Small Business Bestie

Michelle Smock
  • 5.0 (14)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Entrepreneurship is hard, and sometimes we could use a friend to walk a mile in our shoes. Small Business Bestie is here to provide that friendship, support, and inspiration that small business owners need from time to time. 

  1. 59: Tech Tips from the Tech Chic, Tina Watson

    JUL 9

    59: Tech Tips from the Tech Chic, Tina Watson

    Send us a text Tech is essential for all small businesses, but many entrepreneurs overlook critical IT security measures until it's too late. Tina Watson, IT consultant with 25 years of experience, shares how proper technology planning can protect your business from devastating data loss and security breaches. • Small businesses are prime targets for hackers precisely because they often lack proper security measures • Security basics include strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and regular software updates • "Cloud" services aren't actually ethereal—they're physical servers that can be compromised without proper backups • Managed IT services provide predictable monthly costs while ensuring proper security protocols and support • Even low-tech industries now rely heavily on technology, creating new vulnerabilities that must be addressed • Professional IT support helps prevent catastrophic data loss that can force businesses to close permanently • Simple physical issues like overheating servers or damaged cables can cause significant tech problems • Screen protectors can prevent sensitive information from being viewed from the side in public settings Follow Tina and ExactIT Solutions Tina's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tina.watsonsparkman Tina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/techchic/ ExactIT Solutions Website: https://exactitconsulting.com/ Visit CultivateLex.com or find us on Facebook to learn more about our sponsor, Cultivate Accounting, and schedule a free 30-minute review call to discuss your financial questions each month. Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Follow along on the Small Business Bestie Pod Facebook Join the growing community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallbusinessbesties Connect with Michelle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bestiemichellesmock Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Cultivate Accounting is the preferred partner of Small Business Besties for all things small business accounting needs. Check them out! www.cultivatelex.com https://www.facebook.com/cultivateaccounting

    36 min
  2. 58: Mastering the Money Mindset With the Incredible Tremaine Wills

    JUN 25

    58: Mastering the Money Mindset With the Incredible Tremaine Wills

    Send us a text In this heart-to-heart episode, financial strategist Tremaine Wills of Mind Over Money joins Michelle to unpack the messy, magical world of small business finances. Tremaine shares her FREE Indeed framework and gives a candid look at how pricing too low almost derailed her success. We talk about: The lies we believe about money (and how to unlearn them)The secret to charging what you're really worthWhy building wealth isn’t selfish—and why your goals don’t have to be "for someone else"Pricing strategy for service-based businesses (hint: aim for 70% margins!)How your spending already reveals your true valuesAligning your vision, money, and mindset for next-level growth✨ LINKS & RESOURCES:  Website: https://mindovermoney.net Instagram: https://instagram.com/mindovermoneycoach Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Follow along on the Small Business Bestie Pod Facebook Join the growing community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallbusinessbesties Connect with Michelle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bestiemichellesmock Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Cultivate Accounting is the preferred partner of Small Business Besties for all things small business accounting needs. Check them out! www.cultivatelex.com https://www.facebook.com/cultivateaccounting

    38 min
  3. 57: Tora Carter – Cheerleading for Change in Lexington

    JUN 18

    57: Tora Carter – Cheerleading for Change in Lexington

    Send us a text She’s a coach, a marketer, and a relentless champion for her community. Meet Tora Carter, who’s leading the charge to restore one of Lexington’s most historic buildings—the Robert H. Williams Cultural Center. 🎙️ In this episode: The extraordinary story of 15+ Black women who founded an orphanage in 1892How Tora blends roles at Guide Realty, Transy Athletics & the Cultural CenterCreative ideas to serve Lexington’s small businessesWhy the attic space will be your new fave event venueAnd yes, Raquel Carter, Tora's leader at Guide Realty is running for mayor 🙌💥 Want to help? Follow the Cultural Center on Facebook, DM to get on the mailing list, and stay tuned for clean-up days and the September Homecoming event! 🔗 Resources: Cultural Center Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhwcclexCompass Center: https://www.guide-realty.com/compass-center/ Guide Realty: https://www.guide-realty.com/Raquel’s campaign page: https://www.raquelforlexingtonmayor.com/Bricks of Grace by William R. May - DM the Center for more informationA Will to Be Free by Dr. Loretta Flynn Byer – DM the Center to purchase🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZvC2mYQxK8sHPNRvm5zNT?si=44601c1bdaa54e89 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/small-business-bestie/id1733760829 Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Follow along on the Small Business Bestie Pod Facebook Join the growing community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallbusinessbesties Connect with Michelle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bestiemichellesmock Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Cultivate Accounting is the preferred partner of Small Business Besties for all things small business accounting needs. Check them out! www.cultivatelex.com https://www.facebook.com/cultivateaccounting

    30 min
  4. 56: Are You Controlling Your Breath, Or Is Your Breath Controlling You? Kelli Gabat's Story.

