In this episode of Rooted & Relentless, Steph sits down with entrepreneur, author, speaker, and Small Business Sister Circle founder Stephanie Ross for a conversation every ambitious business owner needs to hear.

Together, they unpack the realities of entrepreneurship beyond the highlight reel—the storms, the pivots, the growth pains, and the unexpected lessons that shape us into stronger leaders.

Stephanie shares the inspiration behind her book Seasons of a Soulpreneur, including the difficult decision to walk away from a decade-long business, the lessons she learned navigating uncertainty, and why some of the hardest seasons of business ultimately became her greatest gifts.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, behind, burnt out, or questioning your path, this episode is your reminder that growth isn't linear and you're probably doing better than you think.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieleaross/

Grab a copy of her book: https://www.stephanieleaross.com/?page_id=1024

Join Steph's email list to learn all you need to grow & scale your business:

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

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1. Why entrepreneurship is often more difficult than social media makes it appear
2. The four seasons of business growth: planting, growing, storms, and harvest
3. How to recognize when a storm is actually an opportunity
4. The danger of isolating yourself during difficult seasons
5. Why community matters most when things feel hard
6. How motherhood changes the way we build businesses
7. The difference between sustainable growth and hustle culture
8. Creating rhythms, routines, and rituals that support resilience
9. Why your business journey shouldn't be compared to someone else's

"You're not failing. You're just in a different season."

"Do not isolate yourself in the storm."

"My storm became my superpower."

"The harvest is in glimmers."

"You are building in a way that makes sense for you."

"Something better has always opened on the other side of every storm."

In this episode, Steph shares the realization that opportunity often comes with barriers many people don't see.

From caregivers and parents to people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, financial limitations, and countless other responsibilities, not everyone has the same ability to travel, attend conferences, or spend days away from home.

That doesn't make them any less deserving of access to the information, relationships, and education that help businesses grow.

This episode explores:

1. Why in-person events are making such a strong comeback
2. The opportunities that happen through real-world connection
3. The hidden privilege behind "just get in the room"
4. Why protecting the integrity of online business matters
5. How accessibility impacts entrepreneurship
6. Why Steph created the Relentlessly Real Business Panel

Because building a healthy business community means making sure opportunity doesn't only belong to the people who can board the plane.

Grab your ticket to the June panel:

https://www.stephrubio.com/relentlessly-real-business-panel

Continue the conversation - join Steph's email community:

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

"Ten minutes talking to you and I know more about you than six months online."

"Not everyone can get in the room physically. That doesn't make them any less deserving of the information."

"Working online and building virtual businesses has changed lives."

"If someone can attend fifteen events and I can attend two or three, the growth trajectory changes."

"We have to keep this information accessible to people who need it, want it, deserve it, and simply have different life circumstances."

"When we keep the online industry healthy, people stay in business. And when people stay in business, we all have business."

In-Person Connection Matters

Relationships often accelerate faster face-to-face than they do online.

Access Is Not Equal

Not everyone has the same freedom, resources, caregiving support, health, finances, or circumstances.

Online Business Changed Lives

Remote entrepreneurship created opportunities for parents, caregivers, and people who otherwise may never have been able to participate in traditional business environments.

We Need Both

The future isn't choosing between online and in-person experiences. It's creating both.

Accessibility Is a Business Issue

Making information available only through expensive or inaccessible channels limits who gets to grow.

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.

Join the panel on June 25th: 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

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HS9IWyjXy4UsrUwezG9xc?si=bxWDnNSBTRy44W0Z6TaTvQ

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

"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."

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.

📩 Join Steph's email list for strategic insights and behind-the-scenes leadership conversations:

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect