It is hard to run your business and keep up with new trends and resources to help you build a profitable company. Each Tuesday, join Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer will share with you business tools, insights, and ideas. If you are a business owner or thinking about starting a new company or just want to hear some business advice this podcast is for you.
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S3E36: Does TRACKING Performance Really Save Your Business?
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10:48Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, Anna Steinfest shares a powerful story from history to highlight a critical lesson for small business owners: if you don’t measure your performance, you’re operating in the dark. Using the example of a tragic 1707 naval disaster—where poor navigation led to the loss of four warships and 2,000…
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S3E35: LEAD with Confidence in Every Sales Conversation!
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10:54Send us a text In this Monday Morning Motivation episode, Anna Steinfest shares a powerful mindset shift for small business owners who want to stop chasing clients and start leading sales conversations with clarity and confidence. Drawing from real-world sales insights, Anna explains why most sales interactions fail before they even begin—because t…
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S3E34: TAKE ACTION NOW And Forget About Perfection!
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6:06Send us a text In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, small business expert Anna Steinfest dives into a common trap that holds back entrepreneurs and business owners—perfectionism. If you've ever delayed launching your product, held back on marketing your services, or told yourself, "I'll start when it's perfect," this is the episode you nee…
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S3E33: Can You TURN REJECTION Into Your BIGGEST Business Advantage?
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8:20Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, Anna Steinfest shares a personal story about one of the toughest—and most valuable—lessons she learned early in her career: how to roll with rejection. From cold calls in the banking industry where people hung up the moment she said “hello,” to building a thriving business empire, Anna reveal…
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S3E32: Staying In The Game ALWAYS Wins The Race!
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8:07Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, Anna Steinfest delivers a powerful message every small business owner needs to hear: success doesn’t come to the fastest—it comes to the most persistent. If you're putting in the work but not seeing results yet, this episode is for you. Anna breaks down the hidden value of staying consistent,…
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S3E31: People Buy Solutions: How Understanding Human Needs Drives Small Business Success
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9:22Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest explores a powerful truth every small business owner must understand: customers don’t buy products—they buy solutions to their problems. Drawing inspiration from human psychology and real-world examples, Anna breaks down the relationship between unmet needs, emotional disc…
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S3E30: Silencing the Cynic: How to Protect Your Business from Negativity
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8:48Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest tackles one of the silent killers of business momentum: cynicism. Cynicism whispers that your efforts aren’t worth it, that someone else is doing it better, or that it’s all been done before. And whether it comes from pessimistic friends, harsh critics, or your own inner v…
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S3E29: Discipline Over Motivation: The Real Secret to Small Business Success
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7:52Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest dives into one of the most critical habits every small business owner must master: self-discipline. Unlike traditional jobs, business owners don’t have a boss looking over their shoulder—and that freedom can lead to procrastination, distraction, and stalled progress. In th…
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S3E28:The Power of Taking Action: Stop Waiting, Start Doing
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6:07Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest tackles one of the biggest obstacles in business—waiting for the perfect moment. Too many entrepreneurs delay taking action, thinking they need more time, more knowledge, or better conditions before they start. But the truth is, success comes from action, not overthinking.…
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S3E27: The Perfect Recipe for Business Success: Mastering Balance and Patience
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9:04Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest reveals how running a business is just like cooking a delicate dish—it’s all about finding the right balance. 🔥 Too much heat (rushing growth)? You risk burnout and poor quality. 🕒 Too little heat (moving too slowly)? You may miss valuable opportunities. 👨🍳 A disorganized…
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S3E26: The Power of Simplicity: Why Clarity Wins in Business
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8:15Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares one of the most powerful yet overlooked success strategies in business—consistency. Success doesn’t happen overnight. Just like water shapes rock over time, small, daily actions create momentum, build trust, and separate you from the competition. But too many busine…
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S3E25: The Power of Simplicity: Why Clarity Wins in Business
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10:02Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest dives into one of the most overlooked yet powerful business strategies: simplicity. Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, believed that keeping things simple was key to success, and Albert Einstein famously said, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” Y…
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S3E24: Know Your Why: The Key to Surviving and Thriving as a Business Owner
