The Rural Way

Hosted by Tracy Schira-Parker, CPA, CMA, ACC

Business

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

About the show

The Rural Way is the podcast for those of us building businesses and leading lives in places where things aren't handed to us and and success often looks a little different. I'm Tracy Schira-Parker, CPA and business strategist, and this podcast is where we talk real strategy, real money, and real leadership for rural entrepreneurs and small-town business owners. I don't believe in fluff or complicating things. Just honest conversations, practical tools, and mindset shifts that helps you grow a strong, profitable business while living the lifestyle that actually feels good to live.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

July 20, 2026Episode 1217 min

12: How Small Business Partnerships Can Help You Win Bigger Projects

What if growing your business didn't require hiring more employees? In this episode of The Rural Way Podcast, Tracy Schira-Parker discusses how collaboration and strategic partnerships can help small business owners increase capacity, take on larger projects, and create new revenue opportunities. She also shares why handshake deals often create unnecessary risk and how simple written agreements protect everyone involved. This episode explores: Growing your business through collaboration Increasing capacity with trusted partners Winning larger contracts and procurement opportunities Why competition isn't always the best strategy Building stronger business relationships The risks of handshake agreements Creating simple written partnership agreements Protecting your business while creating new opportunities If you're looking for practical ways to grow your business without taking on unnecessary risk, this episode offers ideas you can start applying today. Facebook: www.facebook.com/tracyschiraparker111 Instagram: www.instagram.com/tracy_schira_parker SKOOL: https://www.skool.com/the-rural-way-7236

July 16, 2026Episode 1114 min

11: How to Get More Customers Into Your Small Business

Why should someone stop at your business instead of buying online? In this episode of The Rural Way Podcast, Tracy Schira-Parker explores how customer behavior has changed and why small businesses need to rethink the way they market their products and services. She shares practical ideas for creating a better customer experience, making shopping more convenient, and giving people a reason to choose local. This episode explores: Why today's customers think differently Understanding attention, emotion, and convenience Marketing ideas that attract more customers Creating products and offers people want to share Improving your store layout and customer experience Using signage and pickup options effectively Questions to help evaluate your current marketing Creating a simple 90-day marketing plan If you own a rural or small-town business, this episode offers practical ideas you can apply to increase customer traffic and improve your marketing without making it complicated. Facebook: www.facebook.com/tracyschiraparker111 Instagram: www.instagram.com/tracy_schira_parker SKOOL: https://www.skool.com/the-rural-way-7236

July 13, 2026Episode 1027 min

10: Why Customers Can't Find Your Small Business (And How to Fix It)

How easy is it for someone to find your business when they need what you offer? In this episode of The Rural Way Podcast, Tracy Schira-Parker discusses why visibility has become one of the biggest marketing challenges for small businesses. From social media and websites to Google Business Profiles and local listings, she shares practical ways to help customers find your business before they find someone else's. This episode explores: Why local businesses often struggle to get found online Common mistakes on Facebook and Instagram The importance of Google Business Profile Using SEO and keywords to improve visibility Why websites still matter Creating a consistent marketing routine Local directories and community listings Why direct mail deserves another look Practical marketing ideas for busy business owners If you're a rural entrepreneur, small business owner, or service provider looking for simple ways to increase your visibility, this episode will give you actionable ideas you can start using today. Facebook: www.facebook.com/tracyschiraparker111 Instagram: www.instagram.com/tracy_schira_parker SKOOL: https://www.skool.com/the-rural-way-7236

June 18, 2026Episode 97 min

09: Stop Winging It: The secret to getting more done on the farm | Seeding Series #3

Why do so many farm projects get pushed to next year? In this episode of the Seeding Series, Tracy Schira-Parker discusses a simple project management approach that can help farm families move projects from the idea stage to completion. Whether it's fencing, building bins, fixing infrastructure, or tackling long-overdue improvements, successful projects rarely happen by accident. They happen because someone took the time to plan ahead. This episode explores: • The importance of project planning on the farm • Breaking projects into clear action steps • Identifying supplies, labour, equipment, and timelines • Improving communication across the family operation • Avoiding delays and unnecessary frustration • Delegating planning responsibilities effectively • Why preparation helps projects move faster • Creating accountability and follow-through A practical conversation about staying organized, reducing stress, and getting more done before harvest season arrives. Facebook: www.facebook.com/tracyschiraparker111 Instagram: www.instagram.com/tracy_schira_parker SKOOL: https://www.skool.com/the-rural-way-7236

June 17, 2026Episode 824 min

08: The Mental Load of Farming | Seeding Series #2

Seeding season doesn't just test your equipment. It tests your mind. In this episode of the Seeding Series, Tracy Schira-Parker discusses the mental load farmers carry during one of the most demanding times of the year. From financial pressure and uncertainty to long hours alone with your thoughts, farming can create a level of stress that often goes unspoken. Tracy shares practical strategies for managing that pressure, improving mental clarity, taking care of your health, and knowing when it's time to reach out for support. This episode explores: • The mental challenges of seeding season • Managing uncertainty and financial stress • Why documenting your thoughts and numbers matters • The connection between physical health and mental performance • Building routines that support resilience • Recognizing when stress is becoming unhealthy • The value of coaching, support, and honest conversations • Why no farmer should suffer in silence A thoughtful conversation about resilience, well-being, and staying strong through one of the busiest seasons on the farm. Facebook: www.facebook.com/tracyschiraparker111 Instagram: www.instagram.com/tracy_schira_parker SKOOL: https://www.skool.com/the-rural-way-7236

