Big Talk About Small Business

Big Talk About Small Business
  • 5.0 (8)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hosted by Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Our Mission is to inspire, empower, and equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and insights they need to succeed in their ventures. Through engaging conversations with industry experts, seasoned entrepreneurs, and thought leaders, we aim to provide valuable strategies, actionable advice, and real-world experiences that will enable our listeners to navigate the challenges, seize the opportunities, and build thriving businesses.

  1. 4D AGO

    Ep. 110 – Strategy Is Not a Spreadsheet

    Strategy only matters if it survives Monday. We take a candid look at how small businesses can turn plans into progress by focusing on action, clear ownership, and market reality. From the opening rant on “Department of the Obvious” stats to a practical cadence for think time and team buy-in, we map out what actually moves the needle when you don’t have enterprise budgets or endless runway. We unpack why the 80-20 rule,  80% action, 20% strategy, works for founders who need momentum now, and how top-line growth becomes a forcing function for learning. You’ll hear our candid take on value-based pricing (pricing what the market will pay, not what your spreadsheet suggests), the hidden costs of optimizing for per-project margins, and why volume and relationships often matter more than isolated deal profitability. We also separate small business sustainability from venture-scale exploration, covering capital needs, product-market fit, and the patience required to navigate uncertainty without losing conviction. Execution is where most strategies die, so we get tactical: assign unambiguous ownership, create visible deadlines, kill heroics that reward firefighting, and invest in a partner who can advance long-term systems while you sell and deliver. We share a simple loop, think, communicate, stress-test with your team and customers, refine, and recommunicate, that keeps strategy alive. Protect weekly strategy time, scan your industry for shifts, and let customer signals shape your next move. If you’ve ever felt your plan evaporate under daily tasks, this conversation gives you a path to consistent execution, better pricing decisions, and sustainable growth. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a founder who needs it, and leave a quick review so more small-business owners can find us.

    45 min

  2. OCT 29

    Ep. 109 - Stop Faking Corporate: Lead Like a Founder

    Most leadership advice assumes you’ve got time, staff, and cash to spare. We don’t. We take you straight into the realities of small business leadership where the bank balance is thin, the to-do list is wide, and your actions, not your titles, set the culture. Our focus is sharp: how to lead when you must sell, train, set standards, and still carry the vision that keeps everyone moving. We unpack the crucial differences between corporate leadership and entrepreneurial leadership, why big-company playbooks often fail in a 10-person shop, and how to replace them with practical habits. You’ll hear why being “replaceable” is a bad early-stage goal, how hiring accomplished corporate operators can clash with startup constraints, and what it looks like to work in the business without becoming a bottleneck. We double-click on the cadence that actually sustains progress: simple, stepwise vision, weekly reviews that hold the plan to the fire, and relentless standard-setting across sales, ops, service, and quality. Throughout, we keep returning to the traits that matter most when resources are scarce: a clear and repeatable vision, the discipline to translate it into near-term steps, and the energy to rally a team through uncertainty. Think Braveheart over Patton, leading from the front, not from a balcony. If you’ve ever tried to outsource the heartbeat of your company too soon, or wondered why polished frameworks don’t survive first contact with cash flow, this conversation brings practical clarity and a few field-tested laughs. If this hit home, follow the show, share it with a founder who needs the nudge, and leave a quick review so more builders can find it. Your support helps us keep the lights on and the conversations honest.

    39 min

  3. OCT 22

    Ep. 108 - Stop Being the Victim

    Tired of waiting for perfect conditions before you finally feel engaged at work? We get real about why that moment never comes and how to build momentum anyway. The core theme is simple and demanding: act like an owner, even when you’re an employee. Treat your role like a business with one customer, your manager, and focus on solving problems, not asking for special treatment. That shift isn’t about being exploited; it’s about stacking trust, earning opportunity, and compounding results that lift teams and careers. We revisit a provocative “I never asked” essay and unpack how fairness and morale ripple through an organization. One-off privileges poison culture, while consistent standards and visible contributions raise the floor for everyone. We talk candidly about side hustles, integrity, and attention: if you’ve mentally checked out of your day job, either recommit long enough to prove your ceiling or exit cleanly and channel your best hours into your own thing. The real enemy is victim thinking. Business doesn’t tolerate passengers, and entrepreneurship exposes that truth fast. Along the way, we push back on pop culture’s twin traps: fantasy and negativity. Retirement isn’t a bliss switch; purpose comes from work that engages your body and brain. Money won’t eliminate stress; it changes its shape. The goal isn’t comfort, it’s productive pressure that grows capacity. We share stories of leaders who stayed in the game through painful cash crunches and found unexpected tailwinds simply by continuing to solve problems. We also dig into the power of your circle: spend time with builders who leave you more focused than when you arrived. If you want practical, unglamorous steps to move up, quantify your impact, report value regularly, go above and beyond without being asked, and obsess over customers like Sam Walton preached, this conversation is your playbook. Subscribe, share with a teammate who needs a push, and leave a review with the one behavior you’re changing this week.

