Cathy Yoder of Empowered Cooks: How She Bootstrapped from a Money-Saving Blog to a 7-Figure Empire—Sold 50K+ Cookbooks, Built 3 Businesses, and Raised 8 Kids While Empowering Moms to Work from Home. (Episode 684 - Cathy Yoder)

1. What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business?

According to Cathy Yoder, the hardest thing in growing a small business is "the grind of working hard without seeing immediate returns." She emphasized the challenge of staying committed during the early phases when results are slow, especially in a culture that expects instant success. Her advice is to trust your gut, keep at it, and be okay with delayed rewards.

2. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most?

Cathy Yoder’s favorite business book that helped her the most is Essentialism by Greg McKeown. She shared that it taught her to cut out the fluff, focus on what truly matters, and work more efficiently, especially after experiencing overwhelm from trying to do everything in her earlier business partnerships.

3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business?

Cathy Yoder recommends several great podcasts and online learning resources to help grow a small business, including the Ed Mylett Podcast and Brendon Burchard for motivation and performance, and Jody Moore’s “Better Than Happy” podcast and life coaching membership for mindset and personal development. She also emphasizes the value of joining mastermind groups and hiring business coaches early on, even if it's a small investment, as they helped her build systems and accountability that supported her business growth.

4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business?

Cathy Yoder recommends YouTube as a powerful tool to grow a small business. She highlights that, while it's a long game and not an instant win, it’s a fantastic way to build trust, generate leads, and get paid while doing it. By being authentic and consistently creating content, she was able to grow a loyal audience and convert that engagement into substantial revenue through product sales and memberships.

5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business?

Cathy Yoder’s advice to herself on day one of starting out in business would be: “Trust the process. Keep going.” She emphasizes the importance of perseverance, especially during the early stages when progress feels slow, and believes that staying consistent and trusting your instincts is key to long-term success.