Small Business Stories

Loralyn Mears, PhD
  • 4.8 (20)
  • 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. When YOU the Entrepreneur Become THE BOTTLENECK with James Brown

    1D AGO

    When YOU the Entrepreneur Become THE BOTTLENECK with James Brown

    S6:E45 What happens when a business grows faster than its structure, messaging, or leadership capacity? In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with James Brown, founder of Business Accelerator Institute and Perseverance Squared, to discuss why so many entrepreneurs become trapped inside businesses they worked hard to build. If people don't trust what they're seeing, they hesitate. If the market cannot clearly categorize your value, visibility declines. And in the AI-search era, operational confusion increasingly becomes a credibility problem. James Brown brings decades of experience in business growth, strategic management, marketing systems, and leadership development. After building and scaling multiple companies himself, he has helped hundreds of business owners create more sustainable operations and clearer growth strategies.  Together, Dr. LL and James explore the operational and visibility consequences of founder overload, inconsistent marketing, unclear positioning, and businesses built entirely around personal sacrifice. We're open and honest about it because we've both been there - and got the t-shirt. ⚠️ Core Problems Discussed • Why many entrepreneurs become operational bottlenecks • The hidden costs of inconsistent marketing strategy • How unclear business identity weakens market trust 🥡 Practical Takeaways • Build systems that reduce dependency on founder availability • Tie marketing activity to measurable business intent • Create operational clarity before scaling visibility ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 The hidden cost of founder dependency 07:12 Why most marketing feels disconnected 14:25 Building repeatable business systems 22:41 Visibility breakdowns in growing companies 31:08 Redefining sustainable entrepreneurship 🔖 Who This Episode Is For Founders, operators, consultants, professional service firms, and growth-stage entrepreneurs navigating scale, visibility, and leadership pressure. At STEERus, conversations like these continue revealing how signal clarity, operational trust, and decision integrity increasingly shape business visibility. Subscribe, share, and follow Small Business Stories for grounded conversations with leaders navigating modern entrepreneurship.   ✅ 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

    10 min
  2. You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    1D AGO ·  BONUS

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing Esther Perel: The REAL Reason You’re Struggling to Find Love (Fix THIS to Build Chemistry in Real Life) from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Today,  Jay Shetty welcomes back Esther Perel to unpack a growing tension in modern relationships: in a world more connected than ever, why so many people feel deeply disconnected. Esther reframes dating struggles as something deeper than love itself, pointing to a broader loss of real-life social practice. Without the everyday interactions that once taught us how to approach, connect, and handle rejection, dating now feels like a high-stakes performance instead of a natural progression. What was once built through play, curiosity, and gradual connection has been compressed into a single moment of pressure, turning love into something overwhelming rather than something we can explore. Jay and Esther explore the illusion of connection in the digital age, where texting replaces talking and screens replace presence. Esther explains how this disembodied way of relating strips away the elements that create real intimacy, like eye contact, tone of voice, touch, and shared energy. While it can feel like we are communicating more, we are often losing depth, nuance, and emotional resonance. This shift has shaped a culture that avoids friction and discomfort, yet still feels more anxious, lonely, and exhausted. In trying to make relationships easier and more efficient, we may be losing the very experiences that give them meaning. In this episode you'll learn: How to Build Real Connection Offline How to Turn Dating Into Discovery, Not Pressure How to Be More Curious Instead of Judgmental How to Create Attraction Through Presence Not Perfection How to Ask for What You Truly Need How to Build Trust in Small, Consistent Moments How to Balance Independence and Interdependence How to Stay Open to Love Without a Checklist If there’s one thing to hold onto, it’s this: nothing about love is broken, you’re just being asked to approach it differently. The world may have made connection feel more complicated, but at its core, it still comes back to showing up, being present, and allowing yourself to be seen without needing to get everything right. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe   Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 01:11 Why Is Gen Z Dating Less? 04:23 The Disappearance of Physical Connection 06:26 Living in a Fully Contactless World 09:54 Connected, Yet Deeply Disconnected 12:01 Dating in the Age of Surveillance 14:11 Why Real Connection Feels Harder Than Ever 17:07 Why Love Falls Flat Without Friction 18:41 The Missing Skills No One Taught Us About Love 24:35 The Hidden Power Struggles Shaping Modern Relationships 27:05 The 4 Pillars of Relational Intelligence 30:07 Have We Lost the Ability to Problem-Solve? 32:38 How to Know If You Can Really Trust Someone 36:44 From “Me” to “We”  38:27 Should You Make a Dating Checklist?  41:04 Why Dating Feels Like a Full-Time Job 43:00 The Pressure Behind “Intentional” Dating 47:50 When Love Doesn’t Speak Your Language 50:25 Why Talking to AI Feels Easier Than People 55:16 The Trap of Wanting Love to Feel Effortless 56:35 Is Love Supposed to Be Hard? 57:58 Why Wanting Love Isn’t “Cringe” 01:02:43 Codependence vs Healthy Love 01:07:09 What Actually Keeps Desire Alive? 01:10:26 Breaking Down Viral Relationship Myths   01:17:38 Esther on Final Five Episode Resources: Website | https://www.estherperel.com/  YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@estherperel  Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/esther.perel/  Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/estherperelofficial  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherperel  TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@estherperel_official  Substack | https://estherperel.substack.com/  Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence 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. Why Your Marketing Isn't Converting Leads into Customers with Amber Gaige Farrell

