Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

Shannon Jean & Dave Hamilton

5.0 (45)
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
UPDATED WEEKLY

Two long-time small-business owners, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean, come to you each week to talk through the trials, success, pitfalls and tips it takes to successfully run a small business in today's world. Hear real-world folks talk about real-world problems, letting you know not only what it takes to get it done but that you're not alone in doing it!

1D AGO

Collin Rutherford of Founder Brands

Colin Rutherford joins the Business Brain podcast to share his entrepreneurial journey. Starting as a Division I hockey player at Dartmouth, he launched Greenbox Storage, a summer storage service for college students. Despite balancing 30 hours a week of hockey and Ivy League academics, he learned critical time management skills and grew the business to 23 schools. He discusses the challenges of scaling too fast—tripling branches in a year led to losses at multiple locations, teaching him the importance of measured growth and profit focus. Colin also talks about going viral on X with a post that reached 62 million views, which helped him monetize and gain visibility. He emphasizes consistency, experimentation, and borrowing proven strategies from others as keys to growing on social media. He’s posted over 18,000 times and follows a strategy influenced by Justin Welsh’s content model. Colin now runs Greenbox Storage and Founder Brands, a digital marketing and personal branding agency helping entrepreneurs grow their online influence. He highlights the importance of building a great remote team and using tools like Google Workspace, Slack, and AI to manage content and operations. He credits his parents for instilling discipline and drive and leaves listeners with advice: start before you’re ready, learn by doing, and surround yourself with smart people to scale successfully. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #640 for Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 April 16th: Wear Pajamas To Work Day 00:01:31 Guest Co-host Collin Rutherford from Business Blitz Podcast Being monetized on X Recruited to play D1 Hockey at Dartmouth Started Greenbox Storage in Dartmouth 00:04:42 Time Management running a business while being a D1 athlete 00:07:14 Selling a portion of your business to bring on a partner 00:08:46 SPONSOR: SelectQuote — Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/businessbrain. 00:09:51 SPONSOR: Shopify – For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/BusinessBrain and upgrade your selling today! 00:11:04 Shannon’s best practices means… copying Collin! 00:11:54 Social media: post content that attracts the algorithm, then people will see your valuable content “I’m not that smart, guys.” Justin Welsh’s Content Flywheel on X When is it time to pivot and try something different? 00:14:49 It’s important to make mistakes 00:15:11 Grew from 6 branches to 18 branches in one year We didn’t have any understanding how to find good schools 00:16:41 Unpacking the mindset of success The never-ending pursuit of personal growth 00:20:08 Starting FounderBrands 00:21:17 Tools to use Google Workspace Slack 00:23:15 Have a great team To Scale a business, you have to put the right people in the right places 00:24:51 Business Brain 640 Outtro https://businessbrain.

25 min
6D AGO

The Positive Learning Framework + FridAI

Dave and Shannon kick off the episode reflecting on the importance of mindset and self-talk. Dave shares a recent insight: instead of saying “I wish I had known that,” he shifted to “I’m glad I know that now,” which they agree is a powerful mental reframe. They talk about how this kind of positive self-programming builds confidence and impacts relationships with others in business, including employees and vendors. They also discuss how language affects perception, both internally and externally. Shannon gives an example of reframing a client’s negative self-talk about having a “chaotic mind” into something more empowering like having a “curious mind.” The conversation transitions into their regular Friday AI segment, highlighting the new ChatGPT 4.0 image feature. Shannon explains how he used it to create designs by uploading sketches and guiding the model step-by-step. They both emphasize that AI should be used as a collaborator, not a creator, and talk about how it enables faster, cheaper iterations compared to hiring creatives for every small task. They discuss the broader impact of AI tools, comparing it to the industrial revolution and the evolution of tech jobs, stressing the importance of adapting. Shannon shares a story about a technician who refused to learn new skills and eventually became obsolete. Dave adds that mastering AI is about staying competitive. They wrap up with a listener email from a programmer praising ClaudeCode for its ability to understand full codebases, calling it a game-changer. Shannon shares how he’s building a time-saving app for his mastermind group using AI—a project that would have been too costly and time-consuming in the past. Dave introduces the concept of “vibe coding”—collaborating with AI to build ideas iteratively. They close the episode urging listeners to embrace AI, experiment with it, and share their experiences. Listeners are encouraged to leave reviews for a chance to win a MacBook Air. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #639 for Casual Friday, April 11th, 2025 April 11th: National Pet Day 00:01:10 The value of “I wish I knew that before” vs. “I’m glad I know that now.” 00:03:41 “Thank you for your patience” instead of “I’m sorry” from Business Brain 555 00:05:40 Everyone’s a Customer 00:06:20 SPONSOR: Rogue Amoeba Software makes some of the best Mac Audio software on the planet, and we couldn’t produce BB this way without it! Just visit MacAudio.com/Brain and use code BRAIN to save 20% on anything they make. Download free trials, then buy online to receive the discounted price. 00:07:36 BB Review-Ian in KY Simon Wardley Matrix 00:09:11 ChatGPT 4o adds a new image engine 00:16:05 Bill-Claude Code is the best LLM for Coding Vibe Coding 00:21:03 Business Brain 639 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: a href="https://twitter.

