Small Business Straight Talk
Episodes
227 | The Secret Sauce Of Your Business With Shayla Boyd-Gill
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with Luxe Your Business Mentor and creator of the LuxeSales System, Shayla Boyd-Gill, to dive into how you can truly sabotage your business...
226 | Rinse & Repeat
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of habits, how they show up in your life and business, and go on to discuss how to identify whether the habits in your rinse & r...
225 | If It's Not A 'Hell Yes!', What Is It?
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into one of the biggest reason business owners are constantly overwhelmed - they're simply taking on too many projects, meetings, partnerships,...
224 | Breaking Free From Codependency, Perfectionism, & People Pleasing With Victoria Albina
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with Certified Life Coach Victoria Albina to discuss how to stop codependent, perfectionist, and people-pleasing thought patterns from maki...
223 | How To Measure Your Marketing For Optimization With Chris Mercer
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with the Co-Founder of MeasurementMarketing.io, Chris Mercer, to dive into the world of analytics and discuss how you can effectively measu...
Encore: What's Your Word Of The Year?
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I provide strategies for creating, implementing, and abiding by a Word Of The Year so you can consistently take intentional action on your goal throug...
Business Planning Made Simple!
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Planning your year is one of the most important activities you can do as a business owner because it helps you set the overall direction of your busin...
222 | That's A Wrap! Sharing My 2021 Feedback Loop
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I walk you through how I recently used the insights feedback loop to figure out what I don't want to do in my business in 2022, what I want to doubl...
221 | The Gift That Keeps On Giving
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the reality that you can't show up as your best and most productive self for your business if you can't keep your eyes open and discuss wh...
220 | Cleaning The Slate For A Fresh Start
06 Dec 2021
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...
219 | Real Talk: Money Mindset & Action Taking With Emily King
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with wealth and abundance coach for entrepreneurial women, Emily King, to dive into how your money mindset blocks may be holding you back f...
218 | Let's Talk About Business! 2nd Annual Friendsgiving Special
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down for a Zoom chat with my closest business owner friends to record our 2nd annual Friendsgiving episode. Join Amanda Berlin, Carol Cox, Hilar...
217 | The Sky's The Limit: A Client Case Study With Michael Costantino
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down for an entrepreneurial case study with the owner, president, and Principal Architect for Montebello Architecture & Design, Michael Costanti...
216 | You're Not Alone
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the reasons so many entrepreneurs feel alone in their businesses despite being surrounded by a team and what they can do about it to minim...
215 | Time For A Tech Stack Detox
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into tips for auditing, purging, and filling gaps in your tech stack so it stops overwhelming you, you stop wasting hard-earned money on apps a...
214 | A Powerful Vision For Your Business And Life
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the importance of having a vision for your business and a vision for your personal life. I also discuss everything you need to know abou...
213 | Enough With The Elevator Buttons!
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I walk you through better ways of managing your projects and ideas so you can get unstuck, accomplish everything your business needs from you more eff...
212 | Knowing Your Blind Spots: A Lesson In Effective Leadership With Corry Robertson
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with a leading global expert on organizational culture, engagement, and retention, Corry Robertson, to dive into effective leadership strat...
211 | UPDATE: How My Business Survived In My Absence
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you're a regular listener of Productivity Straight Talk, you might have noticed that no episodes have been published for a long time. I know from e...
210 | Showing Up Unapologetically You: A Lesson In Visibility With Lauren Salaun
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with PR and Marketing Consultant Lauren Salaun to discuss her journey from exhausted workaholic to successful entrepreneur that enabled her...
209 | Task Management: Going Beyond Your Business
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into some of my favorite task management strategies I use in my business and discuss how they can easily be implemented into your personal life...
208 | All Or Nothing, Now Or Never
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the common mentality among business owners all or nothing, now or never and flush out how as paradigm shift on that kind of thinking can g...
207 | Creating A Functional Workspace That Lights You Up With Maria Viola
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with Principal Maria Viola of Viola Interior Design, to dive into what elements you should consider when creating a workspace so that it is...
206 | Seasons
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the idea of honoring the season you're in and encourage you to achieve greater balance and satisfaction by allowing your personal and busi...
205 | 7 Rules To Minimize Team Member Interruptions
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into seven effective strategies to minimize team member interruptions so they don't hijack your day and you can power through your work without...
204 | The Monster In The Closet
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of avoiding things in your business that seem too overwhelming, too uncomfortable, or too big, and the stories you tell yourself...
