Nothing Small About Business is the go-to podcast for entrepreneurs who want clear, practical strategies to grow, scale, and stay inspired. Hosted by Sara Press...a connector, small-business advocate, and champion of gritty ambition, each episode delivers real-world insights you can apply immediately.
You’ll hear from founders, creators, and experts who share how they built their businesses, overcame challenges, and figured things out as they went. Expect mindset shifts, growth tactics, marketing tips, and honest conversations about what it really takes to build something meaningful.
If you’re starting, scaling, or reinventing your business, this show gives you the value, clarity, and momentum you need. Because in entrepreneurship, there’s truly nothing small about the work you’re doing.
Perfect for: small business owners, entrepreneurs, early-stage founders, creators, side-hustlers, and anyone hungry to grow.
Nothing Small About Business is the go-to podcast for entrepreneurs who want clear, practical strategies to grow, scale, and stay inspired. Hosted by Sara Press...a connector, small-business advocate, and champion of gritty ambition, each episode delivers real-world insights you can apply immediately.
You’ll hear from founders, creators, and experts who share how they built their businesses, overcame challenges, and figured things out as they went. Expect mindset shifts, growth tactics, marketing tips, and honest conversations about what it really takes to build something meaningful.
If you’re starting, scaling, or reinventing your business, this show gives you the value, clarity, and momentum you need. Because in entrepreneurship, there’s truly nothing small about the work you’re doing.
Perfect for: small business owners, entrepreneurs, early-stage founders, creators, side-hustlers, and anyone hungry to grow.
In this episode, my husband Dan Press joins me to explore the differences between a small business mindset and an entrepreneurial mindset. We discuss our contrasting perspectives shaped by our backgrounds, the importance of balancing risk and emotional intelligence in business decisions, and how awareness of our upbringing has influenced our approach to business and partnership dynamics. The dialogue emphasizes the value of understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses, and how this awareness can lead to better decision-making and success in their business endeavors.
Takeaways
Gaining awareness of your business mindset is crucial.
Small business and entrepreneurial mindsets are not inherently better than one another.
Balancing different perspectives can enhance business success.
Risk aversion is common among small business owners.
Understanding your upbringing can impact your business decisions.
Emotional intelligence plays a key role in decision-making.
Accepting reality and surrendering ego can lead to better outcomes.
Different paths can lead to success in business.
Collaboration between different mindsets can be beneficial.
Recognizing strengths and weaknesses in partnerships is essential.
Chapters
00:00 Exploring Mindsets: Small Business vs Entrepreneurial
02:14 Understanding Perspectives: The Collision of Ideas
06:35 Risk and Reward: Navigating Business Decisions
10:21 The Importance of Awareness in Business
14:42 Finding Balance: Different Paths to Success
16:49 Ego and Decision Making: A New Approach
19:11 NEWCHAPTER
Follow us @vineandpress and @nothingsmallaboutbusiness
small business mindset, entrepreneurial mindset, business perspectives, risk aversion, emotional intelligence, awareness, business growth, partnership dynamics, decision making, business success
Summary
Host: Sara Press
In this engaging conversation, Vincent DeGennaro, a New York City firefighter and entrepreneur, shares his multifaceted journey that includes construction, bartending, and media through One Brick Media. He emphasizes the importance of mental health, personal growth, and community engagement, while advocating for breaking down goals into manageable steps. Vincent's experiences highlight the significance of believing in oneself and supporting others in their journeys, ultimately aiming to create a positive impact in his community and beyond.
