<p>Join Christy as she talks with her friend and coach, Deryl Sweeney, about his own experience with business ownership and the real power coaching has had for him. Listen long enough to hear Christy share some of her own work that Deryl has put her through and the impact it has on her daily life.</p><p><br></p><p>Deryl Sweeney is a Professional Coach focused on helping entrepreneurs and high performance professionals build the businesses and the lives that they really want.</p><p>Deryl has launched and scaled multiple businesses, raised millions of dollars as a co-founder of a grass-roots charity raising money to cure cystic fibrosis and developed marketing tactics and strategies for clients nationwide. He coaches and mentors entrepreneurs, executives, founders, students, soccer players and everyday people on their businesses, careers and lives.</p><p><br></p><p>#businesscoaching #entrepreneur #success #smallbusiness #SBSTpodcast #SBSTshow #smallbusinesssuccesstalk #podcast #podcastlife &nbsp;#businessowner #lifecoaching&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this episode, I discuss what being professional looks like today. If you're a person out in the workforce, you already know that 'being professional' has definitely evolved and looks much different than it did many years ago.</p><p>What being professional looked like years ago, does not look the same today. It could mean having tattoos, dressing a little differently, being a full-time parent, having piercings, being emotional. These are just some things that would have NEVER been thought of as being professional years ago which is why I love this campaign from LinkedIn.</p><p>Now, with all of that being said, there are some of aspects of being professional that have NOT changed and have remained the same. A great example of that has come from my own personal experience that I mention in this episode and that's dealing with unprofessional managers.</p><p>What does professional look like to YOU and how have you personally seen it evolve?"</p><h1>#SBSTpodcast #SBSTshow #smallbusinesssuccesstalk #podcast #podcastlife #businessowner #smallbusiness #entrepreneur #business #speaker #author #strategist #businesscoach #TheGreatResignation #todaysworkforce #professional #beingprofessional</h1>

<p>For this episode of the Small Business Success Talk podcast, we're joined by Amy Torres of Director of Marketing Inc. and Kristina Stubblefield of SoIn Media Group. We're calling ourselves the 'Marketing Mavens' because of our combined knowledge and experience in the field of marketing. Brittany Murphy of One Thing Marketing was not able to join us for this episode, but she will be joining us in the future!</p><p><br></p><p>This was a LOADED episode so you'll definitely want to grab your favorite notebook and pen to take some notes. Without giving too much away, we discussed the constantly-changing world of marketing, how people are connecting with businesses now vs in in the past, and the big one (brace yourself) that you cannot work from a to-do list.</p><p><br></p><p>We hope you enjoyed this episode because we've got more coming at ya so stay tuned for more episodes with the Marketing Mavens!</p><p><br></p><p>https://eagleeyestrategies.biz/</p><p>www.soinmediagroup.com, https://directorofmarketinginc.com/</p><p><br></p><p>FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/smallbizstoryteller, https://www.facebook.com/soinmediagroup/</p><p><br></p><p>LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/director-of-marketing-inc/</p><p><br></p><p>#SBSTpodcast #SBSTshow #smallbusinesssuccesstalk #podcast #podcastlife #marketing #marketingmavens #businessowner #smallbusiness #entrepreneurs #marketingregulations&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For this episode of Small Business Success Talk, we had the chance to sit down with our good friend Dallas Montgomery of Montgomery Farms. A family-owned business, it's a beautiful 40-acre outdoor venue located in Underwood Indiana and they do everything from corporate events to weddings.</p><p>He got into his second calling as a chef and did that for 7 years until teaming up with his sister at Montgomery Farms. With his background in hospitality as a hotel chef, it just made sense!</p><p>We got to hear what it's like to co-own a family business, what's slated for the future for Montgomery Farms, and much more enjoyable conversation with Dallas. Another great episode in the books and we know you'll enjoy it just as much as we did!</p><p>BIO: Dallas R. Montgomery, the third Dallas in the family, started selling sweet corn out of the old Barn at the age of eleven before being tall enough to even see over the corn. After attending Purdue University he left the family business and was an executive chef for seven years in Indianapolis. After the conversion of Montgomery Farms into an event venue by sister Mandi, he moved back to Southern Indiana and joined forces once again with his sibling and is now a proud business owner with her.</p><p>WEBSITE:&nbsp;<a href="https://montgomery-farms.com/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Home - Montgomery Farms</a></p><p>FACEBOOK:<img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/yv/r/B8BxsscfVBr.ico" width="16" height="16"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/montgomeryfarmsweddingandevents" target="_blank">Montgomery Farms</a></p><p>INSTAGRAM: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/montgomeryfarms/" rel="noreferrer ugc nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/montgomeryfarms/</a></p><p>LINKEDIN: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/montgomery-farms" rel="noreferrer ugc nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/montgomery-farms</a></p>

