Small Business Survival Conversations

Send us Fan Mail 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 hes...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 is...

Send us Fan Mail 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, a...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 a...

Send us Fan Mail 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 qu...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of Small Business Survival Conversations , we kick off our new Thursday Real Talk series with Ron Franklin—an executive leader, mentor, and trusted advisor to small business owners. Ron brings years of experience mentoring entrepreneurs and shares honest, no-fluff insights about what it really takes to survive and thrive as a small business. From mindset s...

Send us Fan Mail 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 lives—Anna draws a parallel to the modern entr...

Send us Fan Mail 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 the buyer sets the rules by default. From stalli...

Send us Fan Mail 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 need to hear. Anna shar...

Send us Fan Mail 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 reveals how reframing rejection as a game —and a nece...

Send us Fan Mail 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, even when progress feels invisible, and s...

Send us Fan Mail 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 discomfort, and purchasing behavior. You’ll learn w...

Send us Fan Mail 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 voice— it can poison your progress if you let i...

Send us Fan Mail 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 this episode, Anna explains why discipline matt...

Send us Fan Mail 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. In this episode, Anna shares why waiting is t...

Send us Fan Mail 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 kitchen (lack of structure)? Leads to cha...

Send us Fan Mail 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 business owners give up too soon, expecting instant...

Send us Fan Mail 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.” Yet, many small business owners overcomplicate t...

Send us Fan Mail 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 fuels your passion, keeps you resilient, and...

Send us Fan Mail 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 grow, innovate, and build resilience. Anna div...

Send us Fan Mail 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 use emotionally engaging questions to uncover y...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Tabasco-maker McIlhenny to seize the market. Anna b...