Mind The Business: Small Business Success Stories

Building a thriving business isn't always about rapid expansion. When should you hit the accelerator on growth, and when should you pump the brakes? Jannese and Austin are in Nashville, Tennessee to talk with Taku Zhou and Sibusiso Ajayi of TKZ Architecture LLC to explore this crucial entrepreneurial crossroads. The duo shares candid insights from their journey building TKZ Architecture, revealing the moments they knew it was time ...

AI isn't about replacement – it's about enhancement. Austin and Jannese travel to Tampa, Florida to meet Alexa Kritis Mancuso, founder of Alexa Kritis Events, who reveals how she masterfully blends artificial intelligence with the personal connection essential to event planning. Discover how Alexa shares how she leverages AI platforms to handle routine tasks as well as showing clients how she can bring their creative visions ...

In our second installment of the Small Business Starter Kit series - we’re tackling a topic that’s sometimes tricky, sometimes confusing, but ever-present: taxes. Hosts Austin and Jannese have an insightful conversation with entrepreneur Isabella Rosal who started 7th Sky Ventures, an exporter and distributor of craft spirits, beer, and wine. Having lived and worked in two different countries and started a company in a ...

Most people understand the importance of raising capital to start a business, but securing additional funding after launch can be just as crucial for reaching the next level. Jannese and Austin discuss the strategies and challenges of finding ways to raise more capital to give your business a booster where it needs it most. The hosts chat with one of Nashville’s most exciting rising stars, Kenzie Wesp, who started Trueform Fi...

In business, every decision you make can change the trajectory of your company - so it’s important to be as informed as possible. The intel you collect as you learn and grow is vital to informing how and why you run your business in the future. On this episode, hosts Jannese and Austin share their own experiences with using data to inform the paths they carve forward as they sit down with Brandon Littleton who started Bag Lad...

Step one for starting a small business is often coming up with an exciting idea. But what is step two? Step three? Steps four through launch and beyond? On our second episode, and first iteration of our Small Business Starter Kit Series, Austin and Jannese visit The Candle Pour to chat with founders Misty and Dennis Akers. They’ll tell our hosts about how they got their business off the ground and about all ...

The long-term success of every small business starts with looking at its history and identifying the hits and misses along the way. In our premier episode for Season 3, hosts Austin Hankwitz and Jannese Torres sit down in person with Sherrice Rose, owner of Potentia Therapeutics in her clinic in Tampa, Florida. Together, they look back at her journey of buying an existing physical therapy clinic and making it her ...

Attention small business owners: “Mind the Business: Small Business Success Stories” is back for Season Three with brand-new episodes. Hosts Jannese Torres (Yo Quiero Dinero & Financially Lit!) and Austin Hankwitz (Rate of Return & Rich Habits) are hitting the road and meeting with small business owners in Tampa, Florida and Nashville, Tennessee to hear about the lessons they’ve learned at eve...

Change is inevitable in business, but understanding how each decision impacts your entire operation is crucial. In this LIVE bonus episode, Jannese and Austin sit down with Will Lucas. Will is the founder and CEO of Creadio, a marketing and production agency, and CEO and founder of the private social club TolHouse. He also hosts the podcast “Black Tech Green Money.”  

Learn invaluable lessons on attracting and retaining great emplo...

It’s all up to you. When you’re wearing multiple hats and running your own business, all of the rewards and accomplishments are on you - but so are the setbacks and challenges. The incredible journey of solopreneurship is filled with ups and downs and those who have tasted that lifestyle often can never go back to a “normal job.” In this special season finale, Austin and Jannese share their very own stories about what inspired them...

No Solopreneur is an island. Even as we run our own businesses, the importance of building a community of other business owners is paramount. From sharing advice and support to building a thriving and competitive marketplace, networking and building connections can take your business to the next level. Jannese and Austin talk with Ciara Imani May who runs her own hair brand and is passionate about taking care of her customers and u...

Congratulations, you’ve branched out into your own business and even found your first client or customer! Now what? As the orders come in, so do the invoices and payments. In this episode, hosts Austin and Jannese talk about the ins and outs of keeping organized books, tracking payments and keeping an eye on where your money is so you can make sure it’s working for you. Michael Behn, founder of Moshi Moshi Knife Sharpening, drops b...

For small business owners, it’s important to celebrate every success, but it’s also important to remember that behind every accomplishment there are plenty of hardships, missteps, and valuable lessons. Going into business for yourself is not easy and often comes with economic ups and downs and hard-to-decipher tax codes - among many other challenges. That’s why persevering and learning how to adapt and overcome any problems that ar...

The definition of winning can be different for every business. For some, it’s high profits, for others, it’s brand building, and for a special type of business, it’s launching the success of a client. Hosts Jannese and Austin detail their experiences with leading clients to accomplish their goals, and how that translates into real rewards in the form of expanding networks, marketing potential, and more revenue. And founder of No If...

The lifeblood of a small business is its customers. Going the extra mile to provide easy payment methods and clear communication can mean the difference between a couple of sales, and a couple hundred. Jannese and Austin discuss what they love to encounter as customers patronizing a business, and the customer service strategies for their own endeavors. And Jordan Rose joins the conversation to talk about how she built her Etsy shop...

Seeing your small business grow can be exciting, but staying on top of that growth can be difficult for a solopreneur or a small team. As demand increases, how do you keep dollars coming in and products and services going out without breaking your original business model? Unchecked expansion can lead to painful downsizing after the initial rush - which no entrepreneur wants to have to deal with. Hosts Jannese and Austin will be dis...

For many, starting a business starts with a spark of inspiration, an idea that you just can’t shake and grows from a “side hustle” to a full-time job. While navigating the transition from employee to self-employed can be exciting, it can also be filled with challenges and self-doubt. Hosts Austin and Jannese discuss those crucial first steps with our Season 2 premiere guest, Grace Wells. Grace is the founder of Grace Wells Photo an...

Your favorite podcast about the exciting journey of entrepreneurship is back for a second season! Join hosts Jannese Torres (Yo Quiero Dinero & Financially Lit!) and Austin Hankwitz (Rate of Return & Rich Habits) as they share more great stories from small business owners and entrepreneurs alike and guide you toward the best tools and resources to jumpstart your own business with the help of Intuit QuickBooks. Listen to new...

We are live from the 2023 Intuit Innovation Summit. For this special live episode, Jannese and Austin are joined by EQ-certified business and leadership coach and solopreneur Mariela De La Mora. Discover how Mariela decided to go into business for herself and how she combats imposter syndrome while growing her business. Plus, hear the exciting news about season two of “Mind the Business: Small Business Success Stories.” 

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