The C-Suite Mentor - Business Growth for Small Business Leaders with Theresa Cantley

Episode Description: Are you a leader who often thinks, “I already know this,” and “We’ve always done it this way,” or are you truly open to being a lifelong learner? Whether you realize it or not, lifelong learning might be the key to business success you’re missing. In this episode of The C-Suite Mentor, Theresa Cantley explores what it means to be a lifelong learner and how it can transform your leadership. She looks at the key traits of creativity, curiosity, and capacity, and how staying open to new ideas can help you lead with more impact. Theresa also shares practical advice on expanding your identity, influence, and impact as your business grows. Whether you're managing a team or scaling your business, this episode is full of insights to help you level up as a leader. Tune in and discover how embracing learning can take your leadership to the next level! Things to listen for: •How being open to new ideas helps you discover creative solutions •Why your capacity to manage your emotions matters for leadership success •What expanding your influence looks like in leadership •Why curiosity is crucial for business and leadership growth READY TO UNCOVER THE BLIND SPOT HURTING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS? Take this quiz to uncover what’s holding your business back from success: Click here to take the quiz!

A good leader isn’t someone who has all of the answers and does everything themselves. A good leader creates a vision for the future and allows those that wish to see the same future to help bring it to light in their own unique ways. Every single one of us has our own set of skills and life experiences that make us who we are. When leading people, it’s important to remember this and to help shine a light on the individuals that make your business possible so that they can rise to their highest potential and propel your business forward. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was. I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

Everyone needs a place in this world. One where they feel comfortable, where they can be their truest selves without fear or doubt, one that just feels right. For many, there are usually two of these places; Home and work. When you’re home, you feel relaxed and safe. At work, a place of unity amongst colleagues, that promotes creativity and innovation. But the third place is something we need more of in this world. It’s the place between the other two places. When you aren’t at work and you aren’t at home, your local bakery, coffee shop, shoe store, dry cleaners; these places should feel just as accepting and relaxing as the first two. As entrepreneurs, it’s up to us to create these places for our customers, for our community, to retreat to when in the in-between. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was. I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

“We’re functioning in crisis mode.” A phrase I’ve heard all too often. When we face the day with this mindset, our business never has the chance to thrive. Our own fears and anxieties can hold us back from new ideas and people and that will only keep us stuck in place, fighting for our own limitations. Stepping into a new way of thinking takes courage. It’s not easy to admit to yourself that maybe it’s time to do things differently. Maybe what you have been doing isn’t working anymore, and once you can admit that to yourself, you can bring your business to it’s next level. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was. I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

Working with all kinds of leaders over the years, I come across many who say their core values are one thing, but then show up and act in ways that don’t align with those values. They contradict themselves and the wonder why the business isn’t functioning the way they want it to. When we preach one thing and then do another, how can we expect the people who work for us and that frequent our businesses to trust us? Having integrity as a leader is arguably one of the most important traits. To be able to lead a team of people in whatever it is that you do, you need to have that foundation of trust and communication, otherwise, you can’t expect people to show up how you want them to. Base your values around having a healthy business culture for all involved. Follow up those values with your actions on a daily basis in every aspect and communicate them out to your team. Once you do, you will begin to see things run more smoothly and the people around you will really step into their roles. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was. I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

More and more, people are choosing to frequent businesses based on the experience they receive while there rather than just on product or service. People care where they spend their hard earned money, and they want to spend it where they feel best about it. Your customer experience can make or break your business. There are many ways to achieve a customer experience that has people coming back to your business. In fact, there are 4 elements that go into the creation of a memorable business: Creativity. There needs to be some level of creativity involved in what you are doing in order to set you aside from the rest. Entertaining. You want the people in your business to feel good and enjoy whatever it is they are experiencing. Educational. Whether literally during a class or course or educating a customer about the product they are about to buy, make them feel like they are fully informed on all that is your business. Transformational. When someone walks into or clicks into your business until they walk or log out, you want them to have gone through some sort of transformation that for one reason or another, will keep you in their memory and coming back for more.  You don’t need to have all four elements at once in everything that you do, as long as you know what it is you are trying to create and what transformation you want your ideal customer to go through. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was. I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

