Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners

Kari Lotzien
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A podcast for visionaries, entrepreneurs and people who dream big. We talk about getting real with yourself, doing the hard work and we share some insights and lessons learned along the way.

  1. 79 - Why Work Life Balance is Failing Us and What Actually Works with Steven Langer

    MAR 3

    79 - Why Work Life Balance is Failing Us and What Actually Works with Steven Langer

    In this conversation, Kari sits down with keynote speaker and author Steven Langer to challenge the idea that work-life balance is the goal. Steven makes the case that balance is a trap: it frames work and life as competing forces, sets an unrealistic 50/50 standard, and leaves high performers stuck in guilt and pendulum-swinging. Instead, Steven introduces work-life coherence, a practical way of living and leading where your work and life fit together and make sense for the season you’re in. Using relatable analogies (the seesaw, the sailing captain, and the hill vs. plateau), they unpack how to create space for complexity, protect your “fulcrum” (health), and lead teams (especially remote teams) with intention, clarity, and trust. Key Topics Discussed: Why chasing “balance” can increase stress, guilt, and burnout The difference between balance and coherence (and why it actually works) How to shift your days from default to intention, without a full life overhaul The real cost of interruptions and why leaders need protected deep work time How “my door is always open” can quietly sabotage leadership capacity The “hill vs. plateau” test for intense seasons: when to push vs. when to redesign What real culture looks like (it’s not yoga-at-lunch or a pizza party) A simple reframe: letting others help you is giving them a gift How recognition impacts engagement and why it often doesn’t “land” Why leadership is lonely at the top…and lonelier in the middle How to build culture and clarity when leading remote or hybrid teams A sailing analogy for leading through stormy seasons: tighten lines, trust the course If work-life balance has felt like a hamster wheel with a guilt soundtrack, this episode offers a better target: coherence, a way to lead and live that makes sense for the season you’re in, while protecting the health and systems that make your success sustainable. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - start building a business that works for you, not just because of you. As an international keynote and TEDx speaker, Steven cuts through the noise to shift how audiences think about wellness. Blending powerful stories, data, and practical insight, he inspires meaningful change. Steven doesn’t just motivate, he equips audiences with clear, authentic tools they can actually use. Whether speaking to executives, frontline teams, or leaders, people leave feeling seen, understood, and ready to lead and live with intention. His keynotes tackle real-world pressures and offer actionable ways to build healthier workplaces and more coherent lives. If you want clarity and forward momentum, Steven Langer delivers. Connect with Steven and learn more about his incredible work here:www.wellbydesign.cawww.linkedin.com/in/steven-langer-b9b64945 Get his book here: wellbydesign.ca/coherence-compass-book   Work with Kari:  Anchored Leadership Academy Private Business and Leadership Coaching Contact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:  Website: BeTheAnchor.ca Facebook: BeTheAnchorLtd Instagram: BeTheAnchor.ca Linked In: Kari Lotzien Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    59 min
  2. 78 - Why Leaders Avoid Hard Conversations (and Why It Costs You More Than You Think)

    FEB 17

    78 - Why Leaders Avoid Hard Conversations (and Why It Costs You More Than You Think)

    If you tend to avoid conflict, smooth things over, or jump in to fix problems yourself, this episode is for you. As your business grows, tension and discomfort don’t mean something is broken; they’re signs that your business is evolving. In this episode of Be the Anchor, Kari explores the critical (and often uncomfortable) shift from being a capable problem-solver to becoming a true leader. You’ll learn why avoiding hard conversations keeps you stuck in reaction mode, how fixing problems for your team actually limits their growth, and what leadership looks like when responsibility is shared instead of absorbed. This episode is a continuation of the recent conversation about becoming the bottleneck in your business and what it really takes to move from management into confident, sustainable leadership. Key Topics Discussed: Why conflict and tension are not signs of failure but indicators of growthThe predictable stages of business ownership: provider → manager → leaderHow “being helpful” can quietly keep you stuck fixing instead of leadingThe hidden cost of avoiding hard conversations in your businessWhy leadership is about developing people, not preventing problemsA real-world example of addressing performance issues without micromanagingHow naming standards and impact builds ownership and accountabilityWhy asking questions is more powerful than giving answersThe role of space, calm, and regulation in effective leadership conversationsYou’re not behind. You’re evolving. Learning how to lead through discomfort calmly, clearly, and without carrying everything yourself is one of the most important shifts a business owner can make. And you don’t have to figure it out alone. If this episode resonated, let it be an invitation, not to push harder, but to pause. To step back just enough to lead forward. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.   Work with Kari:  Anchored Leadership AcademyPrivate Business and Leadership CoachingContact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:  Website: BeTheAnchor.caFacebook: BeTheAnchorLtdInstagram: BeTheAnchor.caLinked In: Kari Lotzien Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    19 min
  3. 77 - Leaders Don't Need More to Do (They Need Altitude)