June 16, 2026Episode 78 min

07: The Simple Farm Tool That Could Save You Thousands | Seeding Series #1

Welcome to the first episode of the Seeding Series, a short-form series focused on the challenges and opportunities that show up throughout the farming season. In this episode, Tracy Schira-Parker discusses the value of having a written production plan and why it should be more than something stored in your memory. A production plan isn't about creating complicated systems or expensive spreadsheets. It's about making sure the right information is documented, communicated, and accessible when it's needed most. This episode explores: • Why production plans reduce risk on the farm • The importance of documenting key field activities • How written plans improve communication with family and employees • The role documentation plays in insurance and farm management • Reducing the mental load carried by farmers • Preparing for unexpected illness, injury, or emergencies • Why proactive record-keeping pays off at the end of the season A practical discussion about protecting your operation, improving communication, and setting your farm up for success before problems arise. Facebook: www.facebook.com/tracyschiraparker111 Instagram: www.instagram.com/tracy_schira_parker SKOOL: https://www.skool.com/the-rural-way-7236

June 15, 2026Episode 619 min

06: The Art of Conversations

Have we forgotten how to have a real conversation? In this episode of The Rural Way, Tracy Schira-Parker reflects on the growing decline of meaningful communication and why curiosity may be one of the most underrated skills in business and life. Drawing from personal experiences, leadership lessons, and research on trust and connection, Tracy explores what happens when conversations become one-sided and why asking thoughtful questions can dramatically change relationships. This episode explores: • What creates a high-quality conversation • Why curiosity builds trust and connection • The signs of conversational narcissism • How listening impacts relationships and leadership • Why body language matters during conversations • The role of preparation in business conversations • How coaches and leaders can build stronger trust • The effect of technology on communication skills • Why meaningful conversations still matter A practical conversation about connection, trust, leadership, and the simple habit of becoming more interested in others. Based on Tracy's reflections on intentional conversations and trust-building. Facebook: www.facebook.com/tracyschiraparker111 Instagram: www.instagram.com/tracy_schira_parker SKOOL: https://www.skool.com/the-rural-way-7236

May 21, 2026Episode 512 min

05: My stance on AI tools (at this time)

What happens when AI starts replacing the people behind the content? In this episode of The Rural Way, Tracy Schira-Parker shares her honest thoughts on AI, authenticity, and the growing pressure for creators and business owners to automate everything. This conversation explores the balance between using AI as a helpful business tool versus allowing it to replace real human connection. Tracy breaks down the tools she's personally using, what she finds genuinely useful, and the areas where she believes authenticity still matters most. This episode explores: · The difference between using AI as a tool versus a replacement · Why Tracy won't use AI-generated podcast voices or avatars · The AI platforms she's currently experimenting with in business · How tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Canva AI, and Riverside are evolving · The risks of over-polished and inauthentic content · Where AI can save significant time in operations and planning · The future of AI in agriculture and rural business This is a grounded conversation for business owners, creators, and rural entrepreneurs trying to navigate AI without losing the human side of what they do. Facebook: www.facebook.com/tracyschiraparker111 Instagram: www.instagram.com/tracy_schira_parker SKOOL: https://www.skool.com/the-rural-way-7236

May 19, 2026Episode 433 min

04: The Mental Load Women Carry

"Manic May" is what Tracy Schira-Parker used to call the season where everything collided at once — kids' sports, long drives, farm life, business responsibilities, housework, exhaustion, and the constant mental load of trying to keep everything running. In this episode of The Rural Way, Tracy shares the lessons she learned raising four kids through years of competitive sports while balancing rural life, entrepreneurship, and the pressure to "do it all." This conversation explores the systems, routines, and mindset shifts that helped reduce chaos, along with the things she wishes she had done sooner. This episode explores: · The mental load carried by mothers and caregivers · Decision fatigue and why batching decisions matters · Creating household systems that reduce overwhelm · Delegation, responsibility, and raising capable kids · Managing busy sports seasons and family schedules · The importance of nervous system regulation and recovery · Letting go of perfection during demanding seasons · How to identify what's truly urgent and important This is an honest conversation for women navigating busy seasons of life and trying to build systems that support both their family and themselves. Let's connect! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracyschiraparker111 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracy_schira_parker

May 8, 2026Episode 319 min

03: Why Rural? | The Niche Everyone Told Me Not to Choose

Why rural—and why build something around it when most people tell you to go broader? In Episode 3 of The Rural Way, Tracy Schira-Parker shares the real reason she chose to focus on rural communities. This isn't about limiting yourself—it's about speaking to people whose reality is often overlooked. From access and opportunity to isolation and lifestyle, this episode highlights what makes rural business different—and why those differences matter. If you've ever felt like most advice doesn't quite fit your situation, this will resonate. This episode explores: - Why choosing a clear niche can actually open more doors - What it's really like running a business in a rural setting - The lack of conversations for small town entrepreneurs - Differences between rural and urban life that affect business - The strengths that come with living and working in rural areas - Feeling isolated—and why these conversations matter - Who this podcast is for The Rural Way is for people building something real, wherever they are. Let's connect! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracyschiraparker111 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracy_schira_parker