The Small Business Safari

Chris Lalomia
  • 5.0 (31)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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?

  1. 6D AGO

    No You Cannot Deduct Your Cat | Melissa Kennebrew

    Send us Fan Mail TITLE: No You Cannot Deduct Your Cat | Melissa Kennebrew What if the problem isn’t your taxes—but the system you’re using to manage money? Summary: Melissa Kennebrew of MBK Financials joins the Safari to break down why so many small business owners feel blindsided at tax time—and how to fix it before the next surprise bill hits. Melissa works with high-net-worth clients and growing small businesses that are tired of scrambling at year-end and guessing their way through deductions, bookkeeping, and quarterly estimates. In this episode, we unpack the difference between tax avoidance (legal) and tax evasion (illegal), why clean records matter more than last-minute “write-off shopping,” and the common mistakes both new and established businesses make. We also dive into the Profit First system, a simple cash flow framework that helps owners manage money the way they actually think—by looking at bank balances. Melissa explains how separating revenue into operating, owner pay, tax, and profit accounts can eliminate stress, build predictability, and help owners finally reward themselves for the business they’re building. Along the way we tackle common questions around deductions, home office fears, startup losses, and the simple habits that keep businesses proactive instead of reactive. If you want better cash flow, smarter tax planning, and fewer financial surprises, this episode is packed with practical tips you can use immediately. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • The difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion—and why intent matters • Why successful businesses still get surprised by tax bills • The biggest bookkeeping mistakes new businesses make • How the Profit First system simplifies cash flow management • Why “write-off shopping” at year end is usually the wrong strategy • Clearing up myths about home office deductions and startup losses 🔗 Guest Links • Website: https://mbkfinancials.com  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakennebrew/  • Instagram: MBK Financials biascorp.com/ (BIAS Corp)🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast  • LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/  • Website | https://chrislalomia.com Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    47 min

  2. MAR 17

    Life Happens For Me Not To Me | Dr. Joseph Drolshagen

    Send a text Why do so many small business owners hit a revenue ceiling—even when the opportunities keep growing? Summary: In this episode of The Small Business Safari, we sit down with Dr. Joseph Drolshagen to unpack the hidden forces that limit business growth. Many entrepreneurs believe the next level requires more hustle, more hours, or more pressure—but often the real constraint is the belief system running quietly in the background. Dr. Joseph explains why revenue ceilings show up at every stage of growth and how mindset, identity, and daily habits shape the results business owners experience. We challenge the “hustle badge of honor” mentality and explore a smarter path built on perception, profit, and sustainable habits. From understanding the difference between your vanity line and sanity line, to recognizing how subconscious programming influences decisions and procrastination, this conversation gives entrepreneurs a practical framework for breaking through their next growth barrier. If you’ve ever felt stuck at a certain level in your business, this episode will help you rethink what’s really holding you back—and how to move forward with clarity. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • Why adopting the mindset “life happens for me, not to me” changes how entrepreneurs handle setbacks • The revenue ceiling effect and why every new growth stage creates a new internal limit • Understanding the difference between your vanity line (revenue) and sanity line (profit and margin) • Why fear of success can actually be more common than fear of failure • How subconscious programming drives action, hesitation, and procrastination • The roots of imposter syndrome in early life experiences from school, work, and home • Using dynamic vision and emotional alignment to shift identity and decision making • Building accelerating habit systems based on what you will actually do consistently • Learning from mistakes through due diligence and iteration instead of quitting 🔗 Guest Links • Website: https://coachwithjoey.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ifgtcoach  (Schedule a 15-minute introduction meeting and receive a free copy of Dr. Joey’s book.) 🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast  • LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia  • Website | https://chrislalomia.com  • Website | www.thetrustedtoolbox.com Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    1h 1m

  3. MAR 10

    What Happens When Local Capital Meets Local Know-How | Steve Beecham & Bob Koncerak

    Send us Fan Mail What does it take to launch a brand-new community bank in today’s world of mega-banks and endless bureaucracy? Summary In this episode of The Small Business Safari, we sit down with Steve Beecham and Bob Koncerak, the founders behind First City Bank of Georgia, to unpack what it really takes to launch a new community bank in Alpharetta. With the number of banks in the U.S. shrinking from more than 10,000 to roughly 4,300, many small businesses have lost access to local decision-makers who understand their needs. Steve and Bob explain why that service gap creates an opportunity for relationship-driven community banks to step back in. We explore how Alpharetta’s evolution from bedroom community to thriving tech and business hub made it the perfect location, and how modern technology allows smaller banks to match the digital features of the big institutions while delivering faster decisions and real relationships. They also share the unique de novo-plus-merger strategy they’re using to launch the bank faster and with less cost—opening the doors with live deposits, loans, and experienced lenders already in place. For entrepreneurs, the conversation highlights the difference between chasing the lowest rate and building a banking relationship that actually helps you grow. If you’re a founder, investor, or business owner frustrated with big-bank bureaucracy, this episode explains why community banking may be making a comeback. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS • Why the U.S. banking system shrank from 10,000 to 4,300 banks and the service gap it created • How Alpharetta became one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing tech hubs • Why small banks can now match big-bank technology and digital tools • The de novo + merger strategy that saves time and millions in startup costs • How local lending decisions help entrepreneurs move faster • Why value and advice matter more than just interest rates for growing companies • Raising capital from accredited investors and aligning incentives with founder capital • Recruiting veteran lenders and building an operator-led advisory board • Financial education plans aimed at younger customers and families • Hard lessons about projections, conviction, and risk when starting a bank 🔗 Guest Links • Website: https://firstcitybankga.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-beecham-1958733 https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdkoncerak hometownmortgage.net (Company)stevebeecham.com (Company)linktr.ee/stevebeecham (Company)🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia  Website | https://chrislalomia.com Website |  thetrustedtoolbox.com Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    52 min

