The Small Business Safari

Chris Lalomia
  • 5.0 (30)
  • 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. 2D AGO

    From Door-Kicking To Strategy: Running A Profitable Handyman Business

    Send us a text  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

  2. JAN 27

    From Welding To Wireless: A Family’s Exit Strategy | Jim Tracy

    Send us a text What does it take to go from the factory floor to the boardroom—and still keep your values intact? In this episode, we trade war stories with Jim Tracy, tracing his journey from welder to Wireless Hall of Fame leader. Jim shares how he built a blue-collar telecommunications business alongside his son, exited twice, and never lost sight of culture, safety, and people along the way. We dig into what caring leadership really looks like when payroll is tight, how authentic recognition and jobsite visits strengthen teams, and why designing your business to be sellable years in advance changes every decision you make. Jim also breaks down private equity fit, post-merge integration, and how calm, disciplined leaders win in uncertain markets. If you’re building a business in the trades—or any people-driven operation—this conversation is packed with hard-learned lessons you can actually use. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • Building a blue-collar telecommunications business with family  • Running on fear and discipline during lean payroll weeks  • Choosing people over money as a leadership operating system  • Authentic recognition and field visits that strengthen culture  • Making safety engaging, rewarding, and real on jobsites  • Designing a business to be sellable long before an exit  • What private equity really looks for beyond the numbers  • Navigating cultural fit and post-merge integration  • Embracing uncertainty with scenario planning and calm execution  • Lessons from Legacy Radio to Grampian podcast and radical transparency  • Customer service truths: under promise, overdeliver—every time 🔗 Guest Links • Website: www.thegrampion.com Email: jim@thejimtracy.com thegrampion.com (Blogthejimtracy.com (Personal)linktr.ee/grampion (Other) • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-tracy-istowerjim/  • Podcast: Legacy Radio to The Grampian 🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast • LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/ • Website | https://chrislalomia.com If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a founder who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review so more builders can find us. Your support helps more small business owners turn uncertainty into an advantage. 📩 Connect: Send me an email: chris@thetrustedtoolbox.com Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    54 min

  3. JAN 20

    Pick The Right Marketing Agency, Not The Cheapest | Andy Seeley

    Send us a text  What happens when a business stops guessing on marketing and starts treating growth like a system? One gymnastics gym went from stalled growth to multi-million-dollar revenue—and the playbook applies to any small business. Andy Seeley tells us how.  Summary: In this episode, Andy Seeley breaks down how to choose a marketing agency that won’t experiment on your budget, why niching creates faster and more predictable results, and how AI can turn raw inquiries into booked appointments automatically. Using a real gymnastics gym case study, we show how operations, pricing, enrollment strategy, and marketing must align to unlock sustainable growth. You’ll hear how smart micro-testing on Meta finds the right parents, why multi-channel intake matters more than ever, and how AI tools can qualify, converse, and schedule without adding staff. We also dive into retention strategy—specifically the powerful shift from opt-in to opt-out enrollment—and how raising prices actually works when demand and value are built intentionally. This is a tactical episode for owners who want real growth—not agency hype. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • How to interview agencies for real niche experience and cultural fit  • Red flags that signal an agency is learning on your dime • Why reading how reviews are written matters more than star ratings • Using micro-tests on Meta ads to dial in the right audience fast • Building multi-channel intake around how customers actually prefer to respond • How AI can qualify leads, hold conversations, and book appointments • Switching from opt-in to opt-out enrollment to boost retention • Raising prices by increasing perceived value and demand • Treating your agency like an extension of your internal team 🔗 Guest / Resource Links • Creatively Disruptive – https://creativelydisruptive.com • High Level Thinkers – https://highlevelthinkers.com • Ashworth Strategy – https://ashworthstrategy.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyseeley/ “Reach out—we’ll help you plan your growth.”🌍 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!

