The C-Suite Mentor - Business Growth for Small Business Leaders with Theresa Cantley

How to Face Adversity When it Comes Knocking Down Your Literal Door

It doesn’t matter where you are in your entrepreneur journey, whether you just opened your first store or are years into business ownership, adversity will always be there to humble you.  We don’t have control over the future or what will happen to us next, but we do have control over how we show up. How we handle the situations thrown our way is ultimately the true test of a good leader.  In this week’s episode, Theresa discusses:  Embracing our adversities  Always be looking for t...

What to Do With Challenging Employees

It’s easier to hold others accountable then it is to hold ourselves accountable. Most leaders don’t want to look at themselves first and ask, “Did I do everything to help this person?”.  In today’s world, we’re seeing more of business owners who are struggling hard to find people to even just show up to work. When they do finally hire and train an employee, they might do everything in their power to ensure that they don’t quit---including performance feedback. If a job isn’t being done cor...

The Work Required to Grow Your Brick-and-Mortar Business

The truth is, there is no secret to growing a business. No quick fix or overnight solution is going to make the difference between failure and success. If you want to know the truth on how you can reach your goals faster and easier, it’s all about putting in the work.  When people hear this, they assume long hours, back-breaking effort, and trying to do everything themselves in order to get ahead. When, in reality, it’s allowing yourself to let go of the things that are taking up your va...

Creating a Mindset-First Approach to Growing Your Local Business

Like many people who become entrepreneurs, Linda Perry started out her professional working career doing all of the things she thought she was supposed to be doing. Go to school for law, become successful, make parents proud. And while she admired the work she did as a lawyer, she always felt a stronger passion calling to her, one that would help people achieve the dreams they always wanted; She wanted to become a mindset coach.  Success is little about the tactics and strategies we use to...

What's in Store in 2023 for Brick-and-Mortar Businesses?

The state of business in the last few years has been...unpredictable to say the least. Many business owners had to deal with shutting down, preparing to re-open after months of little or no income, only to be shut down once again, navigating the different loan forgiveness options, dealing with inflation prices, re-open once more, all while losing customers to online retailers along the way. It’s been quite the rollercoaster ride.   Today, Theresa talks about how our fears can keep us fro...

Being the Best at What You Do

In a recent discussion with her mentor, Theresa is asked “What do you want to be the best at?”  Take a philosophical dive with her in this week’s episode where she discusses:  - Fears and struggles she’s ran into as an entrepreneur  - How being true to your real self and figuring out what you want will help you get there faster  - Her ultimate life and business goals  If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and...

Know Thy Numbers

Knowing the ins and outs of your business is essential, and that includes your numbers. Unless we sit down periodically and go over where money is coming in and where it is going out, there’s no way to know if we’re profiting each month or digging ourselves farther into a money-sucking hole. In this episode, Theresa goes over: Why you can’t run your business based on your bank account’s current balance What you might be missing by letting your accountant handle all of the numbers How ...

What Being a Tutor Teaches You About Yourself with Jake Adams

In this week’s episode, Theresa sits down for a chat with Jake Adams, owner and founder of the tutoring business, Simplifi EDU, to find out just what teaching others can help teach yourself not only as a business owner, but about who you really are and the values you hold. Follow Jake on LinkedIn to learn more about him and his tutoring business. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away...

Will brick-and-mortar stores survive? What the future looks like for Main Street Businesses

More and more we seem to hear about online businesses taking over the market which leads us to ask the question: Will main street businesses survive?  The brick-and-mortar shops and stores we know and love might seem to be falling wayside to the cyber world, but there’s an itch that shopping online just won’t scratch. There’s something about physically walking into a store that just can’t be replaced. Maybe it has a particular smell, the décor speaks to you, or simply getting to meet the...

The Truth About My Business This Year

If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was. I would also love it if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at [email protected] and we’ll feature it on one ...

What Really is Vision and Why It's Key to Achieve Business Success

If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was. I would also love it if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at [email protected] and we’ll feature it on one ...

Are you a Captain or a Leader?

I’ve been to my fair share of masterminds over the years. Some have stuck with me, others not so much. On one particular trip with Bo Eason, I was encouraged to tell my story of how I got to be where I am today in front of not just the other attendees, but also have it recorded to share with the rest of the world, and it was a pivotal moment for me as a business owner and as a human being. It wasn’t always easy for me to be my true self. Often times I molded myself to fit other’s needs and...

