Small Business Survival Conversations

Anna Steinfest

Small Business Survival Conversations is the weekly podcast designed to empower entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and small business owners who are fighting every day to build, grow, and sustain their businesses in a noisy and unpredictable world. Hosted by Anna Steinfest, business strategist, entrepreneur, and founder with decades of experience helping small businesses thrive, this show delivers practical wisdom, mindset fuel, and real-world strategies that small business owners can actually use.  What to Expect Every Week  Monday Morning Motivation Kickstart your week with a powerful story—drawn from timeless fables, real business lessons, or classic wisdom—paired with three actionable steps you can apply immediately. Each episode is crafted to help you regain focus, protect your momentum, and make better decisions as a small business owner. These episodes are short, energizing, and packed with practical insight. Think of it as your weekly dose of clarity, courage, and direction. Occasional Expert Interviews Throughout the season, Anna welcomes entrepreneurs, industry experts, and community leaders who share their experiences, failures, wins, and lessons learned. Whether you’re looking to scale, pivot, or simply survive another day of running a business, these conversations offer the guidance and encouragement you need. Who This Podcast Is For This show is built for: • Small business owners • Solopreneurs • Startup founders • Women-owned businesses • Community-based and service-based entrepreneurs • Anyone navigating growth with limited time, resources, and support If you’re building a business from the ground up—and learning as you go—you’re in the right place.  Why Listeners Love This Podcast • Practical, real-world strategies (no fluff) • Story-driven insights that stick • Weekly motivation designed specifically for small business owners • Action steps in every episode • Honest conversations about what it really takes to survive and grow • Encouragement without sugarcoating Running a small business is not easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. Subscribe now and start your week with inspiration, direction, and the tools to keep moving forward.  Small Business Survival Conversations Your journey. Your grit. Your growth.

  1. What King Midas Knew About Success That Most Entrepreneurs Never Figure Out

    4d ago

    What King Midas Knew About Success That Most Entrepreneurs Never Figure Out

    Send us Fan Mail He wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. And for a moment, it felt like the greatest blessing any king could ask for — until he sat down for a meal and realized his gift had become a prison. This week on Small Business Survival Conversations, Anna Steinfest revisits the 2,500-year-old story of King Midas — but not the version you've heard before. This isn't a story about greed. It's a story about what happens after you get everything you wished for, and why so many entrepreneurs build the very thing that traps them. If you've ever doubled your revenue and lost your health doing it... built a successful business and watched something else in your life quietly fall apart... or hit every financial goal you set and still felt empty inside — this episode is for you. Inside this episode:  ✅ Why "more" quietly becomes the enemy of purpose in business  ✅ The difference between what's measurable and what's actually valuable  ✅ Why your most loyal customers rarely stay for the price  ✅ A simple two-column exercise to reset your perspective this week  ✅ The one question every business owner needs to ask before chasing the next goal Business Warriors, gold was never the treasure. This week, find out what is. 🎧 New episodes every Monday morning — your weekly reset before the week begins. 👉 Subscribe so you never miss a Monday morning conversation.  💬 Drop a comment: What's something in your business that money can't buy, but you'd protect over everything else? Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: A Story We've Told Before 00:50 – The Wish That Changed Everything 02:30 – The Dinner Table: When the Gift Became a Curse 04:15 – Value vs. Price: What Midas Got Wrong 06:00 – The Tragedy He Never Saw Coming 07:45 – The Curse Lifted: What He Finally Understood 09:00 – Your Action Step This Week 10:15 – A Thought to Leave You With #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessMotivation #MondayMotivation #KingMidas #BusinessOwner #Mindset #BusinessLessons #Leadership #SmallBusinessSurvivalConversations

    16 min
  2. S3E93: Burn the boats: the Sun Tzu strategy every entrepreneur needs to hear

    Jun 15

    S3E93: Burn the boats: the Sun Tzu strategy every entrepreneur needs to hear

    Send us Fan Mail YouTube description Burn the boats: the Sun Tzu strategy every entrepreneur needs to hear In 1519, Hernán Cortés ordered his own ships destroyed on the shores of Mexico — removing any possibility of retreat for his men. Centuries earlier, Sun Tzu described a similar moment: a leader who climbs to a height, then kicks away the ladder behind him. In this episode, Anna Steinfest unpacks what that ancient idea means for small business owners today — and why "someday" plans, backup options, and safety nets might be the very things holding your business back. You'll learn the difference between a goal and a decision, why commitment sharpens focus and creativity, and how to identify the "ladder" you're still holding onto in your own business. If you've been waiting to feel "ready" before taking the next step — this episode is your sign. In this episode: 00:00 Welcome and the Sun Tzu quote 01:30 The story of Cortés burning the boats 03:00 The boats we keep in business — and why 05:00 The cost of keeping the ladder 07:00 The hidden power of full commitment 08:30 The Business Warrior challenge 10:00 Closing reflection About Small Business Survival Conversations Hosted by Anna Steinfest, this podcast brings weekly motivation, mindset shifts, and practical guidance to small business owners who refuse to quit. New episodes every Monday morning to help you start your week with focus and purpose. Connect with Anna: https://www.survivebizhub.org/

