The Grit Files with Loralyn Mears & Guest Denise Drinkwalter
Release Date: 11/12/2023
Mastering the Mindset Game: Sofia Rozhko on Leading with Purpose & Power
Small Business Stories
S5:E24 In this soul-shifting episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. LL sits down with Sofia Rozhko, a powerhouse mindset and visibility coach who helps high-achieving women and visionary entrepreneurs show up as their most authentic selves. With roots in Ukraine and a global impact, Sofia reveals the inner transformation needed to unlock business success from rewriting your self-worth to crafting an aligned personal brand. She shares how she turned years of survival into a thriving practice, and why your energy and mindset (not your tactics) determine your outcomes. If you’ve ever felt...
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College Aid for Entrepreneurs: Brad Baldridge on FAFSA, Hiring Your Kids & Negotiating
Small Business Stories
S5:E23 College financial planning meets entrepreneurial reality. Brad Baldridge, host of Taming the High Cost of College, breaks down complex rules into simple moves any small business owner can use to lower net price and avoid bad loans. He sat down with Dr. LL to share some INCREDIBLE cost-savings tips that you, as a small business owner, can do if you have a child in college. KEY TAKEAWAYS [06:04] FAFSA rule change for businesses.Small businesses under 100 employees now must be reported as assets. Brad explains what has value (e.g., real estate) vs. low-value consultancies—and why...
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Myth-Busting Lead Generation, SEO & Paid Ads: How to Grow Your Business in 2025 with Justin Abrams
Small Business Stories
S5:E22 In this episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. LL is joined by Justin Abrams, a Business & Strategy Consultant who's helped over 250 companies achieve an average 350% sales growth and 10x audience expansion. Justin is the head of Aryo Consulting Group. Both the host and guest are among UpWork's Top 1% of more than 17,000,000 freelancers, so the conversation gets interesting! We dive deep into: ✴️Why your Google and Meta ads aren't working ✴️How to run smarter, low-cost TikTok Shop campaigns ✴️The truth about LinkedIn ad funnels ✴️How to get more Google reviews (even...
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Powerful Business Moves That Generated Millions with CFO Michael Barbarita
Small Business Stories
S5:E21 In this Small Biz Stories episode, Dr. LL sits down with Michael Barbarita, Jr., a fractional CFO, award-winning speaker, author of Powerful Business Strategies, and serial entrepreneur who's helped generate millions across industries from retail to manufacturing. With over 40 years of financial leadership and firsthand entrepreneurial grit, Michael shares how small business owners can make smarter financial decisions, structure irresistible offers, and unlock hidden value in their companies. You’ll walk away with tactical advice on: 💰Making compelling offers rooted in financial...
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The Client Flow Blueprint: Filip Sardi Shares the Secret to Turn eLearning Content into Revenues
Small Business Stories
You when you just "hit it off" with a total stranger? Watch the ideas fly! What a fabulous guest and learning experience! Filip is easy going and curious which is a terrific combination to understand how to get unstuck in the customer journey. In this episode, Filip Sardi, founder of Client Flow™, reveals to Dr. LL how online entrepreneurs can stop chasing new clients and start multiplying results with the ones they already have. Drawing from 11+ years in coaching and eLearning, Filip shares actionable strategies to make client success predictable, scalable, and profitable. From...
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Empowering Women Through the Lens: Photography Tips & Personal Branding with Janet Joyner
Small Business Stories
S5:E19 In this inspiring episode of Small Biz Stories, we sit down with New Jersey photographer and former educator Janet Joyner, founder of Janet Joyner Photography📸, to explore how she empowers women (especially those over 40) to rediscover their beauty, embrace confidence, and show up strong in a digital world. Janet shares invaluable photography tips, branding insights, and her journey of starting a business at 50 after leaving education. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a woman reinventing herself, or just camera-shy, this episode is packed with wisdom on how to be seen, and remembered....
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The AI Santa: How Jonathan Mast Empowers Entrepreneurs with Smart Tools for Revenue Growth & Success
Small Business Stories
S5:E18 In this heartwarming and brilliant episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL welcomes Jonathan Mast, affectionately known as “The Whitebeard of AI." He is a generous educator, strategist, and AI expert with a mission to make AI accessible for small business owners. Jonathan reveals the top 3 AI tools every entrepreneur should be using, how to overcome fear and overwhelm with technology, and how to create an AI-powered board of advisors (fictional and real!). He also shares touching and unexpected ways he’s used AI from health advocacy to writing a tear-jerking Mother’s Day letter....
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From Bankruptcy to Millions: Neil Twa on Amazon Fulfilment eCommerce & Mindset Shifts
Small Business Stories
S5:E17 In this high-voltage episode, Dr. LL sits down with Neil Twa, substack writer of column, ⚡"High Voltage Business Builders" and author of Almost Automated Income with FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon). He shares hard-won lessons from going bankrupt to building a multimillion-dollar Amazon consulting business. Whether you're trying to break through a revenue plateau or reframe your leadership mindset, Neil's battle-tested advice is a game-changer for entrepreneurs ready to level up. For over 17 years, Neil has been constructing businesses both online and offline after departing his senior IBM...
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Money Moves: Small Business Funding & Real Estate Strategies with George Otel
Small Business Stories
Join Dr. LL for a value-packed conversation with George Otel, founder of US Business Funding and a top commercial real estate influencer. George shares actionable insights for small business owners and entrepreneurs on funding, mindset, and building lasting success. Discover why adaptation, strategic learning, and the right financial moves can transform your business. Whether you're just starting or scaling up, this episode is your guide to smarter money decisions and entrepreneurial growth. Key Takeaways & Time Stamps: [1:13] Adapt to Thrive: George discusses the importance of...
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Unlocking PR Success: Mickie Kennedy’s Proven Press Release Strategies for Small Business Growth
Small Business Stories
S5:E15 Discover how small businesses can punch above their weight with actionable PR strategies from Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases and renowned PR expert. In this episode, Mickie shares his journey from creative writing to building a leading press release distribution service, and delivers practical insights for entrepreneurs aiming for real media coverage, credibility, and results without the big agency price tag. Growth hacking at its finest! Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners & Entrepreneurs via Mickie's discussion with Dr. LL: [4:15] The Power of Storytelling in Press...
info_outlineDenise Drinkwalter is one of those laid back, "take it as it comes," type of person that you can instantly relate with. Her Canadian roots and career in education as a teacher and principal offer immediate connection points and the confidence that she is going to help you get there - wherever it is that you are going. She is a life coach focused on middle-aged women transitioning from one life phase to the next, like rediscovering themselves, empty nesting, leaving a spouse, or finding a new one. Denise helps her clients reconnect with who they are and what they want out of life. Her philosophy is to do something daily that is, "for you, by you, or because of you." This mantra puts self-care into the spotlight and reminds all of us that taking the time to refuel is not only a good thing to do, it's essential. Find her at https://DeniseDrinkwalter.com