#46 Building Trust and Community in a Changing Online Industry

#46 Building Trust and Community in a Changing Online Industry

What happens when people start looking to you for answers? In this episode of Rooted & Relentless, Steph shares an unexpected realization: somewhere along the way, she became a community leader. And with that comes responsibility. As more business owners turn to trusted voices for recommendations, guidance, and perspective, Steph explores what it means to hold that trust carefully—especially in an online industry overflowing with conflicting advice, fear-based marketing, and constant noise. This conversation digs into the weight of influence, the importance of discernment, and why nuanced conversations matter now more than ever. Steph also shares the vision behind her new quarterly virtual panel: a space where business owners can hear honest conversations from people actively building businesses, making decisions, and navigating a rapidly changing market in real time. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by contradictory advice or questioned who to trust online, this episode is for you. LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW: Join the panel on June 25th: https://www.stephrubio.com/relentlessly-real-business-panel [https://www.stephrubio.com/relentlessly-real-business-panel] Live to the Event Series w/ Taylor Smith,Start with Episode 1 On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/event-series-part-1-tips-on-how-to-choose-events-that/id1821487374?i=1000752877055 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/event-series-part-1-tips-on-how-to-choose-events-that/id1821487374?i=1000752877055] On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HS9IWyjXy4UsrUwezG9xc?si=bxWDnNSBTRy44W0Z6TaTvQ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HS9IWyjXy4UsrUwezG9xc?si=bxWDnNSBTRy44W0Z6TaTvQ] IN THIS EPISODE 1. The responsibility that comes with influence and recommendations 2. Why online business owners keep getting pulled off course 3. The problem with fear-based marketing and guru culture 4. Why nuance is missing from many online conversations 5. How real conversations help business owners make better decisions 6. The vision behind Steph's new quarterly virtual panel 7. What it takes to build trust in a rapidly changing market MEMORABLE MOMENTS "One thing about me, baby. If I see something, I'm gonna say something." "It's not only my money, time, and energy on the line anymore. It's my community's too." "People are consuming content all day that makes them feel like they're falling short." "Two people can be growing on the same trajectory while using completely different tactics." "The goal isn't to fearmonger. The goal is to have real conversations about what's actually happening." "You're going to stabilize your nervous system when you stop listening to every polarizing opinion online." KEY TAKEAWAY The businesses that thrive won't necessarily be the ones consuming the most information. They'll be the ones learning how to think critically, filter noise, and make decisions from a grounded place instead of reacting to every trend, headline, or hot take. CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION 📩 Join Steph's email list for strategic insights and behind-the-scenes leadership conversations: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect [https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect]

#45 From “White Trash” to Award-Winning Leader | My Story of Resilience, Growth & Becoming

A lot of the self limiting beliefs keeping you stuck weren't actually your beliefs. They’re inherited. Absorbed. Repeated so often by other people that eventually they started sounding like truth. In this episode of Rooted & Relentless, Steph gets brutally honest about the comments, relationships, and experiences that shaped her self-worth for years — from being told she’d always be “white trash” to believing she wasn’t capable of more. But this isn’t a revenge story. It’s a story about realizing the life you want is actually possible when you stop letting other people’s limitations dictate your future. Steph shares: 1. The mindset shifts that changed everything 2. How survival mode fueled her growth 3. Why self-limiting beliefs usually aren’t yours to begin with 4. The importance of boundaries and support systems 5. What it looks like to step into the identity of the person you want to become 6. Why clarity is the first step toward creating the life you actually want This one is raw, emotional, empowering, and probably going to make you want to burn your old belief system to the ground. MEMORABLE MOMENTS “A lot of the problems in your business and your life stem from your self-limiting beliefs… but they didn’t start as yours.” “It was me all along.” “You can do actually any freaking thing you want.” “If you set this crazy big terrifying target and never reach it, you’ll still be happier marching toward it than pretending you never wanted it.” “Don’t let the notions of insecure idiots dictate your life.” RESOURCES & LINKS Access Your Terrifying Vision Experience. Because getting where you want to go starts with knowing where that is: https://www.stephrubio.com/your-terrifying-vision?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://www.stephrubio.com/your-terrifying-vision?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio?utm_source=chatgpt.com]

#44 How Client Experience as a Strategy Builds Six-Figure Businesses with Guest Kendra Harris

