Sinopsis
It is a growing epidemic that entrepreneurs are overwhelmed, out of time, and unable to tackle their daily demands. Sound like you? Do you dream of growing your business but are unsure what next step to take? If youre an entrepreneur who wants to reduce your stress and take consistent, massive, focused action in business and life, this podcast is for you! In this weekly show, Amber De La Garza, The Productivity Specialist gives you the straight talk on what it takes to be productive and grow your business. In addition to dishing out her own favorite productivity tips, tools, tech, and anecdotes, Amber interviews experts and entrepreneurs just like you about their top productivity techniques, productivity challenges, and how they overcame them to take their business to new levels. Amber is a sought-after coach, trainer, and speaker for entrepreneurs who are eager to excel in business. She is passionate, direct and sometimes a little sarcastic but always gives you the Productivity Straight Talk you need to succeed!
Episodios
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391 | The Real Reason You're Always 'So Busy'
25/08/2025 Duración: 01h21minI dive into the real reason you’re always ‘so busy,’ digging deep into the underlying beliefs that keep you in this frantic, reactive cycle. I go into how society has programmed us to believe that being busy equals being virtuous, productive, and secure, talk about why those beliefs are a trap, and divulge how to make the necessary shift from reactive to intentional. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ The Underlying Beliefs Making You Feel Like You Must Always Be "Busy" ✔ How "Toxic Busy-Ness" Impacts Your Health, Relationships & Business ✔ Ways Constant Busy-Ness Is Undermining Your Expertise ✔ How Shifting To Intentionality Requires Changing Your Mindset & Business Model ✔ Strategies To Notice Your Default Response & Create Space For What Matters ✔ What True Success Is Really About ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/391 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help
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390 | Behind The Biz From Burnout To Boundaries With Jude Charles
18/08/2025 Duración: 57minJude Charles runs a video production company that helps entrepreneurs tell their stories via video documentaries that pull back the veil on both their business and the person behind the business. In this special Behind The Biz episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I sit down with Jude Charles to pull back the curtain on his life and business, and dive into the journey that took him from severe burnout to establishing boundaries that work for him. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ Jude’s Genesis Story That Started In Grade School ✔ The Lesson He Really Needed To Learn As A Young Entrepreneur ✔ The 3 Rules For Authentic Storytelling ✔ Jude’s Experience With Burnout That Led To The Need For Boundaries ✔ The Time-Off Cadence He’s Learned That Works For Him ✔ The Most Important Story You Tell & Why ✔ What’s Next For Jude 7 His Company ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/390 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you bac
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389 | When To Cut Your Losses (And Why You're Not Doing It)
11/08/2025 Duración: 37minIn this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I dive into the raw, honest reasons why you might be stuck throwing good money after bad and teach you how to cut those losses. More importantly, I share the mindset shift and a powerful question that will help you finally make that call, free yourself from the emotional burden, and create space for genuine growth. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What Nobody’s Telling You About Cutting Losses In Business ✔ Why This Happens & What To Do About ✔ How To Know When It Is Time ✔ Why Stopping Something In Far From Failing ✔ When To Expect The Mindset Shift Necessary To Grow ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/389 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and bus
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388 | Lead Follow-Up: How To Convert Leads Into Client Relationships With Jacob Hicks
04/08/2025 Duración: 54minI sit down with Success Coach Jacob Hicks to dive into how you can convert leads into client relationships by creating a lead follow-up system that works! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What A Good Lead Follow-Up System Looks Like ✔ How Many Times To Reach Out To A Lead ✔ Ways To Get Started With Lead Follow-Up System ✔ How The Stories You Tell Yourself Could Sabotage You ✔ Strategies For Integrating AI Into Your Lead Follow-Up System ✔ How To Determine Which CRM Is Right For You ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode including the 10 x 10 Lead Follow-Up System we created to help you stay top of mind, build trust, and convert leads with a proven 10-day strategy, click on over to https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/388 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and