<p>This episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy shares insights about utilizing the SWOT analysis in a more personal meaningful way and the impact you have on the world without even knowing it.</p>

<p>Our first guest since the rebrand of our podcast (which is now Small Business SUCCESS Talk if you haven't heard yet), is Michael G. Hall. A Louisville native, he has his degree in accounting and economics. After being a CPA and moving into corporate finance, he realized he wanted to do something different and less self-driven which is what got him into human analytics. What exactly is human analytics you ask? Also known as people analytics, human analytics is the collection and application of talent data to improve critical talent and business outcomes.</p><p>BIO: My passion for the past 20 years has been spearheading dynamic change in organizations by identifying and developing the employees’ talents to match the culture of their company.</p><p>By closely collaborating with owner-operators and C-level managers, I uncover and share what drives the people, pinpointing their motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. In my experience, this has resulted in up to a 20% increase in revenue. Armed with this crucial data, C-suite managers now have a roadmap from which they can better manage their bottom line while maximizing top line growth.</p><p>Hall &amp; Associates, Inc. is a strategic advisory firm that works exclusively with visionary business leaders and management to scale and transform organizations using Applied Psychometric Analytics Traits (this translates to “Moneyball for CEOs”).</p><p>Experienced in industries such as FinTech, retail, high-tech software, healthcare, digital imaging, and real estate, I have been a key member of several boards of directors and advisory boards, including: MasterCard Prepaid Policy Council, American Institute of Public Accountants eCommerce Education Committee, Association of Corporate Growth, Austin Chapter Financial Executives International Board of Directors, two-time Financial Executives Global Summit Chair, and Transaction Wireless (First Data) Advisory Board, among others.</p><p>I have a track record of successfully guiding organizations thru transformative processes to pivot and execute company strategies and tactics that is unparalleled. I implement a step-by-step talent optimization process, with the ultimate goal of aligning your talent strategy with your business strategy.</p><p>LINKEDIN: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgrayhall/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgrayhall/</a></p>

<p>For this episode of Small Business Small Talk, we had the chance to sit down with a good friend of ours, Cara Silletto from Magnet Culture. We enjoyed getting to hear about her background where she grew up as a theater kid, then moved on to being an Event Planner for a state association which then planted the seed for her to eventually become a speaker trainer. Her main focus at her business, Magnet Culture, is all about employee retention and culture. If this is something your own business is struggling with, this episode is one you'll definitely want to check out!</p><p>BIO: Workforce thought leader and keynote speaker Cara Silletto, MBA, CSP, works with organizations to reduce unnecessary employee turnover by bridging generational gaps and making managers more effective in their roles. Workforce Magazine in Chicago named Cara a “Game Changer” and <a href="http://recruiter.com/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Recruiter.com</a> listed her in their “Top 10 Company Culture Experts to Watch.” She is the author of the book, "Staying Power: Why Your Employees Leave &amp; How to Keep Them Longer," and Louisville Business First named her one of their 2018 Forty Under 40.</p><p>WEBSITE: <a href="http://www.wereduceturnover.com/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.WeReduceTurnover.com</a></p><p>FACEBOOK:</p><p><img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/yv/r/B8BxsscfVBr.ico">Magnet Culture, a Crescendo Strategies company</p><p>LINKEDIN: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/carasilletto" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/carasilletto</a></p><h3><br></h3>

<p>"In this episode of Small Business Small Talk host, Christy Smallwood, gives a fun recap of 2021. It's been a great year for Small Business Small Talk that has hosted many wonderful business owners. If you've not listened to all episodes, you need to. Lots of great content for all of you business owners out there.</p><p>Christy also started a NEW travel podcast with fellow host, Tara Branch of Vacations by Tara. Stay tuned for more details on when that will be launching. For those that love travel, you won't want to miss it!</p><p>Lastly, Small Business Small Talk is now on Instagram (<strong>@smallbusinesssmalltalk</strong>) so be sure to give us a follow on there.</p><p>That's just a small sampling of 2021 so be sure to listen to the full episode for all the fun details. We hope you all had a great 2021 and an even better 2022 ahead!"</p>