21 min
APR 9

The Billionaire Perspective

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean kick things off with a humorous nod to International ASMR Day before diving into key business tips. Dave shares insights from the Podcast Movement Evolutions conference, emphasizing the importance of identifying where your industry engages online—like how the podcast ad industry is active on LinkedIn. By interacting there for just 30 minutes a day, he significantly boosted connections and created new business opportunities. They also stress the value of joining conversations without immediately pitching—just genuinely engaging first. Tools like Seamless.ai are recommended for finding email contacts when LinkedIn messages don’t get responses. Another pro tip: pass on credit card fees (3%) to customers in B2B settings. Dave reports zero pushback when doing so and shares how credit card reward points made such fees worth paying in his own car purchase experience. The show wraps with a powerful conversation about imposter syndrome. Shannon recounts chatting with a billionaire who admired Shannon’s freedom-focused “lifestyle business.” This conversation reminded both hosts (and listeners) that success is subjective—wealth isn’t just about money but also about time, freedom, and joy. The key takeaway: compare yourself only to your past self, not others. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #638 for Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 00:01:17 April 9th: International ASMR Day 00:02:04 LinkedIn…Find where your industry is! Seamless.ai 00:08:57 Tip: Add 3% for all credit card transactions. 00:12:22 SPONSOR: Rogue Amoeba Software makes some of the best Mac Audio software on the planet, and we couldn’t produce BB this way without it! Just visit MacAudio.com/Brain and use code BRAIN to save 20% on anything they make. Download free trials, then buy online to receive the discounted price. 00:13:37 BB Review Mar 9 2025 00:14:48 Pro Tip: Share your story with a billionaire and then listen and watch. 00:19:46 Imposter Syndrome 00:21:29 Business Brain 638 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain

22 min
APR 4

The Consultant Trap

Dave and Shannon discuss the “consulting trap”—the cycle where coaches or consultants trade time for money and get hooked on the immediate gratification of helping people, like feeling like Superman. Dave shares his own experience getting stuck in it and warns that it’s not scalable. Shannon agrees, saying he’s early in his coaching business and is already feeling the limits of one-on-one work. He’s working on solving this by automating, hiring help, building curriculum, creating group programs, and selling digital products. He started by offering free coaching to test the waters and quickly saw demand. They talk about how rewarding it is emotionally but emphasize the need to systematize the business to avoid burnout and maximize impact without tying everything to hours worked. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #637 for Casual Friday, April 4th, 2025 April 4th: National Walk to Work Day 00:01:20 The Consulting Trap 00:06:15 Productize Your Knowledge 00:07:40 Build Curriculum Gumroad 00:12:06 Beware the Superman Effect 00:14:13 Start…and Learn! But beware the Superman effect 00:19:03 Business Brain 637 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain

20 min
APR 2

Own Your Content

Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean open the episode with a light chat about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Dave then shares insights from attending South by Southwest (SXSW), focusing on a documentary called Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror. Initially intending to cover it for his music podcast, Dave realizes the documentary offers a deeper business lesson. The film covers how Rocky Horror started as a stage musical in London, became popular, moved to L.A., and was eventually turned into a low-budget movie. It initially flopped, but the creators noticed college students were the ones staying to watch. Instead of giving up, they pivoted to midnight showings and built an audience, which turned it into the longest-running movie ever. The main business takeaway: own your content. Richard O’Brien, who wrote and starred in the musical, was advised not to sell the rights. That ownership turned into a valuable long-term annuity, with the Rocky Horror franchise eventually earning an estimated $500 million through box office, merchandise, licensing, and more. They end by emphasizing that audiences create cults—not producers—and reiterate the importance of retaining ownership of your creations. Shannon also teases a story about a billionaire conversation for a future episode. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #636 for Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 00:01:00 April 2nd: National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day 00:03:43 Review Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror (from SXSW) 00:17:06 John Fogerty @ SXSW 00:18:33 Business Brain 636 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain

19 min
MAR 28

Automate Everything

In this episode of Business Brain, hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean celebrate National Hot Tub Day by discussing how hot tubs help them decompress and unplug. They transition into AI and automation, sharing practical Gmail tips—like using built-in templates for quick replies and the “+” email trick for tracking sign-ups and spam. They discuss the benefits of small automations, like smart lighting and motion-activated garage lights, which save time and mental energy. Shannon emphasizes using tools like Calendly to automate appointments and streamline client interactions, even incorporating automated sequences for paid consulting calls. Dave encourages listeners to start automating simple tasks and scale up, using tools like ChatGPT for guidance. They wrap up by urging listeners to think constantly about what they can automate to reclaim time and focus, promising more tips in future episodes and inviting feedback and automation ideas from their audience. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #635 for Casual Friday, March 28th, 2025 00:01:07 March 28th: National Hot Tub Day 00:02:25 More Gmail Tips Gmail Templates Plus Addressing 00:07:41 SPONSOR: Shopify – For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/BusinessBrain and upgrade your selling today! 00:08:53 SPONSOR: Rogue Amoeba Software makes some of the best Mac Audio software on the planet, and we couldn’t produce BB this way without it! Just visit MacAudio.com/Brain and use code BRAIN to save 20% on anything they make. Download free trials, then buy online to receive the discounted price. 00:10:31 KDU472-BB Review 00:12:23 FridAI: Automate Everything (your lights, your workflows, everything) 00:15:34 Using Calendly to automate appointments on your calendar (use different types of calls!) 00:19:28 Business Brain 635 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain

20 min
MAR 26

Everyone is a Customer

Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean open episode 634 of the Business Brain podcast by sharing personal updates and diving into a frustrating customer service story from Shannon. He explains his negative experience with Bluehost, a company he used for domain management. After being hacked and receiving poor support with constant upselling, he moved his sites elsewhere but left domains with Bluehost, which later caused major DNS issues. Bluehost reset his DNS records after ending his hosting plan, leaving his business offline for days and requiring a tedious domain transfer process. Dave empathizes and recommends Cloudflare as a better DNS and registrar solution. The conversation transitions into a key business principle: everyone is a customer — not just those who buy from you. They emphasize that employees, suppliers, vendors, attorneys, accountants, and delivery drivers should all be treated with the same attention and care as paying customers. Building good relationships and being kind leads to better service, loyalty, and faster support when needed. Shannon encourages business owners to show appreciation, stay in regular communication, and make positive impacts on everyone around them. They close by urging listeners to adopt this mindset and share their experiences. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #634 for Wednesday, March 26th, 2025 March 26th: Live Long and Prosper Day 00:01:11 First official Shannon Wears Shorts day of 2025 00:01:37 The Worst Customer Service Experience Bluehost Eversite 00:08:22 Dave’s advice: Use Cloudflare Domain Registrar 00:10:23 SPONSOR: Shopify – For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/BusinessBrain and upgrade your selling today! 00:11:35 SPONSOR: Rogue Amoeba Software makes some of the best Mac Audio software on the planet, and we couldn’t produce BB this way without it! Just visit MacAudio.com/Brain and use code BRAIN to save 20% on anything they make. Download free trials, then buy online to receive the discounted price. 00:13:14 Everyone Is a Customer Your Employees Your Suppliers Your Vendors Even Your Attorneys And, of course, your Customers (aka the people who spend money with you) This is an attention game 00:21:12 Teach your employees this concept, too 00:22:14 Business Brain 634 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & a href="https://www.facebook.

23 min
MAR 21

FridAI - GPT vs. Perplexity, Zoom AI and Bluesky

Business Brain episode 633 celebrates Twitter Day and discusses Blue Sky, a decentralized social network originally started as a project within Twitter by Jack Dorsey and now run by Jay Graber. The show then moves to AI topics, emphasizing that people won’t be replaced by AI but by people who use AI. They discuss how AI has enhanced their workflow, especially with creating podcast images and using tools like Zoom’s AI summaries to generate meeting action items automatically. They also compare ChatGPT with Perplexity, noting Perplexity’s more detailed, direct answers. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #633 for Casual Friday, March 21st, 2025 March 21st: Twitter Day (also National Common Courtesy Day) 00:01:07 Lessons from Bluesky’s Jay Graber SXSW Keynote 00:11:07 SPONSOR: SelectQuote — Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/businessbrain. 00:12:32 SPONSOR: Shopify – For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/BusinessBrain and upgrade your selling today! 00:13:49 FridAI, the weekly AI segment 00:17:03 Zoom AI 00:20:25 Perplexity vs. ChatGPT 00:23:36 Business Brain 633 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain

24 min

See All (639)

out of 5

45 Ratings

Entertaining, insightful, and energizing approach to work and technology.

Mar 25

Ian in Ky

I’ve been a huge fan of Business Brain.. As someone who falls somewhere between Pioneer and Settler in the Simon Wardley matrix, I’m always drawn to Dave and Shannon’s Pioneer mindset. Their weekly AI conversations are a great way to get my mind thinking outside the box and explore new ways to use technology to boost productivity. If you own your own business, work in customer support, customer success, sales, or any other role that involves interacting with customers, you’re sure to find some valuable insights that can help you take your game to the next level.
On Point All the Time!

Mar 4

KDU472

Besides new ideas on how to use AI, Dave and Shannon often simply remind us of things we should be doing. It is great to have them there to nudge us and steer us when we are heads down in the weeds! Love it!
Smart and funny

Feb 11

Derek Kolstad

One of the best business podcasts. Both hosts are super funny, relatable, and insightful with business. Glad I discovered this gem!
Must listen for business owners

Feb 8

GregChurchPhD

This podcast is a must-listen for every small business owner. It helps provide “business therapy” to overcome challenges and help motivate us to improve. I like the variety of topics that are covered and look forward to listening twice per week. As a listener, you feel like you get to know the hosts, Shannon and Dave, personally and I appreciate their laid-back informal conversations. I like the occasional guest and appreciate the responsiveness to feedback. I look forward to listening for many years to come. Keep up the great work!