203 | A Recipe For Hating Your Business
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into 11 ingredients you might be using in your recipe for business success when they're actually harmful ingredients that leave you hating your...
202 | Battling The Indecision Plaguing Your Productivity
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the reasons indecisiveness is the most unproductive place to be in your business and how learning to make decisions quicker and more confi...
201 | Always Be Ready To Hire
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you don't take time to fully prepare for the inevitable loss of employees, you'll be forced to make time for it down the line, possibly at the most...
200 | The Evolution Of Productivity Straight Talk
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I invite you to journey back in time with me, all the way to my very first episode to see how Productivity Straight Talk has evolved over the past fou...
199 | Tracking Metrics To Get Your Thumb On The Pulse Of Your Business With Layne Booth
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with the CEO and Dashboard Expert of The Project Booth, Layne Booth, to dive into the world of metrics and discuss how tracking the right o...
198 | I Should Have Known This...
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the mindset behind the thought "I should have known this..." which I hear from my clients a lot and discuss what you can be doing instead ...
197 | Bad-Ass Business Systems: Exposing The Secret Behind Franchise Success Stories
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the benefits of effective business systems, how they are the secret ingredient in every popular franchise's recipe for success, and how yo...
196 | Focus At Will: Boosting Productivity With Personalized Music With Will Henshall
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with Will Henshall, founder of the science driven instrumental music streaming service Focus@Will, for an indepth look at how listening to ...
195 | Difficult Conversations: Strategies For Navigating Everyone's Kryptonite With Lara Currie
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with speaker and author Lara Currie to discuss productive ways to deal with difficult people, have tough conversations, and navigate confli...
194 | Preventing Burnout By Prioritizing You With Errin Weisman, DO
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with life coach and doctor of osteopathic medicine Errin Weisman to discuss how she came face to face with burnout, what she did about it, ...
193 | Flirting With The Concept That Support Is Sexy With Elayne Fluker
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with author, podcast host, and founder of SiS.Academy, Elayne Fluker, to dive into her mission to help unapologetically ambitious women get...
192 | The Magic Connection Method With Brandon Fong
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with entrepreneur Brandon Fong to dive into the Magic Connection Method which is the proven process he uses to help himself and others conn...
191 | Leaning In To The Life Skills That Matter With Stephen Warley
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with solopreneur business coach and the founder of LifeSkillsThatMatter.com, Stephen Warley, to dive into what life skills it takes to be a...
190 | Taking On Templates: Get It Right & Get More Done
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into mind-blowing ways you can build a better business by maximizing your efficiency and effectiveness with templates! What You'll Discover I...
189 | Establishing Meaningful Connections Through Thought Leadership With Carol Cox
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Productivity Straight Talk, I sit down with the founder of Speaking Your Brand, Carol Cox, to dive into how leaning into thought ...
188 | Getting The Help You Need: An Entrepreneurial Case Study With Janelle McNeal
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down for an entrepreneurial case study with the Owner and Director of True North Counseling & Development, Janelle McNeal. We dive into how Jane...
187 | 5 Musts To Delegate Effectively And Be Satisfied With The Results
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into five things you should be doing to delegate effectively and get the results you actually want from your team. What You'll Discover In This...
186 | Slowing Down To Go Fast
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into four easy ways of slowing down in order to move faster and more effectively toward your goals, despite their outward appearance of being c...
185 | Creating Energy: An Exploration Of Ways To Show Up Your Best
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into how you can increase your ability to focus, power through your work, and show up your best in 2021 by prioritizing experimentations with c...
184 | Finding Your North Star: Gain Clarity On Your Vision For 2021
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into how you can equip yourself to tackle even your greatest challenges in 2021 by finding your North Star and letting it guide your business d...
183 | A New Year, A New Microhabit
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into committing to one new microhabit that will help you enjoy the journey of being a business owner so you can be sustainable for the long hau...
182 | 12 Unexpected Gifts Of 2020
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I slide into the holiday spirit and unwrap many of the delightful and unexpected gifts of 2020, from trimming your financial fat to reuniting with the...
181 | It's A Matter Of Respect
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I share some specific stories of when I felt my time was disrespected and the actions I took to ensure my time was not disrespected by those same peop...
180 | Creating Win-Win Sales & Collaborations: An Entrepreneurial Case Study With LuAnn Nigara
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with the co-owner of Window Works and host of A Well-Designed Business podcast, LuAnn Nigara, for an entrepreneurial case study. We take a ...
179 | Hiring: Core Components Of An Exceptional Selection Process With Eileen Hahn
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with leadership and hiring consultant, Eileen Hahn, to discuss her multifaceted selection process for hiring which she uses to help compani...