Chapters
00:00 The Multifaceted Life of Vincent DeGennaro
02:06 Building One Brick Media: A Journey of Purpose
05:30 Mental Health and Personal Growth
10:37 The Power of Time Management
14:29 Supporting Others: The Role of a Number Two
18:08 Community Engagement and the Love of the Game
22:44 Giving Back: Mentorship and Nonprofit Initiatives
25:04 Believing in Yourself: The Key to Success
Host: Sara Press @vineandpress @nothingsmallaboutbusiness
Guest: Vincent DeGennaro @onebrickmedia @vin_e_dee
firefighter, entrepreneurship, mental health, community engagement, One Brick Media, personal growth, time management, mentorship, small business, New York City
takeaways
In this engaging conversation, Joe Mastrino shares his journey as a Chicago-based entrepreneur and content creator, discussing how he has embraced AI tools to enhance his creative process and scale his business. From developing his sci-fi universe to launching a mobile podcasting service, Joe emphasizes the importance of self-discovery, collaboration, and experimentation in the creative landscape. He highlights the transformative power of AI in storytelling and business efficiency, encouraging small business owners to leverage these tools for growth without losing their authentic voice.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Joe Mastrino's Creative Journey
03:00 The Role of AI in Creative Processes
05:52 Navigating the Creative Landscape with AI
09:09 AI Tools and Their Impact on Filmmaking
11:51 Using AI for Small Business Storytelling
15:07 The Balance of Creativity and AI Assistance
17:58 Scaling Business Operations with AI
20:44 The Future of Creativity in the Age of AI
26:01 The Power of Personal Presence
27:01 Harnessing AI for Professional Growth
28:49 Creating Meaningful Content in Difficult Spaces
30:10 Launching a Podcast: The Last Chapter
32:04 The Challenges of Podcast Production
34:02 Naming the Business: The Porta Poddy Story
38:20 Navigating Domain Name Challenges
41:09 The Vision for Porta Poddy
43:27 The Value of Podcasting for Small Businesses
46:10 Scaling the Podcasting Business
49:02 Embracing AI and Experimentation
HOST: Sara Press
Instagram: @vineandpress @nothingsmallaboutbusiness
GUEST: Joe Mastrino
Instagram: @joemastrino
In this conversation, Hank Ebeling, founder of H4 Training Gyms, shares his insights on the critical role of customer service in small businesses. He emphasizes the importance of creating a service-driven culture, being responsive to customer needs, and handling negative situations with care. Ebeling discusses practical strategies for businesses to improve their customer service, including the concept of 'surprise and delight' to enhance customer experiences. He also highlights the significance of having a clear service vision and standards to guide team behavior and ensure consistency in service delivery.
Takeaways
Customer service can make or break a business.
A service-driven culture starts with leadership.
Responsiveness is key to customer satisfaction.
Consistency in service is crucial for long-term success.
Handling complaints effectively can turn customers into loyal advocates.
Surprise and delight can enhance customer experiences.
A clear service vision guides team behavior.
Empowering employees to act can lead to exceptional service.
Listening to customer feedback is essential for improvement.
Prioritizing service leads to increased profits.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Customer Service Excellence
02:45 The Journey to Superhero Customer Service
06:03 Building a Service-Driven Culture
08:49 The Importance of Responsiveness
11:44 Consistency in Customer Care
15:08 Handling Negative Situations
18:00 Surprise and Delight: Going Above and Beyond
20:56 Establishing Service Vision and Standards
23:44 Practical Steps for Immediate Improvement
25:12 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
customer service, small business, customer experience, service culture, responsiveness, customer care, service vision, surprise and delight, leadership, training
In this engaging conversation, Kim DiFranco shares her journey from working in media to founding KMA Agency, a creative firm focused on branding and marketing for small businesses. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity in branding, the consultative approach she takes with clients, and the difference between branding and marketing. Kim also discusses her initiative, EmpowerHer Chicago, aimed at building a supportive community for women in business. The conversation highlights the significance of networking, mentorship, and investing in oneself to achieve success in entrepreneurship.
Follow Kim on Instagram: @kimberly.marketing and @empowerher.chicago
Takeaways
Kim's journey from media to marketing showcases the importance of diverse experiences.
KMA Agency was born out of a desire to help small businesses refine their brand identity.
A consultative approach is essential for understanding a brand's unique messaging.
Authenticity is key in branding; it must resonate with the business owner's true self.
Branding and marketing are interconnected but serve different purposes.
Rebranding can be a necessary step for businesses that are struggling to connect with their audience.
EmpowerHer Chicago was founded to create a supportive network for women in business.
Networking events should foster genuine connections rather than superficial interactions.
Mentorship can come from various sources, including podcasts and books, not just personal relationships.
Investing in oneself and one's brand is crucial for long-term success.
Chapters
00:00 From Media to Marketing: Kim's Journey
02:39 Building KMA Agency: The Birth of a Brand
06:02 Consultative Approach: Understanding Brand Identity
08:47 The Importance of Authenticity in Branding
11:50 Branding vs. Marketing: Understanding the Difference
14:39 Rebranding: When and Why to Consider It
17:49 Empower Her Chicago: Building a Community
22:02 Creating Connections: The Power of Networking
26:06 The Role of Mentorship in Business
29:48 Final Thoughts: Investing in Yourself and Your Brand
branding, marketing, small business, women in business, community building, authenticity, networking, rebranding, consultative approach, EmpowerHer Chicago
Host: Sara Press