Small Business Survival Conversations

Anna Steinfest
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

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. 4d ago

    You Can't Climb the Ladder With Your Hands in Your Pockets

    Send us Fan Mail Every entrepreneur knows the temptation to wait — for more money, more confidence, more perfect timing. This week's Monday Morning Motivation starts with one line from Arnold Schwarzenegger: "You can't climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets." From there, it's a story about two farmers, the hidden cost of "someday," and why growth almost never happens inside your comfort zone. If you've been staring at your ladder instead of climbing it, this one's for you. 🎙️ This is Small Business Survival Conversations — real talk for entrepreneurs building something that lasts. 💛 Thought for the week: "You can't climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets." Subscribe for a new Monday Morning Motivation every week, and full-length conversations with small business owners navigating the real stuff — growth, setbacks, and everything in between. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Cold Open  1:15 – The Ladder  3:00 – The Illusion of "Someday"  5:15 – The Farmer's Lesson  7:00 – The Hidden Cost of Comfort  9:15 – Every Rung Looks Small 10:45 – Thought for the Week  11:30 – This Week's Action Step  12:15 – Closing #SmallBusinessSurvival #MondayMotivation #BusinessWarriors #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessOwner #TakeAction #BusinessMindset #ArnoldSchwarzenegger #MondayMorningMotivation #GrowthMindset

    You Can't Climb the Ladder With Your Hands in Your Pockets

  2. Jul 13

    Don't Hide the Crack, Fill It With Gold | Monday Morning Motivation

    Send us Fan Mail Every business owner has a crack in their story — the launch that flopped, the client who left, the year the numbers didn't work. This week's Monday Morning Motivation tells the story of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, and what it teaches us about turning our business setbacks into our most valuable asset. If you're in the middle of a hard season right now, this one's for you. 🎙️ This is Small Business Survival Conversations — real talk for entrepreneurs building something that lasts. 💛 Thought for the week: "Don't hide the crack. Fill it with gold." Subscribe for a new Monday Morning Motivation every week, and full-length conversations with small business owners navigating the real stuff — growth, setbacks, and everything in between. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Cold Open  0:45 – The Story of the Shogun's Bowl  3:30 – What Kintsugi Teaches Us About Business  7:00 – If You're in the Crack Right Now  9:30 – Thought for the Week  11:00 – This Week's Action Step  12:00 – Closing HASHTAGS #SmallBusinessSurvival #MondayMotivation #BusinessWarriors #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessOwner #Kintsugi #ResilientBusiness #BusinessMindset #FailureToSuccess #MondayMorningMotivation

    Don't Hide the Crack, Fill It With Gold | Monday Morning Motivation

  3. Jul 6

    The Spider Who Saved a Pig (And What It Teaches You About Business)

    Send us Fan Mail She had no money. No power. No influence with the farmer. Just a web — and she used it to save a life. In this week's Monday Morning Motivation, we're going back to a barn most of us know from childhood — Charlotte's Web — but looking at it through a business owner's eyes. What starts as a story about a spider and a pig turns into a masterclass on branding, mentorship, reputation, and leadership. If you're building a small business and some weeks it feels like no one notices your value... this episode is for you. Here's what we cover: ✅ Why your business is only as strong as the story people tell about it  ✅ Why your greatest competitive advantage might be one person who believes in you  ✅ Why great reputations are built one thread at a time — not overnight  ✅ Why the best leaders help other people shine instead of chasing the spotlight ✅ Why your legacy was never your business — it's the people you leave better than you found them Grab your coffee, take a breath, and let's start this week the right way. If this episode encourages you, share it with one entrepreneur who needs to hear it — and don't forget to subscribe for a new Monday Morning Motivation every week. Chapters (paste directly into YouTube description) 00:00 Welcome — Monday Morning Motivation  00:30 The Story of Charlotte's Web  03:30 Lesson 1: Your Business Is Only as Strong as Its Story  05:00 Lesson 2: Someone Who Believes in You  06:30 Lesson 3: Reputations Are Built One Thread at a Time  07:45 Lesson 4: Great Leaders Help Others Shine  09:00 Lesson 5: Your Legacy Isn't Your Business 10:15 Two Questions to Ask Yourself This Week  11:15 This Week's Challenge  12:15 Closing Thoughts Hashtags #SmallBusinessSurvivalConversations #MondayMorningMotivation #SmallBusinessTips #Entrepreneurship #BusinessLeadership #CharlottesWeb #BusinessMentorship #SmallBusinessOwner #BusinessMotivation #StartupAdvice