<p>On this episode of Small Business Small Talk, we had the amazing opportunity to sit down with Jordan Babineaux, former NFL player for the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans. We discussed his childhood in Port Arthur, Texas, his journey with the NFL, and how he got to where he is today with his business, Pivot to Win. At the young age of 39, Jordan has already accomplished so much in his professional career, but he recognizes that it's the failures and losses as well that get us to our path of success and how having the "growth mindset" is truly important to achieving what we want.</p><p>BIO: Jordan Babineaux transitioned from nearly a decade playing in the NFL to become a sports broadcaster, entrepreneur, adjunct professor, and international bestselling author of Pivot to Win: Make the Big Plays in Life, Sports &amp; Business. Jordan helps teams, athletes, and business professionals navigate their pivots.</p><p>Jordan is a Leadership Executive MBA graduate from Seattle University and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication from Southern Arkansas University.</p><p>Signed to the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2004, Babineaux worked his way up to starting as a defensive back for the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans, appearing in over 140 career games, including Super Bowl 40.</p><p>Jordan believes giving back to the community is one of the most important things he can do in life. He and his brother Jonathan Babineaux, former defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons, contribute their philanthropic efforts to their hometown of Port Arthur, Texas, and the Seattle and Atlanta communities.</p><p>Today, Jordan provides commentary and analysis for the Seahawks gameday radio and TV broadcasts, an Adjunct Professor at Seattle University, and offers keynotes and leadership training at Pivot to Win, Inc.</p><p>WEBSITE: <a href="http://pivottowin.com/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">pivottowin.com</a></p><p>FACEBOOK:</p><p><img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/yv/r/B8BxsscfVBr.ico">Jordan Babineaux</p><p>INSTAGRAM: <strong>@jordanbabineaux</strong></p><h1>SBSTpodcast #SBSTshow #smallbusinesssmalltalk #collegefootball #NFL #business #smallbusiness #entrepreneur #author #businessowner #podcast #podcastlife #pivottowin #pivottowinpodcast</h1>

<p>We recently sat down with Jeff Chandler on Small Business Small Talk. He's been in the business of IT since the 80s and owns his own IT company, Z-JAK Technologies. His desire to be an engineer as a kid is what got him started in the field.</p><p>With small businesses also being prone to cyber attacks, his clients enlisted his help in helping to secure their systems. Thus, Jeff 's book on cybersecurity was created called "Hacked!".</p><p>BIO: Jeff Chandler is the founder and CEO of Z-JAK Technologies.</p><p>With more than 35 years of experience as a developer, systems architect, business consultant, and insurance executive, Jeff is an expert in cybersecurity and technology.</p><p>Jeff served previously as Chief Technology Officer for Jefferson National Financial. He was part of the startup team that built the company and served in a number of roles over the years with that carrier.</p><p>WEBSITE:</p><p><img src="https://zjak.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-Z-JAK-icon-643x643-1-192x192.jpg" width="192" height="192"/>IT Services &amp; IT Support Louisville, KY | Z-JAK Technologies</p><p>and</p><p><img src="https://zjak.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-Z-JAK-icon-643x643-1-192x192.jpg" width="192" height="192"/>Hacked! Cybersecurity Protection Guide - Z-JAK Technologies | IT Services and IT Support in Louisville, KY</p><h1>SBSTpodcast #SBSTshow #smallbusinesssmalltalk #business #smallbusiness #entrepreneur #author #businessowner #informationtechnology #cybersecurity</h1><h3><br></h3>

<p>Jeremy Shere of Tribal Knowledge Podcasting sat down with us and talked about why Corporate America just wasn't his thing and how owning his own business is all about the aspect of control. For Jeremy, it's all about being goal-oriented as well. We also had the chance to talk about having twins in the family and other random topics (Brendan Fraser included). This was definitely a fun episode so make sure to listen to the entire podcast!</p><p>BIO: Jeremy Shere is the founder and CEO of Tribal Knowledge Podcasting, a podcast production agency that helps businesses start podcasts to drive revenue &amp; grow thought leadership.</p><p>WEBSITE: <a href="http://tribknowledge.com/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">tribknowledge.com</a></p><p>LINKEDIN: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-shere-7640934/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-shere-7640934/</a></p><p>HASHTAGS: #SBSTpodcast #SBSTshow #smallbusinesssmalltalk #podcast #podcastlife #podcastproduction #writer #freelancewriter #copywriting #copywriter #businessowner #smallbusiness</p>

<p>After realizing that less than 3% of the apparel that we buy and wear is made here in America, Dean Wegner wanted to change that. In this episode of Small Business Small Talk, we get to hear about his background and how his business, Authentically American, got its start. Having a passion for creating more jobs and a great company culture is what Dean is all about along with his faith being an important aspect of his life. If you want to purchase American-made apparel, make sure to check out Authentically American based out of Nashville Tennessee!</p>

<p>On this episode of Small Business Small Talk, Joe Hulsey, owner of Joe Hulsey Photography shares his experience and love of telling stories through pictures, as well as the impact caring about people has in his business. <a href="http://www.joehulsey.com/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.joehulsey.com</a></p><p>Small Business Small Talk is sponsored by:</p><p>The Chamber of St. Matthews (</p><p><img src="https://www.stmatthewschamber.com/favicon.ico">Welcome to the Chamber of St. Matthews!</p><p>)<br>Eagle Eye Strategies (</p><p><img src="https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.83/s81.e68.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-eagle-only_smll-1-192x192.png">Eagle Eye Strategies</p><p>)</p>