    42 min

  4. JAN 13

    From Distributor To Barber To Manufacturer: Eric Malka Shares The Playbook | Eric Malka

    Send us a text What does it really take to turn a scrappy New York storefront into a globally recognized luxury brand—and then exit it on your terms? Eric Malka breaks it all down. Summary Eric Malka shares the real story behind building a premium grooming brand from the ground up—starting with a $12,000 shop in New York and evolving through distributor, retailer, service provider, and manufacturer. We unpack the pivotal press moment that drove a 20x sales spike, how disciplined brand and margin decisions enabled luxury positioning, and what it takes to plan and negotiate a strategic exit—especially during crisis moments. Along the way, Eric explains how customer pain points shaped natural product formulas, why not every “great” location works, and how luxury distribution partnerships validated the brand while protecting margins. We also explore omnichannel growth in a privacy-first ad world and what purpose looks like after a successful exit—from fatherhood and health to mentoring the next generation of founders. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • Moving from distributor → retailer → services → manufacturer  • Using PR strategically to create demand and brand credibility  • Building products directly from customer pain points  • Designing a premium in-store experience that converts to retail sales  • Lessons learned from a failed Wall Street location  • Leveraging Neiman Marcus for luxury validation and distribution  • Defining luxury vs. mass—and protecting margins  • Adopting omnichannel while adapting to privacy-driven ad changes  • Planning for a revenue-based brand exit and negotiating under pressure  • Redefining purpose after the sale through health, family, and mentorship Author of the book: On The Razor's Edge 🔗 Guest Links • Website: https://strategicbrandinvestments.com • Personal Site: https://ericmalka.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-malka-9071529/ • Instagram: @ericmalka 🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast  • LinkedIn | Chris Lalomia  • Website | https://chrislalomia.com Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    51 min

  5. JAN 6

    From Service to Skilled Trades: Creating Real Jobs for Veterans | Marty Strong

    Send us a text 🎧 The Small Business Safari Title: From Service to Skilled Trades:  Creating Real Jobs for Veterans  Too many veterans leave the military with discipline and grit—but no clear civilian pathway. Marty Strong is fixing that with real skills, real employers, and paid apprenticeships. Summary: We sit down with Marty Strong, founder of Warriors Haven USA, to break down a practical, no-fluff pathway that helps veterans find both purpose and pay through the skilled trades. Marty explains why blue-collar work isn’t a fallback—it’s a solution to a massive talent gap—and why combat arms veterans are uniquely wired to succeed in this space. We unpack the “transition shock” many vets experience, the cultural myths that keep people away from trades, and how Warriors Haven USA’s three-level training model moves participants from exposure, to skill-building, to paid apprenticeships with employer partners who are ready to hire. Marty also shares the hard truths around funding, the vision behind a new 9,000-square-foot training center, and why real momentum comes from mentors, networking, and matching skills to actual market demand. This episode is a must-listen for veterans, employers, and business owners who believe meaningful work should lead to real opportunity. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • Why skilled trades solve a real and growing talent shortage  • Who Warriors Haven USA serves—and why this model fits veterans  • The three-level pipeline from exposure to paid apprenticeship  • Employer-ready skills in HVAC, metalwork, woodworking, and culinary  • The Business Academy: sales, hiring, and scaling beyond the tools  • Funding realities and building a 9,000 sq ft training facility  • How purpose returns when skills align with real demand  • Why networking and mentors beat cold calls every time 🔗 Guest Links • Website: https://warriorshavenusa.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-strong-9676bb13/ martystrong.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!

    53 min

  6. 12/30/2025

    From Bank Teller To CEO: Building Teams That Thrive | Courtney De Ronde

    Send us a text 🎧 The Small Business Safari Podcast Title: From Bank Teller to CEO:  Building Teams That Thrive  What if clarity—not hustle—was the real growth lever in your business? Summary: We unpack how clarity, boundaries, and respect transform a stressful, travel-heavy audit model into a high-retention, highly profitable practice—and how those same principles help founders escape the default problem solver trap. Courtney shares how she redesigned operations to protect margin, filter the right clients, and build leaders who truly own outcomes. This conversation is a masterclass in making growth feel lighter. You’ll learn how to turn client pain points into process advantages, say no to misfit work without guilt, and create systems that preserve culture while reducing founder dependency. From financial dashboards to scope control, Courtney breaks down the practical tools that allow founders to lead with intention instead of constant reaction. If you’re tired of being the bottleneck and ready to scale with clarity, this episode delivers real-world frameworks you can apply immediately. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • Designing a vision that creates real boundaries  • Turning client pain points into operational advantages  • Protecting margin by saying no to misaligned work  • Hiring and leading by strengths—not sameness  • Building leaders who own outcomes, not just tasks  • Using financial dashboards for visibility and control  • Preventing scope creep with better project management  • Creating a client experience that earns renewals  • Letting go of control without losing culture  • Practical intake, scope, and timing filters that work 🔗 Guest Links • Website: https://forgeahead.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyderonde/ • Free Complexity Assessment: https://assessments.forgeahead.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!