When things get tough and the future of your business can seem uncertain, it’s easy to look to those around you for answers. But true innovation doesn’t come from copying what the other business down the street is doing. It comes when we look at what others aren’t doing. Where are the gaps and how do we fill them in a new, creative, sustainable way? One huge way you can bring innovation into your business is to allow it to be diverse. There are endless possibilities and ideas out there that you may never have thought of, and that includes those of your employees. The people that work for us have the potential to change and grow the business just as much as we do. When we let those people be heard and included, there’s no telling what doors will be opened. Create a space of inclusion and acceptance and watch as both your employees and your business flourish. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was. I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

In a post-pandemic world, the way we run business has shifted in many ways. It’s exposed a lot of the things that weren’t working, and gave us the opportunity to look at our businesses in a new light. It got us thinking about the areas that need work and what exactly we needed to do, and who we needed to be, to fix them. One of the biggest adversities that business owners have had to face these past few years is hiring and keeping a good team of staff. To be able to do that, we must first create an environment in which people want to work. One that promotes creativity and personal growth, within and out of the business, and also values not only the physical but mental well-being of it’s employees. When you create that culture of a healthy and wealthy team of individuals all working towards a shared goal, you are creating a unique experience. That energy and that message that you are trying to communicate through your business will inevitably push itself out into your customer base, your community, and the rest of the world. The customer experience is actually only partially about the customer. It begins from within and radiates outward. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was. I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

In order to make sure this year is going to be your best year yet, you are going to want to keep a few key things in mind when developing your business’ culture:  Define your core values. Take into account not only the things that you yourself value, but what your employees value as well. They are as much of an important piece in the grander vision as you are and they deserve to be heard.  Your customer’s experience starts with that of your employee’s. If the people that work for you are not in a positive and uplifting environment, that is going to translate over to your customers. Start from the inside and work your way out.  Learn to let go. You can’t be expected to have complete control over everything, and trying to will only leave you stressed and burnt out. Let go of the things that you cannot control, and focus on the ones that you can.  Understand your budget. Really get to know the ins and outs of your business, including how much money you are brining in, spending, and where you can put money away to take care of your staff and yourself when needed.  Invest. In yourself, in your employees, in the vision you believe in. It will all circle back to benefit the business in more ways than you could ever imagine.  2022 doesn’t have to suck. It all starts with your approach to your business as a leader and the steps you take to making it better each and every day.  If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was.  I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes  If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

One of the biggest issues business owners across the country are struggling with right now is maintaining their staff. There are many pitfalls that we can find ourselves falling into when hiring and keeping our good employees, and these are the top 3 that I see most people dealing with:  You don’t need to hire within your industry. The person you need to fill a specific role can look like a hundred different things, and the right one might not already have experience in this specific field, but they can learn, and once they are taught, can end up being the best employee you’ve ever had. It’s okay to look outside the box.  You don’t need to hire for specific skills. Going along with the first pitfall, skills can be taught to the right person. Just because they don’t already possess a specific skill set does not mean they cannot learn and become the best at it. Keep an open mind.  You’re being interviewed as much as you are being the interviewer. You as a business owner should be creating an environment that people want to work in. An interview is not solely about finding the right person to work for you, but getting the right person to want to work for you as well. When somebody enjoys their role and the company they work for, you’ll see them perform better than ever before.  What hiring good employees really comes down to if figuring out what the person who’s role you need filled looks like and creating a culture and environment that is going to support that person’s needs so that they can have the space to rise to their fullest potential in that role.  If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was.  I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes  If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