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387 | White Space Wins Utilizing Your Secret Scheduling Weapon
28/07/2025 Duración: 41minToday, I'm pulling back the curtain on white space—your secret scheduling weapon that can be the difference between ending your day feeling accomplished versus feeling like you've been in a train wreck. I dive into why utilizing white space as a strategy is so powerful, why you're probably resisting it, and exactly how to implement it so you can finally feel in control of your time. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What Why Space Is ✔ Why Your Business Needs It ✔ The Basics Of Scheduling White Space ✔ How To Effectively Implement It Into Your Schedule ✔ Quick Tips For Utilizing White Space As A Buffer ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/387 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level! And…
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386 | Turning Your Data-Driven Metrics Into Revenue With Amy Traugh
21/07/2025 Duración: 46minIn this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I sit down with Amy to dive into how you can use your data-driven metrics to guide your business decisions and increase your revenue. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ Why Tracking Metrics Matters ✔ Why Business Owners Often Avoid Metrics ✔ Amy’s Methodology For Breaking Sales Plateaus ✔ How Much Time To Block Out To Review Your Data ✔ The 2 Data Mistake Small Business Owners Are Making ✔ What Numbers Matter The Most & Hot To Track Them ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on AmberDeLaGarza.com/386 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level! And… If you want help managing your time, creating efficiency, making a new hire, reducing the stress and overwhelm
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385 | Leveraging AI To Grow Your Business With Rick Mulready
14/07/2025 Duración: 01h01minI sit down with Business Coach & Owner of The AI Playbook Community, Rick Mulready, to dive into how the AI revolution is transforming small businesses and how he helps his clients master AI, leverage it, and grow their businesses faster. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ How Much AI Has Changed In Two Years ✔ Why It's Important To Embrace AI ✔ Where To Get Started With AI ✔ Strategies For Communicating With AI ✔ What AI Can Help You Achieve ✔ The Reddit Rule To Abide By ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/385 P.S. I invite you to join me inside Rick Mulready’s The AI Playbook Community. lt’s a community for business owners who want to leverage AI, automations, and strategy to work (way) less and make more money.
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384 | The Mid-Year Goals Reset: How To Review, Refocus & Finish Strong
07/07/2025 Duración: 46minI dive into how you can use my Insights Feedback Loop to conduct a mid-year audit of your goals, do a guilt-free reset, and create a six-month action plan that actually works so you can finish this year strong. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What A Mid-Year Reset Is ✔ Why It’s An Absolute Game-Changer ✔ My Insights Feedback Loop Framework ✔ How To Adjust Goals Based On Reality ✔ Strategies For Creating A 6-Month Action Plan ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/384 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level! And… If you want help managing your time, creating efficiency, making a new hire, reducing the stress and overwhelm of running a business, or making strategic decisions that will help
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383 | Avoiding Scams, Wire Fraud & Cyberattacks With Jeremiah Baker
30/06/2025 Duración: 53minIn this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I sit down with Cyber Resilience Specialist, Jeremiah Baker, to dive into the work he does to help small businesses protect themselves against cybercrime and discuss tips you can implement immediately to better protect yourself and your business from ransomware attacks, wire fraud, email account takeovers, and more. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ How A Cybersecurity Attack Could Impact Your Business ✔ The Important Work Of White Hat Ethical Hackers ✔ What Social Engineering Is & How It’s Being Used ✔ Ways Cybercriminals Steal Your Money & Information ✔ How SIM Cards Are Being Swapped & Your Identity Stolen ✔ Current Trending Scam & Hacks To Be Aware Of ✔ The Steps To Take To Protect Yourself & Your Business ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/383 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you
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382 | A Strong Case For Both Personal AND Business Bucket Lists This Summer