    FEB 3

    77 - Leaders Don't Need More to Do (They Need Altitude)

    If you’ve built a strong reputation, hired good people, and still feel like everything runs through you - this episode is for you. In this continuation of last week’s conversation, Kari dives into what happens after you realize you’ve become the bottleneck in your business. Not because you’re doing something wrong, but because leadership has quietly been squeezed into the margins of your day. This episode explores why clarity doesn’t come from trying harder, working faster, or stacking better systems on top of an already full plate. It comes from something most business owners avoid: creating space. Key Topics Discussed: Why being deeply involved in the day-to-day makes it nearly impossible to lead wellThe hidden cost of making leadership decisions “in the margins”How service-based owners end up holding two full-time jobs: revenue generator and leaderA real story from Kari’s own business, and the moment she realized her leadership was the constraintWhy your team may feel uncertain or disengaged even when everything “looks fine”The renovation analogy that perfectly explains why growth feels so hard at this stageWhy peers, perspective, and protected space are essential for the next level of leadershipHow slowing down can feel uncomfortable and why it’s often the most productive move you can makeLeadership at this stage isn’t about becoming more efficient, more productive, or more resilient. It’s about recognizing that the way you’ve been operating (the pace, the proximity, the constant availability) is no longer serving the business or the people in it. If you’re feeling worn down, unclear, or quietly frustrated, that’s not a personal failing. It’s information. It’s a signal that leadership needs space, not squeezed into the margins between clients, emails, and late-night notes. You don’t need all the answers right now. You don’t need a perfect plan. What you need is altitude. Space to think. Space to see patterns. Space to lead with intention instead of reacting in real time. And most importantly, you don’t have to do that alone. Leadership gets lighter, clearer, and more effective when it’s done in the right rooms, with people who understand the weight you’re carrying. If this episode resonated, let it be an invitation, not to push harder, but to pause. To step back just enough to lead forward. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.   Work with Kari:  Anchored Leadership AcademyPrivate Business and Leadership CoachingContact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:  Website: BeTheAnchor.caFacebook: BeTheAnchorLtdInstagram: BeTheAnchor.caLinked In: Kari Lotzien, Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    16 min
  4. 76 - Why Being the Most Competent Person in the Room is Holding you Back

    JAN 20

    76 - Why Being the Most Competent Person in the Room is Holding you Back

    If you’ve built your business by being reliable, responsive, and indispensable but now feel like things won’t move unless you do, it may be time for a leadership shift. In this powerful solo episode, Kari speaks directly to business owners who are feeling stretched thin, not quite burnt out, but heavy with responsibility. You’ll hear stories, practical insights, and compassionate coaching about what to do when you realize you’ve become the bottleneck in your business. This episode gives you permission to step back, reassess, and redesign your leadership, without guilt. Key Topics Discussed: Why your competence might be quietly holding your business backThe difference between being needed and being effectiveHow to shift from being the go-to problem solver to building decision-making capacity in your teamA powerful script you can use to start coaching your team to think criticallyHow the lack of systems, not trust, creates team dependenceReal-life client stories that show how these dynamics play out and how to fix themIf you’re starting to feel like everything in your business runs through you, that no decision gets made without your input, that your team is waiting on you, and that you’re constantly “just checking one more thing” this episode was your permission slip to pause and rethink. You haven’t done anything wrong. In fact, your business has likely grown because of your care, your consistency, and your competence. But now, your leadership needs to evolve with your business. It’s time to move from being the anchor that holds everything together to becoming the anchor that stabilizes and empowers a team to grow and lead alongside you. Remember: your goal isn’t to be indispensable. Your goal is to build something that doesn’t fall apart when you exhale.   Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.   Work with Kari:  Anchored Leadership AcademyPrivate Business and Leadership CoachingContact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:  Website: BeTheAnchor.caFacebook: BeTheAnchorLtdInstagram: BeTheAnchor.caLinked In: Kari Lotzien Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    12 min
  5. 75 - Return to Play with Brandi Heather