    53 min

  4. OCT 15

    Ep. 107 - Entrepreneurs Don’t Take Vacations

    Stop chasing balance like it’s a prize you win at the end of the grind. We delve into the real operating system of small businesses, managing imbalance, where pressure can build you up instead of break you, and where “hustle” is a strategy, not a badge of exhaustion. From 3 a.m. doubts to midweek wins, we unpack how committed owners outpace 50 competitors in fragmented markets by doing simple things others won’t: return the call, show up branded, follow the chain of influence, and keep pushing when “no” is the first answer. We also take a tactical approach to avoiding burnout while you’re building. You’ll hear practical boundaries that actually work, 30-minute meetings, batching messages, doing the hardest task first, and adding short resets that free your head without derailing your day. We talk about isolation, why it hits founders so hard, and how to turn it into introspection and better decisions with the right peer circle, mentors, or professional support. And we challenge cultural scripts about vacations and “passive income”: rest should restore you, not add stress, and disengaged ownership is a myth that sinks more ventures than it saves. Underneath it all is purpose: money is the outcome, not the aim. Confidence raises the ceiling for teams, spreads performance, and turns the daily push into a game worth playing. Whether you’re moving from corporate to ownership or you’re deep in the build, this is a clear-eyed, energizing playbook for staying engaged, ditching guilt, and defining success on your terms. If this sparked something, tap follow, share it with a builder in your circle, and leave a quick review. Tell us the one boundary you’re setting this week.

    1 hr

  5. OCT 8

    Ep. 106 - From Door-to-Door to Eight Figures

    Growth isn’t magic, it’s math. We sit down with entrepreneur Joe Rare to unpack how he turned a failing, everything-for-everyone agency into a focused, scalable machine by choosing one niche, productizing delivery, and unleashing a disciplined engine of VAs, automation, and AI. The conversation moves fast, from door-to-door “test marketing” days to rebuilding on a lean tech stack, and lands on a clear thesis: make more offers, with more precision, to the right market, and let systems carry the weight. Joe breaks down why the wedding venue niche was ripe for transformation and how simple automation doubled annual bookings in just over a year. We dig into the operational backbone: why the Philippines excels for creative marketing output to where AI fits best today, as an authentic, disclosed “setter” that handles instant callbacks on warm inquiries. We also explore the pendulum swing toward community and human connection as AI saturates channels, and how brands can stay trusted by being transparent and experience-led. Then we get tactical with RevLift.ai, Joe’s new revenue intelligence play that squeezes more value from every marketing dollar. Think identity resolution for anonymous traffic, data enrichment, deliverability fixes, iMessage response lifts, and partner handoffs that monetize “dead” leads. It’s a stack of micro-optimizations that compounds into meaningful revenue without blowing up ad spend. The takeaway is unapologetically direct: stop treating marketing as an expense and start treating offers as your primary growth lever. Build the team, document the process, and 100x your output so the numbers can finally tell you the truth. If this conversation sparked an idea, share it with a founder who needs it, subscribe for more no-fluff growth playbooks, and drop a review with the single tactic you’ll implement this week.