What if the biggest growth strategy in your business isn’t more content, more marketing, or more visibility… but how people feel after working with you? In this conversation, Steph sits down with now friend (who started as a client) and operations powerhouse Kendra Harris, a self-described “business doctor of organization,” to unpack the concept of stakeholder experience — and why your reputation might be your most powerful revenue engine. Kendra is one of the most intentional service providers I met and every time I get a thoughtful little something extra I know takes her time, I'm always left shocked how she can manage it while also managing a client load and living the life of a mother of 5 kids. From leaving a 15-year teaching career to building a six-figure business in under two years, Kendra shares the real story behind sustainable growth: intentional relationships, thoughtful systems, and showing people they matter. This episode is equal parts strategy and humanity — because business growth isn’t just operational… it’s relational. WORK WITH KENDRA Aspiring new VA's:: Kendra is proud to offer affordable coaching to new and aspiring VAs: https://www.kendraharris.co/coaching [https://www.kendraharris.co/coaching] CONTINUE THE CONVO WITH STEPH: 💌 Join Steph’s email list (Steph’s Shenanigans + The COO Edit): https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect [https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect] ⚡ Work directly with Steph — Decision Intensive: https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting [https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting] KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Why client experience alone isn’t enough — and what stakeholder experience really means 2. How thoughtful gestures create long-term referrals without constant marketing 3. The mindset shift required to leave security and bet on yourself 4. Why systems make personalization scalable 5. How being remembered turns into predictable revenue 6. The difference between transactional service providers and trusted partners 7. Why “extra effort” is actually elite business strategy MEMORABLE MOMENTS “When you’re remembered, you get referred.” “Nothing comes without risk — but growth lives on the other side of belief.” “I don’t just want clients. I want relationships.” “Your reputation becomes your greatest revenue engine.” “Being thoughtful isn’t fluff — it’s strategy.”

#43 Maycember Reminds Us That Our Best Marketing Strategy Might Be Seasonal

In this episode of Rooted & Relentless [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rooted-relentless/id1821487374?utm_source=chatgpt.com], Steph Rubio unpacks the very real phenomenon of “Maycember” and why it matters to more than just mompreneuers and parents alone. This isn’t just a conversation about parenting busy seasons. It’s about understanding the rhythms of your audience, planning your business around real human capacity, and creating strategy that actually meets people where they are instead of pretending everyone has unlimited time, energy, and brain space year-round. Steph breaks down: 1. Why buyer behavior changes seasonally 2. How to anticipate summer slowdowns strategically 3. What service providers should actually focus on during slower seasons 4. Why backend operations matter more than flashy marketing during certain quarters 5. How calm leadership creates sustainable growth 6. The strategic planning framework most small business owners skip entirely This episode is part business strategy, part reality check, and part permission slip to stop marketing like every month functions the same. MEMORABLE MOMENTS + SOUNDBITES > “You have to know the business rhythms of your ideal client just like you need to know yours.” > > “Your audience isn’t ignoring you. They may just not have the brain space right now.” > > “Stop selling like it’s March.” > > “Summer isn’t the time to disappear. It’s the time to shore up your backend.” > > “Stable calm leadership means knowing your people, knowing their rhythms, and planning accordingly.” > > “Business has seasons. So do buyers.” KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Seasonal buyer behavior affects engagement, sales, and decision-making 2. Parents of school-aged kids often experience “May-cember” and summer capacity shifts 3. Strategic planning should account for audience energy, not just business goals 4. Summer can be the perfect operational cleanup and preparation season 5. Q3 and Q4 momentum depends heavily on what gets prepared beforehand 6. Strategy is about timing, context, and market awareness — not just tactics MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Explore The Rooted Reset retreat https://www.stephrubio.com/reverse-engineering-vip-day?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://www.stephrubio.com/reverse-engineering-vip-day?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Connect on Instagram - Steph is a voice note Kween https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio?utm_source=chatgpt.com]

#42 What does Scaling & Sustaining in Business Even Mean with Katelyn Hamilton

Scaling your business shouldn’t cost you your sanity but for a lot of women, it does. In this episode of Rooted & Relentless, Steph sits down with systems strategist and business coach Katelyn Hamilton to unpack the truth behind “scaling” and why so many entrepreneurs are burning out chasing it. Here’s the reality: more clients, more offers, more revenue… isn’t scaling. It’s just more. This conversation breaks down what sustainable growth actually looks like, how to build systems that give you your time back, and why your capacity—not your ambition—is the real constraint in your business. If you’ve ever felt exhausted, resentful, or like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this is a cannot miss episode because we'll reframe the way you think and leave you with actionable takeaways to know better then do better. If you enjoyed this conversation, why step here. Continue the Conversation Take Katelyn's Leadership Assessement: https://katelynhamilton.myflodesk.com/leadership-self-assessment [https://katelynhamilton.myflodesk.com/leadership-self-assessment] ✨ Join the waitlist for The Rooted Reset so you can plan ahead like a Leader: https://www.stephrubio.com/reverse-engineering-vip-day [https://www.stephrubio.com/reverse-engineering-vip-day] 💌 Join Steph’s email list (aka the good stuff): https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect [https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect] Key Takeaways 1. Scaling ≠ adding more. It’s increasing efficiency and capacity without increasing effort. 2. Burnout isn’t just being tired—it’s losing interest, energy, and clarity. 3. Systems and automations are not “nice to have”—they’re how you buy back your time. 4. Sustainable growth means your business supports your life—not competes with it. 5. Capacity isn’t fixed—it’s hidden in inefficiencies. 6. Pausing to evaluate your business is not failure—it’s leadership. Memorable Moments & Soundbites “You don’t scale by adding more—you scale by doing what you already do better.” “Burnout is when you wake up and think… what am I even doing this for anymore?” “You can’t scale adding more manual work to your plate.” “Sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is pause.” “Your business should support your life—not the other way around.” “Capacity isn’t gone—it’s hidden in inefficiency.”