Small Business Straight Talk

420 | The Real Reason I Created The Decision-Making Series

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Making hard business decisions hits different when you're changing something that already works. In this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk P...

419 | Decision-Making Part 3: You Have The Answer

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Trusting your gut in business decisions isn't reckless. It's your expertise distilled down to a feeling. So why do so many business owners keep overri...

418 | Decision-Making Part 2: Stop Delaying, Start Deciding

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You know the decision you've been avoiding. The one that keeps showing up on your mental list week after week. Today we fix that. In this week's episo...

417 | Decision-Making Part 1: The Hidden Cost Of Delaying

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you're drowning in unmade decisions, it's costing you more than time. In this week's episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I'm break...

416 | Exploring The Effect Of Emotional Intelligence On Your Success With Alex Resnick

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Can't hold a boundary without getting frustrated? You're not alone. One of the biggest struggles I see with business owners is setting and holding bou...

415 | Strategic Thinking: What's Getting In Your Way And How To Fix It

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like you're so buried in the day-to-day that you never get a chance to zoom out and think about where your business is going? In this...

414 | Encore: Building A Company Culture Of High Performers Who Never Want To Leave With Yuri Elkaim

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel like you're spinning your wheels with your team? Too much back and forth, unclear expectations, and you're wondering if it's them or if it's...

413 | The Love Letter Your Business Has Been Waiting To Send You

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if your business could write you a love letter? This Valentine's week, I recorded something different. I stepped aside and gave your business a v...

412 | You Don't Need More Discipline, You Need More Trust

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Every broken promise to yourself has a cost. If you've been struggling to follow through on your own commitments, the problem might not be what you th...

411 | Encore: The Magic Connection Method With Brandon Fong

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if you're just one connection away from your biggest breakthrough? In this encore episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I'm bringi...

410 | The Tech Stack Audit That Saves Time, Money & Sanity

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is your tech stack creating chaos instead of efficiency? Maybe you've got tools you forgot you were paying for, duplicates doing the same job, or a ba...

409 | What Business Owners Want Most

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Wondering what's holding my business back? You're not alone. Every business owner I know is chasing the same things: clarity, focus, energy, freedom. ...

408 | What Does Your Business Need?

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Stuck on a decision you keep avoiding? Spinning on a problem you can't seem to solve? In this episode, I'm sharing one simple question that cuts throu...

407 | What To Let Go Of Before 2026 & Why It's The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into how you can identify both the internal beliefs and the external commitments that are silently running the show in your business in life. W...

406 | Unpacking The Illusion Of Time Abundance & Money Scarcity With Sarah Walton

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with business coach and sales expert Sarah Walton to dive into the illusion of time abundance and money scarcity, help you shatter your min...

405 | What To Actually Focus On In December Without The Guilt

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into how you can put a stop to the December panic setting and discover what you should actually focus on now to finish the year strong and guil...

404 | Collaborating With Your Bookkeeper For Best Results With Misa Bacon

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the founder and CEO of Perfectly Kept Books®, Misa Bacon, to dive into the inner workings of your relationship with your bookkeeper a...

403 | Good Busy vs. Toxic Busy: The Foundation Of Your Success

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the crucial difference between being good busy and toxic busy so you can know the warning signs, make better choices, stop feeling so over...

402 | Cracking The Consistency Code: Behind The Business With Courtney Townley

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with certified nutrition and life coach, Courtney Townley, to dive into her work of helping women reclaim their health while removing the o...

401 | When The Most Productive Thing You Can Do Is Step Away

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I go behind-the-scenes once again to look at my whole experience last week of realizing that the most productive, most strategic thing I could do for ...

400 | SPECIAL The Real Struggles, Lessons, & Growth: Behind The Business Of Amber De La Garza

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today is a very special episode—our 400th episode! Instead of me giving you the straight talk this week, the tables are turned and I get interviewed...

399 | From Near-Death To $55 Million In Sales: Behind The Business With Kris Dehnert

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the CEO of Dugout Mugs, Kris Dehnert, to pull back the curtain on the inner workings of his successful business and dive into his entr...

398 | The One Question That Changes Everything In Your Business And Life

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I share the one question that changes everything in your business and life when answered ahead of business planning. I then go on to discuss why most ...

397 | Replacing Yourself In Your Business: A Client Case Study With Myrna Everett

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with Myrna Everett, the CEO of Home Vogue Interiors, to dive deep into her evolution from running a successful business on the front end bu...

396 | When Visionaries Face Operational Realities: Behind The Business With LuAnn Nigara

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special Behind The Business episode I sit down with Author, Keynote Speaker, host of A Well-Designed Business and Window Treatments for Profit...

