Small Business Simplified

Karin Velez
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I'm Karin Velez, a multi-passionate entrepreneur with 25+ years' experience in small business and founder of the Growth Table Small Business Collective. I help you manage the day-to-day tasks of running your operation, whether you’re a solopreneur doing it all on your own or have just a few employees or contractors. I take the tasks that weigh you down and simplify them, so you can spend more time working ON your business and doing the inspirational things that sparked that passion in the first place. Pull up a seat each Wednesday at the Growth Table and let's Simplify your Small Business.

  1. You Can't Do It All (And You Shouldn't) - Ep. 27

    3d ago

    You Can't Do It All (And You Shouldn't) - Ep. 27

    If your inbox has an unread pile you keep meaning to get to, a queue of podcast episodes you haven't touched in weeks, and a task list where everything feels urgent, this episode is for you. Karin Velez walks you through two problems that most tiny business owners are dealing with at the same time: task prioritization (trying to work on everything at once so nothing actually moves) and content consumption (drowning in excellent information that doesn't apply to where your business is right now). You'll learn how to identify your needle-movers, why the future to-do list is a legitimate business tool, and how to build a four-step information triage system that lets you archive the good stuff without letting it steal your focus. Pull up a seat and let's get into it. Resources A Simple System for Managing the Tasks in Your Business: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7iO6gk2EkkzwKNtcv4YTvm?si=0wO7F4DuTVuudd8k3evD9g How to Manage the Big Ideas in Your Business: https://open.spotify.com/episode/782t5bXyQu7R8G8h0aksrW?si=_gYg1GEgT3mOhF4wf_wm2Q References 1. Greg McKeown — Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less McKeown's research on the disciplined pursuit of less is foundational to the needle-mover thinking in Part 1. https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/ 2. Cal Newport — Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Newport's research on the cognitive costs of attention fragmentation and task-switching provides the academic foundation for why trying to process and implement too many inputs at once produces poor results. https://calnewport.com/books/deep-work/ 3. Daniel Levitin — The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload Levitin's neuroscience-grounded research on how the brain handles information overload provides the scientific underpinning for the content triage system. https://daniellevitin.com/levitinlab/books/#TheOrganizedMind 4. Barry Schwartz — The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less Schwartz's research demonstrates that having more options does not improve outcomes and often produces the opposite effect: decision paralysis, lower satisfaction, and poorer execution. https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_the_paradox_of_choice 5. American Psychological Association (APA) — Research on Decision Fatigue and Cognitive Load The APA's body of research on decision fatigue provides academic grounding for the "everything feels urgent" problem in this episode. . https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/decision-fatigue 6. Tiago Forte — Building a Second Brain Forte's work on personal knowledge management is the conceptual ancestor of the "Now vs. Not Yet" sorting logic in the information triage system. https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com ------------------------------------------------------ If you want to do this work alongside a community of solopreneurs and tiny business owners who are all trying to keep it simple and keep it sustainable, come join us in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. Monthly workshops, practical resources, twice-monthly drop-in virtual coffees, and a table full of people who are genuinely rooting for each other. No noise, no hustle culture, just good work and good company. Head to GrowthTableSBC.com

