Shows
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners64 - Save your Summer - Managing Holiday Brain and CancellationsIs your summer slipping away while you’re still glued to your business? If you dreamed of afternoons with your feet up, reading a book, or spending unrushed time with family—but instead feel constantly interrupted by client calls, emails, and shifting schedules—this episode is for you.Kari shares practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you reclaim the rest of your summer without sacrificing your business. From setting clear boundaries with clients to adjusting your summer hours based on actual client behavior, Kari walks you through simple, actionable steps to give yourself permission to truly step a...2025-07-2218 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners63 - Scaling your Practice - Time to Hire: Mini Series pt 3Welcome to Part 3 of Kari Lotzien’s special mini-series designed for healthcare professionals navigating the world of business. In this episode, Kari—business and leadership coach and former occupational therapist—guides listeners through one of the most crucial decisions in private practice: when and how to scale.Drawing from over two decades of firsthand experience building and selling a multidisciplinary healthcare practice, Kari opens up about the strategic thinking and mindset shifts required for sustainable growth. Whether you're overwhelmed as a solopreneur or eager to take your next step, this episode delivers practical frameworks and grounded advice.K...2025-07-0828 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners62 - Build a Successful Private Therapy Practice: Mini Series pt 2In this episode, Kari Lotzien continues her miniseries for healthcare professionals transitioning into business ownership. Drawing from over two decades of experience as an occupational therapist and successful private practice owner, Kari dives into the crucial topic of sales—a frequently overlooked but essential aspect of healthcare entrepreneurship.Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your client onboarding process, this episode is packed with insights you can use today.Key Topics Discussed:Mindset Shift Around Sales: Sales is not about being pushy—it's about making your services known to those who need them...2025-06-2418 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners61 - Business Planning for Therapists: Mini Series pt 1In this powerful kickoff to her special mini-series, Kari Lotzien, business and leadership coach and former occupational therapist, shares how her personal journey from solopreneur to successful healthcare business owner and eventual seller informs her mission to support others on the same path.This episode focuses on the foundations healthcare providers need to build a sustainable, scalable business. Drawing from both real-world experience and formal training, Kari shares the mindset shifts and five core systems that lay the groundwork for growth—without burnout.Key Topics Discussed:Clinician-to-CEO mindset shift: Why many healthcare business owners do...2025-06-1021 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners60 - Slow & Intentional LeadersIn this episode, Kari Lotzien opens up about a growing desire many entrepreneurs feel—but rarely voice: the longing for a slower pace in life and business. As summer approaches, Kari explores the deep benefits of embracing “slow leadership”—a philosophy that allows you to lead with clarity, presence, and purpose, without sacrificing profitability or success.She dives into her personal journey from hustle to intention, and shares practical signs of “speed creep” that may be costing you more than you realize. From high blood pressure and fractured relationships to poor business decisions and burnout, Kari reveals the hidden c...2025-05-2734 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners59 - Quiet LeadersIn this heartfelt and timely episode, Kari reflects on the emotional weight of recent events—including the divisiveness surrounding the Canadian federal election—and extends a warm, empowering message to the often-overlooked "quiet leaders." These are the behind-the-scenes anchors of our families, communities, and businesses. Through personal insight and grounded storytelling, Kari outlines the five powerful traits of quiet leadership, how they’re making a difference, and why now more than ever, we need them to step forward. If you’ve ever felt too quiet to lead or worried your impact isn’t big enough, this episode is for you.2025-05-1313 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners58 - Spring Clean your BusinessIn this episode of Be the Anchor, Kari Lotzien invites you into her recently decluttered workspace to explore the power of spring cleaning your business—physically, digitally, and with your time. If you've been feeling buried by the "stuff" of entrepreneurship—sticky notes, digital files, or calendar clutter—this episode delivers tangible steps to create space and welcome in new energy and opportunities.Topics Covered:Physical Clutter: How to clear your desk, drawers, and mystery notes using the Pomodoro Technique and Kari’s favorite old-school file folders.Digital Declutter: Simple steps to clean your inbox, delete old Zoom...2025-04-2928 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners57 - I Want to Quit my BusinessIn this episode of Be the Anchor, Kari Lotzien invites small business owners to pause before making the life-altering decision to walk away from their business. Through five reflective questions, Kari shares personal insights and practical tools to help entrepreneurs navigate burnout, stress, and evolving business challenges. If you're at a crossroads