The Small Business Mindset

Kirsten Flory
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

The Small Business Mindset Podcast is a real life, in the trenches conversation about how you can make your small business run successfully. Host Kirsten Flory, Founder and CEO of Foundations Commercial Real Estate, shares her journey on how she created a successful small businesses, and how she has helped her clients do the same. The Small Business Mindset also features guests that lend their expertise in the areas of: finance, staffing, marketing, and more.

  1. Sep 9

    158 - Redefining Success Beyond the Bottom Line

    Watch this episode on YouTube! What if we've been measuring success all wrong? In this episode, Kirsten challenges the traditional definition of success and asks a powerful question: Is success really about how much money we make?  As business owners and professionals, it's easy to measure our accomplishments through revenue, sales, income, growth and other financial metrics.  But what happens when we expand our definition of success to include the things that make life meaningful - relationships, health, experiences, time, creativity and simply being present. Key Takeaways:  Success isn't one number Your revenue, income, sales, and net worth can certainly be measures of success, but they don't have to be the only ones. Consider creating your own definition of success.  What does success look like for your health, relationships, family, experiences, time, personal growth, and financial life? Then start noticing the small wins every day.  Because sometimes the life you've been working so hard to build is already the success you've been looking for. Connect with Kirsten, and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE so you won't miss an episode! LinkedIn Facebook Instagram

  2. Sep 9 ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing Oprah Celebrates 40 Years of The Oprah Winfrey Show from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast Today—September 8, 1986—marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most momentous days in Oprah's life and career. Forty years ago today the very first nationally syndicated episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired launching what would become a 25 year cultural phenomenon and pioneering television. In this special anniversary episode Oprah reflects on her extraordinary journey—from her early days as a news anchor in Nashville and Baltimore to her first audition tape and the lessons she learned hosting AM Chicago, the show that brought her to the Windy City. She also reveals the enduring early lessons that shaped her life's purpose and continue to guide her work today as well as how she lives each day in gratitude for what she considers a God-given opportunity. 00:00:00 Oprah on the beginning of The Oprah Winfrey Show 00:04:00 Oprah and Barbara Walters 00:09:00 Oprah’s audition and Dennis Swanson 00:18:30 - Oprah’s journal entry before her first national show 00:20:00 - Oprah's first show 00:30:00 - Oprah’s last show 00:35:50 - Don Johnson’s surprise Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 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.

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

  3. Aug 26

    157 - Stop Doing Everything: How to Build a Business That Works Without You

    Watch this episode on YouTube! What is your business could grow without requiring more of your time, more of your energy, and more of your weekends? In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Abbey Brown of Stone Strategies to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs: learning how to move from being the person who does everything to becoming the leader who builds the systems, team and culture that allow the business to thrive. Abbey knows this journey firsthand.  Growing up in a third-generation family business, working in corporate America, and eventually purchasing and building The Brownstone wedding and event venue, she has experienced entrepreneurship from multiple perspectives.  Today, The Brownstone hosts approximately 150 events per year with a team of about 30 people - and Abbey has built systems that allow the business to operate successfully without requiring her to be there for every event.  That experience ultimately led her to create Stone Strategies, an operations company that helps small businesses build systems, processes and technology that make their businesses more efficient and scalable. In this episode, Abbey and Kirsten discuss:  Building a business that doesn't depend on the owner Why delegation is so difficult for entrepreneurs Create a playbook for your business Turn your employees into owners of outcomes Why every employee should have a revenue-producing responsibility How to retain great employees Creating a cadence of success Defining what "winning" actually means Automation, AI and getting time back The power of Masterminds Connect with Kirsten Flory: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn And don't forget to SUBSCRIBE so you won't miss an episode!

  4. Aug 12

    156 - Who Should Own the Wealth Your Business Creates?

    Watch this episode on YouTube! What if selling your business didn't mean selling its future? For many entrepreneurs, the traditional exit strategy is to sell to a competitor, private equity or another outside investor. But what if the people who helped build your company could become its owners? In this episode of The Small Business Mindset, I sit down with Michael Brownrigg with Apis & Heritage and Moriah Dean with Calvert Impact to umpack the world of employee ownership. We talk about ESOP's, worker-owned cooperatives, employee owned trusts, succession planning, rural communities, employee retention, and perhaps most importantly, legacy.  Because eventually, every business owner has to answer one question: What happens to the business when you're the one no longer running it? and maybe the better question is: Who should benefit from the wealth you've created? This conversation may change the way you think about your exit strategy. Connect with Kirsten at: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

  5. Jul 15

    155 - The Smart Way to Use AI in Your business

    Watch this episode on YouTube! Artificial Intelligence isn't here to replace great business owners - it's here to make them better! In this episode of The Small Business Mindset, Kirsten Flory shares a practical approach to using AI to create a better customer experience while keeping the human connection at the center of your business.  Instead of fearing automation, learn how to leverage AI to save time, improve communication, build stronger customer relationships, and ultimately increase sales. The businesses that win won't be the ones using the most AI.  They'll be the ones using AI to create more meaningful interactions. In this episode you'll learn: Why AI should enhance, not replace, the customer experience How first impressions online determine whether customers choose you The importance of acknowledging customers immediately Why collecting your own customer data is more valuable than social media followers How AI can automate lead generation and customer communication Creating a sales funnel that nurtures prospects without addint more work The importance of fast, reliable follow-up Why integrity matters in every customer interaction How to use customer feedback to improve your sales process The one thing AI can never replace: your personal story and passion Why authenticity is still your greatest competitive advantage Key Takeaways: AI is a tool - not a strategy The best use of AI is creating systems that: 1) welcome new customers 2) capture valuable customer information 3) automate repetitive tasks 4) speed up communication 5) give business owners more time to build genuine relationships Technology can start the conversation, but people close the sale Customers buy from businesses they trust, and trust is built through authenticity, consistency, and follow through Action Steps: This week, audit your customer journey by asking yourself: How quickly do I acknowledge new leads? Am I collecting customer data that I actually own? Is my follow-up process timely and consistent? Does my online messaging match the experience customers receive when they talk to me? Where can AI save me time so I can spend more time building relationships? Choose one area to automate this week while keeping your psersonal touch front and center. Connect with Kirsten Flory Instagram Facebook LinkedIn If this episode inspired you, SUBSCRIBE to The Small Business Mindset and share it with another entrepreneur looking to grow smarter - not just harder. We'd love to hear from you!

  6. Jul 1 ·  Video

    154 - The Picture Behind the Business: A Story of Purpose, Loss and Resilience

    Watch this episode on YouTube! Every entrepreneur has a story, but sometimes the most powerful lessons aren't about business at all. In this deeply personal episode, Kirsten Flory welcomes photographer and entrepreneur Carter Gaskins, owner of Gaskins Photography, to discuss how unimaginable personal tragedy shaped both his life and his business.  Carter shares how the heartbreaking loss of his infant son inspired him to pick up a camera, ultimately transforming photography in a way to preserve precious moments for other families. What begins as a conversation about entrepreneurship quickly becomes an honest discussion about grief, mental health, purpose and redefining success.  Carter opens up about losing both his father and his son within a short period of time, burying his emotions for years, and eventually facing anxiety and depression after realizing grief doesn't simply disappear - it waits to be addressed. Together, Kirsten and Carter discuss the pressures entrepreneurs place on themselves, why asking for help is a strength - not a weakness - and how success changes as we grow personally and professionally.  Carter also shares why he founded Strong Mental Mindset, an initiative focused on encouraging conversations around mental health, particularly for men who often feel pressure to suffer in silence. This episode is a reminder that behind every business is a human being navigating life's highs and lows.  Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, parent, or simply someone going through a difficult season, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and encouragement. Key Takeaways: Sometimes our greatest purpose grows from our greatest pain Entrepreneurship can become both a calling and a coping mechanism Ignoring grief doesn't make it disappear - it often resurfaces later Success isn't measured only by income; it's measured by relationships, health, and fulfillment Mental health is the foundation of sustainable success Small daily actions can make a significant difference in healing Asking for help is one of the strongest things a person can do Genuine human connection is essential for both personal and professional growth Connect with Kirsten Flory Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