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7:52Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest dives into one of the most important questions every small business owner must answer: Why are you doing what you’re doing? Without a strong why, challenges feel overwhelming, burnout sets in, and success becomes harder to achieve. But when you’re clear on your purpose, it…
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S3E23: The Power of Struggle: Why Challenges Shape Stronger Businesses
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8:52Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares the powerful story of The Butterfly and the Cocoon to explore how struggles shape us into stronger, more capable individuals and business owners. Challenges are a natural part of entrepreneurship, but instead of avoiding them, we can embrace them as opportunities to…
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S3E22: Ask Before You Tell: The Secret to Emotionally Engaging Sales
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9:57Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest reveals the secret to transforming your sales process: asking the right questions. Selling isn’t about pushing a product or service—it’s about connecting with your customers on an emotional level and guiding them to make decisions that feel right for them. Discover how to …
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S3E21: The Rise and Fall of Huy Fong’s Sriracha: Lessons in Supply Chain, Branding, and Business Relationships
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8:09Send us a text In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest dives into the fascinating story of Huy Fong’s Sriracha, the iconic “rooster sauce,” and the lessons small business owners can learn from its rise—and fall. Discover how missteps in supply chain management, branding, and business relationships allowed competitors like Taba…
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S3E20: From Entrepreneur to Economic Developer: Insider Tips to Help Your Small Business Succeed
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19:53Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, Anna Steinfest sits down with a seasoned economic developer and former entrepreneur who knows the challenges and rewards of running a small business. With a Master's degree in Urban Planning and Real Estate Development from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and years of expe…
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S3E19: The Gift of Giving: How Generosity Builds Small Business Success
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7:25Send us a text In this New Year’s edition of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares the inspiring story of The Jar and the Rocks to highlight the importance of focusing on what truly matters in your business and life. As small business owners, the start of the year is the perfect time to reset, refocus, and set meaningful resolutions…
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S3E18: The Gift of Giving: How Generosity Builds Small Business Success
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7:58Send us a text In this special holiday edition of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest explores the power of generosity and how it can transform your small business. Inspired by the timeless story of The Giving Tree, Anna shares how embracing the spirit of giving can strengthen customer relationships, build team loyalty, and create a mean…
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S3E17: The Secret to Sales Success: Understanding Why Your Customer Wants to Buy
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9:47Send us a text In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest dives into the secret to sales success: understanding your customer’s “why.” Through the relatable story of a man and his shovel, Anna illustrates why focusing on what you’re selling isn’t enough—what truly matters is understanding the deeper need your product or servi…
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S3E16: Plan Today to Thrive Tomorrow: The Ant and the Grasshopper’s Lesson for Small Business Owners
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8:45Send us a text In this week’s episode of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares Aesop’s timeless fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper, to highlight a powerful lesson for small business owners: the importance of preparation and planning. Drawing inspiration from the hardworking Ant, Anna explores how entrepreneurs can navigate the cycle…
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S3E15: Turning Setbacks into Strength: The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Resilience
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7:26Send us a text In this week’s episode of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares an inspiring story about a cracked pot and the unexpected beauty that comes from imperfections. Drawing on this fable, Anna explores how small business owners can turn setbacks into opportunities for growth. Learn three actionable strategies to reframe ch…
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S3E14: The Gratitude Advantage: How Thankfulness Fuels Business Success
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10:15Send us a text This special Thanksgiving episode of Monday Morning Motivation is all about gratitude and how it can transform your business and mindset. Host Anna Steinfest shares the inspiring story of a farmer and a wise traveler to illustrate the power of thankfulness in overcoming challenges and fostering growth. Discover how practicing gratitu…
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S3E13: The 5 Whys: A Problem-Solving Method Every Business Owner Should Master
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7:29Send us a text In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest dives into the powerful 5 Whys method, developed by Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of Toyota. This simple yet effective problem-solving technique has been used for decades to uncover root causes, improve quality, and reduce costs in businesses of all sizes. Anna shares th…
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S3E12: Know When to Walk Away: Why Smart Business Owners Don’t Argue with Donkeys
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9:51Send us a text In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares a timeless fable about a donkey, a tiger, and the King of the Jungle to reveal an important lesson for business owners: sometimes the smartest move is to walk away. Anna dives into the importance of protecting your energy and focus by avoiding pointless argument…