    JAN 6

    75 - Return to Play with Brandi Heather

    What if the secret to better leadership, team culture, and resilience isn’t more hustle but more play? This week, we welcome the dynamic and deeply inspiring Brandy Heather, a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and internationally recognized expert on the science of play. Brandy brings the fire, compassion, and neuroscience to back her mission: restoring playful intelligence in a world that’s overworked and underplayed. From boardrooms to classrooms to burnt-out entrepreneurs, Brandy’s work shows us why play isn’t the opposite of productivity; it’s the fuel for it. In this emotional, laugh-out-loud, and goosebump-inducing conversation, Brandy dismantles the “show home” culture, reveals why fear and play can’t coexist, and offers real strategies to return to joy, belonging, and creative problem-solving, even if you’ve forgotten how. Key Topics Discussed: Why “play” is a biological necessity, not a luxuryThe neuroscience behind why fear blocks innovation (and how play unlocks it)What “play” actually looks like in the workplace (hint: it’s not ping pong tables)The real reason most professionals avoid play and what it costs usHow Brandy cracked corporate walls with cautious delightThe difference between play as service and play as selfWhat’s really happening in “show home” culture and how it’s disconnecting usBrandy’s personal story of burnout, hospitalization, and rediscovering play through a tacky ceramic frogWhy play is the path to building more human businesses, safer relationships, and resilient teamsIf you’ve been running on empty, feeling disconnected from your work, or just wondering where the joy went, this episode is your reminder: play isn’t the opposite of work, it’s the soul of it. When you bring joy, curiosity, and playfulness back into your life, you don't just perform better, you lead better, love better, and live better. Brandi Heather is a best-selling author, educator, and internationally recognized expert on Playful Intelligence™. She helps individuals and organizations prevent burnout and reconnect with creativity, energy, and meaningful connection by bringing play back into the way we work and live. Connect with Brandy and learn more about her incredible work here: www.brandiheather.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandiheather/ https://www.instagram.com/brandi__heather/ https://www.facebook.com/b3brandiheather   The Anchored Leadership Academy is launching a new cohort in January; spots are limited. 🔗 Learn more and book your discovery call here. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.   Work with Kari:  Anchored Leadership AcademyPrivate Business and Leadership CoachingContact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:  Website: BeTheAnchor.caFacebook: BeTheAnchorLtdInstagram: BeTheAnchor.caLinked In: Kari Lotzien Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    57 min
  6. 74 - A Moment to Reflect on the Year Past

    12/23/2025

    74 - A Moment to Reflect on the Year Past

    In this heartfelt final episode of 2025, Kari Lotzien, business and leadership coach, invites listeners into a deep year-end reflection filled with honesty, resilience, and grace. If you're feeling tired, overwhelmed, or unsure how you made it through the year, this episode is for you. Rather than a highlight reel, Kari gets real about what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. From struggling with unexpected health challenges during a milestone birthday year to rediscovering the power of strong systems, support, and data-driven truth, this episode is an intimate look behind the curtain of entrepreneurship. Kari shares how slowing down and reassessing her own "stories" about the year helped her uncover hidden wins and how you can too. Key Topics Discussed: Why turning the calendar doesn’t magically change who you are, but pausing to reflect just might.How Kari’s vision of hitting 50 as her fittest self collided with the unexpected reality of perimenopause.The mindset reframe that helped her shift from “this year was a write-off” to “this year was record-breaking.”A reminder that challenge and success are not opposites, they often walk hand in hand.How to find YOUR hidden wins by asking: “What’s the data say?”Ways that struggle might actually be setting you up for a more sustainable, scalable business.As 2025 comes to a close, Kari leaves listeners with a heartfelt invitation to pause and reflect, not just on what didn’t go as planned, but on the hidden wins that quietly shaped the year. Her message is clear: growth doesn’t always look like fireworks, and success often walks hand in hand with struggle. Through vulnerability and wisdom, Kari reminds her audience that they don’t have to navigate entrepreneurship alone. With the Anchored Leadership Academy launching a new cohort in January, she’s more committed than ever to helping business owners build systems, support, and resilience for the year ahead. The next cohort starts in January. Spots are limited. 🔗 Learn more and book your discovery call here. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.   Work with Kari: Anchored Leadership AcademyPrivate Business and Leadership CoachingContact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor: Website: BeTheAnchor.caFacebook: BeTheAnchorLtdInstagram: BeTheAnchor.caLinked In: Kari Lotzien Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    20 min
  7. 73 - What I Saw in 2025, Predictions for 2026

