The Small Business Safari
Have you ever sat there and wondered "What am I doing here stuck in the concrete zoo of the corporate world?" Are you itching to get out? Chris Lalomia and his co-host Alan Wyatt traverse the jungle of entrepreneurship. Together they share their stories and help you explore the wild world of SCALING your business. With many years of owning their own small businesses, they love to give insight to the aspiring entrepreneur. So, are you ready to make the jump?
Episodes
What happens when you lose everything in 2008—and still choose to pay everyone back? Rob Stephenson rebuilt not just a business, but a reputation that now wins national NARI COTY awards.
Summary:
Rob Stephenson, founder of Stephenson Construction, shares how leaving engineering, moonlighting in rental units, and surviving the 2008 collapse shaped his disciplined, integrity-first approach to design-build. We unpack his e...
What happens when a regulatory attorney trades Wall Street stress for barber-chair swagger? Jessica shows how instinct, culture, and system design built a luxury grooming brand that outlasted the copycats.
Summary:
Jessica, founder of Mad Men Barbershop, shares how she turned gut calls, culture, and brand discipline into a multi-location grooming experience that grew stronger through competition and COVID. We unpack ins...
What happens when small businesses stop fearing AI—and start using it to remove friction, boost margins, and strengthen customer trust?
Summary:
We trade fear for facts and show how real small businesses put AI to work without losing the human touch. From “Tina” the chatbot to contact-center triage, sales coaching, and smarter inventory planning, we map where humans still lead—and where bots quietly drive efficiency, sp...
🎧 The Small Business Safari
TITLE: From Anchorage to National: Niches, GEO, and Growth | Jennifer Christensen
Hook in Body:
What happens when ethical AI meets small business marketing? Jennifer Christensen built a national agency from Alaska, proving that data, discipline, and heart can scale together.
Summary:
Chris Lalomia and Alan Wyatt sit down with Jennifer Christensen, CMO and co-founder of a national ma...
What happens when a corporate sales leader swaps the corner office for family time — and ends up building two thriving brands instead?
Summary: A former tech sales leader shares how losing a franchise became the best thing that ever happened. From setting boundaries that shaped the business model to launching a manufacturing arm that wins architectural specs, this episode dives into the discipline, strategy, and relati...
Summary:
Jeremy LaDuke, founder of Epic Nine, dives into the attention economy and why bold, memorable branding outperforms safe, copycat marketing. He explains how small businesses can set honest budgets, track what really matters, and build brand familiarity that drives conversion — even without perfect attribution. From Liquid Death’s creative risk-taking to networking tips for introverts, Jeremy shares practi...
Hook in Body:
Chris and Greg met at Accenture and were implementing call center solutions at the nations largest banks, their friendship has been over 30 years and we are excited to share the journey that Greg has taken to this point.
Summary:
Greg, CEO of Timbers Resorts, shares how he went from Corporate Consultant to Real Estate Business Owner life of ownership, service, and decisive leadership. Luxury fra...
🎧 The Small Business Safari – Episode Title
Profit Over Revenue: How 4 Corners CFO Turns Chaos into Clarity
Hook:
We dig into profit over revenue, how service businesses should structure their books, and why capacity-based budgeting beats guesses.
Summary:
Danielle Hendon, founder of 4 Corners CFO, shows how niching, clean reconciliations, and cash flow forecasts turn anxiety into action. From culture vs...
Marika Ponton, CPA and founder of Profit Truths, shares how she built, sold, and pivoted her way to helping business owners find clarity, profit, and calm. From Big Four beginnings to entrepreneurial coaching, Marika reveals how small business owners can master their numbers, reallocate marketing spend, and finally take control of cash flow.
🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:
The Small Business Safari on YouTub...
Justin Goodbread unpacks how concentrated focus beats scattered effort, why enterprise value matters more than income, and how designing for an exit creates freedom long before a sale. He shares the Deca-Millionaire framework forged through wins, losses, and relentless execution.
🎥 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari
💡 GOLD NUGGETS (Key Moments)
· • The b...
Skot Waldron shares how business leaders can transform their company culture by focusing on intentional leadership and internal brand development before external marketing. He explains that effective culture-building creates environments where people feel valued and motivated from within rather than being micromanaged.
• The distinction between managing people versus leading them—people want to be led, not ma...
LinkedIn strategist Al Kushner shares essential strategies for cutting through the noise and leveraging AI to establish yourself as a thought leader on the world's largest professional network.
• Creating an optimized LinkedIn profile is essential before any outreach
• Establishing yourself as a thought leader requires providing value, not just selling
• LinkedIn newsletters bypass spam filters a...
Southside Steve Rickman shares his journey from radio personality to entrepreneur, revealing how corporate radio's restrictions pushed him to bet on himself and build multiple businesses on his own terms.
• Began in radio accidentally by filling in for a voice talent at 96 Rock while working at an ad agency
• Became known on "The Regular Guys" morning show for outrageous stunts including be...
Ian Hay returns to share crucial disaster preparedness strategies for business owners during hurricane season and National Preparedness Month, emphasizing self-reliance when government resources may be limited.
• Text instead of calling during emergencies and include specific location information
• Keep multiple backups of all cloud-based data in different physical locations
• Maintain cash in small d...
In this episode, Eric Fortenberry takes us through his unique journey—from software entrepreneur, to running a construction company, to discovering firsthand the operational flaws that hold businesses back. What started as troubleshooting for his own company turned into the creation of JobTread, a platform designed to solve the biggest pain points in the construction industry.
Gold Nuggets from Eric’s journey:
- Worki...
Ellen Tyler, founder of Ellen Tyler Coaching, shares her inspiring journey from corporate financial services to becoming a successful business coach. She reveals why mindset is the real currency of business — and how slowing down, visualizing success, and asking the right questions can lead to seven-figure growth. Ellen also breaks down her unique approach to coaching that focuses on the person behind the business, em...
Ever wondered how some businesses seem to have plenty of cash while others with similar revenue struggle to make payroll? The secret lies in understanding the financial gap between money coming in and money going out—and nobody explains this better than Cashflow Mike.
In this eye-opening episode, Mike Milan shares his remarkable journey from state trooper to financial expert, revealing how accident reconstruc...
Ever wonder what keeps your friendly neighborhood business attorney up at night? Hint: it's watching entrepreneurs shake hands on partnerships without proper documentation, then having to pick up the pieces when it all falls apart.
Brandon Woodward, founder of Woodward, Kelly, Fulton and Kaplan, cuts through the legal mystique to deliver straight talk about protecting your small business. With 25 years o...
James Holivsky of The Fran Dream shares his journey from corporate America to helping athletes and professionals find the right franchise fit, revealing what makes a successful franchise owner and which concepts offer the best opportunities today.
• After 25 years in corporate America, James helped grow a restaurant chain from 1 to 100 stores before partnering with NFL players on various concepts
• Athlet...
Charles and Clay Gridley, the father-son duo behind Six Bridges Brewing, share their journey from homebrewers to successful craft brewery owners with two locations in Georgia's Johns Creek and Milton areas. They reveal how strategic infrastructure planning, distribution partnerships, and community engagement have helped them thrive for seven years in a competitive market.
• Started as homebrewers before ...
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