Continuity Conversations
Continuity Conversations is where we bring big business resilience to your small business.
We're Patty Bonsera and Keith Hessel and we are committed to the resilience of small businesses. 99.9% of all companies in the U.S. are small businesses. Nearly 1/2 of all employees in the U.S. are employed by a small business.
Small businesses are the ones that are directly involved with, hire people and make the most impact for their local communities and their families. Resilient small businesses create resilient local economies which create resilient cities, counties and so on.
They are the most valuable, yet are the most vulnerable to losing their business and their livelihood without contingency plans for disruptions.
Don't let unexpected challenges hold your small business back. Join the conversation and elevate your resilience today.
Episodes
22 episodes
Resilience, Reflections, and Recharging for the New Year
In this episode, Keith and Patty share their New Year’s stories, from Patty's tradition of watching When Harry Met Sally to Keith's family visit filled with unexpected challenges. They dive into the importance of resilience in business...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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33:55
Celebrating the Season with Style and Inclusivity
Take a trip down memory lane with us as we share holiday party stories and explore festive ideas that blend the best of our corporate and solopreneur worlds. Patty reflects on her time at boutique investment firms in Cincinnati, where the holid...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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25:17
Holiday Hustle: Customer Service & Strategic Planning for the Season
Is the holiday season a blessing or a challenge for small businesses? In this episode of Continuity Conversations, we dive into the ups and downs of the busiest time of year. From Thanksgiving colliding with year-end madness to the qui...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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29:23
Streamlining Agreements and Contracts: The Key to Better Business Relationships
Listen in as we emphasize the importance of clear and straightforward terms and conditions in business. By simplifying these agreements, we can improve client relations and avoid potential misunderstandings. We also discuss the often overlooked...
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24:57
Customer Service Nightmares: The Real Cost of Poor Communication and How to Get Heard
Frustrated by poor customer service that feels like a dead end? You’re definitely not alone. In this episode, we dive into the maddening experience of navigating automated systems and dealing with reps who lack empathy—showing how these interac...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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31:48
Haunted Gatherings and Leadership Insights: Balancing Festive Fun with Organizational Growth
Join us as we reminisce about how this season sparks creativity and community spirit. From epic decorations to trick-or-treating, Halloween brings neighbors together. Plus, we dive into the booming business of Halloween, from skyrocketing spend...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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29:31
Beyond the Resume: Finding the Right Fit in Corporate and Entrepreneurial Worlds
Join us for a fun episode of Continuity Conversations! This time, we dive into the differences between corporate jobs and starting your own business. Patty shares her experience working in boutique investment firms back in the '90s, where she l...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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30:23
Navigating the Client Breakup: When is it Time to Let Go?
Join us on the latest Continuity Conversations as we dive into the challenging but necessary topic of firing clients. We share our own experiences, discuss why it’s important to work with clients who align with your values, and ex...
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30:03
From a Scarcity Mindset to Abundance Mindset for Small Businesses
In this episode, we chat about why having a growth mindset is key for both personal and business success. We share our own experiences, including how making this podcast has taught us the value of being open to new ideas and working with others...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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30:35
Mastering Marketing Without Overwhelming Your Clients
Ever wondered why a great marketing strategy doesn't always translate to instant sales? Join us as we break down the often confusing differences between marketing and sales in this fun and informative episode of Continuity Conversations....
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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32:24
Simplifying Small Business: Lessons from the Past and Present
Ever wondered if running a business was simpler in the past, or are we just romanticizing history? Join Keith and Patty as they dissect this idea by tracing the evolution of advertising and customer acquisition, from the intimate hustle of neig...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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30:34
Navigating Uncertainty: Financial Resilience Tips for Small Businesses
What if you could secure a steady income for your small business even during unpredictable times? Join Keith Hessel of Serve Business Consulting and Patty Bonsera of Resilient Coffee Pros as we celebrate surpassing 100 downloads and our expansi...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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27:33
Small Acts, Big Impacts: The Power of Kindness in Business
Ever wondered why small acts of kindness can turn a customer's day around? In this episode of Continuity Conversations, we explore the extraordinary power of empathy and human connection in business.Tune in to discover how empathy, kind...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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29:25
From 1950s Appliances to Modern Metrics: Lessons in Business Resilience
Do you remember when appliances from a generation or two ago outlasted its modern counterparts? In this episode of Continuity Conversations, Keith and I explore the significant relationship between quality, accurate data, and business resilienc...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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30:57
Letting Go to Grow: Trust as an Essential Role in Business Resilience
Ever wondered how the principles from movies like "We Were Soldiers" and "Apollo 13" apply to business resilience and retention? Is it time to rethink the old adage "If you want a job done right, do it yourself"? Join us on Continuity Conversat...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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28:15
The Tipping Scale: Assessing the True Value of Service in America
Ever wondered how a simple act of tipping can summarize a world of cultural and economic differences ? Listen in as we navigate the intricate, and sometimes controversial, landscape of American tipping etiquette. Our discussions shed ligh...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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29:45
Balancing Acts: Thriving in Parenthood and Entrepreneurship
Join us as we open up about our personal journeys through parenthood, the lessons learned, and how those experiences parallel the challenges and triumphs of running a business. We discuss everything from celebrating family milestones to the cri...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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30:18
Shielding Your Small Business: Strategies to Protect Against Intellectual Property Theft
Join us as we unravel the complexities of small business resilience, with a special focus on the harrowing effects of proprietary information theft. We share candid conversations with business owners who've faced the dire repercussions of such ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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27:15
Small Business Soul: Celebrating the Heartbeat of Our Communities
There's something about small businesses that tugs at our heartstrings. Perhaps it's the personalized service, the unique products, or the way they make our communities feel like home. In the latest episode of the "Continuity Conversations" pod...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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24:23
The Heartbeat of Resilience: Leadership and Culture in Small Enterprises
Join us as we unravel the significance of morale and leadership in sculpting a resilient company culture. This conversation kicks off with a jaw-dropping tale about a school principal who ignored the critical role of staff morale, prompting us ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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26:28
Building an Unshakeable Small Business: Mastering Contingency Planning and Leveraging Net Promoter Score
Welcome back to Episode 2 of the Continuity Conversations podcast! In this episode, Patty and Keith dive deep into the crucial aspects of business success - the Net Promoter Score and contingency planning. We start by discussing the significanc...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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20:10
Building Resilience: How Small Businesses Can Thrive in the Face of Disruptions
Ever faced a storm so severe you feared your business might not weather it? Unlock the secrets to a bulletproof small business as I, Patty Bonsera alongside my co-host, Keith Hessel, guide you through the maze of customer and employee retention...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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21:29