The Real Work Is In The Rest

All too often do I see business owners burning themselves out by thinking they have to work 24/7, 365. Not only is it not realistic to ask that of yourself, but you wouldn’t ask anyone else to make those kinds of sacrifices either.  Take the time you need to really rest and give yourself the opportunity to function as the best version of yourself that you can possibly be. It’s the only way you can ensure that you’re showing up as the kind of leader you need to be for your business, your em...

The Best Way To Become Irresistible To Your Ideal Customer ft. Jude Charles

Your ideal customer won’t return to your business time and time again solely for the products that you sell, but instead, why you sell them in the first place.  CEO, author, & filmmaker Jude Charles joins me on this episode of the Locally Grown podcast to discuss how telling your story, all of those reasons why you started your entrepreneurial journey in the first place and continue to work at each and every day, can help you connect to people in ways you might never have imagined. Learn...

My Take On Quiet Quitting

Working for years at a corporate job that didn’t value my skills and knowledge and routinely took advantage of me, I get why so many employees are “quiet quitting” their jobs. The pandemic really helped to expose a lot of bad ways in which businesses were functioning and employee wellness (both physical and mental) started to become more of a priority. I’m not an advocate for quiet quitting, nor do I condone it, but its presence is a chance for us as business owners to take a look at how w...

Finding the Gaps in Your Business and Fixing Them

Figuring out what parts of your business might be holding you back isn’t always a simple thing to do. But when you really break down your systems and operations and all the parts that make your business run the way it does, you’ll be able to see where you are excelling, and where you might be self-sabotaging yourself from achieving that next level of greatness. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your bigg...

Locally Grown: The Next Chapter

You may have noticed the podcast went through a bit of a development recently. What was once Your Next Best Step is now Locally Grown with Theresa Cantley. Still the same uplifting, thought-provoking, and resourceful host you’ve come to know and love, but now with a more dialed focus. This is Theresa’s explanation behind why she felt this change was necessary in continuing to carry her message out to the rest of the world. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to st...

My Story; Making Limoncello from Lemons

From humble beginnings to being put to all of life’s ultimate tests of strength and faith, Theresa has taken the adversity she has come across and used it to overcome.  Her mission on this planet is simple: leave it a better place than how she found it. Her journey to becoming an entrepreneur wasn’t a walk in the park, but it’s made her the person she is today. This is Theresa’s story, but she’s not finished writing it. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to sta...

Encore: The 3rd Place

A replay of one of Theresa’s favorite episodes, The 3rd Place. The message she explains is one she truly believes and is the foundation for any successful business in this modern world. Everyone needs a place in this world. One where they feel comfortable, where they can be their truest selves without fear or doubt, one that just feels right. For many, there are usually two of these places; Home and work. When you’re home, you feel relaxed and safe. At work, a place of unity amongst collea...

Scaling Your Small Business to Big Numbers

An entrepreneurial venture without the daily headaches, that seemingly runs itself? It’s not a myth. And it’s 100% attainable when you begin scaling your small business. It goes back to that foundation you’ve set for yourself. Once you’ve established what it is you want to do and accomplish with your business and the lives you want to affect, you can then start to look at how you can do these things on a larger scale. Many business owners strive to see large growth, but some obtain it an...

What It Means to Be Sustainable in a Fad-Driven World

Creating a business that can grow and profit in the here and now is one thing, but to be able to move forward into unknown terrain and still be able to succeed despite the circumstance is how you create a sustainable one.  It’s looking at the future and seeing how we can exist in it and also thrive in it all while preserving the things around us for generations to come. How can you adjust how you do business so that you are able to move forward and continue making a difference in the world...

Finding the Gaps & Discovering New Opportunities - Day 2 of Building an Agile Business

If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know your favorite part, or book a call with me directly so we can get to work immediately on taking your business to the next level. I would also love it if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes  If there is a topic you would love me to talk abo...

Finding the Gaps & Discovering New Opportunities

If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know your favorite part, or book a call with me directly so we can get to work immediately on taking your business to the next level. I would also love it if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes  If there is a topic you would love me to talk abo...

Building an Agile Business to Thrive Under Changing Circumstances

We cannot predict the future, nor do we have any control of the circumstances of the world around us.  We do, however, have the power to make decisions in our business so that no matter what we are faced with, we can get through it and push forward into the future we see for ourselves. Building an agile business isn't a quick fix, but rather something that can be implemented into each day, and each part of what we do. From there, the answers will begin to seem a lot clearer. If you enj...

