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. S3E74: Survival Isn’t the Win: What Small Business Owners Must Do After the Crisis

    5D AGO

    S3E74: Survival Isn’t the Win: What Small Business Owners Must Do After the Crisis

    Send us a text In this Monday Morning Motivation episode of the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, host Anna Steinfest shares a powerful business lesson inspired by the Grimm fairy tale The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean. This story may sound simple, but it delivers a critical message for small business owners: surviving a crisis is not the same as being safe from the next one. Many entrepreneurs narrowly escape tough seasons—cash flow scares, bad clients, burnout, or unexpected setbacks—only to rush forward without reflecting, adjusting, or building stronger systems. This episode breaks down the fairy tale in clear, simple terms and translates it into real-world lessons about resilience, decision-making, and sustainable business growth. 🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why survival alone is not success in businessThe danger of moving too fast after a crisisHow overextending yourself can burn out your businessWhat the “bean” teaches us about learning from near-failureThree practical action steps you can take this week to protect and strengthen your businessIf you’re a small business owner who has “barely made it through” a tough moment and wants to build something more stable and intentional moving forward, this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now to Small Business Survival Conversations and turn survival into smarter growth. #SmallBusinessSurvival #MondayMorningMotivation #SmallBusinessOwner #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessResilience #SustainableGrowth #BusinessLessons

    14 min
  2. S3E73: Build to Last: The Power of Slow Growth for Entrepreneurs

    FEB 2

    S3E73: Build to Last: The Power of Slow Growth for Entrepreneurs

    Send us a text In this Monday Morning Motivation episode of the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, host Anna Steinfest shares a powerful lesson inspired by the folktale The Bamboo Turtle — a story that reminds small business owners why strength, patience, and sustainability matter more than speed. In a world that celebrates rapid growth and overnight success, many entrepreneurs feel pressure to scale faster than their systems, cash flow, or energy can support. This episode challenges that mindset and shows why businesses built slowly and intentionally are often the ones that survive economic storms, market shifts, and burnout. 🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why fast growth can weaken your business foundationHow to build a business designed to last, not just look impressiveWhat the Bamboo Turtle teaches us about resilience and enduranceHow to stop comparing your pace to othersThree practical action steps you can take this week to strengthen your businessIf you’re a small business owner who wants to grow without burning out — and build something that can weather any storm — this episode is for you. 🎧 Tune in to Small Business Survival Conversations and start building a business that lasts. #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy #LongTermGrowth

    9 min
  3. S3E72: Slow and Smart Wins the Race: A Small Business Strategy Lesson

    JAN 26

    S3E72: Slow and Smart Wins the Race: A Small Business Strategy Lesson

    Send us a text In this Monday Morning Motivation episode of the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, host Anna Steinfest shares a powerful business lesson from the classic Grimm fairy tale The Hedgehog and the Hare—a story that proves speed alone doesn’t guarantee success. For small business owners, the pressure to move faster, grow quicker, and keep up with competitors can lead to burnout, poor decisions, and wasted energy. This episode challenges the hustle-first mindset and shows why strategy, planning, and leverage matter more than raw speed. 🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why chasing speed can hurt your businessHow ego and comparison derail smart decision-makingWhat the hedgehog teaches us about strategy, systems, and leverageHow to stop competing on someone else’s termsThree practical action steps you can apply this week to work smarter, not harderIf you’re a small business owner who feels like others are racing ahead, this episode is your reminder that winning doesn’t require being the fastest—it requires being intentional. 🎧 Listen now and start building a business that lasts, not one that burns out. #SmallBusinessSurvival #MondayMorningMotivation #SmallBusinessOwner #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessStrategy #WorkSmarterNotHarder #BusinessGrowth

    10 min
  4. S3E71: Run Your Race — Why Comparison Is Holding Your Business Back

    JAN 18

    S3E71: Run Your Race — Why Comparison Is Holding Your Business Back

    Send us a text In today’s Monday Morning Motivation episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, we’re talking about one of the biggest silent killers of momentum for small business owners: comparison. Somewhere right now, someone else’s business looks bigger, faster, and more successful. But chasing someone else’s path is a distraction that costs you focus, confidence, and progress. This episode is a mindset reset for entrepreneurs who feel behind, discouraged, or tempted to measure their success against others. You’ll learn why comparison is wasted energy, how to define success on your terms, and how to stay focused on the work that actually moves your business forward. 🎯 Plus, we end with three practical action steps and a downloadable worksheet to help you apply this lesson immediately. The goal isn’t to beat someone else’s life. The goal is to build yours. 🎧 Listen now and download the worksheet to start your week with clarity and confidence.

