Strategy only matters if it survives Monday. We take a candid look at how small businesses can turn plans into progress by focusing on action, clear ownership, and market reality. From the opening rant on “Department of the Obvious” stats to a practical cadence for think time and team buy-in, we map out what actually moves the needle when you don’t have enterprise budgets or endless runway. We unpack why the 80-20 rule, 80% action, 20% strategy, works for founders who need momentum now...

Most leadership advice assumes you’ve got time, staff, and cash to spare. We don’t. We take you straight into the realities of small business leadership where the bank balance is thin, the to-do list is wide, and your actions, not your titles, set the culture. Our focus is sharp: how to lead when you must sell, train, set standards, and still carry the vision that keeps everyone moving. We unpack the crucial differences between corporate leadership and entrepreneurial leadership, why big-com...

Tired of waiting for perfect conditions before you finally feel engaged at work? We get real about why that moment never comes and how to build momentum anyway. The core theme is simple and demanding: act like an owner, even when you’re an employee. Treat your role like a business with one customer, your manager, and focus on solving problems, not asking for special treatment. That shift isn’t about being exploited; it’s about stacking trust, earning opportunity, and compounding results that ...

Stop chasing balance like it’s a prize you win at the end of the grind. We delve into the real operating system of small businesses, managing imbalance, where pressure can build you up instead of break you, and where “hustle” is a strategy, not a badge of exhaustion. From 3 a.m. doubts to midweek wins, we unpack how committed owners outpace 50 competitors in fragmented markets by doing simple things others won’t: return the call, show up branded, follow the chain of influence, and keep pushin...

Growth isn’t magic, it’s math. We sit down with entrepreneur Joe Rare to unpack how he turned a failing, everything-for-everyone agency into a focused, scalable machine by choosing one niche, productizing delivery, and unleashing a disciplined engine of VAs, automation, and AI. The conversation moves fast, from door-to-door “test marketing” days to rebuilding on a lean tech stack, and lands on a clear thesis: make more offers, with more precision, to the right market, and let systems carry th...

What's the real cost of cutting legal corners in your startup? Attorney Lucas Regnier explains why your choice of business structure can significantly impact your growth trajectory. The podcast delves into the often-misunderstood world of business entity selection, examining why LLCs, despite their popularity, may not be the optimal choice for growth-focused ventures. Regnier shares valuable insights about the limitations of LLCs when adding new owners or seeking investment capital, contrast...

Success in your first job isn't what most people think. Forget the conventional wisdom about comprehensive benefits packages, comfortable working hours, and clearly defined job descriptions. The real path to professional achievement requires a fundamental shift in mindset that most career advisors never mention. In this eye-opening discussion, we challenge the pervasive belief that success comes from finding the right company with the best benefits. Instead, we reveal how truly successful pr...

Big Talk About Small Business begins with a powerful statement that sets the tone for our entire conversation: "We don't deserve anything, we earn everything." This fundamental truth about entrepreneurship frames our reflections on what it takes to succeed in business today, especially in a world increasingly obsessed with comfort and instant gratification. Mark and I dive deep into how modern work culture has shifted over our careers, from the days when a personal phone call at work was pra...

Ever wondered what happens when you combine the grit of Latin American talent with the innovation needs of US companies? Brian Samson's journey from San Francisco tech executive to nearshoring pioneer offers a fascinating roadmap for businesses seeking alternatives to traditional outsourcing. Nearshoring—the practice of outsourcing to nearby countries rather than across the globe—emerged for Brian as a solution to the exorbitant costs of building tech teams in Silicon Valley. What began as a...

Meet the team revolutionizing American drone manufacturing at a critical moment in the industry's evolution. Tobin Fisher founded Vantage Robotics on Christmas Eve 2013, combining his mechanical engineering background with software expertise to create drones that rival foreign competitors while meeting stringent security requirements for government clients. What began as a consumer-focused venture took a pivotal turn when CNN approached the company seeking drones that could fly over crowds. ...

