If your business is growing but your energy isn't keeping up, this episode is your next step. Today I’m walking you through the real signs it's time to bring in help and the false signals that can lead you to hire too soon or for the wrong reasons.

You'll learn the difference between a contractor and an employee in plain English, how to use a simple 3-category sort to figure out what to outsource first, and five steps to set up any contractor relationship so it actually saves you time instead of adding to your plate (and your stress). Plus, a quick money check to make sure the hire makes sense before you commit.

Whether you're thinking about a virtual assistant, a bookkeeper, or a specialist contractor, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework to make your first move with confidence. Pull up a seat at the table and let's get into it.

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If you feel like you've been building your business in a silo, come join us in the Growth Table Small Business Collective. We're a group of entrepreneurs who are either building or been there, done that! Some are making their first hires, just like you, and some have already made theirs and can help you on your journey. You can find us at https://growthtablesbc.com.

I'm just finished with the Women in Business Advocacy Day at the Missouri State Capitol and I'm pumped!

So, I recorded this episode in my car immediately after the event to share my thoughts with you on networking.

Business networking involves establishing and maintaining positive relationships with clients, peers, mentors, and industry professionals. It is not limited to exchanging business cards; it focuses on authentic connections, trust, and mutual value.

So why do so many of us feel like we have to sell ourselves and our businesses at networking events?

Let's dive into that.

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The Growth Table Small Business Collective is the perfect place to bounce ideas off of other solopreneurs and microbusinesses owners and to build those connections and relationships that are critical to our business. Join us for free the first seven days at https://growthtablesbc.com.

There’s a season in nearly every business where you’re doing the work - showing up, posting, serving clients, improving your offers - and it still feels like growth is crawling.

And that’s where motivation goes south and you start asking:

• “Is this working?”
• “Am I doing enough?”
• “What if I’m not cut out for this?”
• “Why does it feel like everyone else is growing faster?”

So today, we’re going to build a simple system for staying consistent when the results are delayed, without relying on hype, hustle, or constant inspiration.

It’s about the consistency and dedication that keeps the momentum moving forward when maybe motivation has waned. Let’s dive in.

Resources:

Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and Human Behavior. (Reinforcement schedules and behavior maintenance.)

Gollwitzer, P. M., & Brandstätter, V. (1997). Implementation intentions and effective goal pursuit. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(1), 186–199.

Wood, W., & Neal, D. T. (2007). A new look at habits and the habit-goal interface. Psychological Review, 114(4), 843–863.

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation. American Psychologist, 57(9), 705–717.

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If you’re in a slow-growth season and you want support staying consistent without turning your life into a constant hustle experiment, come join us inside The Growth Table Small Business Collective.

This community is built for microbusiness owners who want simple systems, clear priorities, and steady progress. You’ll get practical trainings, accountability, and a room full of people who understand what it’s like to build something real one week at a time.

https://GrowthTableSBC.com

Sometimes something comes along that shouldn't land in your inbox. Sometimes you have a big idea that needs to live somewhere else until you can give it the attention it deserves without taking attention away from the other significant items on your "to do" list.

Today on Simplifying Small Business I'm introducing you to your business's Idea Vault, the place where the shiny things live until you can give them space in your business. This is an important place for safekeeping things that may have an impact, but that don't need to be worked on yet.

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If you want more insights like this and a community of other small business owners doing this exact work right alongside you, join me in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. We're a group of entrepreneurs in various stages of our business all working through the same struggles together - because there's no sense in doing it alone. You can find us at https://GrowthTableSBC.com.

If you’re operating solo or with a very small team your biggest constraint isn’t talent or ideas. It’s attention. And attention is fragile.

Today we’re talking about time and tasks … which sounds boring until you realize this is the difference between “I’m building a business” and “I’m trapped inside my business.”

In this episode of Simplifying Small Business, I’m going to give you a simple, straightforward system that helps you:

• keep tasks from living in your head

• focus on the right work at the right time

• reduce the mental load of “what am I forgetting?”

