The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.

Henry Lopez
  • 4.7 (504)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

The How of Business - how to start, run and grow a small business - is a weekly show for aspiring Entrepreneurs and existing Small Business Owners. If you are looking for actionable advice, tips and techniques on how to start (including launching or buying your first small business), run and grow your small business, this is the podcast for you! In each episode we either discuss a business topic, or interview an existing small business owner or business service provider. The How of Business is hosted by Henry Lopez who shares the knowledge and experience he has acquired over his corporate and entrepreneurial careers.

  1. 1d ago

    Parkinson's Law for Small Business

    Why work expands to fill the time available, and how small business owners can use deadlines, time blocking, and clear outcomes to get more done in less time. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/616-parkinsons-law-for-small-business/ Have you ever noticed that a task you expected to finish in a day somehow ends up taking all week? Parkinson's Law explains why and understanding it can help small business owners reclaim their most limited resource: their time. Parkinson's Law is the principle that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. Give yourself an entire day to complete an administrative task and it will often consume the entire day. Give your team two weeks to finish a project and much of the meaningful work tends to happen in the final two days. For small business owners, this helps explain why we feel constantly busy, why meetings and projects drag on, and why there never seems to be enough time for the high-value work that actually grows the business. In this episode of The How of Business, Henry Lopez explores how understanding Parkinson's Law can help you and your team make faster progress and use your limited time more effectively without simply working longer hours. The concept was introduced by British historian and author C. Northcote Parkinson in a 1955 essay in The Economist. His observation was simple: when more time is available, work tends to become more complicated and consume all the time available. It's a bit like a bigger house that we fill with more stuff. The more time we have, the more we tend to fill it. Give yourself an hour to write an email and you may spend the full hour refining it; give yourself fifteen minutes and you'll likely communicate the same message just as well. Henry, a self-described perfectionist, is candid about how this applies to his own work, where the pursuit of perfection often produces diminishing returns. The first 80% of a result might take two hours, while chasing perfection can consume six more without making it materially more valuable to the customer. When work continually expands, the consequences add up: higher labor costs, slower execution, delayed revenue, missed opportunities, decision fatigue, too much owner involvement, and less time for planning and growth. Henry also raises a hard question worth sitting with: does your business culture reward activity instead of results? The heart of the episode is a set of eight practical tactics for putting reasonable constraints around your work, plus five questions you can ask to right-size any recurring task or project. As Henry puts it, "Don't just ask how much time do we have. Instead, ask how much time should this result require?" This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

  2. Jul 27

    AI and Cybersecurity for Small Business with Mordy Hackel

    Technology expert explains how small business owners can leverage AI as a force multiplier while protecting their data, systems, and intellectual property from emerging cybersecurity risks. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/615-mordy-hackel-ai-cybersecurity / Artificial intelligence is creating enormous opportunities for small businesses—but it is also introducing new cybersecurity, data, and operational risks. In this episode of The How of Business, Henry Lopez is joined by technology entrepreneur and KJ Technology founder Mordy Hackel to explore how small business owners can embrace AI, use technology as a force multiplier, and protect their businesses as the technology landscape continues to change. Mordy shares his entrepreneurial journey from studying economics and working in technology for organizations including the NBA, Sony Music, and Citibank to building KJ Technology, a Manhattan-based managed IT services firm he has been growing since 1998. Henry Lopez and Mordy Hackel discuss why small businesses should not assume they are too small to be targets for cybercrime. AI is making phishing emails, voice impersonation, social engineering, and other attacks increasingly sophisticated. Small organizations may be particularly vulnerable when they lack established procedures for authorizing payments, sharing sensitive information, or granting access to systems. They also explore another increasingly important issue: employees using AI tools independently. When employees use personal ChatGPT, Claude, or other AI accounts for company work, businesses may expose confidential information or lose valuable intellectual property and institutional knowledge when those employees leave. But the message of this episode is not to be afraid of AI. Mordy believes the opportunities significantly outweigh the risks. The challenge is learning how to use the right technology for the right problem. AI can help business owners think creatively, analyze problems, overcome writer's block, develop workflows, prototype applications, and identify opportunities to improve how their businesses operate. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

