Small Business Survival Conversations
Small Business Survival Conversations is the weekly podcast designed to empower entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and small business owners who are fighting every day to build, grow, and sustain their businesses in a noisy and unpredictable world. Hosted by Anna Steinfest, business strategist, entrepreneur, and founder with decades of experience helping small businesses thrive, this show delivers practical wisdom, mindset fuel, and real-world strategies that small business owners can actually use. What to Expect Every Week Monday Morning Motivation Kickstart your week with a powerful story—drawn from timeless fables, real business lessons, or classic wisdom—paired with three actionable steps you can apply immediately. Each episode is crafted to help you regain focus, protect your momentum, and make better decisions as a small business owner. These episodes are short, energizing, and packed with practical insight. Think of it as your weekly dose of clarity, courage, and direction. Occasional Expert Interviews Throughout the season, Anna welcomes entrepreneurs, industry experts, and community leaders who share their experiences, failures, wins, and lessons learned. Whether you’re looking to scale, pivot, or simply survive another day of running a business, these conversations offer the guidance and encouragement you need. Who This Podcast Is For This show is built for: • Small business owners • Solopreneurs • Startup founders • Women-owned businesses • Community-based and service-based entrepreneurs • Anyone navigating growth with limited time, resources, and support If you’re building a business from the ground up—and learning as you go—you’re in the right place. Why Listeners Love This Podcast • Practical, real-world strategies (no fluff) • Story-driven insights that stick • Weekly motivation designed specifically for small business owners • Action steps in every episode • Honest conversations about what it really takes to survive and grow • Encouragement without sugarcoating Running a small business is not easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. Subscribe now and start your week with inspiration, direction, and the tools to keep moving forward. Small Business Survival Conversations Your journey. Your grit. Your growth.
Episodes
In this Monday Morning Motivation episode of the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, host Anna Steinfest shares a powerful business lesson inspired by the Grimm fairy tale The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean.
This story may sound simple, but it delivers a critical message for small business owners: surviving a crisis is not the same as being safe from the next one.
Many entrepreneurs narrowly escape tough seaso...
In this Monday Morning Motivation episode of the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, host Anna Steinfest shares a powerful lesson inspired by the folktale The Bamboo Turtle — a story that reminds small business owners why strength, patience, and sustainability matter more than speed.
In a world that celebrates rapid growth and overnight success, many entrepreneurs feel pressure to scale faster than their sys...
In this Monday Morning Motivation episode of the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, host Anna Steinfest shares a powerful business lesson from the classic Grimm fairy tale The Hedgehog and the Hare—a story that proves speed alone doesn’t guarantee success.
For small business owners, the pressure to move faster, grow quicker, and keep up with competitors can lead to burnout, poor decisions, and wasted energy...
In today’s Monday Morning Motivation episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, we’re talking about one of the biggest silent killers of momentum for small business owners: comparison.
Somewhere right now, someone else’s business looks bigger, faster, and more successful. But chasing someone else’s path is a distraction that costs you focus, confidence, and progress.
This episode is a mindset reset for entreprene...
In this Monday Morning Motivation episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, host Anna Steinfest uses one of nature’s most intelligent creatures—the octopus—to deliver powerful lessons for small business owners navigating uncertainty.
The octopus survives without a shell, without bones, and without a safety net—by relying on intelligence, adaptability, and strategy. Just like small business owners.
In this episod...
The first Monday of the new year is the most important planning moment for small business owners—and most skip it.
In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation on the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, host Anna Steinfest uses a powerful lesson from Alice in Wonderland to explain why clarity matters more than hustle—and why you don’t need a traditional business plan to succeed.
Instead, you’ll learn how to c...
As the year comes to a close, many small business owners find themselves wishing for more — more time, more clients, more growth. But real progress doesn’t come from wishing. It comes from focus, discipline, and intentional action.
In this special Monday Morning Motivation episode of the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, Anna Steinfest shares a powerful business lesson inspired by the classic Stonecutter f...
