At networking events and business gatherings, one question always comes up:

Too often, the answer sounds like unicorns, glitter, and rainbows, even when things are quietly falling apart behind the scenes.

In this episode of Tea & Coffee Hub, Karen and Steve talk about why pretending everything is perfect actually hurts your business. They break down the difference between being positive and being honest, and why real collaboration only happens when business owners are willing to share where they truly are.

This conversation covers:

Why fake positivity blocks real support

The misconception that networking is about handing out business cards

How honesty opens doors to collaboration and better solutions

The right way to share challenges without being a “Debbie Downer”

Why every successful business still has struggles behind the scenes

If you want better conversations, better connections, and better growth, this episode will change how you show up in rooms with other business owners.

There is a big difference between venting and staying stuck.

In this episode of Tea & Coffee Hub, Karen and Steve have a direct, honest conversation about the habits that quietly stall business growth. They break down how excuses turn into victimhood, why busywork feels productive but is not, and how accountability is the difference between momentum and burnout.

This episode explores:

The difference between healthy venting and self-sabotage

How excuses slowly turn into a victim mindset

Why busywork often hides the real problem in your business

How to identify when your “bullshit meter” is full

Why credibility matters when someone calls you out

How to move from excuses to action with clarity and ownership

This is not about judgment. It is about awareness.

Starting a business with someone you trust feels exciting. That is exactly why most people skip the one step that could protect everything.

In this episode of Tea & Coffee Hub, Karen and Steve break down why partnership agreements are not about mistrust. They are about clarity, protection, and long-term sustainability.

Using real-world stories, they explain how businesses fail when roles, expectations, finances, exits, and contingencies are not clearly defined from the start. They also unpack why partnership agreements matter just as much for spouses, family members, and long-time friends as they do for formal business partners.

This conversation covers:

Why partnership agreements are the business equivalent of a prenup

What happens when roles and percentages are not clearly defined

How to handle disagreements, voting rights, and decision authority

Why death, disability, legal issues, and law changes must be addressed

How dissolution and expansion should be planned before emotions are involved

Why most business disputes could be avoided with prevention

If you are in a partnership, considering one, or already feeling tension in a shared business, this episode will help you understand what should be in place before problems arise.

Most entrepreneurs start businesses focused on survival. Paying bills. Making sales. Getting through the next month.

Very few stop to ask the question that changes everything:

In this episode of Tea & Coffee Hub, Karen and Steve break down why every business needs an exit strategy from day one, even if you plan to stay in it for decades. They explore the difference between building an income stream versus building a real business and why ignoring exit planning often leads to burnout, stalled growth, or businesses that cannot be sold.

Through real examples, they discuss:

Why “I’ll figure it out later” is not a strategy

The difference between legacy businesses, sellable businesses, and income streams

How exit planning changes the way you build systems, hire, and grow

Why many long-term business owners end up trapped instead of free

How having a long-term target actually accelerates growth

If you want a business that gives you options instead of obligations, this conversation will change how you think about what you’re building and why.

In this episode of Tea & Coffee Hub, Karen and Steve tackle one of the biggest growth blockers for business owners: not knowing the difference between real obstacles and self-created ones.

Using real stories, including tech failures, missed payments, competition, and employee turnover, they break down how entrepreneurs often turn temporary challenges into long-term excuses. The conversation focuses on accountability, systems, and decision-making under pressure.

This episode covers:

The difference between uncontrollable obstacles and self-imposed ones

Why excuses feel safe but stall growth

How accountability changes behavior and results

The role of systems when things go wrong

Why most entrepreneurs are their own biggest bottleneck

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated by repeated setbacks, this episode will help you pause, assess, and move forward with clarity instead of blame.

In this episode of Tea & Coffee Hub, Karen and Steve unpack one of the most common traps business owners fall into: chasing too many ideas instead of building on what already works.

Using real-world examples, they break down why random revenue streams create confusion, burnout, and stalled growth and how aligned income streams can dramatically increase profitability without pulling the business off course.

This conversation dives into:

Why growth should be connected to your core business, not distractions

How to identify income streams that actually fit your mission

The difference between active, leveraged, and passive income

Why focus creates momentum and chaos kills it

How listening to your customers reveals smarter opportunities

If you have ever thought, “I should add this to my business,” this episode will help you pause, evaluate, and make decisions that support long-term growth instead of short-term excitement.