  3. Jul 21

    Growing a Family Business with Kaiden Routh

    How he earned his way into leadership, developed a capable management team, and transformed a hands-on family equipment dealership into a scalable business that no longer depends on him for every decision. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/614-kaiden-routh-growing-family-business/ How do you step into a multigenerational family business, earn the respect of employees and customers, and then change how the company operates without damaging its legacy? In this episode, Henry Lopez is joined by Kaiden Routh, CEO of Routh Sales and Rentals, a second-generation family-owned equipment dealership with locations in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Kaiden grew up around family businesses and initially considered pursuing a different career. When he eventually joined the family company, he was not immediately placed in charge. He worked at the parts counter, supported the service department, handled sales, and learned nearly every part of the operation. That experience helped Kaiden understand the business and earn credibility with employees. However, stepping into leadership created a different challenge: longtime customers and team members were accustomed to bypassing him and going directly to his father. Kaiden explains how he and his father navigated that challenging transition, established new boundaries, and accepted that the next generation would need to operate the business differently. Henry and Kaiden also discuss Kaiden's evolution from being the person who solved every problem to becoming a CEO focused on growth, people, culture, customer experience, and the future growth of the company. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

  4. Jul 13

    The 6 Traits of Entrepreneurs

    Do you possess the innate characteristics, the 6 essential traits, required to become a true entrepreneur? Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/r346-6-traits-of-entrepreneurs/ How to honestly assess whether you possess the 6 essential traits required to become a true entrepreneur. Henry explains the critical difference between being self-employed or a small business owner and being a true entrepreneur, and why not everyone is wired to build an organization that grows beyond themselves. He shares the six essential traits that, according to Gino Wickman, and based on Henry's own decades of entrepreneurial experience and coaching, are innate characteristics required for entrepreneurial success. If you're considering starting a business, or wondering whether entrepreneurship is truly the right path for you, this episode will help you honestly assess yourself before making the leap. The 6 Traits of Entrepreneurs: Visionary Passionate Problem Solver Driven Risk Taker Responsible (Blames No One) Key Takeaways from this episode: The difference between self-employment and entrepreneurship. Why entrepreneurial success requires more than a great idea. The six essential entrepreneurial traits of entrepreneurs. Why these traits are considered innate and not learned. How honest self-assessment can save years of frustration. Why entrepreneurship isn't the right path for everyone, and that's okay! This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

  5. Jul 6

    Conflict Resolution Principles with Jeremy Pollack

    How understanding the neuroscience behind conflict can help small business owners become more effective leaders, build healthier teams, and transform workplace conflict into collaboration. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/613-jeremy-pollack-conflict-resolution/ Conflict is inevitable in every small business. But according to conflict resolution expert Jeremy Pollack, conflict itself isn't the problem. It's how our nervous systems respond to perceived threats that determines whether conflict becomes destructive or productive. In this episode, Henry Lopez talks with social-organizational psychologist, mediator, and author Jeremy Pollack about the neuroscience behind workplace conflict and why better communication alone isn't enough. Jeremy explains that before teams can solve problems effectively, leaders must first learn how to regulate their own nervous systems and create an environment where others feel psychologically safe. Drawing from his book Wired for Peace: Using Seven Neuroscience-Based Principles to Resolve Conflicts, Jeremy shares practical strategies that every small business owner can apply immediately to improve leadership, strengthen culture, and reduce unnecessary workplace tension. Whether you're managing a growing team, navigating difficult employee conversations, or simply wanting to become a more effective leader, this episode offers practical, science-backed tools you can begin using immediately in your small business. Jeremy Pollack, Ph.D., is a social-organizational psychologist, workplace conflict resolution expert, and author of Wired for Peace, helping leaders build healthier, more collaborative teams through neuroscience-based conflict resolution. He is the founder of Pollack Peacebuilding Systems. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

  6. Jun 29

    What a Waymo Ride Taught Us About Innovation

    A Waymo driverless vehicle ride sparks a discussion about AI, innovation, technology adoption, and why small business owners can't afford to wait for perfection before embracing emerging technologies like AI. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/612-waymo-and-innovation/ Henry Lopez and returning guest host David Begin recently experienced something neither of them will soon forget - their first ride in a fully driverless Waymo vehicle in downtown Miami. What starts as a fascinating technology experience quickly turns into a broader discussion about artificial intelligence, disruption, innovation, and what every small business owner should learn from emerging technologies. They explore why driverless vehicles are advancing faster than many people realize, why new technologies are often judged against impossible standards of perfection, and why businesses that wait until technology is "perfect" risk being left behind. From autonomous vehicles to AI tools, Henry and David discuss how business owners can develop the mindset needed to stay competitive in an era of rapid technological change. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