and wondering whether to shut it down or shake it up, this episode is your lifeline.Topics Covered:How to reconnect with your “why” and explore what’s changedWhy thoughts of quitting aren’t always a red flag—they might be a call for changeThe...2025-04-1521 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners56 - Don't Be Afraid to LeadTransitioning into a leadership position presents many challenges with both mindset and strategy. It is especially challenging for those who tend to “do it all” in their businesses or who are natural people pleasers. In this episode, Kari Lotzien discusses the common fears associated with stepping into leadership roles and offers practical advice for small business owners on how to build sustainable and scalable businesses by stepping into true leadership. Highlights include insights into the Anchored Leadership Academy and personal anecdotes that underline the importance of transitioning from a solopreneur to a leader.Topics Covered:Identifying and...2025-04-0126 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners55 - How to Automate Your BusinessIn this episode, Kari explores the pivotal role of automation in small businesses. Drawing inspiration from a conversation with her grandmother, Kari delves into how technological advancements, particularly automation, can dramatically enhance operational efficiency and scalability in small businesses.Key Topics Discussed:Impact of Automation: How automation saves time and allows business owners to focus on core activities.Mindset Shifts Required for Automation: Overcoming the notion that automation is impersonal, expensive and only for larger businesses.Practical Automation Tools: Detailed discussion on essential tools like CRMs, email marketing platforms, scheduling software, and project management systems.Real-Life...2025-03-1827 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners54 - Brand Strategy with Katie DooleyIn this episode of Be The Anchor, I am welcoming Katie Dooley, founder of Paper Lime Creative, a design and branding agency based in Edmonton, Alberta. Katie shares her journey from designing her first brochure at age 11 to founding her own agency and becoming a sought-after brand strategist. The discussion delves into the pitfalls of DIY design, the importance of branding as a business tool, and why a logo should not be so literal. Katie also offers insights into how businesses can differentiate themselves in a competitive market and avoid common branding mistakes. Katie also shares a valuable gift w...2025-03-0436 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners53 - How Your Business Can Survive a DownturnIn this episode, we are tackling the challenging issue of declining revenue and sales. Drawing from real-life experiences and observing the recent closure of major Canadian retailers, I am sharing actionable strategies for small business owners. Key points include understanding your financials, engaging with your team and customers, analyzing shifts in buyer behavior, and optimizing existing products rather than jumping to new ones. When times are tough, the importance of community support, timely feedback, and proactive measures are integral to getting through i00:29 When Revenue is Down02:04 Lessons from a Favorite Company2025-02-1822 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners52 - The Top 5 Hiring Mistakes in Small BusinessIn this episode, I am sharing the top five hiring mistakes that small business owners often make and how to avoid them. I am drawing from years of coaching with small business owners as well as my own personal mistakes. The consequences of these mistakes can cost business owners both money and valuable time. We discuss the consequences of delaying hiring, attempting to clone oneself, not defining the needed role clearly, creating vague job positions (slumgullion), neglecting to check references, and compromising on hiring standards. Additionally, I share tips on making the hiring process more effective. If you loved th...2025-02-0424 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners51 - Fantastic Failures - What to do When You don't Meet Your GoalsThe routine of setting New Year goals and resolutions often ends in disappointment. Initially, I described 2024 as the year of disappointment. After spending time really digging into why I felt that way, I came up with some real reasons behind the common struggles in achieving goals, the necessity of re-evaluating our goals, and the impact of internal and external factors on our success. In this episode, I am talking about optimization. Dialling in your goals, effective strategies and actions that align with desired outcomes. Follow along with this episode to explore your own fantastic failures an...2025-01-2135 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners50 - Roxann Klepper - The Journey to Becoming a Top Performing RealtorI am thrilled to welcome Roxann Klepper, a top realtor from central Alberta and a member of the prestigious RE/MAX Hall of Fame. Beyond her success in real estate, Roxanne is a passionate advocate for women creating strong, sustainable businesses and a proactive community builder. About Roxann:Grew up in Central Alberta.Not only a distinguished realtor but also a significant figure in supporting women entrepreneurs.Host of the podcast "Brick by Brick," focusing on female entrepreneurship and community building.Episode Highlights:An Unexpected Path to Real Estate and Entrepreneurship:Transitioned to real e...2025-01-0750 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners49 - Let's Pause - End of Year ReflectionIn this episode, Kari guides you through a reflective practice for closing out the year. You are encouraged