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I had a great time sitting down and catching up with Jesse Jacobs, owner of one of the newest small businesses here in Kearney, The Brickwalk Gallery. The thing I got out of this conversation is that the thing Jesse values most...is time.  We talk about why he started his business, (while working 80 hours a week), how he realized that putting in those kind of hours doesn't give you much time for anything else, and what he did to make a change. We also talk about some the amazing things he is planning to do for the art community in Kearney with The Brickwalk Gallery. If you would like to know more about J Spot Services, you can visit their website by clicking the link here. To learn more about The Brickwalk Gallery, the artists that are represented, and membership opportunities, check out their website at www.thebrickwalkproject.com.

Erika Moore started her own, unique, small business when she turned 50.   I have had the pleasure to know Erika for the last couple years, and have been able to watch her small business grow and change.   Moore Organized is a company that is designed to give you "More Time For The Things You Love".  By helping other get organized, in both their personal and professional lives, Erika has found an energy that gives her the motivation to make her business succeed. Whether it is getting your storage area cleaned up, your kitchen organized, or even helping those who have made the decision to downsize what they currently have, Moore Organized has you covered. If you would like to know more about Erika and Moore Organized, check out her Facebook Page!

I had a really great conversation with David Lano, owner of Control Yours, for this episode of the podcast. Besides getting a little into the weeds when it come to social media and digital marketing, we talk about how Control Yours got started in website design. There are a ton of great lessons that small business owners can take from this conversation.  We get into perseverance, lessons learned along the way, and just how vital social media can be for a small business. If you want to get to know kore about Control Yours and see some of their work, check out controlyours.com, or find them on social media.

It was great to sit down with Erika Godfrey, third generation owner of Hawthorne Jewelry. In this episode, we talk about what it is like to take over a family business, and all of the things that Erika had to learn along the way.   While she had WAY different plans when she graduated high school, a phone call from her dad one day made her realize that she needed to keep the family business in the family. If you would like to learn more about Hawthorne Jewelry, you can check out their website by clicking here, check them out on Facebook or Instagram, or simply give them a call at 308-234-3773.

This episode of the Good Life Small Business podcast features a business that is still a few weeks away from opening! The Upper Room Brewery is a collaboration between Dustin and Lindsey Favinger, and Michael and Amy Frietag, that is almost ready for the rest of the world. I had a great time talking with this crew, and it brought back all the emotions that come with starting a small business.  Believe it or not, those never go away! Take a listen to learn more about how Michael and Dustin imagine this brewery can be different, what advice they would go back and tell themselves a year ago, and the weight of living up to expectations. If you want know more about The Upper Room, and keep up with their progress, visit them on their Facebook page.  

Brian Bontz, owner of Crystal Clean Carpet Care, has been in business in the Kearney area for 28 years. I really enjoyed sitting down and talking with him about his business.  We talked about a lot of things that any small business owner can learn from.  From the lessons he learned in his first entrepreneuership venture, to how much he appreciates his employees now, and one thing he would do differently if he had to start it all again. If you want to know more about Crystal Clean, or book an appointment for their services, check them out at kearneycrystalclean.com, or give them a call at 308-237-3717.

I had a great time sitting down with Karmen Wilterding, owner of Kearney Massage and Day Spa, to learn more about her journey as a small business owner. In this episode, Karmen talks about how she started in a vault at a business in downtown Kearney, how she and her team helped each other through the initial shutdown of the pandemic, and how she has found a passion in helping others thrive in her industry. If you want to know more about Kearney Massage & Day Spa, you can check you their website here, or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

After taking the time to talk with Megan Goeke, owner of Hello Beautiful, it seems like she always knew she would be an small business owner.  I mean, there were only three generations of entrepreneurs in her family to learn from before she opened her own business with her sister! Hello Beautiful has been in Kearney for over 6 years, but I personally didn't know a lot about their history.  So I was excited to get to know more about their story. This has a ton of great info for small business owners.  Megan talks about how the vison for Hello Beautiful was years in the making, what a location change to downtown Kearney has meant to them, and how important social media is to their success. You can learn more about Hello Beautiful by checking out their website, or following them on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Baristas Daily Grind is a well know name in the Kearney community.  I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jasmin McGinnis to learn more about the history of Barista's, her journey to becoming co-owner of the coffee house, and what she does to keep the culture exciting for her team. I really enjoyed this conversation, and I think there are a lot of great ideas that small business owners can use in their businesses, no matter what industry you are in. If you want to learn more about Baristas, you can check them out on Instagram, Facebook, or check out their website.

