Small Business Big Money™

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Episode Synopsis

Mia Giommi, a certified nutrition practitioner and gut health specialist in Ontario, came into Small Business Money School in 2024 with more than $20,000 of business debt and an average profit of only $835 a month. Two years later, her average monthly profit is $8,384. In this episode, Gina and Mia walk through the three changes that made the difference. Mia stopped avoiding her numbers, took on no new debt or shiny-object investments (every purchase now has to solve a current problem and earn a 5x ROI), and cut her offers down to the core revenue drivers in her one-on-one practice. They also get honest about money shame, forgiving your past self, why “spend money to make money” kept her in debt, and why a boring, simple business is often the most profitable one.

Follow Mia Giommi

Website: https://www.miagiommi.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miathegutnutritionist/

Free Resources: https://www.miagiommi.com/resources

Keywords:  business finance, solopreneur success, profit growth, debt management, business simplification, revenue focus, financial mindset, small business tips

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Episode Synopsis

After carrying up to $50,000 in business debt and paying herself relatively little despite strong revenue, Martha used a cash-flow system, built savings, and regularly reviewed expenses to get out of debt and raise her take-home pay. She and Gina discuss why chasing the next investment may not solve money stress, and how financial systems can bring more security and calm. Martha also shares what she’s working toward next: growing her business and taking her family to hike the Inca Trail.

Follow Martha Lewis

Website: www.thesleepdetective.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesleepdetective/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marthalewissleepdetective/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesleepdetective

Keywords: sleep coaching, business finance, debt management, financial independence, small business growth, personal finance, sleep issues, entrepreneurship, financial strategies, wellness

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode, Nettie Owens shares her journey from professional organizer to productivity coach, navigating business pivots, managing debt, and building a profitable, sustainable business. Learn practical strategies for business resilience, debt payoff, and designing for extremes to benefit all.

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Learn more about her on her website

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Nettie Owens and her background

08:14 - Deciding to pivot from organization to productivity coaching

10:35 - Handling business failure and making tough decisions

17:22 - Lessons on pivoting, managing mind, and depositing value

24:32 - Strategies for debt payoff and financial recovery

32:08 - Out of debt and building a sustainable business

43:15 - Next steps: paying herself and business growth

Keywords: business pivot, debt payoff, productivity coaching, business resilience, entrepreneurial lessons, financial management, scaling a business, mental models, systemic design, women entrepreneurs

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode of Small Business Big Money, Gina goes into the mechanics of the stock market to disprove the idea that the stock market is like gambling and teaches the mechanics of how the stock market actually works. She then shares the investing strategy that is mathematically proven to make you money in the long run.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to stock market investing

04:10 - What is a stock and how ownership works

07:22 - Market volatility and business cycles

10:10 - Why companies go public and how it raises capital

14:22 - Is the stock market gambling? Debunking myths

20:03 - The buy and hold strategy and passive investing

26:59 - Summary and resources for investors

Keywords: stock market, passive income, investing, index funds, wealth building, entrepreneurship, financial security, diversification, risk management

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode, Gina walks through a diagnostic framework for identifying exactly which financial problem to solve next, and the solution you should implement in the next 90 days. She shares real client examples along the way, including a client who grew her revenue significantly but was still underpaying herself out of fear, and closes by sharing her own current financial goals: buying a home in Marin County and funding her growing fashion collection. She also warns against consolidating debt before diagnosing what actually caused it. The episode wraps with a preview of the five-day Bottleneck Breakthrough challenge starting Monday, September 28th, inside Small Business Money School.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome & how to use this diagnostic02:21 - Question 1: Are you earning enough to cover your business bills?04:43 - Question 2: Is your profit going straight to business debt?09:24 - Question 3: Are you paying yourself enough?11:49 - Question 4: Does your household income cover your bills and lifestyle?16:32 - Question 5: Is your personal debt eating your income?18:57 - Question 6: Are you on track for a guaranteed million?23:37 - Question 7: What's your next wealth goal?28:11 - Recap: solve one problem at a time30:34 - The Bottleneck Breakthrough challenge starts Monday

Keywords: financial diagnosis, small business finance, debt payoff, wealth building, expense audit, profit increase, retirement planning, wealth goals

