Small Business Survival Conversations

Small Business Survival Conversations

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.

Episodes

October 12, 2025 13 mins

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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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September 7, 2025 17 mins

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In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest reveals why credibility is the ultimate currency for small business owners—and how quickly it can be lost. Using the timeless story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Anna connects the lesson to today’s entrepreneurs who are fighting to survive and scale. Learn the four pillars of credibility—reliability, transparency, strategic under-promising, and consistent exce...

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Are you a small business owner feeling intimidated by big corporations? This episode is for you. Inspired by a powerful quote from Mark Cuban, host Anna Steinfest reveals why being a small, nimble business isn't a weakness—it's your biggest competitive advantage.

Discover the "elephant metaphor" and learn why the very size and resources of big companies make them slow and unable to adapt. Anna share...

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Ever wonder what it really takes to succeed as a small business owner? It's not about being born with a special talent. It's about combining two crucial mindsets.

In this episode of the Small Business Survival Conversations Podcast, host Anna Steinfest dives into the powerful idea of being both a pirate and a Navy SEAL. Discover how to unleash your creative, rule-breaking side while building the disciplined s...

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Feeling like your business is running you instead of the other way around? You're not alone. In this power-packed Monday Morning Motivation episode, Anna Steinfest tackles the #1 struggle every small business owner faces: time management.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

  • The "Big Three" method that successful entrepreneurs use to win every day
  • Why your to-do list is sabotaging your productivity (...
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August 10, 2025 14 mins

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Tired of setting big goals that turn into endless preparation cycles? This Monday, Anna Steinfest delivers a game-changing tool that transforms overwhelming dreams into step-by-step action plans: **Backward Planning**.

In this power-packed 10-minute episode, you'll discover why most entrepreneurs get stuck in "getting ready to get ready" mode—and how to flip the script by starting with your des...

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In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, Anna Steinfest tackles one of the biggest traps in entrepreneurship: the lure of the shortcut. Through the compelling story of a sparrow who traded her ability to fly for easy meals, Anna reveals why the "easy way" often becomes the most expensive path of all.

Whether it's automating before understanding, copying competitors instead of building authentically,...

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Ever feel like you're constantly being sold the "easy button" for business success? This week's Monday Morning Motivation cuts through the noise with an ancient story that every small business owner needs to hear.

Join us as we explore the timeless tale of a wise king who challenged his advisers to distill all human wisdom into just one sentence – and discover why their final answer holds the key to...

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 In this inspiring Monday Morning Motivation episode, Anna Steinfest shares the story of the lark—a bird that sings before sunrise—and how it mirrors the small business journey. If you’ve ever felt like you're building in silence, working without recognition, or waiting for the world to catch up to your vision, this episode is for you. Discover the mindset shift that empowers entrepreneurs to lead with courage, s...

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July 13, 2025 12 mins

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In business, the biggest risk isn't making a mistake—it's moving too slowly. In this power-packed episode of Monday Morning Motivation, Anna Steinfest shares why the ability to take quick, decisive action might be your most underrated business skill.

Drawing inspiration from legendary CEO Jack Welch's biggest career regret—not moving fast enough—Anna reveals how hesitation costs small business owners mor...

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Episode Description:

Ready to transform how you approach every business decision and relationship? In this powerful Monday Morning Motivation episode, host Anna Steinfest introduces a game-changing mindset shift that can revolutionize your small business and personal life.

What You'll Learn:

  • The difference between being the "buyer" vs. the "seller" in your business relationships
  • ...
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Feeling overwhelmed by your endless to-do list? Questioning if you're cut out for the entrepreneur life? You're not alone—and you're definitely not failing.

In this Monday Morning Motivation episode, Anna Steinfest busts the biggest myth about resilience: that some people are just "naturally" resilient while others aren't. Spoiler alert: resilience isn't something you're born wit...

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Feeling stretched thin in your small business? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to do it all. In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, Anna dives into the transformational concept from Dan Sullivan’s book Who Not How. Discover why asking “Who can help me?” instead of “How do I do this?” can be the breakthrough you need.

Anna shares personal stories, real-life examples, and actionable steps to help you delegate ...

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What happens when a doctor trades her stethoscope for a welding torch? Meet Maria Perl, founder of Spark Ops Metalworks, whose journey from a medical professional to a certified woman and minority-owned business leader proves the American Dream is alive and sparking.

Under Maria's leadership, Spark Ops has positioned itself to excel across Entertainment, Aerospace, Automotive, Defense, and Construction industries,...

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Feeling stuck on a business challenge? Convinced there's only one "right" way to reach your goals? In this episode of Monday Morning Motivation, host Anna Steinfest shares a simple but powerful mindset shift that could revolutionize how you solve problems and make decisions in your business.

What You'll Learn:

  • Why successful entrepreneurs think in options, not absolutes
  • A 10-minute exercise to unl...
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In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, we interview Scotty Smith, founder of Synergy Sports Performance in Green Bay, WI.

With over 20 years in strength and conditioning—and a career that began with the Green Bay Packers—Scotty shares the story behind launching Synergy, the challenges he faced as a small business owner, and the mindset that keeps him focused and growing.

We dive into how growing up on...

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In this week’s Monday Morning Motivation, Anna Steinfest explores one of the most powerful shifts small business owners can make in how they network: transitioning from a hunter to a farmer mindset.

Inspired by insights from Networking Like a Pro by Dr. Ivan Misner, Anna shares how the most successful entrepreneurs build long-lasting, referral-rich relationships—not by chasing quick wins, but by planting seeds of trust...

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