    53 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    If Jobs Don’t Want Your Experience, Lead With Your Mission | John Tarnoff

    Send us a text Stop waiting to “feel ready.” Here’s the hard truth: confidence comes last. If layoffs, ageism, or career ghosting have knocked you sideways, this conversation with career transition coach John Tarnoff offers a practical way forward—without applying to 100 job postings. John breaks down why the old career playbook—resumes, cover letters, and cold applications—fails experienced professionals, and how to replace it with mission-led positioning, warm introductions, and a narrowly defined “superpower” that solves one urgent problem for the right buyer. We dig into how to turn your LinkedIn About section into a clear mission and promise, rewrite headlines around outcomes (not titles), and shift from task execution to executive-level problem solving. John also shares his own path through eighteen jobs and seven firings, reframing setbacks as data—and momentum. This episode connects career transition, leadership, and entrepreneurship with a consultant mindset: diagnose pain, map a path to results, communicate relentlessly, and finish the last five percent. Whether you’re W-2 or 1099, the goal is the same—become the trusted thought partner leaders rely on. If you feel stuck, consider this your nudge: move while uncomfortable, define the promise you’re making, choose the niche you can own, and reach out to five people who can open the right doors this month. 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • Confidence is the outcome of action—not the starting point • Why ageism is hitting earlier and how referrals bypass it • Mission-led career design from the inside out • Turning LinkedIn profiles into stories and value promises • Writing headlines around outcomes instead of roles • The baseball mindset for outreach (.300 is elite) • Selling strategy to executives, not tasks • Reframing firings and setbacks as usable data • Thinking like a consultant in leadership and entrepreneurship 🔗 Guest Links • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johntarnoff/ • Programs & Coaching:  johntarnoff.com (Company)johntarnoff.com/blog (Blog)midcareerlab.com (Company)🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast  • LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/  • Website | https://chrislalomia.com 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!

    42 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    Wicked Smart Real Estate, No Banks Required | Chris Prefontaine

    Send us a text What happens when an investor swears off banks, personal guarantees, and risky one-and-done deals? Chris Prefontaine rebuilt from the 2008 crash by creating a bank-free model that produces cash now, cash monthly, and cash at exit. Summary: Chris Prefontaine, founder of Smart Real Estate Coach, shares how losing everything in 2008 forced him to rewrite the rules of real estate. He now buys through owner financing and subject-to deals, prioritizes principal-only terms, and structures every transaction around his trademark “three paydays.” We unpack his lead-gen engines, VA-driven metrics, airtight legal processes, and why his coaching model includes revenue-share and real in-the-trenches support. This episode is packed with practical takeaways on scaling, staying safe legally, and building a legacy business with grit, patience, and clear expectations. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGETS  • Setting new rules after losing everything in 2008  • Buying without banks: owner financing & subject-to explained  • Why principal-only terms matter more than price  • The three paydays and how each creates predictable income • Lead gen from expired, FSBO, FRBO, and free-and-clear lists • How VAs drive outreach, metrics, and conversion consistency • Legal must-haves and choosing the right attorneys • Coaching that includes revenue-share and deal support • Building a family-run team and long-term legacy • Who succeeds: grit, patience, and realistic timelines 🔗 Guest Links • Free Books: https://wickedsmartbooks.com/safari • Smart Real Estate Coach: https://smartrealestatecoach.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisprefontaine/ 🌍 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!

    46 min
See All (266)

5
out of 5
30 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
    266
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Small Business Safari
  • Show Website
    The Small Business Safari

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