Powerful Business Moves That Generated Millions with CFO Michael Barbarita
Release Date: 08/22/2025
Franchising in 2026: Choosing the Right Franchise and Avoiding Costly Mistakes with Franzy Co-Founder Alex Smereczniak
Small Business Stories
S6:E9 Pattern Discussed: Borrowed credibility, unearned trust. A founder attaches themselves to a “known” brand, platform, or business model and assumes it will carry visibility and trust, but the local operator work that actually earns belief (standards, reputation, community proof, consistency) still has to happen. How it keeps good businesses unseen, untrusted, underpaid, or underperforming: it creates a quiet mismatch between what the audience expects and what they experience, so people hesitate, churn, or never refer. Why it shows up across many businesses: I hear this across...
info_outline
Unlock Your Influence: Executive Presence, Confidence, and Leadership Strategy with Vernessa Hopkins
Small Business Stories
S6:E8 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka “Dr. LL,” brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here. Core pattern: People assume their capability will speak for itself, then accidentally leave their “first impression story” to chance. When that happens, others decide what you mean, what you’re worth, and whether you’re credible, before you ever get to show your work. This shows up everywhere: founders, consultants, leaders, job seekers. They are doing real work, but their presence,...
info_outline
What Ticket Sales Companies Gets Wrong and a New Solution by Fanfare Founder Michael Dodsworth
Small Business Stories
S6:E7 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka “Dr. LL,” brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here. Overview There’s a specific kind of fatigue that comes from “doing the right things” and still feeling ignored. You show up consistently, you post, you refine the offer, you keep building, and yet traction stays unpredictable. Often the issue is not effort, it’s misalignment: the message is landing in the wrong place, or the experience is quietly breaking trust before people ever become...
info_outline
Building a Values-First Franchise: 180 Water Founder Jack Clark on Work-Life Balance and Growth
Small Business Stories
S6:E6 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka “Dr. LL,” brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here. When the world feels heavy and your business still needs you to show up, it’s easy to live in a constant state of pressure. This episode is a calm conversation about building something real, staying steady through uncertainty, and creating structure that supports your life instead of consuming it. 👤 Guest: Jack Clark founder of 180Water Water well and filtration services, manufacturing,...
info_outline
Emotional Intelligence at Work: How Clarity and Self-Awareness Help Leaders Navigate Uncertainty with Luz Gonzalez
Small Business Stories
S6:E5 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka, "Dr. LL," loves bringing you entrepreneurs, small business owners, and actionable advice to you every week. Thank you for joining us! When the world feels overwhelming, clarity isn’t a luxury. It’s a survival skill. This conversation is for anyone trying to lead, build, or simply stay grounded in uncertain times. 👤 Guest: Luz Gonzalez Founder, EQ Refined Emotional intelligence educator, leadership and communication coach ⚠️ Core Problems Discussed Navigating emotional overwhelm in the workplace Misunderstanding assertiveness as aggression Losing...
info_outline
From Scientist to Small Business Owner: What Trial, Error, and Patience Teach You About Growth with Dr. Nivedita Lahiri
Small Business Stories
S6:E4 Starting a business can feel overwhelming, especially when the rules keep changing and the pressure never lets up. This conversation is a reminder that growth doesn’t come from shortcuts, it comes from patience, learning, and staying human. 👤 Guest: Nivedita Lahiri, PhD Founder, Counsel Academy STEM educator and small business owner helping students build strong foundations in science, math, and critical thinking ⚠️ Core Problems Discussed Transitioning from academia into entrepreneurship Losing money on marketing that doesn’t deliver results Trying to do...
info_outline
Staying True to Your Values Builds a Profitable Business When Growth Gets Hard with Jessica Lowery
Small Business Stories
S6:E3 When growth gets hard, shortcuts start to look tempting. This conversation is about what happens when you don’t cave into the pressure to take shortcuts. Dr. LL chats about wellness in keeping with January's theme. 👤 Guest: Jessica Lowery Founder, The Power of Elderberries Values-driven wellness entrepreneur and product innovator ⚠️ Core Problems Discussed Growing a product business without compromising integrity Navigating debt, lawsuits, and emotional burnout Standing out in crowded wellness and supplement markets 🥡 Practical Takeaways Why clarity of values matters more...
info_outline
Bodybuilding Fitness & Mindset: Stan Radomski on Consistency and Starting Again
Small Business Stories
S6:E2 If you’re carrying a lot right now, like work stress, business pressure, and "life stuff," this episode is a breath of steady encouragement. Season 6 is focused on health & wellness for real-world entrepreneurs, and this conversation is about something deeper than the gym: it's about how community and consistency keep you going when motivation disappears. In this episode, we talk about what actually builds trust over time: showing up, staying connected, and doing the next right thing, especially when life gets loud. 👤Guest: Stan Radomski Fitness Instructor • Mr. New Jersey...
info_outline
Herbal Medicine: Practical Health & Wellness for Overwhelmed Entrepreneurs with Lily Kunning
Small Business Stories
S6:E1 When everything feels like too much, small business owners don’t need more noise. They need steadier conversations they can trust. In this episode, we sit down with Lily Kunning, founder of Haven Herbs, to talk about wellness and business driving connections in a way that’s practical, grounded, and genuinely human. If people don’t trust you, they won’t buy from you. If they don’t remember you, they can't look for you. 👤Guest: Lily Kunning / Haven Herbs / Herbalist, educator, wellness founder focused on ethical, sustainable, customer-centered care ⚠️Core Problems...
info_outline
How Storytelling Builds Trust, Visibility, and Sales for Small Businesses with Robert Kennedy III
Small Business Stories
S5:E40 If people don’t trust you, they won’t buy from you. If they don’t remember you, they won’t find you again. In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Robert Kennedy III breaks down how storytelling, video, and authentic communication help small businesses move from invisible to influential. 👤Guest: Robert Kennedy III CEO, Kinetic Communications Storytelling, video, and communication strategist ⚠️Core Problems Discussed Business owners relying on data instead of connection Fear of visibility and vulnerability on camera Confusing “stage” with “stadium” ...
info_outlineS5: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 logic
💰Avoiding rookie money mistakes
💰Scaling sustainably using simply money-making moves to sell more product
💰Building a business that sells itself—with numbers to back it If you’ve ever thought, “I need someone to make sense of my business finances,” this episode is for you.
⏱️ Highlights (Tips & Insights):
“It’s not just about revenue. It’s about value.” Michael explains why adding real business value requires more than top-line growth; it’s about strategic financial infrastructure.
“A compelling offer starts with understanding your costs.” Learn why most business offers fail and how anchoring your offer in margin and value unlocks results.
“Hire a fractional CFO before you think you need one.” The right time to bring in financial help isn’t when you're drowning; it's before the flood. Michael explains when and why.
“Small business owners should stop guessing and start forecasting.” Discover a simple forecasting framework any founder can use to predict cash flow and growth opportunities.
“Financial clarity builds confidence for you and your investors.”
Michael reveals how financial reporting done right can turn uncertainty into investor-ready trust.
Don't forget to subscribe to YouTube @Midlifesuccess
#entrepreneur #business #money #smallbusiness #finance