Is Brick and Mortar Dying?

If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was, or, book a call with me directly so we can get to work immediately on taking your business to the next level.   I would also love it if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes   If there is a topic you would lov...

Helping to Build The Community By Helping Others, An Interview with Lyell Scherline

Is Your Team Aligned or Fractured?

It’s never a bad time to take a moment to stop and look at where you are at in your business. Where do you want to go? How are you going to get there? And, most importantly, do you have the right people in place to help you get there?   Many business owners will hire people just to have bodies to fill the roles. While this may work for a little while, you won’t ever see your business grow and evolve to bigger and better things without ensuring you have the right people to help you do so....

Get Your Calendar to Work For You

One thing I’ve seen more and more business owners struggling with is keeping a calendar. They may have a to-do list of goals and things they need to get done, but it’s not getting them where they want to be. They aren’t getting their calendar to work for them.   I recommend learning how to break down your goals into actionable-sized chunks that can be completed throughout your week or month is key to maintaining a calendar that actually helps you work towards your goals.   Think bigg...

Elevating Your Focus To Go From Struggling To Thriving

If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was.   I would also love it if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes   If there is a topic you would love me to discuss or a question you may have send it to us at [email protected] and we’ll feature it in one...

True Belonging: An Interview with Denise Solar Cox

Author, mentor, two-time filmmaker, Ted Talk speaker, and long-time friend Denise Solar Cox joins me today to discuss what it really means to belong.   Over the years of doing hundreds of live, in-person engagements, she began to realize that everyone she spoke to wanted to talk about belonging. What does it mean to belong to something? What are the feelings around it and how is it even created?   An individual’s dominant ideology, or the way they perceive the world, plays a huge rol...

If You Are New Here, This Episode is For You

I’ve had a few new subscribers lately, so this week I wanted to take the time out to re-introduce myself to those of you who might not know what to expect.   Your Next Best Step podcast is a show on anything and everything that deals with adversity. Any problems or questions that entrepreneurs and business owners from all walks of life may encounter, this is where we break them down, get to the root cause, and navigate our way on through so we can get back on the path towards success. ...

How to Create an Award Winning Visibility Strategy ft. Lisa Simone Richards

Lisa Simone Richards, Business Consultant & PR visibility strategist extraordinaire, joins me on this week’s episode to discuss just how she helps people to build a winning PR plan.   After years of working for magazines and doing PR for large companies such as Staples, Virgin, and Crayola, her passion now lies in helping business owners and entrepreneurs who are amazing at what they do to reach more people. She does so by giving them the skills to not just speak to current customers, bu...

Spilling the Whiskey on my Husband Dennis

If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was.   I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review a thttps://theresacantley.com/itunes   If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us [email protected] and we’ll feature it on ...

Walking in Faith Not Fear ft. Dr. Ranelli Williams, CPA

Ranelli Williams, DBA joins Theresa in a conversation about her journey through entrepreneurship and the importance of having faith in yourself to do whatever it is you dream of doing. From there, you’ll be able to take the steps needed to propel your business forward.   Once you have that faith, your fears can no longer hold you back. You gain clarity on the things in your business that need you attention, and the main one is your financial foundation. Without an understanding of your n...

Remember Who You Are

If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was.   I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes   If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at [email protected] and we’ll feature it o...

Protecting Your Small Business Ft. Jay Razzouk, Esq

Protecting Your Small Business with Jay Razzouk, Esq

Your business is your biggest asset, and protecting it at all costs should be your priority. A lot of factors play into the protection of your business, long-term, and without a solid structure, community of people around you, and daily actions that are working towards your goals and not away from them, your business will not have the tools it needs to succeed. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your bi...

Are We Facing a Recession? How to Proof Your Business Against It

Recession-proofing your business sounds like a smart move in the entrepreneurial world, but it can actually lead you down a path of no return.   The problem many people face when attempting to create a plan for their business that is in the midst of a recession is that they only plan for their current circumstance. They function as if the hard times are permanent, and when the market fluctuates back as it inevitably does, their business plan no longer works.   The solution? Make your b...

Recession-Proof Your Business

Recession-proofing your business sounds like a smart move in the entrepreneurial world, but it can actually lead you down a path of no return.   The problem many people face when attempting to create a plan for their business that is in the midst of a recession is that they only plan for their current circumstance. They function as if the hard times are permanent, and when the market fluctuates back as it inevitably does, their business plan no longer works.   The solution? Make your...