• and create a workflow that still works when life gets busy

No fancy apps required. If you like tools, great, but this system works with a just notebook, a calendar, and a couple of lists.

Let's go!

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If you want help putting these systems into place—without overcomplicating them—come join us inside The Growth Table Small Business Collective.

It’s built for microbusiness owners who want practical support, simple tools, and real accountability. We take topics just like this and turn them into usable workflows you can apply immediately—plus you’ll have a community of business owners doing the same work right alongside you, including me.

You can find the details at GrowthTableSBC.com .

Today we’re building a simple DIY marketing strategy you can run for 90 days without fancy tools, without a big budget, and without feeling like you have to be a full-time content creator.

Your goal with sales and marketing is not to do everything. We want to pick two or three marketing plays we can repeat every single week.

Consistency beats intensity. Every single time. So, if we can find two or three actions we can take every week, those actions will compound over time to create a real difference in your marketing which, of course, leads to sales.

It is very easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations of the business and neglect the parts that actually get us those clients or customers that bring in the revenue. It is important to be intentional about driving that part of our business on a consistent basis.

Let's get into it.

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If you want support staying consistent, join us in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. Monthly workshops, a resource library you can actually use, peer support, and access to me as a mentor when you need a nudge or a next step.

https://GrowthTableSBC.com

You do not need a perfect website, a thousand followers, or a fancy funnel to start getting customers. Today we’re setting up your online presence in a way that’s simple and realistic.

If you’re just starting out, your online presence should do one job: help the right people understand what you do and take the next step.

And, yes, I'm going to preach to you about an email list. Because this is a key piece to the puzzle.

Let's get into it.

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If you want a calm place to build, off social media, come join us in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. You get monthly workshops, a growing resource library, peer-to-peer support, and access to me as a mentor when you need direction.

https://growthtablesbc.com

If people don’t understand what you do quickly, they don’t buy. And that’s not because your business isn’t valuable, it’s because your message isn’t clear yet. Today, we’re going to fix that by Crafting Your Brand Message and Elevator Pitch!

Today is all about your message: how to explain what you do in a way that’s clear, confident, and consistent on your website, in a DM, in a networking event, and anytime anyone asks, “What do you do?”

By the end of this episode you’ll have:

• a one-sentence brand message,

• a 10-second hook,

• a 30-second pitch,

• and a simple way to keep your message consistent everywhere.

Let's get into it.

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If you’d like a calm place to keep building your message, come join us in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. We host monthly workshops, keep a growing resource library, and offer peer-to-peer support, and you get access to me for questions and simple guidance. It’s a low-pressure way to get consistent help while you grow.

https://growthtablesbc.com

The right professional help buys back your time, reduces mistakes, and lowers risk so you can focus on the parts of your business that actually move the needle.

You don’t necessarily need a full team right away, just the next bit of support that returns more value than it costs.

In today's episode, we'll define what accounts, bookkeepers, and lawyers do (and don't do) for your business, key factors that indicate it may be time to hire one, and how to get the most productive use of their time right away so you don't waste your precious small business money.

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If you need a little structure to put today’s topic into action, The Growth Table Small Business Collective has a resource library, monthly workshops, and a friendly community to keep you moving - plus you can tap me for quick mentorship when you’re stuck. It’s a simple, low-lift way to get support and it is free for the first 7 days!

https://GrowthTableSBC.com

Good bookkeeping isn’t just about knowing your income and expenses; it’s about making better decisions, faster. Today we’ll pick an accounting method, set up a simple account structure, and lock in a rhythm so your numbers can inform you on what to do next in your business.

These first 10 episodes are designed to be your roadmap to starting your new business or re-evaluating an existing one. Money matters can be scary so today I'm breaking it down in the simplest terms.

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if you need help staying accountable with your accounting join us in The Growth Table Small Business Collective. We have peer accountability pods around topics like bookkeeping, monthly workshops, and a resource library, all in a community of small business owners just like you. It’s a low-pressure way to get consistent help while you grow. Head to GrowthTableSBC.com.