395 | Hidden Revenue Leaks Part 2: Real Businesses, Real Leaks, Real Solutions

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the messy reality of how revenue leaks actually show up when you're running a business day-to-day and divulge real-world solutions to the ...

394 | Hidden Revenue Leaks Part 1: Digging Deeper To Uncover Profits

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the five levels of revenue leaks that compound into massive losses year after year and show you exactly why most "fixes" don't actually fi...

393 | Tax Secrets: How To Keep More Of Your Money With Mark J. Kohler

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with "America's #1 Small Business Tax Lawyer" - the Founder and CEO of Main Street Tax Professionals, Mark Kohler, to dive into how you can...

392 | Regulating Your Nervous System With Michelle Grosser

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with trial-attorney-turned coach, Michelle Grosser, to dive into actionable strategies and practical tools to overcome stress, regulate you...

391 | The Real Reason You're Always 'So Busy'

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the real reason you're always 'so busy,' digging deep into the underlying beliefs that keep you in this frantic, reactive cycle. I go into...

390 | Behind The Biz From Burnout To Boundaries With Jude Charles

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jude Charles runs a video production company that helps entrepreneurs tell their stories via video documentaries that pull back the veil on both their...

389 | When To Cut Your Losses (And Why You're Not Doing It)

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I dive into the raw, honest reasons why you might be stuck throwing good money after bad ...

388 | Lead Follow-Up: How To Convert Leads Into Client Relationships With Jacob Hicks

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with Success Coach Jacob Hicks to dive into how you can convert leads into client relationships by creating a lead follow-up system that wo...

387 | White Space Wins Utilizing Your Secret Scheduling Weapon

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on white space—your secret scheduling weapon that can be the difference between ending your day feeling accompli...

386 | Turning Your Data-Driven Metrics Into Revenue With Amy Traugh

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I sit down with Amy to dive into how you can use your data-driven metrics to guide your b...

385 | Leveraging AI To Grow Your Business With Rick Mulready

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with Business Coach & Owner of The AI Playbook Community, Rick Mulready, to dive into how the AI revolution is transforming small businesse...

384 | The Mid-Year Goals Reset: How To Review, Refocus & Finish Strong

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into how you can use my Insights Feedback Loop to conduct a mid-year audit of your goals, do a guilt-free reset, and create a six-month action ...

383 | Avoiding Scams, Wire Fraud & Cyberattacks With Jeremiah Baker

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I sit down with Cyber Resilience Specialist, Jeremiah Baker, to dive into the work he doe...

382 | A Strong Case For Both Personal AND Business Bucket Lists This Summer

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into how to create personal and business bucket lists that support each other and how to turn those seasonal opportunities into real progress! ...

381 | ADHD Strategies For Neurodivergent Small Business Owners With Skye Waterson

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I sit down with ADHD Strategist, Coach, and Founder of Unconventional Wisdom, Skye Waters...

380 | From Doer To Leader: Breaking Free From The Identity Crisis Keeping You Stuck

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into how you can break free from a common identity crisis small business owners have - that of being a leader who continues to do the work of t...

379 | Lead With Love: Eradicating Workplace Toxicity With Dr. Sam Adeyemi

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the founder and executive director of Daystar Leadership Academy, Dr. Sam Adeyemi, to dive into the issue of workplace toxicity and di...

378 | Work Review Extremes Part 3: The Solution Of Balanced Leadership

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this final episode of my Work Review Extremes Series, I dive into the powerful sweet spot in-between overbearing and laissez-faire leadership: bala...

377 | Work Review Extremes Part 2: The Costs Of Laissez-Faire Leadership

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into what drives laissez-faire leadership (a very hands-off approach to leading your team) especially when it comes to work review, when to use...

376 | Work Review Extremes Part 1: The Costs of Overbearing Leadership

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today kicks off our special three-part Work Review Extremes series where I'll show you exactly how to review your team's work effectively without bein...

375 | The 4 C's Of Goal Achievers With Kristin Burke

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with goal achievement coach Kristin Burke to dive into the habits, shifts, and actions that lead to achieving your business goals and attai...

374 | Brand Strategy: The Unsung Hero Of Success With Jacinta Gandy

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with Jacinta Gandy, the Owner and Founder of the Social Circle, a digital marketing agency specializing in branding. We dive into how you c...

373 | From Self-Negotiation To Action: A Powerful Accountability System

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into effective strategies you can combine to create a powerful accountability system that defends against self-negotiation and turns positive i...

372 | Self-Negotiation: Stop Sabotaging Your Business Success

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the real costs of self-negotiation and lay out how to stop engaging in this negative, self-sabotaging pattern of behavior so you can consi...

