
Small Business Straight Talk | Productivity, Time Management, Mindset, & Business Strategies
If you’re a small business owner who wants to learn effective business strategies, improve time management, and elevate productivity to maximize profits, reduce stress, and make time for what matters most, this podcast is for you!
Amber is a sought-after coach, trainer, speaker, writer and the creator of Leverage Lab®. Amber gives small business owners the straight talk on what it takes to reduce stress, be productive, and grow your business.
Tune in and subscribe to get the straight talk on productivity, time management, business systems, leading your team, strategic decision making, and mindset. Also hear Amber interview guests about their expertise and insights on other business topics.
Want one-on-one business support? Get coached on productivity, time management, business systems, leading your team, strategic decision making, and mindset so you can reduce stress, reclaim time, and increase profits during private coaching sessions with Amber tailored specifically to help you and your small business succeed! Head on over to https://www.AmberDeLaGarza.com/Coaching for more info!
Latest episodes

Jun 23, 2025 • 49min
382 | A Strong Case For Both Personal AND Business Bucket Lists This Summer
I 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, 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 to talk to you. Let's discuss how we can partner together to help you get unstuck, reduce stress, and determine a clear path to increased profits! Schedule your Discovery Call

Jun 16, 2025 • 41min
381 | ADHD Strategies For Neurodivergent Small Business Owners With Skye Waterson
In 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 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 to talk to you. Let's discuss how we can partner together to help you get unstuck, reduce stress, and determine a clear path to increased profits! Schedule your Discovery Call

Jun 9, 2025 • 20min
380 | From Doer To Leader: Breaking Free From The Identity Crisis Keeping You Stuck
I 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 overwhelm of running a business, or making strategic decisions that will help you level up your business, I’d like to talk to you. Let's discuss how we can partner together to help you get unstuck, reduce stress, and determine a clear path to increased profits! Schedule your Discovery Call

Jun 2, 2025 • 51min
379 | Lead With Love: Eradicating Workplace Toxicity With Dr. Sam Adeyemi
I 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 overwhelm of running a business, or making strategic decisions that will help you level up your business, I’d like to talk to you. Let's discuss how we can partner together to help you get unstuck, reduce stress, and determine a clear path to increased profits! Schedule your Discovery Call

May 26, 2025 • 1h 2min
378 | Work Review Extremes Part 3: The Solution Of Balanced Leadership
In 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 links from this episode, click on https://AmberDeLaGarza.com/378 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 to talk to you. Let's discuss how we can partner together to help you get unstuck, reduce stress, and determine a clear path to increased profits! Schedule your Discovery Call

May 19, 2025 • 31min
377 | Work Review Extremes Part 2: The Costs Of Laissez-Faire Leadership
I 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 a business, or making strategic decisions that will help you level up your business, I’d like to talk to you. Let's discuss how we can partner together to help you get unstuck, reduce stress, and determine a clear path to increased profits! Schedule your Discovery Call

May 12, 2025 • 21min
376 | Work Review Extremes Part 1: The Costs of Overbearing Leadership
Today 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 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 to talk to you. Let's discuss how we can partner together to help you get unstuck, reduce stress, and determine a clear path to increased profits! Schedule your Discovery Call

May 5, 2025 • 47min
375 | The 4 C's Of Goal Achievers With Kristin Burke
I 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, reducing the stress and overwhelm of running a business, or making strategic decisions that will help you level up your business, I’d like to talk to you. Let's discuss how we can partner together to help you get unstuck, reduce stress, and determine a clear path to increased profits! Schedule your Discovery Call

Apr 28, 2025 • 47min
374 | Brand Strategy: The Unsung Hero Of Success With Jacinta Gandy
I 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! 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 to talk to you. Let's discuss how we can partner together to help you get unstuck, reduce stress, and determine a clear path to increased profits! Schedule your Discovery Call

Apr 21, 2025 • 26min
373 | From Self-Negotiation To Action: A Powerful Accountability System
I 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 to talk to you. Let's discuss how we can partner together to help you get unstuck, reduce stress, and determine a clear path to increased profits! Schedule your Discovery Call