    The Spider Who Saved a Pig (And What It Teaches You About Business)

  4. Jun 29

    Ali Baba, Jack Ma, and the One Thing Every Successful Entrepreneur Has in Common

    Send us Fan Mail What do a poor woodcutter from an ancient folktale and the founder of one of the world's most powerful companies have in common? More than you think. This Monday, Anna Steinfest takes you on a journey from the caves of Ali Baba to the global headquarters of Alibaba — and reveals the one truth that connects them both: the door only opens for those who keep searching. In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, we revisit one of history's most beloved stories — but this time, we go deeper. Because every time you return to a great story, you are a different person than the last time you heard it. And your business is in a different place too. 🔓 What you'll discover in this episode: ✅ Why Ali Baba's real treasure wasn't gold — and what it means for your business this week  ✅ The dangerous mistake Cassim made that destroys more businesses than any recession ever could  ✅ The forgotten hero of the story — and why every great company has one (do you?)  ✅ How Jack Ma was rejected over and over — including by KFC — before building a global empire  ✅ The one question to ask yourself every Monday morning that will change how you see opportunity  ✅ Why the biggest opportunities rarely announce themselves — and how to spot the ones hiding in plain sight 💡 The magic words aren't "Open Sesame." The real magic is refusing to stop searching until the door finally opens. This episode is for every entrepreneur who has ever stood in front of a closed door and wondered if it was meant for someone else. It was meant for you. You just have to keep showing up. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 — Welcome, Business Warriors  01:15 — Why We Return to the Same Story  02:30 — Ali Baba: The Morning That Changed Everything  04:45 — What "Open Sesame" Really Means for Entrepreneurs  06:10 — Cassim's Warning: When Growth Becomes a Trap  07:45 — Morgiana: The Hero Nobody Remembers (But Every Business Needs)  09:20 — Jack Ma: From KFC Rejection to Global Empire  11:30 — The Monday Morning Question That Will Change Your Week  13:00 — Closing: Go Find Your Door 🎙️ Small Business Survival Conversations is a global podcast for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and anyone brave enough to build something from nothing. New episodes every Monday. 📌 If this episode spoke to you, share it with one entrepreneur who needs to hear it today. Because sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do for someone else is hand them the words that open their door. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Monday Morning Motivation 👍 Like if this gave you something to think about this week 💬 Comment below: What door have YOU been walking past? Tell us — we read every single one. #SmallBusinessPodcast #MondayMotivation #EntrepreneurMindset #SmallBusinessOwner #AlibabaJackMa #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurLife #MondayMorningMotivation #SmallBusinessSurvival #BusinessPodcast #OpenSesame #StartupLife #BusinessSuccess #GlobalEntrepreneur #BusinessWisdom

    Ali Baba, Jack Ma, and the One Thing Every Successful Entrepreneur Has in Common

  5. Jun 22

    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

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

  6. 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/

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

  7. 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

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

  8. Jun 1

    S3E91The 3 Principles Behind Every Successful Business

    Send us Fan Mail What separates businesses that survive from those that truly grow? In this powerful episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, Anna Steinfest sits down with executive coach and leadership expert Ken Dombrowski to discuss the three core principles behind every successful business. Together, they break down: Why mentorship can accelerate business growthThe importance of follow-through and executionWhy evaluating your business honestly is critical for long-term successThe difference between ideas and actionCommon mistakes entrepreneurs make when trying to growHow successful business owners adapt, learn, and improve over timeThis episode is packed with practical advice, leadership insights, and real-world business wisdom for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. If you’re a small business owner looking to grow stronger, lead better, and build a more sustainable business, this conversation is for you. Featuring Ken Dombrowski Founder & Executive Coach at Your Executive Life Coaching https://www.yourexecutivelifecoaching.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, share it with another entrepreneur who could benefit from these lessons. #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Mentorship #BusinessCoach #Execution #SmallBusinessOwner #SuccessMindset #BusinessPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #SmallBusinessSurvivalConversations

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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.

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