371 | The XOS™ Method: Exit Without Exiting With Jason Duncan

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the Founder of The Exiter Club, Jason Duncan, to dive into The XOS™ Method, a framework he created to instruct business owners on ho...

370 | My AI Journey: Overcoming Hesitations, Key Lessons & Big Benefits

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into my real, unfiltered experience integrating AI into my business, pulling back the curtain on the hesitations I had to overcome, the key les...

369 | Life Beyond Survival Mode: A Client Case Study With Amy Pearson

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I sit down with Amy Pearson, the Principal Interior Designer of Amy Pearson Design, to di...

368 | 5 Finance Fundamentals To Master Year-Round Tax Organization

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into five simple finance fundamentals you can add to your routine to help you master year-round tax organization, so you can go into the next t...

367 | Building Luxury Homes & A Business From The Ground Up With Brad Leavitt

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with Brad Leavitt, the founder and president of AFT Construction, to dive into his entrepreneurial journey, his current expertise as a high...

366 | Pause To Break The People-Pleasing Cycle in Business

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into ways to break your cycle of people-pleasing by relying on the phrase pause before I please so you can produce win-win outcomes from otherw...

365 | The Critical Role Of A Google Profile With Nancy Ganzekaufer

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with business coach Nancy Ganzekaufer to dive into the critical role of a Google profile to your business success because it helps you get ...

364 | Beyond The Hustle: Building 21 Sustainable Business Habits

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into 21 real, practical, and sustainable habits that will allow you to grow your business without burning out. What You'll Discover In This Epi...

363 | Optimizing Your Unique Marketing Archetype With Christina Frei

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with branding and marketing expert Christina Frei to dive into optimizing your unique marketing archetype which is YOUR way to communicate ...

362 | The Priority Dilution Trap: Why You're Working Hard But Getting Nowhere

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into how to get out of the priority dilution mindset and instead organize your tasks in priority order so you can power through them, make prog...

361 | Implementing Digital Operations For Business Growth With Michael Greenberg

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the founder and CEO of Third Brain Digital Operations and Automation, Michael Greenberg, to dive into ways to leverage automation, AI,...

360 | Delegation Strategies To Free Up Your Time & Empower Your Team

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into delegation strategies to free up your time, empower your team, and ultimately transform your business. What You'll Discover In This Episod...

359 | Digital Organization: Moving From Chaos To Calm With Shawn Lemon

11 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the Founder of the Digital Organizer, Shawn Lemon, to dive into smart digital organization strategies to help you organize your files,...

358 | How I Saved $5,000 In Two Hours By Doing A Subscription Audit

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into how doing a two-hour subscription audit saved me  $5,129 and how you can also trim the fat and save big money in your business by doing a...

Encore: Cleaning The Slate For A Fresh Start

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into how taking time to gain clarity on what hasn't been working in your business this year and cleaning the slate of that baggage this month c...

357 | Recruiting High-Performers & Making A-Player Hires With Laura Couvillon

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the Co-Founder of Integrate-Up, Laura Couvillon, to dive into the wisdom, strategy, and negotiation skills it takes to successfully re...

356 | The Mighty Impact Of Doing A Vision Board & Word Of The Year

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into creating a Vision Board and choosing a Word of the Year so you can keep your goals at the front of your mind, take intentional actions tow...

355 | Stand-Out Marketing That Resonates With Your Audience With Madison Paige

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with business growth strategist Madison Paige to dive into the seven different types of content marketing and how to best experiment with t...

354 | Looking Back To Leap Forward In The New Year

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into my framework that has specific instructions to help you reflect on this year in your business and analyze it so you can create a solid str...

353 | The Pathway To Better Bookkeeping With Misa Bacon

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the Founder and CEO of Perfectly Kept Books, Misa Bacon, to dive into ways to take charge of your bookkeeping so you can make it less ...

352 | Everyone's Backend Is A Mess

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the sabotaging tendency to compare and despair, breakdown how that mindset can be harmful to your success, and tell you what to do about i...

351 | Mastering Lead Nurturing & Customer Relationship Management With Jason Kramer

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the Founder of Cultivize, Jason Kramer, to dive into how effective lead nurturing and customer relationship management (CRM) can help ...

350 | Diving In To My Daily RAP Framework

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into my Daily RAP framework so you can use it to stop letting your day conquer you AND instead… plan and conquer each and every day, thus lay...

349 | Delivering An Extraordinary Customer Experience With Joseph Michelli

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with Joseph Michelli, an organizational consultant with a focus on customer experience, to dive into his knowledge of exceptional business ...

348 | Supercharge Your Project Management Meetings

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the best practices you can rely on to help you run efficient and effective project management meetings so you can take back control, lead ...