    3D AGO

    Why Your Marketing Isn't Converting Leads into Customers with Amber Gaige Farrell

    S6:E44 Marketing typically fails because of misalignment between the message and the buyer. Product market fit, or the lack thereof, is a business death nail. Many founders are active across multiple channels, yet their message doesn't land. The result is lower conversion AND confusion in the market about what the business actually does and who it serves. If people don't understand your message, they won't act. If your positioning is unclear, they won't remember you. If your signal is inconsistent, both buyers and AI will misinterpret you. Amber Gaige Farrell joins Dr. LL to explore why marketing breaks down—and how clarity across the customer journey restores both trust and conversion. 👤 Guest Amber Gaige Founder, Far Beyond Marketing Specialist in marketing strategy, brand clarity, and customer experience ⚠️ Core Problems High activity with low conversion Misaligned messaging across platforms Poorly defined customer journey Inconsistent brand signal 🥡 Practical Takeaways Define a clear problem and audience Align every channel to that core message Build a cohesive customer journey Prioritize clarity over volume ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 The conversion gap 7:10 Messaging breakdowns 15:30 Customer journey clarity 25:40 Channel alignment 36:20 Founder priorities 🔖 Who This Episode Is For Founders, marketers, consultants, growing businesses Clarity is not a branding exercise—it's a growth requirement. This is where signal integrity begins. Presented by STEERus.     ✅ 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   #marketingstrategy #marketing #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #smallbusiness

    30 min
  4. Structure, Scale & the Hidden Cost of Growth with Brian Mattocks

    4D AGO

    Structure, Scale & the Hidden Cost of Growth with Brian Mattocks

    S6:E43 Growth is often treated as proof that everything is working. But internally, it can signal the opposite. And growth can BREAK you and your business. Many businesses expand faster than their systems can support. What once felt agile becomes chaotic. Decisions stall. Teams drift. And over time, the business becomes harder to run, even as it looks more successful from the outside. If people don't understand how your business works, they can't support it. If your systems don't scale, your growth becomes fragile. If your signal is unclear, both the market and AI will miscategorize you. Brian Mattocks joins Dr. LL to unpack what actually breaks inside growing organizations—and how leaders can restore clarity, alignment, and execution discipline. 👤 Guest Brian Mattocks Expert in operational systems, scaling businesses, and organizational alignment ⚠️ Core Problems Operational breakdown during growth Lack of clarity in roles and accountability Reactive leadership cycles Misalignment between strategy and execution 🥡 Practical Takeaways Design systems intentionally, not reactively Clarify ownership across teams Align structure with growth stage Build operational discipline early ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 Growth vs. stability tension 6:45 Why systems fail 15:20 Role clarity gaps 24:10 Designing scalable operations 35:30 Founder priorities 🔖 Who This Episode Is For Scaling founders, operators, leadership teams, consultants Clarity in structure creates clarity in signal. That's where sustainable growth begins—inside and out. Presented by STEERus. ✅ 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   #business #businessstips #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship #businessgrowth

    24 min
  5. How to Get Podcast Leads Without Paid Ads With Tom Schwab of Interview Valet

    APR 24

    How to Get Podcast Leads Without Paid Ads With Tom Schwab of Interview Valet

    S6:E42 The market is louder than ever, yet trust feels like a rare commodity. Many founders are visible but not chosen. They generate impressions, traffic, and activity, yet still lack meaningful conversations with ideal buyers. If people don't trust you, they won't engage. If they don't remember you, they won't refer you. If your growth depends only on ads, it remains fragile. Tom Schwab joins Dr. LL to discuss how podcast guesting can create a more durable path to authority, relationships, and revenue. 👤 Guest Tom Schwab, Interview Valet Leader in podcast interview marketing and relationship-based lead generation ⚠️ Core Problems Transactional outreach fatigue Overreliance on paid traffic Weak authority positioning No system for converting credibility into pipeline 🥡 Practical Takeaways Go where trust already exists Share expertise in long-form conversations Build follow-up systems after appearances Measure relationships, not just reach ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 The trust deficit in marketing 7:18 Why podcasts work differently 15:42 Authority through conversation 26:10 Systems that convert interviews 36:40 What to build next 🔖 Who This Episode Is For B2B founders, advisors, agencies, consultants, executives Signal clarity grows when trust precedes promotion. Presented by STEERus. Subscribe, share, and follow for more grounded conversations. ✅ 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   #podcasting #podcast #marketing #entrepreneur #smallbusiness