178 | Let's Talk Business! A Friendsgiving Special
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down around the virtual Thanksgiving table with some of my closest small business owner friends - Amanda Berlin, Carol Cox, Hilary Hendershot, J...
177 | 3 Steps To Making Business Boundaries Successful
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I walk you through making your business boundaries successful by clearly identifying them, lovingly and clearly communicating them, and holding them s...
176 | Smart Strategies To Stay On Top Of Your Business Finances With Danielle Hayden
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with the co-owner of Kickstart Accounting, Inc, Danielle Hayden, to discuss how your business finances are telling an important story and y...
175 | Systemizing Chaos & Prioritizing Projects To Maximize Growth: An Entrepreneurial Case Study With Jason Long And Santiago Arroyo
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with the owners of Tree Amigos Growers, organic farmers Jason Long and Santiago Arroyo, to get an inside look at how they are embracing ada...
174 | Building Our Bond And Businesses Together With Amanda Berlin & Jamie Lieberman
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with two members of my curated Trusted Advisory Council, Amanda Berlin and Jamie Lieberman, to discuss the importance of collaborations, al...
173 | Empowering Leadership: The Best Investment For Long-term Growth
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of embracing empowering leadership methods so you can learn how to reclaim time and mental bandwidth by effectively delegating t...
172 | Get Passionate About Rediscovering Play With Jeff Harry
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
All work and no play makes for a low-energy, boring workday. I sit down with international play speaker, Jeff Harry, to discuss how infusing play into...
171 | ClickUp For Small Businesses: Your All-In-One Project & Task Management System
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive in and review the popular app ClickUp - which I personally use to run my business - so you can get a grasp on its awesome features and determin...
170 | Working Hard But Not Building Wealth? You Need to Hear This! With Hilary Hendershott
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with my dear friend and the Founder of Hendershott Wealth Management, Hilary Hendershott, to discuss how important it is to be paying yours...
169 | Do You Deserve To Be Fired?
14 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of which character traits you look for when bringing someone new onto your team – character traits like dependable, drama-free...
168 | Honoring Your Body, Mind, & Soul To Be Productive With Courtney Townley
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with certified nutrition coach and host of the Grace & Grit podcast, Courtney Townley. We discuss how your productivity improves when you t...
167 | Conquer Your Day Using The 5 Daily Planning Pavers
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In addition to walking you through my 5 Daily Planning Pavers that will help you pave your way to a successful day every day, I discuss why your well-...
166 | Adopting An And Mindset To Transform Your Business: A Client Case Study With LuAnn Nigara
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with the Co-Owner of Window Works, LuAnn Nigara, for a very special episode in which I am the one being interviewed. We discuss what it is ...
165 | Stop Trying To Be Productive All Day!
17 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of time management and talk about how far too often, business owners aim to be productive all day even though that line of think...
164 | 10 Time Leaks You'll Want To Eliminate
11 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into ten ways you might be letting time leak out of your days and therefore money leak out of your pockets. These may seem like simple things b...
163 | Devising A Plan To Hit The Ground Running Each Week: A Strategy Session With Christy Keating
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with the founder and CEO of The Heartful Parent, Christy Keating, for a one-on-one strategy session in which we take a look behind the scen...
162 | Onward To $1 Million: A Client Case Study With Vita Vygovska
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with Vita Vygovska, the owner of window treatment company Vitalia, Inc. We take an in-depth look at how she went from being a corporate dro...
160 | Taking Your Goals From Good To Better To Best
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In part two of my two-part series on goal achievement, I dive into how you can utilize good, better, and best goals to surpass what you thought was po...
159 | Goal Deconstruction 101
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In part one of my two-part series on goal achievement, I dive into the topic of breaking your big goals down into smaller, attainable milestones that ...
158 | How To Be A Better Boss To Your VAs So They Can Make The Magic Happen
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with the Founder and CEO of the VA agency, The Launch Guild, Tasha Booth. We discuss strategies for getting on the same page and communicat...
157 | Hiring: Might Need To Kiss A Lot Of Frogs To Find Your Prince
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of getting your mindset on board with continuing to look for your next hire even when it's freakin' hard so you can find your ta...
156 | Going Slow To Go Fast
15 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I walk you through my emotional journey over the past few weeks that has stretched me as a leader and a human being and made me have hope that we can ...
155 | From Victim To Victor Using Your Failures To Fuel Your Growth
25 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into how challenging it can be to jump back on the saddle after a fall but also why you should. I discuss how you can effectively use your past...