In this raw and honest episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, Anna Steinfest is joined by two of her longtime friends and fellow entrepreneurs — Clinton Smith and Quasan Shaw. Together, they’ve walked through the ups and downs of building businesses, and today, they’re sharing the hard truths small business owners need to hear as we head into 2026.
This isn’t theory — it’s real talk from three people who’ve ...
In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest breaks down the real reason many small business owners feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or stuck—lack of focused energy. Inspired by the “Power of Focus” principles, this episode reveals how distractions quietly drain progress and how even small shifts in focus can lead to massive momentum.
Anna explains why multitasking kills results, how your mental energy rat...
This week, host Anna Steinfest brings a powerful business lesson from the classic Grimm Brothers tale Hansel and Gretel. In a world where small business owners are often underestimated—by competitors, customers, or even themselves—this story reveals a truth every entrepreneur needs to hear:
Your abilities aren’t defined by age, pedigree, or experience.
They’re defined by resourcefulness, courage, and creativity.
Ha...
In this Monday Morning Motivation episode of the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, Anna Steinfest shares a powerful story that every entrepreneur needs to hear — the tale of a humble hot dog seller who let someone else’s fear destroy his thriving business.
This episode dives into why good judgment matters more than education, expert opinions, or economic forecasts — and why small business owners must learn...
In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest revisits the timeless story of Little Red Riding Hood to explore how distractions can derail small business success.
Through this fable-inspired reflection, Anna shares three powerful focus-building strategies every small business owner can use to eliminate distractions, boost productivity, and stay aligned with their goals.
Don’t let the wolves of distractio...
In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest draws wisdom from Aesop’s timeless fable The Eagle and the Arrow to help small business owners recognize the hidden ways they self-sabotage.
Learn how distractions, broken promises, and burnout can quietly weaken your business from within — and discover three actionable strategies to protect your focus, integrity, and mindset so you can keep soaring toward s...
Feeling overwhelmed by social media? You’re not alone. In this quick Monday motivation episode, we break down 5 practical ways small business owners can stay visible online — without chasing trends or burning out.
From starting conversations to building your email list, these tips are designed to help solopreneurs and small teams focus on what actually works.
Want the full playbook?
👉 Read the blog at: www.survive...
In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest explores how small business owners can turn everyday attention into unstoppable customer loyalty.
Using the story of a once-beloved coffee shop that lost its personal touch, Anna reveals why people don’t leave businesses — they leave indifference. Learn three practical, proven strategies to deepen relationships, strengthen trust, and build a loyal customer b...
In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares a timeless leadership lesson from Dale Carnegie’s classic How to Win Friends and Influence People. Learn how empathy, humility, and emotional intelligence can transform how you lead your team, connect with customers, and handle conflict.
Discover how to replace arguments with influence, criticism with collaboration, and ego with effectiveness — becaus...
In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares a powerful business lesson from Aesop’s fable The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts. The tale reminds entrepreneurs that playing it safe, trying to please everyone, or avoiding commitment can leave you isolated and ineffective.
Anna explains why clarity, conviction, and consistency are essential for small-business success—and gives you practical steps to...
In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares why the biggest threat to small business growth isn’t failure—it’s inaction. Drawing from the lesson “The Risk of Doing Nothing,” Anna explains why taking imperfect action leads to progress, while waiting for the perfect time leads to stagnation.
This episode will motivate you to step out of hesitation, take bold action, and create momentum in your bu...
In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation on the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, host Anna Steinfest shares a powerful lesson every entrepreneur needs to hear: stop blaming the obstacles and start focusing on becoming unstoppable.
Drawing from the story of a wrestling coach’s advice—“Beat the Ref”—Anna explains why small business owners can’t waste time complaining about unfair circumstances, tough compet...
In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest unpacks Jack Welch’s powerful philosophy of stretch goals—ambitious targets designed to push you beyond what feels possible. Playing it safe keeps your business small, but aiming high—even if you fall short—unlocks creativity, grit, and growth you never thought you had.
Anna breaks down three practical ways small business owners can apply stretch goals this ...
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