How Small Businesses Can Do More with Less

Key Takeaways from My Chat on the Count on Me Culture Podcast

Running a small business isn’t for the faint of heart. And if you’re a business owner, you already know that. Fewer resources, more responsibilities, and constant pressure to deliver—it’s a lot. Most days, it feels like you’re wearing every single hat in the organization, and sometimes two or three at once!

That’s exactly what I talked about recently on the Count on Me Culture podcast with Lisa Uhrik. Lisa and I dug into the real, day-to-day challenges that small businesses face—especially in rural areas like ours here in Tennessee. From the permanent people shortage to getting out of the weeds and back into the driver’s seat, we covered a lot of ground in just the first ten minutes of the episode.

I wanted to give you a recap of some of the highlights here (and I’d still encourage you to listen to the full episode because there’s a lot more we dive into!).

The People Shortage Isn’t Going Anywhere

Lisa kicked off our conversation by pointing out the reality: there are seven jobs for every one person looking. Let that sink in for a minute. If you’ve been struggling to find good people to hire, you’re not alone.

Here’s something else to consider: 65% of businesses in the U.S. are considered “small businesses,” but in rural communities like ours, that number jumps to over 80%. That’s a lot of small business owners competing for a very limited pool of talent. And it’s not just about hiring. The shortage impacts everything—customer service, productivity, and your ability to grow.

“There’s Only So Much of Me to Go Around”

If you’re nodding your head right now, I see you! I’ve been there. You’re the bookkeeper, the HR person, the marketing team, customer service, sales—the list goes on.

And you’re exhausted.

During the podcast, I shared something that really resonates with so many of the small business owners I work with:

👉 You don’t have to do everything.
👉 You do need to figure out what works for your business.

No two businesses are alike. What works for someone else might not work for you—and that’s okay. But you can’t stay stuck in this cycle of doing everything, all the time, or you’ll burn out.

Step Away and Create Space

One of my biggest pieces of advice? Get out of your own way—literally. Step away from the daily grind for a little while and give your brain space to breathe.

Take a walk. Sit in the sun. Plan a strategy session somewhere that isn’t your office. I’m serious! When you step away from the chaos, you can finally think clearly about:
✔ What’s working in your business
✔ Where you’re wasting time
✔ What you actually enjoy doing (or absolutely hate)

I’m a huge fan of Mike Michalowicz’s book Clockwork, and I reference it often. He talks about identifying time drains and eliminating them—and I can tell you from experience, it makes all the difference.

Protect Your Mental Space

This isn’t just about managing your time—it’s about protecting your mental space. I tell clients all the time:
👉 Stop spending your energy on tasks you hate.

When you’re always bogged down in things that drain you, you have no capacity left to think strategically or creatively.

Stepping out of survival mode gives you the opportunity to lift your head up and start leading again, instead of just doing.

CRM Systems Are a Game Changer

Now, let’s talk about tools—specifically CRM systems. I know, I know. You’ve probably heard the term thrown around before and thought, “That’s something big corporations use.”

But here’s the thing:
👉 Modern CRMs are affordable, easy to use, and built for small businesses.

A good CRM can:
✅ Organize your customer data
✅ Automate your follow-ups
✅ Personalize communication at every stage of the customer journey
✅ Replace hours of administrative work

I tell clients all the time, “A CRM can take the place of two or three admin people.” It’s a tool that makes your business more efficient and scalable and frees you up to focus on what you do best.

Key Takeaways from the First Half of the Episode

Here’s what we covered in just the first 10 minutes of the podcast:
✔ The people shortage isn’t going away—and why small businesses are feeling it the most
✔ You can’t (and shouldn’t) do it all
✔ Strategic planning starts with stepping away from the chaos
✔ Protecting your mental space is crucial for long-term success
✔ CRMs aren’t just for big companies—they can help small businesses scale faster and smarter

And we weren’t done yet! The second half of the podcast digs even deeper into how to move your business from survival mode to strategic growth.

Listen to the Full Episode

If you’re ready to rethink how you’re running your business and want practical, actionable strategies, I hope you’ll take the time to listen to the full episode. It’s only 20 minutes long! Whether you’re trying to get out of the day-to-day weeds or figure out how to grow with fewer resources, there’s something in it for you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here → https://newstalk941.com/podcasts/

Final Thoughts

At Magnolia Marketing, we work with small businesses every day that are overwhelmed, short-staffed, and trying to do more with less. And the truth is—you don’t have to do it alone.

Whether you need a better marketing strategy, a streamlined system, or a fractional marketing team to take some of the work off your plate, we can help.

👉 Schedule a Free Consultation and let’s talk about how we can support your business growth.