    51 min

  6. OCT 1

    Ep. 105 - The High Cost of Cheap Legal Advice

    What's the real cost of cutting legal corners in your startup? Attorney Lucas Regnier explains why your choice of business structure can significantly impact your growth trajectory. The podcast delves into the often-misunderstood world of business entity selection, examining why LLCs, despite their popularity, may not be the optimal choice for growth-focused ventures. Regnier shares valuable insights about the limitations of LLCs when adding new owners or seeking investment capital, contrasting this with the advantages C-Corporations offer for dynamic businesses. "A little bit of lawyering five years ago could have saved you ten times the lawyering and the pain later," Regnier explains, recounting situations where entrepreneurs found themselves trapped by poorly structured legal foundations. The conversation illuminates the concept of "corporate hygiene"—the documentation and record-keeping essential for business legitimacy that becomes critically important during investment due diligence or acquisition talks. Perhaps most eye-opening is the discussion of securities law compliance. Many founders don't realize that selling any interest in their company triggers legal requirements that, if ignored, can create significant liability. Mark, Eric, and Lucas break down what constitutes an "accredited investor," why this matters for fundraising, and how to avoid inadvertently creating what Lucas calls "a loaded gun that investors can point at your head" if relationships deteriorate. The episode concludes with a passionate discussion about building better bridges between entrepreneurs and investors in emerging startup ecosystems, with practical advice for founders navigating these complex waters. Whether you're just starting or scaling up, this conversation provides essential guidance for creating a legal foundation that supports rather than hinders your business growth.

    55 min

  7. SEP 24

    Ep. 104 - Success Starts with Showing Up

    Success in your first job isn't what most people think. Forget the conventional wisdom about comprehensive benefits packages, comfortable working hours, and clearly defined job descriptions. The real path to professional achievement requires a fundamental shift in mindset that most career advisors never mention. In this eye-opening discussion, we challenge the pervasive belief that success comes from finding the right company with the best benefits. Instead, we reveal how truly successful professionals view their early careers as investment opportunities, not transactional relationships where they expect immediate returns for their efforts. This mentality difference separates rising stars from those who remain stagnant throughout their careers. We explore why high-growth companies, though potentially offering fewer traditional benefits, provide exponentially more valuable opportunities for career advancement. When you join a company experiencing rapid expansion, you'll likely handle responsibilities far beyond your official role, creating skills, connections, and experiences that simply aren't available in more structured environments. As we point out, "The visibility of value is instantaneous and recognizable, not only to your boss and peers, but to the community and clients you serve." Many young professionals unknowingly carry an unconscious suspicion toward employers, constantly looking for evidence they're being exploited. This confirmation bias becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that undermines relationships and limits opportunities. We offer practical strategies for overcoming this mindset, including being responsive to communication, developing strong writing skills, seeking mentorship, and networking throughout your organization. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to accelerate your professional growth, this episode provides a roadmap for success that challenges conventional wisdom while offering actionable insights. The path to exceptional achievement isn't about finding the perfect job; it's about bringing the perfect mindset to whatever opportunity comes your way.

    1 hr

  8. SEP 17

    Ep. 103 - Do the Work. Be Responsive. Win in 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 has shifted over our careers, from the days when a personal phone call at work was practically taboo to today's hybrid environments with frequent breaks and distractions. We explore how this shift affects not just businesses but the individuals themselves, potentially robbing them of growth opportunities. As Mark poignantly observes, "Getting comfortable, feeling like you've achieved—it's a disaster. It's the beginning of death." Between colorful stories about Dr. Buck's fake teeth (a hilarious consultant test), my disastrous carrot cake celebration after selling my business, and Mark's unconventional dietary habits, we extract valuable business lessons. We discuss how nothing on Earth remains in a steady state, you're either growing or declining, and how this applies to entrepreneurship. Simple principles like being responsive, following through on promises, and continuous improvement remain the bedrock of business success despite technological advances. Our conversation takes meaningful turns through family histories spanning generations, providing perspective on resilience and the evolution of expectations. We reflect on what we call "business karma", how genuine effort, honesty, and ethical behavior tend to yield positive results over time, creating the support network that helps weather inevitable storms. Whether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or looking to reignite your passion, this conversation will remind you why the challenges of business ownership are worth embracing.

    1h 5m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Hosted by Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Our Mission is to inspire, empower, and equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and insights they need to succeed in their ventures. Through engaging conversations with industry experts, seasoned entrepreneurs, and thought leaders, we aim to provide valuable strategies, actionable advice, and real-world experiences that will enable our listeners to navigate the challenges, seize the opportunities, and build thriving businesses.

Information

  • Creator
    Big Talk About Small Business
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    113
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Big Talk About Small Business
  • Show Website
    Big Talk About Small Business

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