    21 min
  2. Rest as a Business Strategy - Ep. 26

    Jun 24

    Rest as a Business Strategy - Ep. 26

    Rest is not the reward you earn after the work is done, it is the input that makes the work possible. In the final episode of the June Summer Sustainability series, Karin walks you through why most solopreneurs are not actually resting (they are collapsing), the four types of rest a small business owner needs and how each one gets depleted, and a three-layer rest protocol — daily, weekly, and seasonal — that builds on itself. You’ll also hear three reframes for when rest feels wrong, lazy, or unearned, and leave with a one-week rest experiment you can start tomorrow. This episode closes a three-part arc on building a more sustainable summer as a microbusiness owner. Pull up a seat at the table and let’s get into it. ------------------------------------------------------------- References 1. Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD — Sacred Rest and The 7 Types of Rest Framework Dr. Dalton-Smith’s research-based framework on the seven types of rest is the conceptual foundation for the four-types-of-rest section in this episode. https://www.ideas.ted.com/the-7-types-of-rest-that-every-person-needs/ 2. Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less Pang’s research-grounded book examines the work habits of high-performing scientists, writers, and entrepreneurs, demonstrating that deliberate rest is not opposed to productive work but is a core component of it. https://www.strategy-business.com/article/Rest 3. Tony Schwartz — The Energy Project (Harvard Business Review) Schwartz’s widely cited Harvard Business Review work on energy management establishes the case that strategic recovery produces better business outcomes than continuous work. https://hbr.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your-time 4. American Psychological Association (APA) — Burnout, Recovery, and Decision Quality Research The APA’s ongoing body of research on burnout among self-employed workers and small business owners documents the measurable cognitive and decision-making costs of inadequate recovery. https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/work-stress 5. Cal Newport — Slow Productivity and Deep Work Newport’s ongoing research and writing on slow productivity, deep work, and the cognitive costs of always-on communication informs the framing of rest as a quality-of-work strategy. https://calnewport.com 6. National Institutes of Health (NIH) — Sleep and Cognitive Function Research The NIH’s research on the relationship between sleep, cognitive function, and decision-making provides the scientific foundation for the physical rest layer of this episode. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/why-sleep-important -------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want a place to keep building, alongside other solopreneurs and microbusiness owners doing the same work — come join us in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. We are building these things right alongside you with monthly workshops, a growing library of practical resources, peer support, and more all in a private community off social media. Head to GrowthTableSBC.com

    18 min
  3. Setting Summer Hours as a Solopreneur - Ep. 25

    Jun 17

    Setting Summer Hours as a Solopreneur - Ep. 25

    If your summer schedule is “I’ll try to take Fridays off (but probably won’t)”, this episode is going to change that. Karin Velez, founder of the Growth Table Small Business Collective, walks you through how to set real summer hours as a solopreneur or microbusiness owner: the three decisions you need to make to design your container, three schedule models that work, and the three scripts you’ll need to communicate the change to your active clients, your potential clients, and your general audience without apologizing or losing business. You’ll also learn how to hold the line when the first push-back comes (and it will), and what to do when you break your own rule. Pull up a seat at the table and let’s get into it. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you want a place to do this work alongside other solopreneurs, supporting each other in building sustainable businesses that don’t burn us out, come join me in the Growth Table Small Business Collective. It’s a private community off social media with monthly workshops, virtual coffees, mentoring and more. You can find us at GrowthTableSBC.com. References 1. 4 Day Week Global — Research and Case Studies on Reduced Workweek Trials https://www.4dayweek.com 2. John Pencavel — Stanford University, Research on Working Hours and Productivity https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/working-paper/productivity-working-hours 3. Microsoft Japan — Work-Life Choice Challenge 2019 Microsoft Japan’s widely reported four-day workweek trial — in which employees worked four days per week with full pay — resulted in a reported 40 percent productivity gain and significant reductions in operating costs. This is one of the most-cited corporate examples of compressed-week scheduling and informs the practical case for the four-day week model. https://news.microsoft.com/en-cee/2019/11/04/microsoft-japan-experimented-with-a-4-day-workweek-and-productivity-jumped-by-40/ 4. Harvard Business Review — Articles on Flexible Scheduling and Knowledge Worker Productivity https://hbr.org/topic/flexible-work 5. Cal Newport — Slow Productivity and Deep Work Newport’s research and writing on focus, slow productivity, and the cost of always-on communication directly informed the framing of summer hours as a focused work strategy rather than a productivity loss. His emphasis on doing fewer things at a higher quality applies precisely to the four-day workweek logic. https://calnewport.com 6. American Psychological Association (APA) — Burnout, Recovery, and Decision Quality Research https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/work-stress 7. SCORE — Small Business Time Management and Operations Resources https://www.score.org 8. Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) — Business Operations and Scheduling Advising https://americassbdc.org

