Mind The Business: Small Business Success Stories

In our final episode of the season, firefighter turned entrepreneur  Evan Van Auken tells us what inspired his unique DIY woodburning business, Scorch Marker , and how showcasing his journey gave birth to his other endeavor, Vanader , as well as netted him over a million followers on social media. Hosts Austin Hankwitz and Jannese Torres give their own thoughts on the hidden work that it take...

From garages, to basements, to maybe just a vision board, every business has to start somewhere. It's important to have a "big picture" mindset so you're ready when that growth spurt finally comes. Austin Hankwitz and Jannese Torres give their own stories and advice on going from "side hustle to spotlight" and then chat with  Charlotte Trecartin who turned an idea into CharCharms , a thriving...

It's a wild world out there and small business owners need to anticipate every market movement and global event that could affect their business. But how do you expect the unexpected? In this episode, hosts Jannese Torres and Austin Hankwitz talk about practical strategies for "knowing the unknown" and how to brace yourself and your business to weather any storm. They sit down with the incredibly...

In this very special episode, hosts Austin Hankwitz and Jannese Torres have a powerful discussion with the winners of the Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp Small Business Hero Program. These incredible entrepreneurs will give valuable insight into how their businesses supports, and receives support from, the community around them. From founder of Dank Burrito , Clarke Merrell's heroic work providing...

Growing your business can sometimes be harder than getting started. In this episode hosts Jannese Torres and Austin Hankwitz share their own experiences regarding professional growth and then chat with Christy Lee who founded a Chicago-based marketing agency called Seventh House Marketing . Christy was able to do what few others have done and actually scale a business in a historically unscalable...

For episode 3 hosts Jannese Torres and Austin Hankwitz are talking to the 3 co-founders of Sensori , an exciting company in the skyrocketing non-alcoholic beverage industry. Shanna Watkins, Ashlyn Knox, and Darean Rhodes are three good friends who dove headfirst into a fast moving market with a culture-changing product, but it hasn't been easy. From looking for the captial needed to get started in...

Time managment is the theme of our second episode as hosts Austin Hankwitz and Jannese Torres talk about their strategies for maximizing the hours in a day. Then we sit down with Anna Cobb , the founder of Rejuvenation , who turned a harrowing near-death experience into a passion for healthy energy alternatives that has bloomed into a thriving business. You'll hear about how she harnesses her own...

In the first episode of Season 4, hosts Austin Hankwitz and Jannese Torres sit down with Pabel Martinez who created Plurawl , an app that uses AI to help people overcome negative thoughts and remake self-care in their own words - literally. They'll talk about the power of artificial intelligence as an augment for human touch in everything from the daily duties of business to automating mundane tas...

Hey entrepreneurs! Your favorite hosts Jannese Torres (Yo Quiero Dinero & Financially Lit!) and Austin Hankwitz (Rate of Return & Rich Habits) are back for Season 4 of “Mind the Business: Small Business Success Stories", brought to you by iHeartMedia’s Ruby Studio in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.  This time around, we're diving deep with more exciting small business...

Hitting plateaus is a common milestone in business, but there’s a difference between stability and a rut. In the last installment of this season, we’ll dive into the ways small business owners push beyond plateaus and find new ways to achieve revenue growth. Jannese and Austin wrap up their time in Nashville, Tennessee with a wonderful visit to  N.B. Goods to speak with owner Cami...

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...

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...

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 c...

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, K...

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 Br...

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 t...

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 c...

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 th...

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...

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 o...

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...

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 M...

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 adap...

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...

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 tal...