to come back to your core values, express gratitude, assess your wins, acknowledge challenges, and reflect on your experiences. The episode emphasizes the importance of pausing and resting before setting new goals for 2025. Join in with a journal and your favorite beverage to create space for personal and professional growth.01:45 Reflecting on Core Values02:42 Embracing Gratitude04:52 Celebrating Wins07:57 Learning from Challenges11:00 Creating Space for Rest and Renewal13:45 Conclusion and...2024-12-2415 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners47 - Hiring Friends and Family MembersIn this insightful episode, Kari Lotzien, a seasoned business and leadership coach, unpacks the complexities of hiring friends and family members in small businesses. Drawing from personal experiences and her work with clients, Kari provides actionable advice on how to make this sensitive arrangement work while maintaining professional boundaries and fostering business growth.Whether you’re a small business owner in a close-knit community or simply considering bringing a familiar face into your team, this episode will guide you on navigating the challenges and opportunities involved in hiring and retaining great employees.Key Topics Discussed:...2024-11-2632 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners46 - How to Stop OverthinkingWe are delving into the topic of chronic overthinking, a habit that keeps so many people stuck in inaction. I am sharing my favorite questions that I use when faced with decisions that may trigger overthinking and help me to get clarity. I will also provide you with ideas to prevent decision paralysis in your business. Whether it's a new business opportunity, a potential move, or a change in life direction, this episode offers practical strategies to guide you through chronic overthinking and into action.Key Topics:1. Understand Chronic Overthinking and Its ImpactReflect...2024-11-1236 min
BrickxBrick: Navigating Real Estate, Finances, and Life for WomenEpisode Eleven: Time Management with Kari LotzienIn this episode of Brick x Brick, special guest Kari Lotzien
shares her expertise on time management, especially for women juggling busy schedules with work, family, and personal goals. Kari, a business and leadership coach and founder of Be the Anchor, offers an insightful approach to managing time by embracing our natural energy rhythms. Instead of simply pushing for productivity, she guides listeners on how to identify their peak times for deep "flow state" work and for more routine tasks, helping them align their schedules for better focus and less stress. Kari debunks the myth of multitasking and explains...2024-11-0130 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners45 - Have You Ever Considered Podcasting?Want to Start a Podcast? We are celebrating a birthday! This podcast has been on the air for a whole year. In this episode, I am answering your questions about what to expect when starting and leveraging a podcast for your business. I’m giving you my lessons learned along with practical advice if you are considering starting a podcast. I’m answering common questions I get about podcasting, including monetization, time commitment, and how to come up with a year of content ideas.___Key Points covered in this episode:Most podcasts start...2024-10-2928 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners44 - Finding your Blind Spots as a LeaderI am getting vulnerable with you today. There are few experiences in life that act as amplifiers for self-awareness. Intimate relationships, parenthood, and running a business can act as 'amplifiers' that can help reveal our true nature and shed light on our blind spots as a leader. I am sharing a bit of my own personal journey, including mistakes and real-life examples, to illustrate the challenges leaders face when seeking and responding to feedback. I have also created a fun quiz to help you discover your natural leadership style. I am sharing few details about my upcoming six-week course 'Be...2024-10-1527 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners43 - Holding Others AccountableIn this week’s episode, I am diving into the challenging topic of accountability within small business. We are discussing practical strategies for leaders to not only hold their teams accountable but also themselves, ensuring clarity and fostering responsibility in the workplace.Key Points:Leading by Example:Let’s talk about the importance of leaders holding themselves accountable before expecting the same from their teams. Accountability begins with fulfilling your own commitments and setting a standard through consistent follow-through.Clarity in Delegation:Accountability starts with clear communication. Leaders must ensure that team members fully unde...2024-10-0120 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners42 - How Business Coaching Helped Me - with Angie CalliouIn this inspiring episode of Be The Anchor, host Kari Lotzien speaks with Angie Caillou, founder of AVS Legal, about her journey from solopreneur to leading a team of 16. Angie shares her personal experiences in overcoming the challenges of balancing work and a busy family life, and how she leveraged business coaching and the Anchored Leadership Academy to achieve her goals.Key Points Discussed:Why not now: Angie shares a beautiful story about how she decided to take the plunge from being an employee to becoming an entrepreneur. She talks about the challenges she faced in...2024-09-1733 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners41 - How to Be a Better Leader to Your TeamLeadership goes far beyond managing people, having the most knowledge, or the most experience. Leadership is a completely separate skill from what most of us learn in traditional schooling. In this episode, I am delving into the key principles of leadership and the foundations of the Anchored Leadership Academy. Leadership is about fostering true collaboration and finding the best in people. It starts with the ability to self-reflect and self-regulate. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills, whether in business, community, or personal life.Key Points:Understanding Leadership:Leadership is...2024-09-0325 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners40 - Creative Ways to Scale your Service Based BusinessService-based businesses trade their time for money. You might think that you can’t grow your business without hiring more staff. In this episode of Be The Anchor, I am sharing some of my favorite ways to build service-based businesses without hiring more people. I guide listeners through a process you can use to assess your own small business and what trends are happening in your industry. This opens up opportunities for new ideas to consider to increase your revenue, increase the lifetime value of a client and possibly change the way you work in your small business. We ta...2024-08-2031 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners39 - Should I Give RaisesIt can be challenging to offer raises when your business budget is tight. In this episode, I discuss practical and cost-effective ways for small business owners to show appreciation for their team members without overspending. Recognizing and valuing your employees through creative perks, flexible work arrangements, and genuine feedback can help maintain morale and motivation. Balancing financial responsibility with sincere appreciation can foster a positive work environment and contribute to long-term business success.Key Moments:03:57 Understanding the Impact of Raises - a small raise can cost the business more than you realize. 05:06 When i...2024-08-0619 minBe the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners38 - Gratitude in BusinessIt can be tempting to offer steep discounts or to host large events to show appreciation to your customers but I think we need to be cautious. In this episode, I am discussing practical and cost-effective ways for small business owners to show appreciation for their customers in personal ways that cost very little. Personalized and genuine gestures are so valued. This is where I think small businesses have an edge over large corporations. Showing sincere appreciation while balancing financial responsibility, can help you build meaningful connections without overspending.Key Moments:04:30 Listen to your customers to...2024-07-2317 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners35 - How to Manage Business During a Personal CrisisI’m glad you’re here for this episode today. It’s a very important one that dives deeper into my topic from the last episode. My last episode was about not wasting a conflict or crisis and that may have been a cue from the universe that soon I’d need my own advice because right now I’m facing a major health scare in our family. And now that I’m in it, in the thick of it, I have more to say on this topic. I have more to offer to help guide you through times of crisis, i...2024-06-1121 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners34 - Never Waste a Great CrisisFriends, I’m talking about two things today that are not very popular but that help us grow more than anything else we encounter. Crisis and conflict. They sound like things we want to avoid at all costs, I know, and certainly, an unexpected crisis or hard conflict is not enjoyable. But what I want to talk about is what happens after the crisis or conflict, what we learn, what it shows us, and how we grow from these situations. There is so much positive opportunity in a good, solid, conflict or crisis.If we continually try to...2024-05-2829 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners33 - Core Values Are Not EnoughI’m glad you’re here for an episode that may be a little bit short but is full of necessity. I want to talk about core values. A lot of businesses talk about core values, small and large businesses alike. And that’s good! Every business should have done an activity that helps define and develop its core values as a company. What I’ve been seeing lately, though, is that while it’s wonderful to hear a business declare “We stand for loyalty, transparency, and trust”, what happens if what occurs in levels of the business contradicts those values...2024-05-1416 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners32 - Live the Life you Crave PT 2Last episode, I introduced part one of this series on living the life that you crave. I gave you background on what that means and really did deep dive into my tagline, “live the life you crave”. If you haven’t listened to Episode 31, take a quick moment now to listen and come back when you’re finished. Now, in part two, I’m going to talk about actually living that life. There are six steps I’ll share about how to create the life that you crave and then go about living it.I sometimes think about what w...2024-04-3033 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners31 - Live The Life You Crave PT 1This episode is special for me because I am talking about my tagline. Perhaps you didn’t know until right now that I have a tagline! We’ll unpack it together. My tagline is ‘Live the life you crave’. This phrase is very important to me, it holds a lot of value, and I found it through intention and focus. The important place to start in understanding it is to define what ‘crave’ actually means. I’ll do that and examine exactly what it means to live what we crave in this