    JUN 11

    56: Are You Controlling Your Breath, Or Is Your Breath Controlling You? Kelli Gabat's Story.

    Send us a text Kelli Gabat, owner of Wildfire Yoga, shares her eight-year journey from corporate worker struggling with anxiety to successful studio owner, teacher trainer, and wellness entrepreneur who recently expanded her business. • Started yoga to help with anxiety and depression while working corporate jobs for over a decade • Beginning with an 800 square foot subleased space before expanding multiple times • Navigated COVID by immediately shifting to virtual without closing, while also processing personal grief • Recently opened Wildfire Wellness with infrared saunas, cold plunges, and red light therapy • Created a true community space where members feel comfortable making it their own • Emphasizes starting small and being specific about what you offer rather than diversifying too quickly • Believes in the power of mindfulness to create mental space for better business decisions • Suggests beginning each day with gratitude as a "game changer" for overall mindset • Recommends focusing on breath awareness when feeling stressed or overwhelmed Visit Wildfire Yoga or Wildfire Wellness in Lexington's Warehouse Block. New students can try an intro offer of $59 for one month unlimited yoga. Book classes through MindBody under "classes" for yoga and "appointments" for wellness services. Connect with Wildfire Yoga and Wildfire Wellness Wildfire Yoga Website: https://wildfireyogaky.com/ IG https://www.instagram.com/yogawildfire/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yogawildfire Wildfire Wellness Webssite: https://wildfirewellnesslex.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/wild_firewellness/ Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Follow along on the Small Business Bestie Pod Facebook Join the growing community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallbusinessbesties Connect with Michelle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bestiemichellesmock Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Cultivate Accounting is the preferred partner of Small Business Besties for all things small business accounting needs. Check them out! www.cultivatelex.com https://www.facebook.com/cultivateaccounting

    44 min
  5. 55: Hit Reset Without the Guilt: The Solopreneur's Guide to CEO Retreats

    JUN 4

    55: Hit Reset Without the Guilt: The Solopreneur's Guide to CEO Retreats

    Send us a text Michelle shares the process of conducting a mini CEO retreat, offering a framework for small business owners to reset their vision, values, and goals to realign their business with their deepest aspirations. • Taking intentional time to pause and reflect on what's working and what's not in both business and personal life • Creating a values-based decision-making framework that takes the guesswork out of business choices • Using the "BESTIE" values acronym: Bravery, Empathy, Simplicity, Trust, Integrity, and Energy • Setting grace-filled goals rather than guilt-based ones driven by comparison or "shoulds" • Balancing minimum goals (consistency-focused) with stretch goals (possibility-focused) • Developing a clear 5-year vision, 3-year targets, and 1-year goals that align with your values • Recognizing the different seasons of business: building, resting, pivoting, and growing • Introducing the Bestie Boardrooms - weekly mastermind groups for accountability and support If you fully trusted yourself and your business, what's the next bold step you would take? Share your answer in our Facebook group or send a DM on social media, and join us in July for the launch of Bestie Boardrooms! Bestie Boardroom Applications: https://www.smallbusinessbestie.org/boardroom-application Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Follow along on the Small Business Bestie Pod Facebook Join the growing community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallbusinessbesties Connect with Michelle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bestiemichellesmock Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Cultivate Accounting is the preferred partner of Small Business Besties for all things small business accounting needs. Check them out! www.cultivatelex.com https://www.facebook.com/cultivateaccounting

    32 min
  6. 54: Bloom Differently- Mickaylyn Conrad is Creating The Shop Where Everyone Belongs

    MAY 21

    54: Bloom Differently- Mickaylyn Conrad is Creating The Shop Where Everyone Belongs

    Send us a text Mickaylyn Conrad shares her vision for Mick's Pot Spot, an accessible and inclusive plant shop designed to be a welcoming space for people with disabilities and their caregivers. Through her personal experience as a special needs mom and her work with the nonprofit A Different World, Mickaylyn recognized the need for spaces where families with disabilities can simply exist without judgment. • Inspired by her own journey as a mom to a child with level three autism and cerebral palsy • Creating a plant shop that removes barriers for disabled people and their caregivers • Working with an autistic architectural designer to ensure the space is truly accessible • Will offer assistive technology and adaptive equipment rarely found in brick-and-mortar retail • Plans to support disabled artists and creators by providing affordable vendor opportunities • Designing a safe, comfortable place where caregivers can work while children can be themselves • Community has rallied around the concept with volunteers offering expertise and support • Fundraising through GoFundMe, t-shirt sales, and community involvement If you'd like to support Mick's Pot Shop,  visit the Facebook page,  share the project with friends,  or donate through the GoFundMe Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Follow along on the Small Business Bestie Pod Facebook Join the growing community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallbusinessbesties Connect with Michelle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bestiemichellesmock Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Cultivate Accounting is the preferred partner of Small Business Besties for all things small business accounting needs. Check them out! www.cultivatelex.com https://www.facebook.com/cultivateaccounting