    12/09/2025

    73 - What I Saw in 2025, Predictions for 2026

    As a seasoned business and leadership coach, Kari Lotzien takes listeners behind the curtain of 2025 to reveal the real patterns shaping small business and where the biggest opportunities (and caution flags) lie in 2026. Drawing from private coaching sessions, the Anchored Leadership Academy, and her trusted membership community, Kari brings together powerful insights from across industries. If you're a small business owner looking for clarity, connection, and direction as you plan for the year ahead, this is the episode you cannot afford to miss. Key Topics Discussed: 2025 in Review: The 3 phases of AI adoption Kari observed in business (curiosity → chaos → cautious strategy)How AI created both a surge in innovation and a “trust recession”The slow, strategic buyer: why trust-building took longer and how to adaptWhat’s Coming in 2026: The 4-part strategy Kari believes small businesses must embrace to thrive:Get Real – authenticity over polishGet Clean – simplify your offerings and processesAmplify Human Connection – bring back personal touch in a digital worldCollaborate – leverage aligned partnerships without growing your teamAI + Human Synergy: Why 2026 isn’t about “AI vs. people,” but how well you balance automation with deep personal serviceReal examples of how AI can support both life and business (from meal planning to creative brainstorming)Small Business Advantage: How staying small and nimble allows for deeper trust and customizationPractical insights from Kari’s work with real leaders inside her Anchored programs  It's clear that small business success in 2026 won’t be about doing more, it will be about doing what matters, better. By embracing simplicity, leading with authenticity, leveraging AI thoughtfully, and building trusted partnerships, entrepreneurs have the opportunity to thrive in a rapidly shifting landscape. This is your moment to step into leadership, refine your strategy, and reconnect with the human side of business. The future belongs to those who are willing to evolve and do it with heart. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.   Work with Kari:  Anchored Leadership AcademyPrivate Business and Leadership CoachingContact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:  Website: BeTheAnchor.caFacebook: BeTheAnchorLtdInstagram: BeTheAnchor.caLinked In: Kari Lotzien Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    22 min

  8. 11/25/2025

    72 - AI, SEO, and the Future of Being Found What Every Small Business Needs to Know GUEST Meg Clarke, Clapping Dog Media

    In this eye-opening episode of Be the Anchor, Kari is joined by Meg Clarke, founder of Clapping Dog Media, an SEO and AI visibility agency helping small businesses get found by Google and recommended by AI. If SEO has ever felt overwhelming or if AI feels like it’s changing too fast to keep up, this conversation is your new best friend. Meg breaks down the shifts from traditional Google search to AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. More importantly, she explains how AI is holding us accountable to show up consistently and authentically across platforms and how that's actually great news for small business owners who are just being themselves. From personal branding to practical visibility tips, Meg and Kari dive into real strategies that help you get found without needing to game the system. Key Topics Discussed: Why AI is not replacing SEO but how it’s changing the game.How to show up in a way that earns trust from AI (and your audience).The surprising role LinkedIn, podcasts, and YouTube play in visibility.Why personal Instagram content may actually confuse AI.How custom GPTs can simplify and amplify your business operations.Real-life examples of using AI as a team member not a threat.Meg’s favorite visibility hacks you can implement today.What “authenticity” really means when it comes to online presence.  Whether you’re just beginning to explore SEO and AI or you’ve been navigating the digital landscape for a while, this episode is a powerful reminder that visibility doesn't have to mean overwhelm. As Meg so beautifully shared, showing up consistently, clearly, and authentically is not only enough, it's exactly what both your audience and AI are looking for.  Meg Clarke is the founder of Clapping Dog Media, an SEO and AI visibility agency that helps local businesses get found by Google and recommended by AI. Based in Northern Virginia, she leads a team that blends strategy, data, and heart to help clients grow online. A sought-after speaker and former Wheel of Fortune contestant, Meg is known for making SEO approachable, effective, and even a little fun. Connect with Meg and learn more about her incredible work here: www.clappingdogmedia.com www.linkedin.com/in/clappingdogmedia Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—start building a business that works for you—not just because of you.   Work with Kari:  Anchored Leadership AcademyPrivate Business and Leadership CoachingContact Kari Lotzien | Be the Anchor:  Website: BeTheAnchor.caFacebook: BeTheAnchorLtdInstagram: BeTheAnchor.caLinked In: Kari Lotzien Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    56 min
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A podcast for visionaries, entrepreneurs and people who dream big. We talk about getting real with yourself, doing the hard work and we share some insights and lessons learned along the way.

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