episode.Craving, according to the dictionary, is...2024-04-1621 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners30 - Avoiding Burnout in Your BusinessThe topic today is hitting burnout in your business. I’m not exploring burnout itself, but more accurately some of the causes and stressors in our businesses that lead to burnout. I was walking my dog earlier, thrilled that I can now have light and temperate weather after 5:00, and it got me thinking about seasons and how they affect us. There are seasons and rhythms in everything, even in business, and working with those seasons is what can help us avoid burnout. Explore that with me.Every business has a different rhythm and flow. The first months of...2024-04-0220 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners28 - ProcrastinationI’m sharing about a topic that is near and dear to my heart today, friends. I’m talking about my solid, long-term, committed relationship with procrastination. That’s right. Maybe this is something you can all identify with which is why I want to address it and shed some light on it. What is procrastination? Why do we do it? When does it show up? I have many questions about my procrastination so I’ve organized my thoughts into something I can share with you that just might resonate.Of course, the first thing I did was look...2024-03-0528 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners26 - I Thought I Would be Further by Now“How many times have you said to yourself, I just thought I’d be further by now?”That’s the question that this episode examines. Maybe you thought you’d be at a different financial stage by now or maybe you imagined you’d have a much larger team. But somehow you’re not feeling that you’re at the place you want to be or getting the results you want to get. There’s something important I want you to do when those doubts take hold: pause and realize how much you’ve accomplished to get to this point.2024-02-2026 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners25 - How Your Empathy is Hurting your BusinessWhat I want to talk about today is empathy. Specifically, I want to talk about how your empathy may be hurting your business. Possibly in ways you’ve never considered before. There are ways you may be getting in your own way through empathy. Now I’m not saying that empathy is a bad trait or in any way wrong, that’s not it. I am saying there is a time and place for empathy and to ensure empathy doesn’t lead to business decisions in ways that are detrimental to your growth.I’ve had experience, personal e...2024-02-1325 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners24 - When You Lose a Key Team MemberA topic came up during our Anchored Leadership training that is a challenge faced by many small businesses. It’s something every business owner with a team will face sooner or later. What to do when a key member of your team leaves? Regardless of whether that person is going away temporarily, on an extended vacation or maternity leave, or they’ll be gone permanently, they got a new job or moved cities, losing a member of your team that you rely heavily on is a blow that’s difficult to overcome. So I’m going to talk about being pr...2024-02-0619 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners23 - Is Business Coaching Worth ItIf you’ve done your strategic planning for 2024, you may have laid out some big goals, and you might be asking yourself “Is business coaching worth it?”. I’m going to be exceptionally candid with you in this episode. Business coaching is a great help but it’s not always the best investment for you and your business in certain situations. You want to ensure a return on your investment so I want to give you guidance in what to consider when thinking about a business coach and how to hire a good one when you’re ready.I understa...2024-01-3032 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners22 - Productivity Mini MasterclassWe entrepreneurs tend to have big dreams, big ideas, and visionary goals. Sometimes we find ourselves at the right time to set those goals into something solid. Like in January, we might decide to finally write that book or launch that course. Or when we hit a certain financial goal. What often happens, though, is that we allow other people’s criticism or skepticism to hold us back from realizing those ideas. Or we don’t plan for the goals to be achieved and they eventually fade. So today I want to talk about the productivity needed to see our...2024-01-2341 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners21 - Success Strategies for Each Phase of BusinessSomething really successful people often do, when telling their stories of rags to riches or hardship to success, is they sort of gloss over the decade or so in between difficult struggle and amazing achievements. But it’s in that between time where the work is really done. And I think we need to hear how to actually navigate that decade or so when our business goes from brand new to an established organization. That’s what I’m talking about today. About the growth years of business. About the stages that are necessary for every business to move throug...2024-01-1631 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners20 - The #1 Communication Skill We NeedA piece of advice my grandma gave to me before my wedding is what inspired this episode. I asked her, What do you think the key is to a long-lasting marriage? And she said, Well, I think that it’s sometimes you need to not say what you’re thinking. This got me thinking about how much focus we place on speaking well, on communicating our own thoughts in speech and in writing, and on being heard. But just how much do we invest into learning how to listen well? I