<p>"In this episode of Small Business Small Talk, host Christy Smallwood brings us all up to date on what's been going on with her. Getting sick is rough, especially as a business owner! Sometimes it's good to have some down time to regroup, but the show must go on. It's also important to have a great team to back you up to make sure the balls are still rolling. This is a fun show packed with some great info so get comfy and enjoy!"</p><p><a href="http://www.eagleeyestrategies.biz/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.EagleEyeStrategies.biz</a><br><a href="http://www.christysmallwood.com/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.ChristySmallwood.com</a></p>

<p>Jason Koerner of Perfect Pitch DJ Services talked with us for this episode of Small Business Small Talk. We loved hearing how he makes events like weddings and business expos a personalized experience with not only his DJ service, but his high-tech photo booth as well. In addition, he talks about how it's important to stand out in his field of work, what he loves the most about this business, and so much more!</p><p>BIO: I've been a musician all my life. Music is what I LOVE.<br>Whether I am playing in a band, DJing, or singing in the truck, music is happening around me. Let me bring my passion for music to your important day. You will have the comfort of knowing that who you are working with is in it for the right reasons, not just to get a paycheck. This business is my baby, and I ensure 100% client satisfaction.</p><p>Perfect Pitch DJ Service, LLC is a professional business launched from a serious hobby, so it is the best of both worlds where high quality service meets fun - all at an affordable price!</p><p>WEBSITE: <a href="http://www.perfectpitchdj.com/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.perfectpitchdj.com</a></p><p>FACEBOOK:</p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/perfectpitchdjservice/">https://www.facebook.com/perfectpitchdjservice/</a></p><p>LINKEDIN:</p><h1>SBSTpodcast #SBSTshow #smallbusinesssmalltalk #DJ #DJservice #photobooth #weddings #parties #expos #businessowner #entrepreneur #localbusiness #smallbusiness</h1>

<p>&nbsp;Rick Smith founded News USA in 1987, and more than 30 years later continues to innovate new ways to make his customers and clients look brilliant. Early in his career, while at Deloitte &amp; Touche, he realized that PR and advertising people were basically ‘flying blind’ since no news feature service was then providing real, solid metrics to measure success. So he founded News Canada, then launched NewsUSA. He has served on the faculty of the Young Presidents Organization, judged the National Press Club’s Consumer Journalism Awards, and himself has been a Blue Chip Enterprise Award Winner for re-inventing his company. Along the way, Rick authored six books, including the three best-selling, self-help business titles Getting Started, Getting Money and Getting Sales. Today, Rick is on numerous advisory boards and is an early seed investor in 100+ emerging companies ideally where his contacts, media clout and marketing strategy can scale them faster.</p><p><br></p><p>WEBSITE: www.newsusa.com</p><p><br></p><p>FACEBOOK:</p><p><br></p><p>LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-smith-news/</p>

<p>&nbsp;I thought of this about 20 years ago because I had hardwood floors and my decorative pillows slid off of my cedar chest when my cats jumped on the bed. I didn't do anything about it until 2019 because I was trying to survive all those years as a very busy single mom. In 2019, I was happily married to a very messy man and he constantly cluttered the chair in the master bedroom so I needed a place for my pillows. I made a prototype and pitched it to SharkTank and surprise...they liked it and advanced me to the "2nd" level but I didn't go further. I was not surprised because I didn't have sales or even a business at that point. I hustled through 2019, learned social media, tweaked my product and developed a business. I was starting to gain a little traction and then Covid hit. I'm a nurse so I took my job serious and put The Secret Shelfie on the "shelf". In 2021, I was determined to re-launch and I did so by hiring a social media company. They were fabulous and did everything expected but the sales have been stagnant. Currently, I am scratching my head and wondering what direction to take as I scrutinize and analyse the world we live in and why it is so hard to get the public to embrace this lifestyle change. You see, I get terrific feedback about "how cool this product is" once I get people's attention long enough to explain it but then, when people think about it long enough, the response is generally "Oh, I just throw my pillows on the floor". Some people have a chair for their pillows and I get that but as a successful realtor in a past life, excess furniture is a no-no. The fact is, it involves a lifestyle change. By this, I mean people must move a piece of wall art or a TV to make a place for their Secret Shelfie. It involves work and the willingness to change habits. I am trying desperately to figure out how to make this work in a world where you get 3 seconds to convince someone to buy a product that involves work and a lifestyle change.</p><p>WEBSITE: <a href="http://secretshelfie.com/" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">secretshelfie.com</a></p><p>FACEBOOK:</p><p><a href="https://facebook.com/secretshelfie">https://facebook.com/secretshelfie</a></p><p>INSTAGRAM: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/secretshelfie" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/secretshelfie</a></p>