Jensen Savage, founder of Savage Growth Partners, to unpack what really drives sustainable growth. If people don't trust you, they won't buy. If your strategy isn't coherent, your signal gets diluted. Jensen shares why ruthless prioritization matters, how ego interferes with data-driven decisions, and why marketing must connect to sales and operations to truly scale. 👤 Guest Jensen Savage Founder, Savage Growth Partners Marketing & Growth Strategist Core Problems • Confusing tactics with strategy • Emotional resistance to performance data • FOMO-driven channel expansion Practical Takeaways • Growth requires ecosystem thinking, not isolated wins • Data should inform, not intimidate • Sustainable brands are built on strategic coherence Timestamps 01:30 Creative + analytical marketing 05:00 Why math matters in growth 11:20 Ego in business decisions 20:45 FOMO and overextending channels 24:50 Marketing as part of the business ecosystem Who This Episode Is For • Entrepreneurs scaling past early traction • Founders navigating marketing complexity • Business owners seeking sustainable growth Invisible brands don't make money. Fragmented signals don't scale. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that stall capable businesses. Subscribe and share if this conversation resonates.   ✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship 🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard Follow STEERus on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io   #marketing #marketingdigital #entrepreneur #smallbusiness

    30 min
  5. Scarcity, Confidence & the Psychology of Wealth with Leisa Peterson

    FEB 28

    Scarcity, Confidence & the Psychology of Wealth with Leisa Peterson

    S6:E21 Most money problems are not mathematical. They are emotional. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Leisa Peterson, founder of WealthClinic.com and author of The Mindful Millionaire, to explore how scarcity thinking quietly shapes financial decisions. On a personal note, I was so compelled by what she had to say, I got her book and read it cover to cover. What it showed me is that I was spending out of fear, spending because I was missing something (someone), and was indulging in "retail therapy" to avoid the reality of patterns ingrained in childhood and what is happening to me today. If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If you don't trust yourself, you won't build wealth. From inflation and fiat currency to inherited shopping patterns and entrepreneurial overconfidence, this episode examines how money stress alters our cognition and identity. 👤 Guest Leisa Peterson Founder, WealthClinic.com Author, The Mindful Millionaire Core Problems Discussed • How macroeconomic instability impacts personal psychology • Emotional spending and inherited money behaviors • The cost of overconfidence and delayed pivots Practical Takeaways • Scarcity narrows mental bandwidth and lowers decision quality • Long-term confidence is built through iterative learning • Conservative strategies can still build significant wealth Timestamps 02:10 Fiat currency and inflation explained 16:57 How scarcity lowers IQ under stress 22:10 The retail therapy pattern 26:35 Surviving trauma and choosing purpose 40:10 Costly entrepreneurial lessons Who This Episode Is For • Entrepreneurs under financial pressure • Founders carrying debt from past pivots • Leaders rebuilding confidence after losses Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible money patterns quietly distort decision-making. Season 6 continues decoding the forces that shape how capable entrepreneurs show up.     ✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship 🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard Follow STEERus on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io  #finance #investing #wealth #entrepreneur #smallbusiness