    36 min
  7. 53: Balancing Act: Navigating Business, Family, and Finding Your Flow

    MAY 14

    53: Balancing Act: Navigating Business, Family, and Finding Your Flow

    Send us a text Have you ever wondered what happens when business partners who are married decide to separate? Or how successful entrepreneurs actually manage the chaos behind their seemingly perfect Instagram feeds? This raw and honest solo episode pulls back the curtain on real entrepreneurial life. Michelle Smock delivers a refreshingly transparent update on major transitions happening in both her personal and professional worlds. She shares the thoughtful solution she and her husband Neal developed for their accounting firm after their separation—a practical example of how business relationships can evolve separately from personal ones when both parties prioritize client care. For entrepreneurs in similar situations, this conversation provides valuable insight into navigating complex transitions with grace. The episode also announces an exciting merger between Small Business Besties and Women's Entrepreneurs Lex, a seven-year-old networking group for female business owners in the Lexington area. This expansion means both morning and evening networking opportunities for entrepreneurs seeking community support. Michelle details the schedule—second Monday mornings and fourth Wednesday evenings—creating multiple touchpoints for women who crave real connection in their entrepreneurial journey. Perhaps most valuable is Michelle's candid discussion about managing overwhelm while juggling three businesses and family responsibilities. She introduces InMotion, an AI-assisted scheduling tool that has transformed her ability to prioritize effectively, and shares her ongoing struggle with delegation—particularly her decision to outsource social media management after recognizing it as a consistent energy drain. This vulnerability around perfectionism touches on a challenge many entrepreneurs face but rarely discuss publicly. Subscribe to Small Business Besties for regular conversations that normalize the messy reality of entrepreneurship. Join our Facebook community, share episodes that resonate with you, and consider leaving a review to help other business owners discover this supportive network of like-minded professionals. Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Follow along on the Small Business Bestie Pod Facebook Join the growing community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallbusinessbesties Connect with Michelle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bestiemichellesmock Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Cultivate Accounting is the preferred partner of Small Business Besties for all things small business accounting needs. Check them out! www.cultivatelex.com https://www.facebook.com/cultivateaccounting

    21 min
  8. 52: Petals and Pixels- How Media Executive, Diana Keating Moonlights as a Florist

    MAY 12

    52: Petals and Pixels- How Media Executive, Diana Keating Moonlights as a Florist

    Send us a text Diana Keating shares her journey as both co-owner of Close to Perfection flower shop and a media executive at WKYT, demonstrating how to successfully balance creative side businesses with full-time careers. Through her partnership with childhood acquaintance Erin Graf, Diana reveals how complementary skills and clear communication create business harmony. • Originally from Illinois, Diana reconnected with high school acquaintance Aaron Graff in Lexington, leading to their floral business partnership • Close to Perfection remains intentionally a side business, focusing on creating beautiful arrangements while maintaining work-life balance • Diana handles accounting while Erin leads flower selection, creating a "yin and yang" partnership dynamic • At WKYT, Diana helps businesses with comprehensive marketing strategies beyond traditional TV advertising • As one of the largest digital agencies in the country, WKYT offers SEO, paid search, targeted display ads, and streaming TV advertising • Diana builds client trust through providing data, industry insights and maintaining genuine interest in their businesses over the typical 90-day buying cycle • Ladies Leads Lex, where Diana serves as vice president, welcomes female entrepreneurs to their visitor day on the 15th at Sullivan University • The women's networking group particularly needs members in trades, landscaping, med spa, and medical professional categories Follow Diana and all of her ventures here: Media Executive at WKYT Diana.keating@wkyt.com Close 2 Perfection - Your local florist close2perfectionlex.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566348394746 IG: https://www.instagram.com/close2perfectionky/ Follow Diana LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-keating/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/diana.nowakowska Ladies Leads Lex FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067416445699 https://www.ladiesleadslex.com/ Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Follow along on the Small Business Bestie Pod Facebook Join the growing community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallbusinessbesties Connect with Michelle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bestiemichellesmock Check out the Small Business Bestie Website Cultivate Accounting is the preferred partner of Small Business Besties for all things small business accounting needs. Check them out! www.cultivatelex.com https://www.facebook.com/cultivateaccounting

    30 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Entrepreneurship is hard, and sometimes we could use a friend to walk a mile in our shoes. Small Business Bestie is here to provide that friendship, support, and inspiration that small business owners need from time to time. 

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Smock
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Small Business Bestie
  • Show Website
    Small Business Bestie