think listening is a key foundation in building rela...2024-01-0920 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners19 - Start the Year as a BeginnerI’m putting a twist on goal setting for the new year in this episode. We are always looking for the payoff or the reward or what the destination is and we often forget to have fun in the moment of living. So while you’re setting intentions and planning for the new year, I want to set out this challenge: what goals can you set that aren’t about achievement but are simply about fun? What can you learn that’s brand new and gives you a sense of excitement?It’s the toddler or puppy sense of j...2024-01-0219 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners18 - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - to ReflectNo, this episode has not come out a week late. I want to talk about what I believe is the most magical week of the year: the last week, between the 26th and January. I take this week to slow down, to spend time in pyjamas, being cozy and drinking tea. I put together a puzzle and read a book or watch a movie. I let go of the chaos. But I also do something else. I reflect. And that’s what I want to share with you. How you can look back and appreciate everything you accomplished....2023-12-2617 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners16 - Finding JoyToday I want to take a moment to talk about joy. Not just joy itself, but about finding joy when it’s not easy to see. Right now a lot of people, people both close and unrelated to me, are going through incredible challenges - loss of loved ones, health issues, financial struggles, not being able to meet basic needs - and coupled with what’s going on in the world, it sparks confusion and a sense of helplessness in me. How do I make a difference or find peace?You might be feeling that way too. I’m...2023-12-1215 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners15 - Networking and Holiday Parties for the Socially AwkwardI am talking about something that I know all too well in this episode: feeling awkward in social settings. I’m specifically talking about holiday parties and networking events for those of us who are socially anxious and who find social events stressful and nerve-wracking. You’re not alone! I’ve found some things that help me not just survive but actually enjoy networking and parties and I’m sharing those with you. Some of you, like my spouse, are socially at ease in any situation. You can make chit-chat and strike up casual conversations without any worry at...2023-12-0524 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners14 - Take the Emotion Out of It and Other BS AdviceI was listening to a podcast that was advising leaders on how to take the emotion out of delivering difficult news to employees and it got me fired up. I believe taking the emotion out of anything is taking the humanity out of connection. That’s what I’m talking about today: how to be a great leader by working with your emotions.Delivering hard news without emotion makes you come across as cold, hard, and uncaring. That’s not how you want to appear to the people who have done the hard work and their best jobs f...2023-11-2824 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners12 - Is Rest Overrated?I read a study about small business owners that included the statistic that only 1 in 5 small business owners take a regular break from work when needed and that taking time off work didn’t guarantee being rested. How can that be? Today I’m diving into the topic of rest for solopreneurs and small business owners to explore what rest truly means and what type is best for our mental health.Taking the coveted long vacation away from work does not prove restful in many cases. Often we find ourselves working more ahead of the vacation so work...2023-11-1425 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners11 - Becoming an Anchored LeaderToday I’m talking to you about becoming an anchored leader. Before you decide to skip this episode because you think it doesn’t apply to you - you’re not a boss or a CEO, you’re not in a senior management position - know that I’m actually directly talking to you. Anchored leadership is not about having a title. It’s the ability to lead from wherever you are in whatever situation you find yourself in.I have three example stories about how anchored leadership works and what it looks like in everyday life. These are no...2023-11-0726 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners10 - Creating Exceptional Customer ExperiencesYou want to create raving fans out of your customers and you can! You do that by creating exceptional customer experiences. Not through discounts, giving away freebies or adding overhead to your business, that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m going to tell you how to give wonderful experiences to your customers with minimal stress on your end. But that relieves maximum stress on your customer’s end.I share a story about how an appliance store made my life so much easier when my freezer died by first giving me the heads-up my fridge w...2023-10-3128 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners09 - How to CEO as a SolopreneurIf you’re a solopreneur or a small business owner, there is an expectation that you’ll automatically want to also be CEO. Sometimes you don’t want to, though. Sometimes doing the frontline work is what you love about your business and you don’t want to step away from that. There are ways for you to keep doing what you love while also taking small moments of “CEO time”. I’m going to talk about how.The first thing to talk about is what CEO time actually means. There are three main roles in your business and