    12 min
  3. S3E92: Why Small Business Owners Quit — and the 2,000-year-old Secret to Pushing Through

    Jun 8

    S3E92: Why Small Business Owners Quit — and the 2,000-year-old Secret to Pushing Through

    Send us Fan Mail Why do so many small business owners quit—not because they lack talent, passion, or vision, but because the mountain in front of them feels too big to climb? In this inspiring Monday Morning Motivation episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, Anna Steinfest explores a powerful 2,000-year-old lesson from Confucius: “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” Through a timeless story about perseverance, determination, and the power of small daily actions, you'll discover why success isn't built through giant leaps but through consistent progress over time. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by your goals, frustrated by slow growth, or tempted to give up because results aren't coming fast enough, this episode is for you. You'll learn:  ✅ Why most business owners quit too soon  ✅ The hidden danger of focusing only on the mountain  ✅ How small, consistent actions create extraordinary results  ✅ Why comparing your journey to others can hold you back  ✅ One simple action you can take this week to build momentum Remember: The most successful entrepreneurs aren't always the smartest or the most connected—they're the ones who keep moving one stone at a time.  Tune in and discover the ancient wisdom that can help you push through today's challenges and build tomorrow's success. #SmallBusinessSurvival #MondayMorningMotivation #EntrepreneurMindset #SmallBusinessOwner #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSuccess #MotivationMonday #GrowthMindset #Resilience #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy #SuccessHabits #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessCoach #Podcast #SmallBusinessSurvivalConversations #Perseverance #KeepGoing #Confucius #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessMotivation #MindsetMatters

    12 min
  4. S3E88: Outnumbered, Outspent & Still Standing: The Spartan Strategy Every Small Business Needs

    May 11

    S3E88: Outnumbered, Outspent & Still Standing: The Spartan Strategy Every Small Business Needs

    Send us Fan Mail Most small business owners feel like they are fighting impossible battles. Outnumbered. Outspent. Overwhelmed. But what if the answer is not competing everywhere? What if the answer is protecting the one place where your business is strongest? In this Monday Morning Motivation episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, Anna Steinfest shares the powerful story of King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae — and the surprising business lessons every entrepreneur needs to hear. This is not just a story about war. It is a story about leadership, discipline, positioning, resilience, sacrifice, and surviving when the odds are against you. If you are a business owner trying to stay focused during difficult seasons, this episode will remind you why small businesses still win. Because small businesses do not win by being bigger. They win by being smarter, faster, more human, and deeply connected to the people they serve. One powerful reminder from this episode: “You were not built for the open field. You were built for the pass.” #SmallBusinessSurvival #MondayMorningMotivation #EntrepreneurMindset #SmallBusinessOwner #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #MotivationMonday #BusinessStrategy #Resilience #Mindset #SmallBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessCoach #Podcast #SmallBusinessSurvivalConversations #GrowthMindset #Discipline #StartupLife #EntrepreneurLife

    24 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Small Business Survival Conversations is the weekly podcast designed to empower entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and small business owners who are fighting every day to build, grow, and sustain their businesses in a noisy and unpredictable world. Hosted by Anna Steinfest, business strategist, entrepreneur, and founder with decades of experience helping small businesses thrive, this show delivers practical wisdom, mindset fuel, and real-world strategies that small business owners can actually use.  What to Expect Every Week  Monday Morning Motivation Kickstart your week with a powerful story—drawn from timeless fables, real business lessons, or classic wisdom—paired with three actionable steps you can apply immediately. Each episode is crafted to help you regain focus, protect your momentum, and make better decisions as a small business owner. These episodes are short, energizing, and packed with practical insight. Think of it as your weekly dose of clarity, courage, and direction. Occasional Expert Interviews Throughout the season, Anna welcomes entrepreneurs, industry experts, and community leaders who share their experiences, failures, wins, and lessons learned. Whether you’re looking to scale, pivot, or simply survive another day of running a business, these conversations offer the guidance and encouragement you need. Who This Podcast Is For This show is built for: • Small business owners • Solopreneurs • Startup founders • Women-owned businesses • Community-based and service-based entrepreneurs • Anyone navigating growth with limited time, resources, and support If you’re building a business from the ground up—and learning as you go—you’re in the right place.  Why Listeners Love This Podcast • Practical, real-world strategies (no fluff) • Story-driven insights that stick • Weekly motivation designed specifically for small business owners • Action steps in every episode • Honest conversations about what it really takes to survive and grow • Encouragement without sugarcoating Running a small business is not easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. Subscribe now and start your week with inspiration, direction, and the tools to keep moving forward.  Small Business Survival Conversations Your journey. Your grit. Your growth.