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S3E11: Becoming the Complete Entrepreneur: Balancing Success and Fulfillment with Clinton Smith
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24:17Send us a text In this special episode of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest sits down with Clinton E. Smith, author of The Complete Man: Triumphing Adversity and Achieving Success Without Losing Yourself. Clinton shares powerful insights on how to balance business success with personal fulfillment, resilience, and well-being—especially…
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S3E10: Why Knowing What to Do Isn’t Enough: Finding the Spark to Take Action
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10:27Send us a text In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest explores a fundamental challenge many small business owners face: why knowing what to do isn’t always enough to spark action. Drawing on the powerful concepts of motivation, belief, and responsibility, Anna shares insights into why we often don’t take steps we know are…
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S3E9:The Golden Touch: How Misaligned Values Can Lead to Business Tragedy
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13:31Send us a text In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares the timeless story of King Midas to highlight the importance of aligning your business goals with your personal values. Through the lens of this ancient tale, Anna explains how misaligned values and a singular focus on financial success can lead to unintended co…
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S3E8: Focus and Direction: The Keys to Business Success
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11:50Send us a text In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares the powerful story of an ancient Indian guru teaching the art of archery to illustrate the importance of focus in business. Learn how setting clear goals and maintaining laser-sharp focus can help you hit your targets and drive your business forward. Anna also h…
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S3E7:Fly Like the Bumblebee: Breaking Free from Self-Imposed Limits
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10:49Send us a text In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, Anna Steinfest shares the powerful lesson of the bumblebee, an insect that flies despite the odds stacked against it. Using this metaphor, Anna encourages small business owners to push past self-imposed limits and overcome naysayers. Drawing from her own experience of launching the succes…
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S3E6:Why Success Attracts Critics—And Why You Should Keep Going
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13:13Send us a text In this empowering episode of Monday Morning Motivation with Anna Steinfest, we dive into the reality that success attracts critics. Anna shares why criticism often comes with growth and offers actionable insights to help small business owners rise above negativity. Through real-life stories and practical advice, you’ll learn how to …
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S3E5: Unleash Your Inner Eagle: Break Free from Limiting Beliefs
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11:35Send us a text In this inspiring episode of Monday Morning Motivation with Anna Steinfest, discover how the story of an eagle raised as a prairie chicken mirrors the journey of many small business owners. Anna shares actionable tips and real-life examples to help entrepreneurs break free from limiting beliefs and unlock their full potential. If you…
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S3E4: The Stonecutter’s Lesson: Consistency is Key to Business Breakthroughs
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5:31Send us a text In this episode of "Monday Motivation with Anna Steinfest," Anna tells the story of the stonecutter, a powerful example of how consistent, daily effort can lead to monumental success. Discover why persistence is essential in overcoming obstacles and achieving your business goals. This episode will motivate you to keep pushing forward…
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S3E3: The Chinese Bamboo Tree: The Secret to Long-Term Business Success
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6:37Send us a text In this episode of "Monday Motivation with Anna Steinfest," Anna shares the inspiring story of the Chinese Bamboo Tree, a powerful metaphor for the patience and perseverance required in business. Learn how consistent effort, even when progress seems invisible, can lead to extraordinary growth. This episode will encourage you to stay …
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S3E2: The Power of Attitude: How Your Mindset Drives Business Success
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5:48Send us a text In this episode of "Monday Motivation with Anna Steinfest," Anna shares a powerful story about a balloon vendor and a little boy that reveals a profound truth: It’s what’s inside that counts. Learn how your attitude shapes your business outcomes and why a positive mindset is crucial for overcoming challenges. Whether you're facing sl…
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S2E99: Productivity Simplified: Prioritize What Matters in Your Business
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8:16Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, co-hosts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer dive deep into the critical decisions every small business owner faces when managing tasks and setting priorities. With so much to do and limited time, how do you ensure you're not just being busy, but truly productive? Anna and Micha…
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S3E1: Tools, Tips, and the Missing Ingredient: Motivation
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4:56Send us a text In the debut episode of "Monday Motivation with Anna Steinfest," Anna explores why having the right tools and tips isn't enough for small business success. Discover the essential ingredient that every entrepreneur needs to thrive—motivation. Tune in as Anna shares insights on how to cultivate the drive and determination needed to tur…
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S2E98: Building Strong Customer Relationships: Strategies for Loyalty and Repeat Business
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14:24Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, co-hosts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer dive into proven strategies that small business owners can use to create and maintain strong customer relationships. Discover how excellent customer service, personalized experiences, and effective use of CRM tools can lead to increas…
