As a small business owner, you may not always have the resources to compete with corporate salaries, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep your best people.

In this episode, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand share how to retain top talent even when money isn’t your main lever. From meaningful work to growth opportunities, they explain what truly motivates high performers and how to build a culture that keeps them engaged.

You’ll learn:

Why money is often fifth on the list of what A-players value most

How to challenge and empower high performers so they stay motivated

Why recognition, meaningful work, and growth opportunities matter more than salary

Creative compensation alternatives like flexible schedules or extra training

The risks of over-praising and how to prevent egos from getting in the way

How to design win-win incentives that tie personal goals to business success

If you’ve ever worried about losing your best people because you can’t match big paychecks, this episode will show you how to retain them with leadership, culture, and creativity.

Want to continue the conversation and learn how other founders retain their best people? Join the free Visionary Founders Club: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

CRMs (Customer Relationship Management systems) can feel like a must-have, but do you actually need one in your first year of business?

In this episode, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand explore whether new business owners should invest in a CRM right away or keep things simple with spreadsheets until the time is right. They share the pros and cons, common pitfalls, and why the answer depends on your stage of growth and goals.

You’ll learn:

Why most small businesses don’t use a CRM and still survive

When a spreadsheet is enough vs. when you’ve outgrown it

How CRMs help manage leads, customers, and even automate communication

Why starting early can save headaches down the road

Affordable CRM options for small businesses (Zoho, Pipedrive, Monday, Go High Level, and more)

The importance of choosing tools that can grow with your business

If you’ve been debating whether to invest in a CRM, this episode will give you the clarity you need to decide what’s best for your business right now.

Want support choosing the right tools and systems for your stage of growth? Join the free Visionary Founders Club and connect with other entrepreneurs navigating the same decisions: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

Or check our services: https://leficomp.com/services/

“Quiet quitting” isn’t new, but it’s one of the biggest threats to team performance. It happens when employees check out mentally and emotionally but still occupy a seat, often dragging down everyone around them.

In this episode, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand explain how to identify disengaged team members, understand the root causes, and put the right systems in place to prevent quiet quitting from spreading.

You’ll learn:

The difference between disengagement and full-blown quiet quitting

The early warning signs like lack of enthusiasm, minimal effort, and withdrawal from team activities

How quarterly reviews, scorecards, and KPIs help spot issues early

Why personal struggles may look like disengagement and how to respond with empathy

When to use performance improvement plans and when it’s time to let go

Why prevention through strong systems and culture is the best cure

If you’ve ever worried about quiet quitting in your business, this episode will give you the tools to spot it early and address it effectively.

Want to keep these conversations going? Join the free Visionary Founders Club, a community where business owners connect, learn, and grow together: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

It’s Sunday, which means we’re giving you a preview of what’s coming up this week on More Than Just Task Management.

Here’s what’s ahead:

Monday: How to spot and address quiet quitting or disengaged team members

Tuesday: Do you really need a CRM in year one of your business? If yes, which one?

Wednesday: How to retain high performers when you can’t afford big raises

Thursday: Handling refunds, disputes, and difficult clients professionally

Friday: The signs that you’ve outgrown your current software

Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand also take a moment to reflect on recent world events and remind listeners to step away, recharge, and focus on what’s within your control: your business, your values, and your community.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss the episodes most relevant to your growth, and take this Sunday to rest, reset, and get ready for the week ahead.

Missed this week’s episodes? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.

In this Saturday recap, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand revisit the highlights from the past five episodes and share the biggest takeaways for business owners looking to grow with clarity and confidence.

Here’s what we covered this week:

Monday: How to track leads and sales without complex software

Tuesday: What to do when a key employee wants (or threatens) to leave

Wednesday: Simple calendar hacks for solopreneurs (and beyond)

Thursday: Reducing risk when your business relies on one key platform

Friday: Should you hire family or friends in your business?

Whether you’re in the early stages or scaling to seven figures, these conversations are packed with insights to help you focus on what matters most.

Subscribe now so you never miss an episode, and if a topic hits home, go back and catch the full conversation.

In the early stages of business, it can be tempting to bring in family or friends to help, especially when resources are tight. But is it a smart move?