23/06/2025 Duración: 48minI dive into how to create personal and business bucket lists that support each other and how to turn those seasonal opportunities into real progress! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What A Bucket List Really Is ✔ How To Identify What Should Be On Your Bucket LIsts ✔ The Benefits Of Bucket Lists & Why They Work ✔ What A Personal Bucket List Actually Looks Like ✔ Specifics To Consider For Your Business Bucket List ✔ The First Step To Determine Whether Your Bucket Lists Will Work For You ✔ How To Build Balanced Lists That Support Each Other ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/382 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level! And… If you want help managing your time, creating efficiency, ma
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381 | ADHD Strategies For Neurodivergent Small Business Owners With Skye Waterson
16/06/2025 Duración: 40minIn this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I sit down with ADHD Strategist, Coach, and Founder of Unconventional Wisdom, Skye Waterson, to dive into how she manages her ADHD after being diagnosed in adulthood, her work with neurodivergent business owners, and what tools and strategies she suggests trying to manage your systems and attain sustainable success. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What Executive Functioning Is ✔ The Intersection of ADHD & Executive Functioning ✔ The Link To Dopamine Addiction ✔ The 3 Reasons Business Owners With ADHD Have A Hard Time Starting Tasks ✔ A Reward System That Is Successfully Motivating ✔ How To Make Tasks Less Boring & More Fun ✔ How To Identify The Ideal Environment To Work In ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/381 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only ta
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380 | From Doer To Leader: Breaking Free From The Identity Crisis Keeping You Stuck
09/06/2025 Duración: 19minI dive into how you can break free from a common identity crisis small business owners have - that of being a leader who continues to do the work of their team - and discuss helpful strategies to successfully evolve from doer to leader. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ The Differences Between A Leader & A Doer ✔ Warning Signs You're Stuck In An Identity Crisis ✔ Why The Doer Identity Runs So Deep ✔ The Costs Of Staying Stuck In Your Business ✔ 5 Steps To Break Free & Evolve From Doer To Leader ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/380 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level! And… If you want help managing your time, creating efficiency, making a new hire, reducing the stress and ov
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379 | Lead With Love: Eradicating Workplace Toxicity With Dr. Sam Adeyemi
02/06/2025 Duración: 50minI sit down with the founder and executive director of Daystar Leadership Academy, Dr. Sam Adeyemi, to dive into the issue of workplace toxicity and discuss strategies to quickly turn it around by leading with love. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What Toxic Leadership Looks Like & How It Affects Your Team ✔ How To Lead With Love Instead ✔ Common Toxic Behaviors Of Team Members ✔ How To Address Them In A Small Business ✔ Strategies To Resolve Conflicts Of Values & Undesirable Behavior ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/379 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level! And… If you want help managing your time, creating efficiency, making a new hire, reducing the stress and overwhel
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378 | Work Review Extremes Part 3: The Solution Of Balanced Leadership
26/05/2025 Duración: 01h02minIn this final episode of my Work Review Extremes Series, I dive into the powerful sweet spot in-between overbearing and laissez-faire leadership: balanced leadership. This is where the magic of maintaining quality without stifling creativity happens. By the end of today's episode, you'll have a practical framework to help you determine exactly how much oversight is appropriate in different situations, plus specific strategies to build a culture where quality thrives without your constant involvement. Plus, you'll discover how to transform work review from a potential source of tension into a powerful tool for both business growth and team development. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ Signs You’re Practicing Balanced Leadership ✔ The Measurable Benefits Of Balanced Work Review ✔ How To Find Your Ideal Balance & Establish A Framework ✔ Strategies For Building a Healthy Review Culture Long Term ✔ How To Utilize My Balanced Work Review Matrix & PowerSheets ✔ So Much More! To access resources and li
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377 | Work Review Extremes Part 2: The Costs Of Laissez-Faire Leadership
19/05/2025 Duración: 30minI dive into what drives laissez-faire leadership (a very hands-off approach to leading your team) especially when it comes to work review, when to use minimal oversight, and what to do if you’ve crossed the line into problematic neglect. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What Laissez-Faire Work Review Looks Like ✔ What Drives This Style Of Hands-Off Leadership ✔ The Hidden Costs Of This Leadership Style ✔ How To Recognize Your Triggers ✔ When Laissez-Faire Work Review Is Appropriate ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/377 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level! And… If you want help managing your time, creating efficiency, making a new hire, reducing the stress and overwhelm of running