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode, Gina breaks down the real reason most business owners stay stuck financially: it's not lack of money or knowledge, it's how they relate to their problems. She lays out a three-part framework: first, adopt the identity of a problem-solver rather than resenting the fact that problems (financial or otherwise) never actually go away, they just change; second, solve only the problem directly in front of you instead of burning time and money preparing for hypothetical future problems you can't yet define; and third, watch for your brain hijacking you into "side quests" — new business ideas, visioning exercises, passion projects — that feel productive but are really just avoidance of the harder, less glamorous work of fixing what's actually broken. She illustrates this with two real client stories (one tempted to pivot into real estate instead of fixing her business debt, another who sank tens of thousands into a new coaching business rather than fixing pricing in her existing one) to show how avoidance dressed up as ambition quietly wrecks people's finances. She closes by connecting this problem-solving skill to her design background and previewing a free five-day "Bottleneck Breakthrough" challenge inside Small Business Money School starting September 28th.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome & the real key to wealth02:22 - Why you have to love your problems09:24 - Solve the problem in front of you21:17 - How your brain sneakily avoids the real problem33:03 - Recap + the Bottleneck Breakthrough challenge

Keywords: financial problems, wealth building, problem-solving, mindset, small business finance, debt, resource management, focus, agency

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode Gina Knox shares insights on building wealth as a small business owner, emphasizing the importance of cash flow, profit, and strategic investing outside of traditional corporate retirement plans. She discusses how owner-operator businesses are uniquely positioned to create substantial personal wealth without scaling to billion-dollar enterprises.

Chapters:

00:00 - Common Myths About Wealth and Business Scale

03:47 - How Small Businesses Can Build Wealth Without Becoming Large

06:06 - The Power of Profit Over Tax Strategies

8:02 - Creating a Cash and Wealth Machine

14:03 - Financial Goals and the Path to Work Optional

16:00 - Join the Email List and Next Steps

Keywords: small business wealth, business profit, owner operator, financial independence, investing, cash flow, wealth building, retirement, business strategy

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode Gina Knox shares her personal experience with financial avoidance, emotional spending, and how she navigated her way back to financial health. This episode offers insights into human behavior, shame, and practical steps for overcoming avoidance cycles.

Chapters:

00:29 - Gina's personal vulnerability with financial avoidance

01:27 - Recognizing avoidance through spending habits

07:27 - Re-establishing awareness with tracking and journaling

09:46 - The importance of honesty and responsibility

14:00 - When to recognize readiness to return to work

16:50 - Seasonal patterns and conditioning

19:18 - Specificity reduces fear and shame

20:16 - Closing thoughts and encouragement for self-kindness

Keywords: financial avoidance, emotional spending, money mindset, self-awareness, accountability, financial recovery, human behavior, shame, cyclical patterns, small business finance

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode Gina Knox shares a comprehensive approach to managing and paying off business debt, emphasizing the importance of planning, cash flow management, and mental clarity to achieve debt payoff assurance.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to debt payoff assurance

02:26 - Example of a $15,000 debt and strategic planning

04:47 - Managing cash flow with the cash flow waterfall system

06:36 - Achieving large launches and refilling cash reserves

07:27 - Paying off debt in one click and maintaining calm

09:24 - The mindset of being in control of debt

11:17 - Cleaning up past debt mistakes and assurance

12:12 - Using a debt organizer and having a plan with an end date

13:35 - Helping clients pay off debt confidently

14:30 - Invitation to live coaching sessions on debt payoff

Keywords: business debt, debt payoff, cash flow management, financial planning, business finances, debt elimination, financial security, small business finance, debt strategy, cash flow waterfall

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode Gina Knox shares a detailed, step-by-step approach to managing business debt intentionally. She emphasizes testing solutions before borrowing, prioritizing problems, and actively overseeing implementation to improve profitability and reduce unnecessary debt.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to the importance of intentional debt

01:27 - Debt as capital, not starting point

02:26 - Spending money to solve current problems

03:52 - Five categories of business problems

06:13 - Prioritizing problems to solve first

07:09 - Creating solutions and testing ideas

10:02 - Implementing tested solutions without debt

13:12 - Funding solutions with micro-testing and testing before debt

14:38 - Active oversight during implementation

17:25 - The effort required for successful debt management

19:24 - The life-changing potential of a disciplined process

Keywords: business debt, financial management, testing solutions, debt avoidance, business growth, profit strategies, small business finance, debt formula, testing and implementation, financial security