    47 min
  6. Mindset, Reinvention & Creative Real Estate with Chris Prefontaine

    FEB 27

    Mindset, Reinvention & Creative Real Estate with Chris Prefontaine

    S6:E20 Most entrepreneurs fail because of what happens in their head AFTER the market shifts. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Chris Prefontaine, founder of Smart Real Estate Coach, to unpack what happens after financial collapse, and the guts (along with everything else) that it takes to rebuild. If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If you don't trust yourself, you won't move. Chris shares how the 2008 crash wiped him out financially, the four-year mental spiral that followed, and how creative real estate became the vehicle for reinvention. 👤 Guest Chris Prefontaine Smart Real Estate Coach Creative Investor | Author Core Problems Discussed • Ego shock after financial loss • Market fear and media-driven paralysis • The myth of overnight success in entrepreneurship Practical Takeaways • Wealth is often created during uncertainty • Blinders for 3–7 years beat reactive decision-making • Mentorship shortens emotional recovery time Timestamps 00:02 Losing everything in 2008 and rebuilding 06:30 The 4-year mental battle after financial collapse 13:45 Why uncertainty creates opportunity 17:40 The 7-year entrepreneurial timeline 22:30 Investing without large capital Who This Episode Is For • Entrepreneurs rebuilding after setback • Investors navigating volatile markets • Founders questioning their timeline Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible readiness keeps entrepreneurs stalled. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that quietly limit growth.   ✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship 🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard Follow STEERus on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus Facebook: https://facebook.com/steerus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io #RealEstateInvesting #Entrepreneurship #PassiveIncome #smallbusiness

    32 min
  7. Authority, Ego & Followership in the Modern CEO With Joseph Incrocci

    FEB 25

    Authority, Ego & Followership in the Modern CEO With Joseph Incrocci

    S6:E19 Having authority does not mean you have followers. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with executive coach and M&A advisor Joseph Incrocci to explore how leadership expectations have shifted in founder-led and middle-market businesses. If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If they don't believe you can take them somewhere better, they won't align. Joe brings decades of experience scaling companies, selling businesses, and coaching CEOs through ego resistance, succession challenges, and growth strategy. 👤 Guest Joseph Incrocci Incrocci Consulting Executive Coach | Author | M&A Specialist Core Problems • Ego blocking growth and succession • Authority mistaken for leadership • Employees demanding more access and context Practical Takeaways • Leadership is proven by voluntary followership • Profit growth reduces resistance to change • Courage to fail is foundational to scaling Timestamps 00:02 What defines real leadership 03:40 Why credibility determines followership 08:30 Ego as the CEO's biggest obstacle 12:00 Succession and building internal growth 19:00 Courage to fail and imperfect action Who This Episode Is For • CEOs of $50M–$500M companies • Founder-led firms preparing for succession • Entrepreneurs navigating generational workforce shifts Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible leadership erodes trust. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that limit growth. Subscribe and share if this conversation resonates.   ✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship 🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs to be heard Follow STEERus on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Midlifesuccess Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus Facebook: https://facebook.com/steerus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io

    26 min
  8. Enterprise Value, Only-ness & the Myth of More Leads with Mark Osborne

    FEB 24

    Enterprise Value, Only-ness & the Myth of More Leads with Mark Osborne

    S6:E18 You can be fully booked and still be building a fragile business. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Mark Osborne, founder of Modern Revenue Strategies and author of Are Your Leads Killing Your Business? If people don't trust you, they won't buy. If you don't differentiate, you attract the wrong buyers. Mark explains how chasing more leads can erode margins, as well as lead to team burnout and stalled growth. He introduces the concept of "only-ness" and breaks down the three interlocking systems that drive scalable enterprise value: attraction, acceleration, and activation. 👤 Guest Mark Osborne Founder, Modern Revenue Strategies Certified Exit Planner Core Problems • Revenue ceilings caused by poor product-market positioning • Overreliance on first-time sales • Lack of systematic renewal and referral processes Practical Takeaways • Shift from volume to fit • Build systems that set you free • Create recurring and expansion revenue models Timestamps 00:04 Why "more leads" can backfire 06:00 The 3 types of killer clients 17:00 Building recurring revenue from one-time services 23:00 The 3 interlocking revenue systems 26:30 Product-market fit vs go-to-market fit Who This Episode Is For • Small business owners nearing $1M revenue • Founders pushing toward scalable growth • Entrepreneurs thinking about exit strategy Invisible brands don't make money. Invisible systems don't build enterprise value. Season 6 continues decoding the patterns that limit growth.   #leadgeneration #revenues #business #growth #entrepreneurship

    39 min
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4.8
out of 5
20 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
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © (C) STEERus 2026
  • Show Website
    Small Business Stories