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376 | Work Review Extremes Part 1: The Costs of Overbearing Leadership
12/05/2025 Duración: 21minToday kicks off our special three-part Work Review Extremes series where I'll show you exactly how to review your team's work effectively without being too overbearing (micromanaging) or too laissez-faire (hands-off) but instead, review it in a balanced way that empowers them and benefits your business as a whole. You'll discover when detailed oversight is necessary versus harmful, and practical techniques to maintain quality while empowering your team. In this first episode, I dive into one end of the spectrum – the tendency to micromanage or be overbearing when reviewing your team's work. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What Overbearing Work Review Is ✔ Signs You’re Micromanaging Your Team’s Work ✔ The Hidden Business Costs Of Overbearing Leadership ✔ What Triggers Drive This Behavior ✔ When A Detailed Review Is Appropriate ✔ Questions To Ask Yourself & How To Move Forward ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/376 P.S. Want to dis
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375 | The 4 C's Of Goal Achievers With Kristin Burke
05/05/2025 Duración: 46minI sit down with goal achievement coach Kristin Burke to dive into the habits, shifts, and actions that lead to achieving your business goals and attaining the life and success you desire. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What The 4 C’s Of Goal Achievers Are ✔ How To Handle Your Limiting Beliefs ✔ The Problem With Absolutes & What To Do Instead ✔ Which Language Shift Is Worth Making To Improve Your Mindset ✔ The Concepts Of Power Of Proof & Party With Fear ✔ A Look At Kristin’s Breakout Plan To Achieve Your Goals ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/375 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level! And… If you want help managing your time, creating efficiency, making a new hire, redu
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374 | Brand Strategy: The Unsung Hero Of Success With Jacinta Gandy
28/04/2025 Duración: 46minI sit down with Jacinta Gandy, the Owner and Founder of the Social Circle, a digital marketing agency specializing in branding. We dive into how you can unlock a solid brand strategy for your business which could be the game-changing hero of your success! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ What A Brand Strategy Is & How To Let Others Know About It ✔ The Difference Between Personal Branding & Brand Strategy ✔ Where Paid Ads Are Going In General ✔ How To Get The Biggest ROI On Your Brand Strategy ✔ The Importance Of Competitive Analysis & Key Differentiators ✔ The Key To Identifying Your Brand Voice ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/374 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level!
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373 | From Self-Negotiation To Action: A Powerful Accountability System
21/04/2025 Duración: 26minI dive into effective strategies you can combine to create a powerful accountability system that defends against self-negotiation and turns positive intentions into actions! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ The Link Between Self-Negotiation & Accountability ✔ 5 External Accountability Strategies ✔ 3 Internal Accountability Strategies ✔ How To Create A Multi-Layered Accountability System ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/373 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level! And… If you want help managing your time, creating efficiency, making a new hire, reducing the stress and overwhelm of running a business, or making strategic decisions that will help you level up your business, I’d like
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372 | Self-Negotiation: Stop Sabotaging Your Business Success
14/04/2025 Duración: 27minI dive into the real costs of self-negotiation and lay out how to stop engaging in this negative, self-sabotaging pattern of behavior so you can consistently follow through on what matters most instead. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔ The Most Telling Signs Of Self-Negotiation ✔ The Difference Between Decision-Making And Self-Negotiation ✔ Common Negotiation Tactics We Use On Ourselves ✔ The Hidden Costs Of Self-Negotiation ✔ An Introduction On How To Stop & What To Do Instead ✔ So Much More! To access resources and links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/372 P.S. Want to discover what’s most holding you back in business and receive a personalized playlist to help you overcome those specific challenges? It only takes a few minutes to take the Next Level Business Owner Quiz and get on the path of taking your leadership and business to the next level! And… If you want help managing your time, creating efficiency, making a new hire, reducing the stress and overwhelm of running