When I started the Good Life Small Business Podcast, I had two different friends come up to me and say, "You really need to sit down with Trevor Brown from Kearney Crossfit.  He would be a great person to talk to."  Needless to say, they were right. He has an amazing story, and the energy and excitment to match! We take some time to learn about how he got into Crossfit, lessons he has learned along the way in his business, and why relationships are the key to his business success. If you want to learn more about Kearney Crossfit, you can check out their website HERE, or like Trevor suggests, just stop in to say hi!  

I had a great time sitting down with Brian and Jessica Baer of Baer Studios for this podcast. Baer Studios recently celebrated 25 years in business!   And while it may be hard to think that far into the future for a new business owner, this interview is loaded with great advice that you can implement from day one. Brian and Jessica share some of the things they have learned along the way, including how important financial stability is, how learning is never ending, and why you have to be able and willing to change as a small business owner. To learn more about Baer Studios, you can check them out on Facebook, Instagram, as well as their website. Books: StoryBrand by Donald Miller The E-Myth by Michael E Gerber Mindset by Dr. Carol S. Dweck The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

Find out how a family roadtrip eventually turned into this unique, Nebraska themed hangout. McCues Taproom in Kearney is owned by two married couples, Joe & Tara Johnson, and Ryan and Katie Fitch.   In this episode, we talk about how a conversation over beers sparked the idea, the history behind the name, and the most important thing to have when you start a business with partners involved. You can learn more about McCues by visiting their website, including a menu of their current selections.  You can also find them on social media. For you Untappd members, check them out here!

Trevor Schaben is the owner of Thunderhead Brewery here in Kearney.   For the last 20 years, Thunderhead has been brewing beers and serving up amazing pizza.  They were brewing beer before it was cool! But like all small businesses, COVID-19 left Trevor and his team with a level of uncertainity that they hadn't felt before.   This was a great conversation about humble beginnings, adapting to change, and how the pandemic started the demand for a beverage that they never saw coming. You can find out more about Trevor and Thunderhead on their website, as well as social media.

I really enjoyed sitting down with Tyler Schake, owner of T&T Mobile Washing. In this episode, Tyler talks about how his vision of a mobile power washing business lead him to go out on his own, even when those around him didn't share the same optimism. He also talks about the challenges of running a small business that others don't see, and gives some amazing advice for those who are thinking about becoming a full time entrepreneur. Fix This Next by Mike Michalowicz T&T Mobile's Website

I had an awesome visit with Kyle Sayler, the owner of Sayler Screenprinting here in Kearney. In this episode, Kyle talks about how he started his business in his parents garage, built his own equipment, and eventually opened his own storefront. He also gets real when talking about how COVID affected his business, having to furlough his entire staff, and what that was like.   Oh, and how he raised over $15,000 for other local businesses who were hurting here, in his hometown! Check out the website!

Alicia Lyon is the owner of Lyon Family Dentistry in Kearney, NE.  In this epsiode, we talk about how she overcame her own self doubt about becoming a dentist, her path to owning her own office, and what she contributes to her financial stability during the COVID pandemic. Show Notes: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Lyon Family Dentistry Website

I thought a Small Business podcast sounded like fun for a lot of reasons.  But really, it boils down to the fact that people who have started a small business, can relate to each other.  It doesn't matter if it is a restaurant, and retail clothing store, or an insurance agency.  The feeling you get when you decided to put yourself out there and start a business is one that is, well....hard to explain unless you've done it.  And that sense of community is important. I also think there are smart, courageous, driven people out there who are second guessing themselves. They may be afraid to fail, or think now is just not the right time. This podcast is for them too.  This is a chance to learn from those that have been in their shoes, and what they have learned along the way. I hope you enjoy! A Little More About My Journey As A Small Business Owner