  7. Jun 17

    153 - What Young Entrepreneurs Get Right - and Wrong

    Watch this episode on YouTube! In this episode, Kirsten Flory sits down with Ryan Rains, Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at the University of Kansas School of Business and a member of the Foundations Commercial Real Estate team, for a thought-provoking discussion about entrepreneurship, side hustles, career development and what success actually looks like. Together, they explore why entrepreneurship has become such a powerful cultural movement, particularly among younger generations seeking greater control over their careers, income, and futures.  They discuss the rise of side hustles, the influence of social media, the realities behind "overnight success," and the importance of building meaningful relationships and networks over time. Ryan shares insights from working directly with aspiring entrepreneurs and explains why passion alone isn't enough to build a successful business.  The conversation dives into the importance of solving real market problems, staying adaptable, and being willing to pivot when necessary. Kirsten and Ryan also discuss: Why the marketplace - not passion alone - determines business viability The role of networking, mentorship, and relationship building Common misconceptions about entrepreneurship and wealth How social media can distort perceptions of success Why defining your personal "why" matters more than chasing money The value of diverse career experiences and transferable skills How volunteer work and community involvement can accelerate professional growth The opportunities AI may create for the next generation of business leaders Why curiosity may be one of the most valuable entrepreneurial traits of all Whether you're launching a side hustle, growing a business, or simply exploring what's next in your career, this conversation offers practical insights and plenty of food for thought. Connect with Kirsten Flory: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn And don't forget to SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode!

  8. Jun 3

    152 - From the Trunk of a Car to a Global Brand

    Watch this episode on YouTube! In this episode, Kirsten Flory dives into the incredible entrepreneurial journey behind Nike through the bestselling memoir Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. Most people see Nike as a global powerhouse, but few realize the company spent nearly 18 years fighting for survival before becoming a household name.  Kirsten unpacks the lessons small business owners can learn from Phil Knight's relentless perseverance, willingness to take risks, and ability to stay committed to a vision even while living on the edge of financial ruin. From selling track shoes out of the trunk of a car to building one of the most recognizable brands in the world, this episode explores: Why passion matters more than immediate success The importance of mentors and challengers in your life How surrounding yourself with the right people can shape your future Why niche focus can actually accelerate growth The risks and rewards of entrepreneurship What is means to "live on the float" while building a business How innovation and customer feedback drive long-term success Why questioning and challenging ideas inside your company is healthy The power of branding, partnerships, and culture Kirsten also reflects on how entrepreneurs often face skepticism from family, friends, and society while pursuing unconventional dreams - and why persistence is often the difference between failure and breakthrough success. If you've ever wondered whether your hard work is worth it, this episode is a reminder that some of the greatest success stories took years - sometimes decades, to become reality Key Takeaways: Nike was not an overnight success - it took 18 years to break through Staying focused on a niche can create momentum before expansion Entrepreneurs need people around them who challenge their thinking Innovation often comes from listening closely to customer feedback Passion and perseverance are critical during difficult seasons of business Building a strong culture matters just as much as building revenue Connect with Kirsten Flory at: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The Small Business Mindset Podcast is a real life, in the trenches conversation about how you can make your small business run successfully. Host Kirsten Flory, Founder and CEO of Foundations Commercial Real Estate, shares her journey on how she created a successful small businesses, and how she has helped her clients do the same. The Small Business Mindset also features guests that lend their expertise in the areas of: finance, staffing, marketing, and more.

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