    8 min
  6. Small Business Growth Without Guardrails: Hiring, Risk & Profitability with Michelle Griffin

    APR 22

    Small Business Growth Without Guardrails: Hiring, Risk & Profitability with Michelle Griffin

    S6:E41 Growth exposes what founders postpone (isn't that the truth?!). Many businesses believe HR is just paperwork. In reality, HR often determines whether growth compounds, or fractures. If people don't trust your standards, culture weakens. If systems don't support growth, margins erode. If leadership delays hard decisions, costs multiply quietly. In this episode, Michelle Griffin joins Dr. LL to discuss what really happens when small businesses grow faster than their people infrastructure. 👤 Guest Michelle Griffin, Griffin Resources Specialist in HR systems, hiring compliance, workforce growth strategy ⚠️ Core Problems Reactive hiring decisions Contractor classification risk Culture dilution during growth Weak accountability systems 🥡 Practical Takeaways Build structure before scale Hire with clarity, not urgency Protect standards early Understand people risk as financial risk ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 Hidden growth risks 7:42 Expensive hiring errors 16:10 Classification issues 25:18 Culture and accountability 34:40 What to fix now 🔖 Who This Episode Is For Executives, founders, operators, scaling small businesses Signal clarity often starts where leaders least expect it: internal decisions. Presented by STEERus. Subscribe, share, and follow for more grounded conversations.   ✅ 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 #HR #hiring #mistakes #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness

    40 min
  7. How to Run a Small Business Better With Less Chaos Featuring Dan Norcross

    APR 18

    How to Run a Small Business Better With Less Chaos Featuring Dan Norcross

    S6:E40 Most businesses either have a revenue problem or an operating problem. In this episode, Dr. LL explores why capable founders often stay trapped inside businesses they built: overloaded, reactive, and too central to everything. "Founder fatigue" is real, folks. If people can't move without you, the company is constrained. If every issue escalates to the founder, scale is fragile. If systems are weak, growth becomes expensive. Dan Norcross shares a grounded perspective on building businesses that function with more discipline and less drama. Guest Dan Norcross Entrepreneur / Operator Core Problems Founder dependency Poor delegation structures Operational chaos Growth without leverage Practical Takeaways Systemize recurring decisions Build accountability into roles Reduce founder dependency Mature operations before forcing scale Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:00 Why chaos persists 11:00 Systems and leverage 18:00 Accountability culture 26:00 What mature businesses do differently Who This Episode Is For Founders ready to run a company, not just carry one. This conversation reinforces a core STEERus™ principle: When the founder becomes the business, the business cannot fully grow.   ✅ 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   #burnout #entrepreneurship #growth #growthmindset #smallbusiness

    8 min
  8. How to Build Trust as an Entrepreneur When No One Knows You With Kira Shishkin

    APR 12

    How to Build Trust as an Entrepreneur When No One Knows You With Kira Shishkin

    S6:E39 Trust isn't built by showing up more. It's built by being understood. In this episode, Dr. LL explores a recurring challenge facing entrepreneurs: why visibility alone isn't translating into credibility or growth. If people don't trust you, they don't buy. If they don't understand you, they can't trust you. And if your signal is inconsistent, you remain invisible, no matter how often you show up. Kira Shishkin brings perspective on what it actually takes to build trust in modern business environments, where attention is fragmented and skepticism is high. Guest Kira Shishkin Entrepreneur Core Problems Confusion between visibility and trust Weak or inconsistent messaging Lack of intentional relationship-building Difficulty standing out in crowded markets Practical Takeaways Trust requires clarity before consistency Messaging must be simple enough to repeat Relationships drive conversion—not exposure Credibility is earned through alignment Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 04:00 Trust challenges today 09:00 Visibility vs credibility 15:00 Relationship dynamics 22:00 Converting trust into growth Who This Episode Is For Founders and operators trying to strengthen credibility and build trust with their audience. This conversation reinforces a core STEERus™ principle: When your signal is unclear, trust breaks and growth stalls. Subscribe and share if this 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/@DrLLSmallBusiness Instagram: https://instagram.com/steerus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steerus Twitter: https://x.com/steerus_io    #trust #sales #entrepreneur #smallbusiness

    11 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
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) STEERus 2026
  • Show Website
    Small Business Stories