Business Wingmen Podcast

Business Wingmen Podcast

Tired of boring business discussions fit for your out of touch boss? The Business Wingmen Show, brought to you by father and son duo Steve and Travis Smith, trade tales of corporate absurdity and career brilliance with an electric candor, one which isn’t scared to not be politically correct. Our show dives deep into the thinking, behaviors and actions professional people at the top of their game embody. From leadership and management challenges to climbing the corporate ladder or being a successful entrepreneur, Steve and Travis’ insights help their listeners put to practice REAL ideas and tactics that actually work in the business world. Gain some new, thought-provoking perspective on how to lead your team and run a profitable, growing business- all in about 20 minutes.

Episodes

184- The Founder’s Dilemma- Staying CEO vs. Hiring One

September 23, 2025 • 43 mins
Every successful business starts with a visionary founder, but not every founder is the right person to lead the company once it begins to scale. Knowing when to step aside — or when to level up your leadership — can make or break your startup’s future. In this episode, Steve Smith and Travis Smith unpack:
  • The critical shift from startup founder to commercial CEO
  • How to recognize if your leadership style fits your company’s next ...
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183- The Dark Side of Scaling- Real Stories of Growth Gone Wrong

September 22, 2025 • 41 mins
In this episode of The Business Wingman Show, Steve and Travis Smith unpack what happens when growth spirals out of control, drawing lessons from major brands you already know: Peloton, Krispy Kreme, Blockbuster, and Redbox.

➡️ What went wrong?
➡️ How can you avoid the same fate?
➡️ And what does scaling for longevity really look like?

If you’re a business owner, executive, or entrepreneur with big growth ambitions, this conversation w...
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182- The Most Difficult Workplace Communication Style to Manage

September 2, 2025 • 38 mins
Leaders face many challenges, but one of the toughest is dealing with passive aggressive behavior in the workplace. From sarcasm and missed deadlines to victim-playing and quiet resistance, passive aggressive employees can quietly drain your team’s performance and culture.

If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I deal with a passive aggressive employee, teammate, or even boss?” — this conversation is for you.  Just tune into this episode ...
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181- Are Manager's Really Doing This

September 2, 2025 • 38 mins
Quiet firing is an emerging workplace trend — but what does it really mean, and why is it a dangerous trap for managers and executives? In this episode of The Business Wingmen Podcast, Steve and Travis Smith unpack the reality behind quiet firing: the subtle ways leaders push employees out without saying a word. Whether intentional or not, quiet firing damages trust, kills culture, and hurts your top performers.
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180- The #1 Reason You're Not Taken Seriously at Work

August 5, 2025 • 49 mins
Ever feel like you're the most knowledgeable person in the room, but your ideas get dismissed? If your communication doesn't reflect your true value, you create a "credibility gap" that can stall your career. This isn't about being the loudest person; it's about communicating with intention and influence.
In this episode, we dissect the three pillars of communication that will ensure you are never overlooked again. You'll learn the ...
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179- Are You Creating Accidental Managers

August 1, 2025 • 40 mins
A 60% failure rate is unacceptable in any other part of your business. So why do we accept it for new managers?  Companies lose their best technical experts every day by promoting them into leadership roles they aren't equipped for. We call it the "Accidental Manager" trap.

You give them a new title and more pay, but no training on the single most complex part of the job: leading people.
The result?
→ Your star performer burns out.
→ T...
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178- Why 60% of New Managers Fail and How to Ensure Yours Succeeds

June 17, 2025 • 35 mins
The episode discusses the challenges of transitioning individual contributors into management roles, highlighting a significant 60% failure rate within the first 24 months. The hosts, Steve and Travis Smith of "The Business Wingman Show," share personal anecdotes and expert insights, emphasizing that successful managers must shift from a "me" to a "we" mindset, prioritize the success of others, and embrace delegation despite initia...
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177- The Real Reason New Graduates Are Failing

June 13, 2025 • 36 mins
The "Business Wingman Show" podcast episode focuses on the challenges new graduates face when entering the workforce and offers practical advice for success. Hosted by Steve and Travis Smith, a father-son duo, the discussion centers on a LinkedIn article Travis wrote outlining ten common struggles experienced by young professionals. Key areas explored include the importance of strong communication skills, emphasizing the need for p...
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176- Avoid These Hidden Legal Traps!