  4. MAR 3

    Align the Promise with the Experience: Fixing Revenue Leaks | Chelsey Reynolds

    Send us Fan Mail If your marketing makes promises your operations can’t keep, growth will always stall. Summary: Chelsey Reynolds joins us to break down how real growth happens when marketing, sales, and customer success operate as one aligned revenue engine—not three disconnected departments. We unpack what goes wrong when messaging doesn’t match delivery, why internal launches fail before they ever reach customers, and how unclear positioning quietly erodes trust. Chelsey shares straight-talk strategies for choosing a clear market position and sticking to it, designing simple systems that reinforce the right behaviors, and building comp plans that reward alignment—not chaos. We also tackle leadership. Fear-based leadership may produce short-term compliance, but it crushes initiative and long-term trust. Chelsey explains how strong leaders own mistakes, apologize when necessary, and rebuild credibility—plus how middle managers can absorb executive pressure without passing stress downstream. Finally, we explore what changes as companies scale from 1–10, 10–50, and 50–100 employees—and how systems, culture, and accountability must evolve at every stage. If you want your brand promise to match your customer experience—and your growth to feel sustainable instead of fragile—this episode is for you. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • Building one unified revenue engine across marketing, sales, and delivery  • Fixing misaligned messaging before it costs you credibility  • Why fear leadership creates compliance but kills ownership  • How to rebuild trust after mistakes  • Systems and compensation plans that drive aligned growth  • Scaling lessons from 1–10, 10–50, and 50–100 employees  • Insights from The Growth Department podcast 🔗 Guest Links • Growth Department Podcast linkedin.com/in/chelsey-reynolds-growth-expert linktr.ee/chelseyreynolds (Company) https://www.growthdepartment.com/podcast 🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast  • LinkedIn | Chris Lalomia  • Website | https://chrislalomia.com Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    49 min

  5. FEB 24

    What If Your Business Could See What Customers See, Instantly? | James Hatfield

    Send us Fan Mail  What if your team could see exactly what your customer sees—without an app—and turn that video into a tight estimate, clean documentation, and a five-star review? Summary: James Hatfield, blue-collar founder and former KKR-backed CEO, joins us to unpack how LiveSwitch is transforming home services with a dead-simple, no-app live video platform powered by practical AI. What started with a knock from the D.C. Chief of Police to reinvent 911 video evolved into a powerful tool for contractors: a simple SMS link that opens live video on any device. For home service businesses, that means remote pre-estimates that filter tire-kickers from ready buyers, real-time on-screen guidance that eliminates guesswork, and recorded sessions that shut down “he said, she said” disputes. James walks through how a 30-second frozen-pipe clip can turn into a full scope of work—complete with CRM notes, timelines, materials lists, translations, and documentation—all powered by AI. Think of it as the Nextel of cameras with a built-in copilot. The result? Fewer wasted truck rolls, faster close rates, better prepared techs, and stronger margins. We also dive into marketing flywheels and operational upgrades:  • QR codes that drive repeat business straight to your team  • Video reviews that boost your Google Business Profile  • Open integrations with ServiceTitan, Jobber, and more  • Pricing designed to feel like “a tank of gas,” not a tech gamble Beyond tech, James shares lessons from building, exiting, and finding purpose again—plus the grit required to make payroll, protect culture, and keep people working. If you run a handyman, plumbing, electrical, restoration, or moving company, this episode is a blueprint for using simple tools to win faster and serve better in a Prime-speed world. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • The 911 innovation story that sparked LiveSwitch  • How remote pre-estimates increase close rates and eliminate tire-kickers  • Turning 30 seconds of video into scopes, CRM notes, and materials lists  • Stopping disputes with recorded documentation  • Using video reviews to dominate local SEO  • Why speed beats complexity in today’s customer experience 🔗 Guest Links • Website: LiveSwitch https://www.liveswitch.com/  • LinkedIn: James Hatfield https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hatfield/ 🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast  • LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/  • Website | https://chrislalomia.com If this episode sparked an idea for your business, hit subscribe, leave a review, and tell us the one workflow you’d upgrade first. Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    51 min