i...2023-10-2430 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners08 - How to Manage Conflict in Your BusinessNone of us get into business anticipating disappointing clients or having disgruntled employees. We all have the best of intentions about pleasing customers and making employees feel valued in jobs they enjoy. Unfortunately, humans have different perspectives and navigating those perspectives can lead to conflict. So how do we manage conflict when it arises in our business?The first step to developing a strategy for conflict is to reflect on how you currently manage it. Do you tend to ignore conflict, hoping it will go away? Do you feel like you need to have all the answers...2023-10-1733 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners07 - The 3 Rooms to SuccessDo you remember the kids’ table at holiday gatherings with the family? Where perhaps too many people were crammed into too small a space so the kids were shoved to another table that felt like it wasn’t the important table to be at? That’s what inspired the idea I’m sharing with you today, the understanding of the 3 rooms we need to travel through to achieve success.The 3 rooms fit into the journey of life, of business, and of achievement. They are a series of rooms, as I envision them, that we hopefully travel through as we le...2023-10-1025 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners06 - Jillian Vukovich - Money, Mindset and Mental HealthI’m inviting you to join the phenomenal conversation I have with my guest today, financial planner Jillian Vukovich. Wherever you are, join us as we talk frankly about money, navigating friendships as colleagues and clients, and how being human and mental health fit into business. There’s a lot to learn.Jillian shares the very personal story of how she got into the finance industry. It’s not a place she ever imagined ending up but the way she came to it is beautiful. And who needs a financial advisor? I ask her that million-dollar question and sh...2023-10-031h 01
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners05 - Build an Advisory Board for Your LifeHave you considered the benefits of developing an advisory board for your life? Advisory boards offer different perspectives on aspects of your business and daily life. They’re very useful. In this episode I’m talking about the different types of people who comprise an advisory board and how each can help guide you.I identify six roles for a life advisory board. Individual people who bring visionary ideas, encouragement, practical solutions, integration of logical planning, mentorship, and full stop truth telling into play when you need it. One person can’t be everything to you but an adv...2023-09-2623 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners04 - I'm a Bit Fussy Today, My Issue With Challenge CultureI’m on a little bit of a soapbox this episode because something has been irritating me. Do you get those emails promising huge results in very short amounts of time? Incredible gains for hardly any time investment? That’s what is on my mind so in this episode, I’m going to talk about why that’s not the way success works.High-intensity performance to get a peak result is something we know how to do, certainly, but it’s not the way to do long-term change. Athletes who do a high-intensity burn to achieve a competitio...2023-09-1918 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners03 - 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started my BusinessDo you believe that in order to succeed you have to do everything in your business? Are you, as a solopreneur, afraid to ask for help? Here’s a secret: I believed and felt those same things. But there is a better way. In this episode, I’m sharing five tips I wish I knew when I started my own business. Tips that address the things we all believe and don’t need to.There’s a better way to get our business to where we want it. I know, it’s hard to let go and not be the...2023-09-1922 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners02 - Delegating Well in Your BusinessDid you know there is something called “delegation talent?” Even more interesting is that most entrepreneurs don’t have this talent. I was surprised too. In this episode, I am talking about why it is so hard to ask for help and why business owners might be exceptionally bad at it.Luckily, this is not just a talent but a skill we can learn and develop. Even if you’re an entrepreneur who has embraced delegation a bit late in your business, embracing this skill will increase your efficiency and success. So let’s dive into why it’s tough...2023-09-1917 min
Be the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business Owners01 - Visit Your WhyDoes the “why” of your business still suit you? We’ve all founded our businesses on a specific passion that drives us. Sometimes, though, that reason shifts as our business grows and we change. In this episode I explore how to reassess our “why” and the reasons it’s such a useful practice.I’m Kari Lotzien, business and leadership coach, and Be the Anchor is the podcast where I discuss everything from big ideas to mindset, and sometimes just how to get through the day. Sometimes we find ourselves, years into our business, not remembering the passion we sta...2023-09-1921 minBe the Anchor – Strategies and Support for Small Business OwnersTrailer: Be the AnchorA podcast for visionaries, entrepreneurs and people who dream big. We talk about getting real with yourself, doing the hard work and we share some insights and lessons learned along the way. —Contact Kari Lotzien, Be the Anchor: Website: BeTheAnchor.caFacebook: BeTheAnchorLtdInstagram: BeTheAnchor.caLinkedin: Be-The-Anchor-Ltd
2023-08-2201 min