In this episode, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand unpack the risks, challenges, and rare exceptions when it comes to hiring people you’re personally close to. From blurred boundaries to long-term resentment, they explain why this decision can often do more harm than good.

You’ll learn:

The difference between asking for support vs. formally hiring family or friends

Why qualifications, attitude, and cultural fit matter more than relationships

How blurred boundaries make managing and leading much harder

The risks of resentment when family members see your profits up close

Why using temps is often a safer short-term solution

The rare situations where short-term help might work, with clear boundaries

If you’ve ever considered hiring someone close to you, this episode will help you think it through carefully and likely save you from some painful lessons.

Want expert guidance as you build your team the right way? Join the free Visionary Founders Club, the community where small and mid-sized business owners connect and grow together: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

What would happen if the one platform your business depends on (whether it’s for sales, delivery, or customer data) suddenly went down? For many small and mid-sized businesses, that scenario isn’t hypothetical.

In this episode, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand share how to reduce risk and build resilience when your business relies heavily on a single platform. From disaster recovery planning to cybersecurity, they walk through practical ways to protect your operations and keep revenue flowing.

You’ll learn:

Why every business needs a contingency plan for location, people, and technology

How to identify the bare minimum you need to stay operational during a crisis

Why disaster recovery is more than just backup. It’s about restoration and continuity

The hidden risks of over-reliance on “big platforms” like Facebook or Rogers

How to assess your own risk tolerance and plan accordingly

Why cybersecurity and human error are just as dangerous as natural disasters

If your business would grind to a halt if one platform failed, this episode will help you think ahead, plan smart, and sleep better at night.

Want more support in building systems and resilience into your business? Join the free Visionary Founders Club, our community for small and mid-sized business owners: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

When you’re running your business solo, your calendar can either be your best friend or your biggest enemy. The key is learning how to structure it so you can actually focus, get into the zone, and get real work done.

In this episode, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand share simple but powerful calendar hacks to help solopreneurs stay productive without burning out.

You’ll learn:

Why batching tasks creates focus and reduces overwhelm

How to block 90-minute “deep work” sessions that actually move the needle

Why mornings (or your personal quiet hours) are often the best time for focus work

How to minimize distractions by turning off notifications and batching emails

Why productivity isn’t about doing more, but about doing the right things

If your calendar feels like it’s running you instead of the other way around, this episode will help you take back control and finally use your time effectively.

Want accountability and support as you grow your business? Join the free Visionary Founders Club, the community where small and mid-sized business owners connect, learn, and grow together: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

Few things strike fear in a business owner’s heart like a key employee saying, “I’m leaving”, or worse, threatening to. The way you handle it can make or break your culture, your team’s morale, and even your bottom line.

In this episode, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand share how to approach this difficult situation with clarity and leadership. From spotting early warning signs to creating a culture where no one person is indispensable, they walk through strategies to protect your business and your team.

You’ll learn:

Why you should never be surprised when someone wants to leave and how to stay ahead of it

What to do when an employee uses “threats” to negotiate (and why letting go may be the best option)

How to design systems that prevent anyone from becoming irreplaceable

Why quarterly check-ins and proactive conversations matter

How to create win-win exits where everyone (your business, the team, and the employee) benefits

If you’ve ever worried about what would happen if a key employee left, this episode will give you the mindset and systems to handle it with confidence.

Join the free Visionary Founders Club, the community where business owners connect, learn, and grow together: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

When you’re just starting your business, it’s easy to think you need fancy software to manage sales and leads. The truth? You don’t.

In this episode, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand share simple, practical ways to track your leads and sales without overcomplicating things or overspending on tools you don’t really need.

You’ll learn:

Why Stripe, PayPal, and other payment processors already give you key sales data

How a simple Excel spreadsheet can be more powerful than you think

What to keep in mind for data protection when using basic tools

Why frameworks and processes matter more than software in the early stages

How starting simple makes it easier to scale later

If you’ve been overthinking systems or delaying sales because you don’t have the “right” tool yet, this episode will give you permission to start lean and keep it simple.

Join our free Visionary Founders Club, the community for small and mid-sized business owners to connect, share, and grow together: https://leficomp.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/visionary-founders-club/home?invite=68be105822feb0ae2754525c