  6. FEB 17

    He Walked Away From Radio To Sell Insurance And Build A Life He Owns | Jerry Payne

    Send us Fan Mail  What happens when a longtime radio producer steps out from behind the mic and into the sales arena? Jerry Payne is betting his next chapter on mentorship, licensing, and disciplined execution. Summary: We put longtime producer Jerry Payne in the hot seat as he leaves radio to build a career in insurance, starting with mentorship and aiming for ownership. Together we stress-test his transition plan—examining runway, early-stage income realities, and how his broadcast communication strengths translate into a powerful sales advantage. Jerry shares why a mid-career pivot can be the safer long-term bet, how mentorship and licensing function like an apprenticeship, and why building a strong sales engine now matters more than writing a perfect business plan later. We also break down networking strategies for insurance and financial services, handling rejection with an abundance mindset, and moving from P&C conversations into retirement income planning. If you’re considering a career shift, entering sales, or building toward business ownership, this episode offers a practical roadmap for turning experience into opportunity—and momentum into ownership. GOLD NUGGETS • Pivoting mid-career: risk vs long-term security • Mentorship and licensing as a structured apprenticeship • Building a sales plan before a full business plan • Creating a personal board of advisors for accountability • Scaling realities: costs, income dips, and long-term upside Closing Thought: “Get out there, get going, and make it happen. Next week, better week. Next month, better month. Next year, better year.” Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    1h 4m

  7. FEB 10

    What If Your Product Isn’t The Problem—Your Offer Is | John (JD) Dwyer

    Send us Fan Mail  What if your growth problem isn’t your marketing—or your product—but the offer itself? Summary: John “JD” Dwyer, founder of The Institute of Wow, joins us to reveal how challenger brands out perform bigger competitors by engineering irresistible offers that drive immediate action. We break down how incentive-based marketing, high perceived-value bonuses, and creative positioning can transform conversion rates without cutting prices. JD shares the story of a bank that replaced a standard promotional rate with a vacation incentive—then amplified results with a celebrity campaign that dramatically increased response. From coffee shops doubling revenue with simple behavioral nudges to dental practices generating thousands of targeted leads through creative contests, the lesson is clear: when the offer aligns with customer desire, price becomes far less important. We also explore practical tactics for small businesses, including designing incentives that cost little but feel premium, coaching sales teams using recorded calls and AI insights, and leveraging Facebook as a responsive lead-generation engine when the economics make sense. This episode delivers a playbook for business owners ready to move beyond price competition and create a “wow factor” that drives both immediate sales and long-term loyalty. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS • Why the offer—not the product—often determines conversion • Creating high perceived-value incentives that cost less than discounts • Behavioral nudges that dramatically increase repeat purchases • Using contests and promotions to generate targeted leads fast • Coaching sales teams with recorded calls and AI performance analysis 🔗 Guest Links • Website: https://theinstituteofwow.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/instituteofwow/ jdpodcastguest.com 🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast • LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/ • Website | https://chrislalomia.com Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    56 min

  8. FEB 3

    From Door-Kicking To Strategy: Running A Profitable Handyman Business | Chris & Alan

    Send us Fan Mail  What happens when you stop kicking doors and start building a business that actually moves upward? Summary: In this episode of The Small Business Safari, Chris and Alan push past a door-kicking moment to talk about what really drives sustainable growth: selling value, protecting margin, and executing a strategic plan that actually ships. We draw clear lines between handyman work and remodeling, break down why they are completely different operating models, and unpack the pricing mistakes that quietly kill profit. We dig into real-world lessons like the $250 microwave trap, why leading with discounts is dangerous, and how reviews become proof of promise—not just social noise. Against a backdrop of market uncertainty and changing homeowner math, we outline three focused initiatives for growth: smarter CRM and AI use, relentless gross profit focus, and deposits that protect cash flow. Most importantly, we rally the team around one word—Ascend—and show how alignment, execution, and close rate become the true levers for growth. 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  Channeling passion into systems, coaching, and executionThe small-ticket trap and the $250 microwave lessonWhy handyman work and remodeling require different business modelsPricing frameworks and good-better-best rangesValue over price—and the danger of leading with discountsReviews as proof of promise and processMarket uncertainty, homeowner math, and demand driversThree initiatives: CRM & AI, gross profit focus, depositsBuilding team buy-in with tactical execution and one-word alignmentWhy close rate is the real growth lever🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast • LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/ • Website | https://chrislalomia.com Final Thought: Don’t forget to go out there and tell your friends about this thing. Keep sharing the podcast—we’re just getting started. Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    37 min
See All (273)

5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

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?

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Lalomia
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    273
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Small Business Safari
  • Show Website
    The Small Business Safari

You Might Also Like