The Right Time to Invest in Your Business

How exactly do you know when is the right time to invest in your business? First things first, it’s important to know what to invest in.   Your team – The crew of people you choose to help your business be all that you want it to be. You can’t do it all yourself, and having that support system that you take care of will ensure they take care of you in return.   Software – The systems that help you run your business can ultimately make or break you. Investing in some systems can be a ...

The 5 Mistakes of Success & Struggle

When things go astray in this world, as they often and inevitably do, the best thing you can do is to try and learn from it. There will always be struggles and failures along any path in life, and when we look at them as opportunities to do better and be better, the answers will fall into our laps. Getting to the level of success we desire to see for ourselves and our business comes only when we do not let our fears get the best of us, but instead let them shed light on where we can improv...

Taking Radical Responsibility in Your Business

As entrepreneurs, we are in the business of providing value to our customers, in one way or another. Whether it’s our products, our services, the environment in which our business operates, or a combination, we are trying to give people the best experience that we can. And that takes being radically responsible for our actions. When you say you are going to do something, follow through. If an employee is struggling with a task, help them course correct or solve the issue. If there is an is...

What You Really Need To Get Through the Challenges We Are Facing Today

It’s becoming increasingly more difficult to operate a business today. People are struggling to hire and retain good employees, while dealing with low supply chains and increased prices on just about everything. But it doesn’t have to be a struggle. Diversifying your business is one way to make your and everybody else’s lives a bit easier. When it comes to your purveyors, purchasing from multiple sources will benefit you when one has a product that the other might be out of. When it comes ...

Managing Your Cashflow Isn’t Impossible

Everybody wants more cash, right? The problem is figuring out how to get a steady flow of it into your business and not being in the negative at the end of the month. The revenue your business generates is just the top-line number. It doesn’t mean that’s how much money you take home at the end of the day. Once you factor in all of your costs of operation, that number can look very different. It can be a bit intimidating to manage the flow of cash in and out of your business, but with a b...

Become a Better Leader Today

A good leader isn’t someone who has all of the answers and does everything themselves. A good leader creates a vision for the future and allows those that wish to see the same future to help bring it to light in their own unique ways. Every single one of us has our own set of skills and life experiences that make us who we are. When leading people, it’s important to remember this and to help shine a light on the individuals that make your business possible so that they can rise to their hi...

The 3rd Place

Everyone needs a place in this world. One where they feel comfortable, where they can be their truest selves without fear or doubt, one that just feels right. For many, there are usually two of these places; Home and work. When you’re home, you feel relaxed and safe. At work, a place of unity amongst colleagues, that promotes creativity and innovation. But the third place is something we need more of in this world. It’s the place between the other two places. When you aren’t at work and yo...

Your Strategy Cannot Be to Survive

“We’re functioning in crisis mode.” A phrase I’ve heard all too often. When we face the day with this mindset, our business never has the chance to thrive. Our own fears and anxieties can hold us back from new ideas and people and that will only keep us stuck in place, fighting for our own limitations. Stepping into a new way of thinking takes courage. It’s not easy to admit to yourself that maybe it’s time to do things differently. Maybe what you have been doing isn’t working anymor...

You May Be What’s Wrong With the Vibe in Your Business

Working with all kinds of leaders over the years, I come across many who say their core values are one thing, but then show up and act in ways that don’t align with those values. They contradict themselves and the wonder why the business isn’t functioning the way they want it to. When we preach one thing and then do another, how can we expect the people who work for us and that frequent our businesses to trust us? Having integrity as a leader is arguably one of the most important traits....

What Really Is a Customer Experience and How Do You Create It?

More and more, people are choosing to frequent businesses based on the experience they receive while there rather than just on product or service. People care where they spend their hard earned money, and they want to spend it where they feel best about it. Your customer experience can make or break your business. There are many ways to achieve a customer experience that has people coming back to your business. In fact, there are 4 elements that go into the creation of a memorable business...

From Adversity & Diversity Comes Innovation

When things get tough and the future of your business can seem uncertain, it’s easy to look to those around you for answers. But true innovation doesn’t come from copying what the other business down the street is doing. It comes when we look at what others aren’t doing. Where are the gaps and how do we fill them in a new, creative, sustainable way? One huge way you can bring innovation into your business is to allow it to be diverse. There are endless possibilities and ideas out there that y...