Big Talk About Small Business

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 h...

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...

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 ...

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 regu...

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, Dan...

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.

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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 ...

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...

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 res...

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 realit...

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 repres...

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 ...

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 ...

Have you ever felt completely alone in your business struggles with nowhere to turn? That suffocating feeling where you can't share your fears with your spouse without alarming them, can't reveal vulnerabilities to employees who need confidence in your leadership, and hesitate to approach mentors fearing judgment?

In this illuminating conversation with Ben Cashion, CEO coach and strategist, we dive deep into the ...

Ever wondered why some entrepreneurs build thriving networks while others struggle to make meaningful connections? The secret lies in understanding that business relationships aren't transactions—they're gardens that require cultivation, patience, and genuine care.

In this illuminating episode, we challenge the concept of work-life balance, suggesting that successful entrepreneurs embrace work-life integration in...

The foundation of a successful business isn't just talented individuals—it's engaged people working in synchronized harmony toward shared goals. In this raw, unfiltered episode, we dive deep into the reality that disengaged business owners inevitably face harsh consequences. As we candidly explore, "If you're an entrepreneur thinking you can be disengaged in your business, you're 1,000% wrong. You will get ...

There's a critical moment in every entrepreneur's journey when they must decide: keep planning or start doing. This pivotal decision often determines whether a business idea becomes reality or remains forever in the planning stage.

In this thought-provoking conversation, we dive deep into the concept of the "gestation period" for business ideas – that crucial time between conceptualization and execution...

Ever wonder why some businesses grow explosively while others struggle to survive? The answer lies in their approach to sales. This episode digs deep into the heart of business growth as Mark and Eric tackle the complex art and science of effective selling.

Breaking through common misconceptions, we reveal why selling has nothing to do with deception or extroverted personalities. Instead, we explore how genuine problem-sol...

Thinking of starting a business? Stop waiting for the "perfect moment" because it doesn't exist. That's the core message we tackle head-on in this candid conversation about entrepreneurial timing.

We shatter the myth of first-mover advantage, revealing how second movers often win the game by entering markets where customers already understand their need. Being too early means educating an unaware market...