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S2E97: Mastering the Pitch: Plan Before You Pitch Your Business
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11:22Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, co-hosts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer delve into the crucial skill of pitching your business effectively. Learn why it's essential to plan before you pitch and discover practical tips to ensure your communication stands out. Key Takeaways: Don’t Adlib: Preparation is key.…
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S2E96: Mastering Financial Management: Essential Tips for Small Business Success
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13:03Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, co-hosts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer dive into the crucial aspects of effective financial management for small businesses. Learn how to create and stick to a budget, manage cash flow to avoid shortfalls, and utilize financial software for streamlined accounting processes…
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S2E95: Unlocking AI: 3 Essential Strategies for Small Business Growth
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9:51Send us a text Join hosts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer in this exciting new episode of Small Business Survival Conversations. Dive into the world of artificial intelligence and discover how AI tools and strategies can revolutionize your small business. In this episode, Anna and Michael share three crucial tips to help you harness the power of …
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S2E94: Unlocking Social Media Success: Top Tools and Tactics Every Small Business Needs!
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11:39Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, hosts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer delve into the dynamic world of social media to uncover essential tools and tactics for small business growth. From selecting the perfect platforms to crafting compelling content and leveraging analytics, this episode is packed with acti…
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S2E93: Mastering Communication: The Three Essential Elements for Small Business Success
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10:51Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, co-hosts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer explore the crucial elements of effective communication for small business owners. Understanding and mastering the use of body language, tone of voice, and word selection can significantly impact your ability to build trust, convey im…
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S2E92: Mastering AI Prompts: Boost Your Small Business with ChatGPT
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13:27Send us a text Welcome to another insightful episode of Small Business Conversations with your hosts, Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer! In this episode, Anna and Michael dive deep into the art of effectively prompting AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude to maximize their potential and enhance your business operations. Episode Highlights: Defining the …
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S2E91: Unleash the Power of AI for Small Business Success!
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11:42Send us a text Struggling to keep up with the daily grind in your small business? Wish you had more time to focus on what truly matters - growing your business? This episode of Small Business Survival Conversations dives into the world of Generative AI, a game-changer for busy entrepreneurs. We'll explore how these powerful tools can become your se…
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S2E90: Four Guides to Branding Your Business: Building Trust and Consistency
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12:42Send us a text Welcome to another insightful episode of Small Business Survival Conversations. Today, we're diving deep into the art of branding your business—a crucial strategy to distinguish it from branding a product or service. In this episode, we unpack the four essential guides for effective business branding: Consistency: Discover why mainta…
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S2E89: Understanding Profit: Types and Strategies
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16:17Send us a text Join hosts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer in this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, titled "Understanding Profit: Types and Strategies." Delving into the intricacies of profit management, Anna and Michael provide a comprehensive guide to help small business owners navigate the complexities of profitability. Beginni…
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S2E88: Empowering Small Businesses: Insights from Barb LaMue on Navigating Economic Challenges and Embracing Innovation
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27:02Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, co-hosts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer sit down with Barb LaMue, a seasoned economic development and entrepreneurship expert. With a rich background in fostering innovation and growth, Barb shares invaluable insights and strategies for small businesses aiming to thrive in …
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S2E87: Smart Leadership & Ownership in Business
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13:57Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, hosts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer delve into the vital topic of Smart Leadership (and Ownership) in the Age of AI. Shedding traditional hierarchical structures, they advocate for a hands-on approach where leaders immerse themselves in the trenches alongside their team me…
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S2E86: Small Business Financial Mastery: Navigate Your Path to Success!
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19:07Send us a text In our latest episode, hosts Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest dive deep into the crucial topic of "Small Business Financial Mastery: Navigate Your Path to Success!" Discover the indispensable role of financial indicators and why they are the cornerstone of every successful small business. Why Are Financial Indicators Important? Fina…
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