    18 min
  4. Why You Can't Take a Week Off (and How to Fix That) - Ep. 24

    Jun 10

    Why You Can't Take a Week Off (and How to Fix That) - Ep. 24

    If your business can’t survive a week without you, this episode is going to feel personal. Karin Velez, founder of the Growth Table Small Business Collective, walks you through the Step-Away Stack, a four-layer system that lets solopreneurs and microbusiness owners take real time off without their business falling apart. You’ll learn how to communicate your absence in a way that protects relationships, capture what matters without staying tethered to your inbox, build the five automations that keep your operation moving while you’re gone, and protect your re-entry so the first day back doesn’t undo the entire benefit of being away. This is a build-it-with-you episode - Karin is building her own Step-Away Stack right alongside listeners, because summer is here and rest isn’t optional! Pull up a seat at the table and let’s get into it. -------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want a place to keep building, alongside other solopreneurs and microbusiness owners doing the same work, come join us in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. We host monthly workshops, keep a growing library of practical resources, peer support, and direct access to Karin when you need a nudge or a next step. No noise, no hustle culture, just a table full of people who are genuinely rooting for each other. Head to GrowthTableSBC.com

    21 min
  5. Your Mid-Year Business Check-In - Ep. 23

    Jun 3

    Your Mid-Year Business Check-In - Ep. 23

    We are at the tail end of Q2 and that means you have five months of real business data behind you and seven months left in the year to work with. This is the perfect moment to stop, look at the scoreboard honestly, and make one smart adjustment before summer arrives. In this episode of Small Business Simplified, Karin Velez guides you through a 30-minute mid-year check-in built around five simple questions: What came in? What went out? What made the most money? What cost the most time? And what’s the one thing to do differently next quarter? She walks you through the four numbers you need to pull, the benchmarks to compare them against, and exactly what to do with what you find, whether you’re ahead of target, behind it, or somewhere in the middle. Pull up a seat at the table and let’s get into it. Quick Notes • The Four Numbers: Total revenue / Total expenses / Annual target / Revenue-to-date percentage • The Five Questions: What came in? / What went out? / What made the most money? / What cost the most time? / What’s the one thing to do differently? • Quick Benchmark: At 4 months in, a consistent business should be near 33% of its annual revenue target. References 1. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) — Business Planning, Goal Setting, and Mid-Year Reviews https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/strengthen-your-business 2. SCORE — Business Review Templates and Small Business Planning Resources https://www.score.org/resource/business-planning-financial-statements-template-gallery 3. Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) — Financial Review and Business Advising https://americassbdc.org 4. Harvard Business Review — Goal Setting, Business Reviews, and Performance Management for Small Business https://hbr.org/2021/10/make-your-goals-smarter 7. Babson College — Entrepreneurship and Small Business Performance Research https://www.babson.edu/academics/centers-and-institutes/blank-center/ ------------------------------------------------------------- If you want more mini systems like this you can implement in your business, plus deep-dive workshops that we spend an entire month nurturing you through, come join us in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. No noise, no hustle culture, just a table full of people who are genuinely rooting for each other. Head to GrowthTableSBC.com

    23 min
  6. The Yes Trap: When Saying Yes to Work Is Costing You Money - Ep. 22

    May 27

    The Yes Trap: When Saying Yes to Work Is Costing You Money - Ep. 22

    Have you ever said yes to a client or a project and known almost immediately that it was a mistake? That’s the Yes Trap, the habit of accepting work without honestly evaluating whether it fits your pricing, your capacity, or the direction you’re trying to grow. And it is one of the most common and most costly patterns in early-stage business. In this episode, Karin Velez breaks down exactly what the Yes Trap is, why early-stage business owners are especially vulnerable to it, and what a bad-fit client or project actually costs you in time, margin, energy, and reputation. She walks through a simple three-question filter to run before accepting any new work, and gives you practical, real-world language for saying no gracefully, communicating a not-yet with warmth, and restructuring an offer when the terms don’t work, all without burning a relationship or apologizing for having standards. If you’ve ever taken on work you shouldn’t have, this episode is for you. Pull up a seat at the table and let’s get into it. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Resources: 1. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) — Pricing, Scope Management, and Small Business Profitability https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/manage-your-finances 2. SCORE — Client Management, Boundaries, and Business Sustainability https://www.score.org/resource/business-planning-financial-statements-template-gallery 3. Project Management Institute (PMI) — Scope Creep Research https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/pulse-profession 4. Harvard Business Review — The Cost of Bad Clients and Misaligned Work https://hbr.org/topic/entrepreneurship 5. Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) — Client Agreements and Scope Definition https://americassbdc.org 6. Cornell University ILR School — Negotiation and Professional Boundaries https://www.ilr.cornell.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want a supportive, no-noise community of business owners who are building real businesses without the hustle-culture pressure, come join us in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. Monthly workshops, a growing resource library, peer support, and direct access to me. Head to GrowthTableSBC.com