    10 min
  5. S3E70: Think Like an Octopus: How Small Business Owners Can Adapt, Survive, and Win

    JAN 12

    S3E70: Think Like an Octopus: How Small Business Owners Can Adapt, Survive, and Win

    Send us a text In this Monday Morning Motivation episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, host Anna Steinfest uses one of nature’s most intelligent creatures—the octopus—to deliver powerful lessons for small business owners navigating uncertainty. The octopus survives without a shell, without bones, and without a safety net—by relying on intelligence, adaptability, and strategy. Just like small business owners. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why adaptability is a competitive advantage for small businessesHow to use your environment, challenges, and constraints as strategic toolsWhat the octopus teaches us about flexibility, resilience, and decision-makingThree clear, actionable steps you can apply this week to strengthen your businessIf you’re a business owner trying to survive, scale, and stay agile in a constantly changing market, this episode will challenge you to stop fighting the environment—and start using it. 🎯 Listen now and learn how to think, adapt, and win like an octopus.  #SmallBusinessOwner #BusinessSurvival #EntrepreneurMindset #Adaptability #MondayMotivation

    11 min
  6. S3E69: If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, Any Road Will Do

    JAN 5

    S3E69: If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, Any Road Will Do

    Send us a text The first Monday of the new year is the most important planning moment for small business owners—and most skip it. In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation on the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, host Anna Steinfest uses a powerful lesson from Alice in Wonderland to explain why clarity matters more than hustle—and why you don’t need a traditional business plan to succeed. Instead, you’ll learn how to create a simple one-page business roadmap to define your goals, eliminate distractions, and make better decisions all year long. 🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why working hard without direction leads to burnoutHow to avoid chasing distractions disguised as opportunitiesWhat to include in a one-page business roadmapHow to set clear priorities for the year aheadThree actionable steps you can take this weekIf you’re a small business owner who wants focus, momentum, and clarity in the new year—this episode is for you.

    12 min
  7. S3E68: The New Year Reset: Focus, Discipline, and Growth for Small Businesses

    12/29/2025

    S3E68: The New Year Reset: Focus, Discipline, and Growth for Small Businesses

    Send us a text As the year comes to a close, many small business owners find themselves wishing for more — more time, more clients, more growth. But real progress doesn’t come from wishing. It comes from focus, discipline, and intentional action. In this special Monday Morning Motivation episode of the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, Anna Steinfest shares a powerful business lesson inspired by the classic Stonecutter folktale, helping entrepreneurs rethink power, progress, and what it truly takes to grow in the new year. This episode is designed for small business owners, founders, and entrepreneurs who want to enter the new year with clarity instead of chaos — and with a plan instead of pressure. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why chasing the “next thing” often stalls business growthHow to close the year with focus and confidenceThe difference between wishing for change and building itThree practical action steps to reset your business before the new yearIf you’re ready to stop repeating the same cycles and start building momentum that actually lasts, this episode will help you step into the new year with purpose. 🎯 Because the next level of your business doesn’t start on January 1 — it starts with the choices you make today. #MondayMorningMotivation  #SmallBusinessSurvival  #EntrepreneurMindset  #SmallBusinessOwner  #BusinessGrowth  #NewYearReset  #FounderFocus  #EntrepreneurLife  #BusinessStrategy

    8 min

  8. 12/12/2025

    S3E66: Hard Truths Small Business Owners Need to Hear for 2026

    Send us a text In this raw and honest episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, Anna Steinfest is joined by two of her longtime friends and fellow entrepreneurs — Clinton Smith and Quasan Shaw. Together, they’ve walked through the ups and downs of building businesses, and today, they’re sharing the hard truths small business owners need to hear as we head into 2026. This isn’t theory — it’s real talk from three people who’ve supported each other through setbacks, growth, and reinvention. And now, they’re here to share what they’ve learned with you. You’ll hear insights on: What to stop doing immediately in your businessHow to set smarter, burnout-proof goalsThe mindset shifts that keep you moving through hard seasonsPractical ways to cut costs, pivot fast, and prepare for uncertaintyWhether you’re just trying to survive or looking to scale in 2026, this episode is your playbook — rooted in truth, trust, and a shared mission to help small business owners succeed.  No fluff. Just real advice from real entrepreneurs who’ve been where you are.  #SmallBusinessTips #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessGrowth #2026BusinessPlanning #2026Goals #FutureProofYourBusiness

    36 min
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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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