

Small Business Straight Talk | Productivity, Time Management, Mindset, & Business Strategies
Amber De La Garza, The Productivity Specialist For Small Business Owners
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!
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 11, 2025 • 38min
389 | When To Cut Your Losses (And Why You're Not Doing It)
In 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 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

Aug 4, 2025 • 55min
388 | Lead Follow-Up: How To Convert Leads Into Client Relationships With Jacob Hicks
I 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 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

Jul 28, 2025 • 42min
387 | White Space Wins Utilizing Your Secret Scheduling Weapon
Today, 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… 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

Jul 21, 2025 • 46min
386 | Turning Your Data-Driven Metrics Into Revenue With Amy Traugh
In 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 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

Jul 14, 2025 • 1h 2min
385 | Leveraging AI To Grow Your Business With Rick Mulready
I 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. 💥 It’s time to breakthrough the AI noise, get expert strategy, and grow your biz faster. Don't let AI overwhelm you. Master it. Grow faster. Join The AI Playbook now, don't get left behind.

Jul 7, 2025 • 46min
384 | The Mid-Year Goals Reset: How To Review, Refocus & Finish Strong
I 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 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 30, 2025 • 54min
383 | Avoiding Scams, Wire Fraud & Cyberattacks With Jeremiah Baker
In 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 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 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