    23 min
  7. Stop Chasing New Customers: Why Retention Is the Fastest Path to Profitability - Ep. 21

    May 20

    Stop Chasing New Customers: Why Retention Is the Fastest Path to Profitability - Ep. 21

    Most early-stage business owners pour almost all of their marketing energy into finding new customers. But the fastest, most affordable path to profitability is often already sitting in your customer list. In this episode, I break down the real math behind customer retention: why keeping an existing customer costs a fraction of what it takes to find a new one, and how a small improvement in retention can dramatically impact your bottom line. I walk you through a simple three-step routine for keeping customers coming back plus a practical, low-pressure framework for asking for referrals that feels natural rather than pushy. Whether you have five customers or fifty, this episode will help you build a foundation of loyalty and word-of-mouth that grows with your business. Pull up a seat at the table and let’s get into it. ------------------------------------------------------------ if you’re looking for a calm, supportive place to keep building, off social media, without the noise, come join us in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. Monthly workshops, a resource library, peer support, and access to me for questions and guidance. Head to GrowthTableSBC.com

    23 min
  8. Are You Making Money or Just Making Sales? Profit Basics for New Small Business Owners - Ep. 20

    May 13

    Are You Making Money or Just Making Sales? Profit Basics for New Small Business Owners - Ep. 20

    Making sales feels great, but are you actually making money? For early-stage business owners, the gap between revenue and real profit is one of the most important and most overlooked numbers in the business. In this episode, I break down the difference between revenue, gross profit, and net profit and walk you through the three most common profit leaks that quietly drain new businesses: underpricing, untracked expenses, and uncounted time. You’ll also learn how to run a simple 10-minute profitability check using just three numbers, and what to do with whatever you find. Pull up a seat at the table and let’s get into it. Resources: 1. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) — Financial Statements and Profitability Foundational guidance on reading and understanding business financial statements, including profit and loss reports, for small business owners. https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/manage-your-finances 2. SCORE — Profit and Loss Statement Template and Mentoring Free P&L templates, financial planning worksheets, and one-on-one mentoring from experienced business advisors. SCORE mentoring is free and confidential. https://www.score.org/resource/business-planning-financial-statements-template-gallery Work with me: https://growthtablesbc.com/coaching ----------------------------------------------------------- My Business Builder Bootcamp kicks off next week! If you or someone you know is just starting their business and needs a road map to follow, step by step, that’s the place to be. One hour per day with me for five days plus a detailed workbook that gets you from idea to launched business by the end of the week. It sounds intense and it kind of is but doing the work is how you get the business you’ve been dreaming off of the ground and running without any more delays. Head to growthtablesbc.com/bootcamp.

    16 min
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About

I'm Karin Velez, a multi-passionate entrepreneur with 25+ years' experience in small business and founder of the Growth Table Small Business Collective. I help you manage the day-to-day tasks of running your operation, whether you’re a solopreneur doing it all on your own or have just a few employees or contractors. I take the tasks that weigh you down and simplify them, so you can spend more time working ON your business and doing the inspirational things that sparked that passion in the first place. Pull up a seat each Wednesday at the Growth Table and let's Simplify your Small Business.

Information

  • Creator
    Karin Velez
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Karin Velez
  • Show Website
    Small Business Simplified

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