June 3, 2025 • 48 mins
Are you unknowingly exposing your business to crippling lawsuits and financial disaster? Many business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs are walking into hidden legal traps that can have devastating consequences. In this essential interview, corporate attorney John Newell of Shell New LLP joins The Business Wingman Show to shed light on the most common and costly legal mistakes businesses make – and, more importantly, how YOU c...
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175- Business Expansion Strategies- What Works

May 30, 2025 • 34 mins
This discussion emphasizes that expanding a business by adding new products or services should be approached cautiously. The hosts advise considering factors like timing, potential impact on the core business, necessary resources (like labor and insurance), and whether the new offering logically fits within the existing brand. They stress the importance of due diligence, including researching market demand and the competitive lands...
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174- The #1 Reason Businesses Fail? PARTNERSHIPS. Here's How to Make Yours Thrive

May 19, 2025 • 33 mins
This discussion highlights that while partnerships can be a strong way to build a business by combining skills and resources, they are statistically the most common reason for small business failure, often due to partners being unable to work together effectively. The key to successful partnerships, as emphasized in the source, lies in choosing the right partner, establishing clear expectations through written agreements (including...
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173- Is Your Business Ready to Scale

April 25, 2025 • 39 mins
Is Your Business Ready to Scale? Critical Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Thinking about scaling your business? HOLD ON. Expanding sounds exciting, but jumping in unprepared is one of the FASTEST ways to sink your ship. Many leaders hit hidden icebergs – financial drains, operational chaos, team burnout – that they never saw coming.

Before you make a move, learn the CRITICAL pitfalls and the *real* questions you need to ask. Steve &...
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172- Dont Hire the Walking Lawsuit

April 15, 2025 • 46 mins
Tired of hiring headaches that turn into legal nightmares? In this crucial episode of The Business Wingman Show, Steve and Travis Smith sit down with employment law expert Jim McDonald from Fisher Phillips to reveal the secrets to smart hiring and how to avoid bringing a "walking lawsuit" into your organization.
Discover the critical steps you MUST take during your hiring process to identify and screen out potential problem employee...
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171- Motivating Your Team During Business Slow Downs

April 1, 2025 • 34 mins
Business slowdowns are inevitable.  When these light periods show up, what do you do to keep your team motivated?  What do you do to capture this time and get things done that would get put aside when business is heavy?

In today's episode of the Business Wingmen, your hosts Steve and Travis Smith discuss a variety of things that will improve your staff, your operation and your ability to confidently get through the next downturn.
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170- The Four Pillars of Economic Resilience

March 18, 2025 • 36 mins
We're headed into a period of potentially great economic uncertainty.  To prevent your business from a severe setback, focus on these 4 areas that will enable you to avoid financial damage and achieve economic resilience.
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169- Is Your Management Style Obsolete? Future-Proof Your Leadership Now

March 11, 2025 • 33 mins
The business environment is changing and now it's headed for your management career!  As companies big and small look for ways to become more efficient, leaners and more profitable, the role of management is being looked at for its future viability.

If you're strength is in leading and overseeing the work of others, you'll need to future-proof your leadership now, ensuring your company sees you as a management asset, not a place to ...
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168- 4 Universal Principles to Ensure a Rewarding Career

March 4, 2025 • 45 mins
Career growth and development is a lifetime pursuit.  So, how do you know you are doing things right and will eventually receive the rewards associated with career success?  In today's episode of the Business Wingmen, your hosts, Steve Smith & Travis Smith reveal the 4 universal principles that ensure career success.
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167- Miserable at Work- How To Fix It Without Burning Bridges

February 11, 2025 • 34 mins
Are you waking up dreading work? Do you feel disgruntled, unappreciated, or just plain tired of your job? You're not alone. Many professionals experience these feelings, especially in today's ever-changing work environment. In this episode, we discuss what to do when you hate your job, but before you make any rash decisions like revenge quitting or quiet quitting.
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166- Drive High Performance by Developing Self Managed Employees

January 28, 2025 • 39 mins
Why are self managed employees more likely to be high performers in their jobs?  The answer lies in how they manage themselves and the work they do.  Hiring these folks is the best approach but how can you identify and develop employees who may exhibit high performance tendencies?  In this episode of the Business Wingmen, your hosts Steve and Travis Smith define what to look for and how to approach developing self managed employees...
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165- Stump the Wingman

January 21, 2025 • 42 mins
In this episode, your business wingmen, Steve Smith and Travis Smith, take turns handling situations that occur with leaders, business owners, managers and professionals.  Their evaluation and advice for dealing with these issues is worth the listen. 
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