In this episode of The Tea and Coffee Hub, Karen Hewitt and Steve Feld tackle one of the most dangerous patterns in entrepreneurship. Refusing to ask for help.

They break down why ego, fear, and the toxic phrase “we’ve always done it this way” keep business owners stuck, overwhelmed, and quietly failing. Karen and Steve share real stories of businesses that collapsed not because the owners lacked talent, but because they refused guidance when it mattered most.

In this episode, they cover:

Why asking for help feels scary but saves businesses

How ego blocks growth and clarity

The four core areas every business needs support in

Why outdated advice can be just as dangerous as no advice

How to find the right coach, expert, or mastermind

What happens when you pay for help but refuse to implement

Why time, not money, is your most expensive resource

Karen and Steve also explain how successful entrepreneurs actually grow. They ask for help early, listen closely, and take action fast.

If your business feels stuck, chaotic, or heavier than it should, this episode is your wake up call.

Grab your tea or coffee and tune in. Help does not make you weak. Avoiding it does.

In this episode of The Tea and Coffee Hub, Karen Hewitt and Steve Feld dive into the wild, weird, and brilliant world of ideas that looked ridiculous before they became iconic. From Sharknado to Pet Rocks, Post-it Notes, chip clips, and pool noodles, they break down why crazy ideas win when paired with action.

Karen and Steve talk about how most ideas die in people’s heads long before they ever get tested. They reveal why people hesitate, how fear of looking foolish stops innovation, and how passion paired with execution is what separates the dreamers from the doers.

You will hear them discuss:

Why “ridiculous” ideas often become the biggest wins

How simple problems can spark massive businesses

Why you need to write your ideas down immediately

Why research matters more than opinions

How to validate ideas without sharing them publicly

What questions to ask yourself before pursuing an idea

Why coaches, mentors, or accountability groups help filter ideas

How creativity, luck, and timing all play a role

Why relying on family and friends for feedback is a mistake

If you have ideas you have been sitting on, this episode will challenge you to stop dismissing them and start exploring them. Every product you love today was once someone’s crazy thought.

Grab your tea or coffee and tune in. Your next idea might be the one that changes everything.

In this episode of The Tea and Coffee Hub, Karen Hewitt and Steve Feld break down one of the biggest emotional and strategic traps entrepreneurs fall into. Getting hit with constant unsolicited advice. The “you should do this” and “you should not do that” that comes from friends, family, strangers, and even other business owners.

Karen and Steve share the different types of shoulders.

They talk about:

How to identify red flag advice versus green flag guidance

Why some advice hurts your business instead of helping

How shutting can derail your identity, confidence, and decision making

When advice is actually valuable

How to ask the right follow up questions

Why entrepreneurs often shut on themselves with too many ideas

How to protect your business focus and mission

Karen and Steve share personal stories of the worst shoulds they have ever gotten and how ignoring the wrong ones helped them grow faster. They also explain how to assess advice by checking alignment with your mission, your timing, your goals, and whether you would even trade places with the person giving it.

This episode is a must listen for entrepreneurs who feel overwhelmed, pressured, or second guessing their direction because of outside opinions.

Grab your tea or coffee and tune in. It is time to stop letting people should all over your business.

In this episode of The Tea and Coffee Hub, Karen Hewitt and Steve Feld dive into one of the most overlooked income streams for small business owners. Affiliate income and referral bonuses are sitting right in front of most entrepreneurs, yet the majority never use them.

Karen shares real stories from conversations with business owners who are unknowingly leaving money behind simply because they do not use affiliate links for the tools and programs they already recommend.

Steve breaks down what affiliate income actually is, how it works, and why it is not the same as MLM or spammy sales tactics. Together they explain how genuine recommendations align with your business, serve your audience, and add an extra revenue stream with almost no extra effort.

Inside this episode you will learn:

What affiliate marketing really is

The difference between MLM, referral programs, and affiliate income

How to choose programs that align with your business

How affiliate links help your clients and help your bottom line

How to avoid looking spammy

How joint ventures expand your reach and audience

Why you need multiple income pillars in your business

Karen and Steve also reveal their upcoming JV summit, where they will break down affiliate programs and collaborations step by step so business owners can finally implement them with confidence.

If you have ever recommended a product, tool, coach, or program, but never earned a dollar from it, this episode will change how you think about earning money inside your business.

Grab your tea or coffee and tune in. Your next income stream might already be in your toolkit.