  7. Jun 22

    From Psychiatrist to Practice Owner with Dr. Duncan Gill

    How psychiatrist Dr. Duncan Gill transitioned from employee to entrepreneur and built a thriving behavioral health practice serving children, teens, and families. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/611-duncan-gill-practice-owner/ How psychiatrist Dr. Duncan Gill transitioned from employee to entrepreneur and built a thriving behavioral health practice serving children, teens, and families. Many highly trained professionals discover that technical expertise alone is not enough to build a successful business. In this episode, Henry Lopez speaks with Dr. Duncan Gill, founder of Direction Behavioral Health, about his journey from practicing psychiatrist to entrepreneur and business owner. Duncan shares how frustration with bureaucracy and a desire to serve patients differently led him to launch his own behavioral health practice. They discuss the challenges of transitioning from clinician to business leader, including hiring and managing employees, navigating partnerships, delegating responsibility, monitoring key performance indicators, and building systems that allow the business to grow beyond the founder. Duncan also shares why creativity, adaptability, and a willingness to take calculated risks have been critical to his success. He reflects on the lessons he learned from building a team, expanding facilities, and creating a practice that serves children, teens, and families while providing him with the freedom to pursue other interests, including music. This conversation offers valuable insights not only for healthcare professionals but for any entrepreneur seeking to build a business that can grow beyond their direct involvement. Healthcare professionals should not underestimate their ability to become successful entrepreneurs. Dr. Duncan Gill is a board-certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and the founder of Direction Behavioral Health. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Sciences from Harvard University and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Saba University School of Medicine. He completed his General Psychiatry residency and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at the University of Connecticut. Before founding Direction Behavioral Health, Duncan served as a staff psychiatrist with the Community Council of Nashua's Child and Adolescent Program. He has also worked with Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and performed psychiatric evaluations for New Hampshire's court system. Today, he leads Direction Behavioral Health, a specialized behavioral health practice serving children, teens, young adults, and families through intensive outpatient programs and other structured mental health services. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

  8. Jun 15

    How PEOs Help Small Businesses with Casey Clark

    What is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO)? Learn how Professional Employer Organizations help small businesses with HR, payroll, employee benefits, compliance, and retention. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/610-casey-clark-peos/ Managing employees is one of the biggest challenges facing small businesses, but what if you could offload much of the HR burden while improving employee retention and compliance? That's where a PEO, a Professional Employer Organization may be the right fit for your small business. Most entrepreneurs start a business to serve customers, solve problems, and create value not to become experts in payroll administration, employee benefits, HR compliance, and workforce regulations. In this episode, Henry Lopez speaks with Casey Clark, President and CEO of NAPEO, about how Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) help small businesses offload many of these administrative responsibilities while maintaining full control over their employees and business operations. Casey explains how the PEO model works, the concept of co-employment, and how PEOs help business owners manage payroll, benefits administration, compliance, onboarding, offboarding, and employee support. He also shares why businesses that use PEOs often experience higher employee retention rates and improved long-term business success. One of the most compelling advantages discussed is access to larger-group employee benefits. By pooling many small businesses together, PEOs can often provide benefits packages that would otherwise be unavailable or unaffordable for smaller employers. Whether you have five employees or fifty, this conversation will help you determine if a PEO could be a valuable partner as your business grows. "We're small business enablers. We help small businesses grow faster, retain employees longer, and focus on why they got into business in the first place." - Casey Clark Casey Clark is President and CEO of NAPEO, the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations. NAPEO represents the PEO industry, helping small and mid-sized businesses manage HR, payroll, employee benefits, and workforce compliance. Casey brings more than 25 years of experience advising businesses, trade associations, and organizations on strategy, communications, and regulatory issues. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

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The How of Business - how to start, run and grow a small business - is a weekly show for aspiring Entrepreneurs and existing Small Business Owners. If you are looking for actionable advice, tips and techniques on how to start (including launching or buying your first small business), run and grow your small business, this is the podcast for you! In each episode we either discuss a business topic, or interview an existing small business owner or business service provider. The How of Business is hosted by Henry Lopez who shares the knowledge and experience he has acquired over his corporate and entrepreneurial careers.

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