Culture is something that every business owner needs to think about when creating and running their business. But what is a company culture exactly? In simple terms, it boils down to the set of behavioral and procedural norms set and carried out by a given company. Not every business has a healthy company culture, however, and that is where they run into problems maintaining both a good staff and a loyal customer base.  Culture has the ability to impact every area of your business, both positively and negatively. The only way to determine which way yours is going to go is to actively make an effort to create and maintain a healthy one.  When we can make our own environments that pride themselves on being happy, healthy, and wealthy, we will inevitably push that energy out into the world and it will come back around in the form of a stable staff and a community of people who share and support the values that your company represents.  If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was.  I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes  If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

What does it really take to beat the odds no matter what? It takes courage, confidence, and an unwavering discipline to fight no matter what. Tune in for a refresher on this interview with my best friend and business partner Vanessa Good. Originally recorded in 2019, you’ll hear wisdom and insights from one of the strongest women I’ve ever known, who left me life-changing lessons from her five-year fight with pancreatic cancer.  As you’re building your business in 2022 and beyond, I want you to hear Vanessa’s insights on what it takes to consistently get back up and keep fighting to do whatever you need to do to get to where you want to be in life and business. Support Vanessa’s dream of helping every child have access to great education through technology by visiting: VNG Purple Rose and making a donation in her name! Let’s connect on Instagram. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts.

An interview with intuitive business advisor, Paul Davis, of Dublin, Ireland. Finding your purpose can be a difficult journey. Sometimes we think we know what our purpose in life is, and along the way, we realize we were wrong. We took a path that seemed right at the time, but no longer serves us how it once did. So how can we begin that path to finding what our true purpose really is? It begins with the unconscious mind. When you aren’t actively thinking and trying to “figure out” what you think your purpose on this earth is, where does your mind go? What is it’s ultimate desire and how does that manifest itself in you? Paul digs deep into the psyche of his clients by asking them intuitive questions that, whether you realize it at first or not, let on more than your conscious mind is aware of. Piece by piece, you can start to see the evidence laid out in front of you, practically spelling out the inner desires of the subconscious. Through this process, he helps each individual find their true purpose, and from there, works with them to build the business of their dreams around it. If you enjoyed this episode and, in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest take away. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was. I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.

Sometimes our own anxieties can get the better of us. We avoid and make excuses for the things we see as difficult, even if the result mean potentially good things for us and our businesses. The truth is, we can do these difficult things if we really wanted to. And we must do them if we want our business to go to that next level of success. The only thing standing in your way is coming to the realization that you have the courage to do whatever it takes to get there.

Being in the business of owning your own business can feel heavy. With the current inflation, lack of staff, products on back order, it’s feeling heavier than ever. Exhaustion, frustration, and overwhelm can get the better of us. But it doesn’t have to.

Anytime there is a disruptor in an industry, or industries as a whole, it tends to open up a lot of what is wrong in our businesses. Whether it’s a pandemic, a recession, or whatever else may come our way, it always helps to show us the areas that aren’t resilient enough to withstand adversity and that need work.

Mary Bicknell, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, speaker, author, host of the Lead a Life Uncommon podcast, and former psychotherapist turned personal development coach and leadership mentor for women who want more out of life and out of themselves, joins me today for a quick chat about leading a bold life unapologetically.

More and more prevalently, businesses of all kinds are finding the need to implement technology into all parts of their functions. From POS systems, to websites and online stores, chip readers, social media, and on and on, it can be difficult to learn each individually and integrate them with ease. In this episode I talk about 4 common problems that small business owners often run into with these technology systems.

The important piece to focus on during your path to success is the lessons that are taught to you along the way. If you aren’t looking for those lessons and learning from what they are there to teach you, you’ll be doomed to make the same mistakes and remain in a place of stagnation instead of growth.

The failures we endure throughout life set us up for something we might not even know is coming our way. Too often do we instead see these failures as a set back, instead of a chance to learn from them and use them to be better future versions of ourselves.