154 | Ask Amber: Have Any Tips For Wrapping Up Conversations?
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of wrapping up conversations and meetings and discuss how if not done respectfully, wrapping up can seem abrupt or awkward. I g...
153 | We Are Not Babysitters
11 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of creating accountability to discuss how having others hold you accountable will never work unless you are already practicing s...
152 | The Downside Of Optimism
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into how optimism is typically a positive trait but if you fail to reel it in when it comes to your business, being optimistic can outright sab...
151 | Overcoming FOMO As A Business Owner
28 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of FOMO which most business owners suffer from occasionally, possibly even more so during this global pandemic. I discuss how I'...
150 | Contact Clean-Up: Drumming Up Business While Social Distancing
20 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive deep into a) how to find, select, and execute on a contact relationship management (CRM) program if you don't have one and b) how to c...
149 | How To Harness Momentum To Increase Productivity
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of strategically building upon small wins in your business so you can generate unstoppable momentum and keep progressing toward ...
148 | Tackling Your To-Do List: A Strategy Session With Amber Cortes
04 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with interior designer Amber Cortes for a one-on-one strategy session. We work through Amber's challenges with not letting her life spin ou...
147 | Don't Turn Off The Water Fountain With Amanda Berlin
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with Amanda Berlin, a publicity strategist who helps entrepreneurs tell their story, write content, and raise visibility. We discuss how de...
146 | Mind Over Strategy
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of strengthening your mindset because let's be honest… The world is in a super tough spot right now and no matter how great yo...
145 | PIVOT
16 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of navigating COVID-19 as small business owners so we can all make the tough decisions, embrace the necessary pivot, and move ou...
144 | From Side Hustle To Thriving Business: A Client Case Study With Jenny And Ben Slingerland
02 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with wife and husband team Jenny and Ben Slingerland, the Owner & Principal Designer and Chief Operating Officer of Black Ink Interiors, a ...
143 | Rev Up Your Practice Of Recommitting
24 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the powerful practice of recommitting to your goals when you fall off track (and we all do!), so you can get right back on and work toward...
142 | Impactful Storytelling To Make Your Message Stick With Kindra Hall
17 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down for an entrepreneurial case study interview with the President and Chief Storytelling Officer at Steller Collective, Kindra Hall. Kindra pu...
141 | Step One: Admit You're The Problem
10 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into a topic I'm passionate about and that's taking ownership of whatever is holding you back from success. I talk about not judging yourself, ...
140 | BIG Goals · BIG Fear · BIG Action With Joy Hoover
03 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with the Founder and CEO of the non-profit The Cupcake Girls, Joy Hoover. The Cupcake Girls provides confidential support to those involved...
139 | Mind The Gap: Are You Equipped To Take The Next Step?
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of identifying what necessary skills and talents you may be lacking so you can make wise investments and hiring decisions that w...
138 | How To Stop Your Clients From Trampling Your Boundaries With Melissa Morris
20 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Morris, a Business Operations Consultant who specializes in client processes, including client onboarding, ma...
137 | Keeping Your Business & Personal Goals Complementary
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of sabotaging yourself by creating goals that fail to align with each other and how you can work to create holistic goals that c...
136 | Make This Your #1 Business Goal
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of topic of setting your sights on a financial goal above all else because in the end, success in business is measured by your a...
135 | 3 Presents To Gift Yourself This Holiday Season
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of why the holiday season can be so stressful both inside your business and out. I go on to discuss ways to create a holiday exp...
134 | Hardwired To Multitask
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of how most of us are hardwired to multitask and how our submission negatively affects our focus and productivity. I also discus...
133 | Ask Amber: How Do I Get My Employee To Stop Interrupting Me?
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of managing employee interruptions effectively so you can stop getting hammered with questions throughout your day when tota...
132 | Ask Amber: How Much Time Should I Spend On Training?
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I dive into the topic of what you should be spending your time on in order to maximize profits and propel yourself toward achieving your business goal...
131 | Make It A NO-vember To Remember
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I explore the idea that you should say no to anything that's not serving you so you can free up your time and energy for the activities that do! What ...
129 | Examining The Productivity-Comfort Connection
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I take a look at the close relationship between your comfort and productivity and how your output is affected. I walk you through steps you can take w...
128 | ClickUp Unveiled: A Look At The One App That Replaces Them All With Zeb Evans
28 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with the Founder and CEO of ClickUp, Zeb Evans. ClickUp is my preferred time management software and after tuning in to this week's episode...