In this episode, Jose Socorro shows why sales is the crown jewel of entrepreneurship. Marketing may spark awareness, and operations may deliver value, but without sales, nothing moves forward. Jose shares his compelling journey of helping his immigrant father establish a body shop business in New Jersey. With no formal business education but plenty of determination, Jose navigated forming an LLC, understanding complex regulations, and weathering literal storms—including Hurricane Sandy flood...

When does a small business need financial expertise beyond basic bookkeeping? Danielle Hendon, Founder and CEO of 4 Corners CFO, reveals the critical moment most entrepreneurs miss: "You don't want to be responsible for somebody else's payroll and livelihood if you have no idea where your business is going." After transitioning from music to accounting and spending a decade in corporate oil and gas, Danielle now helps small businesses implement financial strategies typically reserved for lar...

The rise of artificial intelligence presents the greatest entrepreneurial opportunity of our lifetime, if you approach it with the right mindset. Drawing a powerful parallel between AI and calculators, our guests explore how both tools faced initial resistance before becoming indispensable. The key difference? While calculators primarily impacted mathematics, AI is simultaneously transforming every industry on the planet. Many business owners feel overwhelmed by AI, unsure where to begin or ...

The AI revolution is transforming business at breathtaking speed, and entrepreneurs who don't adapt risk being left behind. This conversation delves into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape in ways strikingly similar to the Industrial Revolution – but with one critical difference. While that earlier transformation primarily affected blue-collar manual work, AI is revolutionizing white-collar strategic positions. For small business owners, AI often represent...

The myth that corporate executives can seamlessly transition to entrepreneurship gets shattered in this candid conversation between Eric Howerton and Mark Zweig, two battle-tested business owners. They break down why these are "two completely different animals" and why the entrepreneurial journey demands getting your hands dirty in ways corporate America never prepared you for. What happens when that professional with the corner office decides to strike out on their own? Our hosts share real...

What makes a professional service provider truly valuable to your small business? It's not cost savings—it's quality, responsiveness, and genuine care. In this candid conversation, we challenge the conventional wisdom that outsourcing is primarily about cutting expenses. Great professional relationships, whether with attorneys, accountants, HR consultants, or IT specialists, are built on foundations of mutual respect and genuine interest in your business success. We share stories of exemplar...

Ever wondered if entrepreneurship really delivers the freedom and flexibility it promises? In this eye-opening conversation, we tackle the myth head-on and reveal why business ownership often means you're never truly "off the clock." Between cash flow projections that tank just before your family vacation and the constant connectivity of smartphones eliminating any excuse to be unreachable, the entrepreneurial reality differs dramatically from the dream. We pivot to a strategy many aspiring ...

Entrepreneurship defies simple categorization. Despite efforts to profile the "typical entrepreneur," success in business creation spans across demographic boundaries, transcending age, gender, race, and educational background. What matters far more are the psychological traits and behavioral patterns that create resilience in the face of inevitable challenges. The data tells a fascinating story: women now represent 40% of global entrepreneurs, the average successful founder is in their 40s ...

The truth about entrepreneurship isn't pretty, but it's powerful. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, we tear away the glossy veneer of business ownership to reveal what actually drives success and why so many well-intentioned ventures fail. At the heart of entrepreneurial struggle lies a fundamental misunderstanding about mindset. Are you a wolf with eyes fixed forward on the hunt, or a horse with eyes on the sides constantly watching for threats? This distinction between entrepreneur and...

The entrepreneurial workplace demands a different mindset than corporate America – one that challenges conventional ideas about job descriptions, work-life balance, and personal growth. But what exactly does it take to thrive in this environment? Successful entrepreneurial teams reach a cultural tipping point where positive, can-do attitudes become contagious. When more team members embrace excellence than resist it, even average performers elevate their game. The reverse is equally true: a ...