347 | Plugging In To Money & Abundance With Sarah Walton

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I sit down with Business Coach & Sales Expert, Sarah Walton, to dive into business owners...

346 | Your Hit List For When Business Is Slow

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into my hit list of 20 ways you can reallocate the time and energy you now have so you can create a more solid foundation in your business and ...

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! Next year will be different...

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine going into 2025… 🌟 Having Confidence to take on any challenge because you have laid the groundwork for a successful year in your business...

345 | Understanding Your Business' Financial Health With Hannah Smolinski

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the founder of Clara CFO Group, CPA Hannah Smolinski to discuss the financial support options available to business owners and break d...

344 | 4th Quarter Denial Is Not A Good Look

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into getting out of denial and getting clear on what you actually CAN accomplish in three months loaded with holiday activities, so you can fin...

343 | Persistent Marketing: The Pathway To Profits With Troy Trewin

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the Founder of Grow A Small Business, Troy Trewin, to dive into marketing principles and strategies small business owners can use to g...

342 | Theme Days: Good, Better, Batch!

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the topic of theme days and how to implement them so you can take advantage of the awesome benefits gained from taking your time blocking ...

341 | The Best PR Tactics From An Industry Insider With Marin Richardson

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the CEO and founder of Disrupt PR, Marin Richardson, to dive into the best PR tactics to attract the right clients and enable you to c...

340 | How To Create Problem Solvers In Your Business

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the challenge of being the only problem solver in your business so you can step down from that demanding role, effectively empower your te...

339 | The Role Of A Small Business Attorney In Your Legal Matters With Elissa D. Hecker

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with small business attorney Elissa D. Hecker to dive into the role a small business attorney takes when hired to give you legal advice, pr...

338 | Hey Hero... It Doesn't Need To Be You

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the many ways you can stop being the only hero in your story and get the support you need to grow your business, increase profits, and red...

337 | Streamlining Operations Using A Fractional COO And EOS With Raquel Castillo

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with Fractional COO and The Online Integrator, Raquel Castillo, to dive into the role of a Fractional COO, what an Entrepreneurial Operatin...

336 | The Costs Of Poor Client Scheduling To Your Business

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into making smarter client scheduling decisions so you can prevent the negative costs poor client scheduling has on your business. What You'll ...

335 | The Essential Systems & Processes For Success With John McClain

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with John McClain, the CEO & Creative Director of John McClain Design, to dive into creating systems and processes for your business so you...

334 | 4 Essential Activities Worth Making Time For

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the heavy mental load business owners carry and discuss four specific activities worth making time for to help you reduce stress, improve ...

333 | The 5 Biggest Lead Generation Mistakes With Marion Wagner

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with income growth strategist Marion Wagner to dive into the major lead generation mistakes many business owners are making and discuss wha...

332 | 12 Ways To Maximize Your Team Members' Time

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into the specific time management strategies, skills, and policies you can implement in your business immediately to get the most of your team ...

331 | Living In Alignment With Your Personal Priorities With Molly Asplin

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with business mentor and health coach Molly Asplin to dive into the importance of living in alignment with your personal priorities and not...

330 | If You Don't Do This One Thing, No One Will

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into how you can take action to respect and value your own time because if you don't, no one else will and your business will suffer because of...

329 | Eliminating The Beliefs Sabotaging Your Growth With Shelly Lefkoe

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the co-founder of the Lefkoe Institute, Shelly Lefkoe, to dive into the topic of eliminating the beliefs sabotaging your growth so you...

328 | Creating A Schedule That Supports Your Ideal Work/Life Balance

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into how to create a schedule that more effectively supports your ideal work/life balance so you can actually achieve it. What You'll Discover ...

327 | Preparing To Sell Your Business: Practical Approaches With Malcolm Peace

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the founder of Tsetserra Growth Partners, Malcolm Peace, to dive into how you can best prepare yourself and stabilize your business no...

326 | Simple Tech Upgrades To Maximize Your Efficiency

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into eight simple upgrades to the technology you use in your business every day that can help you maximize your efficiency. What You'll Discove...

325 | Burnout Prevention & Recovery With Charlène Gisèle

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with Charlène Gisèle, The Burnout Prevention Adviser, to dive into burnout prevention strategies, as well as tools to help you heal from ...

324 | 5 Steps To Developing A Strong Team

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I dive into what it takes to develop and maintain a strong team so you can maximize the benefits of having a team who supports you in achieving your b...

323 | Leveling Up Your Email Management With Yaro Starak

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with the co-founder of email management company InboxDone.com, Yaro Starak, to dive into an effective email management solution that could ...