Phoenix Business Podcast

Spencer Ward
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship

Real Conversations. Bigger Possibilities. The Phoenix Business Podcast features conversations with Arizona entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders about growing companies, making money, overcoming challenges, and building a life worth living. Hosted by Spencer Ward and Gavin Guthrie.

Episodes

  1. 23h ago

    How to Avoid Entrepreneur Burnout and Take Back Control of Your Business

    Are you running your business, or is your business running you? Entrepreneur burnout is real. Between demanding customers, managing employees, nonstop phone calls, and trying to keep everything moving, business ownership can quickly become overwhelming. On this episode of the Phoenix Business Podcast, hosts Spencer Ward and Gavin Guthrie share their personal experiences with business burnout and the changes they made to regain control. Gavin opens up about experiencing burnout after several incredibly busy years in the mortgage industry, when even answering his phone became frustrating. Spencer shares how management mistakes, constant employee questions, and trying to handle everything himself nearly pushed him to his breaking point. They discuss: The warning signs of entrepreneur burnout Why making more money doesn't necessarily mean less stress How to stop being available to everyone 24/7 The importance of setting boundaries with customers and referral partners Why hiring part-time managers and virtual assistants can change everything How delegating responsibilities creates freedom Using standard operating procedures (SOPs) to eliminate recurring problems How to build a business that supports your lifestyle instead of consuming it Spencer also shares how putting his phone on airplane mode during a date night taught his employees to solve problems without him, and how restructuring his management team helped eliminate some of his biggest sources of stress. The takeaway? You don't have to work yourself into the ground to build a successful business. Sometimes the best way to grow is to stop doing everything yourself. Connect with our sponsors: The Mortgage Collective – Residential and commercial financing. www.mymortgagecollective.com Nucleane Commercial Cleaning – Phoenix commercial janitorial services. Call 480-841-9537 and mention the podcast to learn about our complimentary office sanitization offer.

    How to Avoid Entrepreneur Burnout and Take Back Control of Your Business

  2. Nov 3

    How to Start a Business and Scale It Without Doing Everything Yourself

    Thinking about starting a business but don't know where to begin? Or maybe you've already started one and feel like you're doing everything yourself? On this episode of the Phoenix Business Podcast, hosts Spencer Ward and Gavin Guthrie break down the different paths to entrepreneurship, from building a successful one-person business to scaling a multimillion-dollar company with employees, managers, and systems. Gavin shares his experience building a career in the mortgage industry as a solopreneur, while Spencer explains how he went from cleaning vacation cabins in Idaho to building a multimillion-dollar commercial cleaning company with more than 90 employees. They discuss: How to start a business with limited resources The difference between being self-employed and building a scalable company Why entrepreneurs struggle to delegate responsibilities How systems, employees, and managers create freedom Overcoming fear and taking action on business ideas Why learning a trade could lead to owning a successful business How to recognize opportunities and grow beyond your original business idea Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your business to the next level, this episode offers practical lessons from two entrepreneurs who've taken very different paths. Connect with our sponsors: The Mortgage Collective – Residential and commercial financing. www.mymortgagecollective.com Nucleane Commercial Cleaning – Professional janitorial services for Phoenix businesses. Call 480-841-9537. #Entrepreneurship #StartABusiness #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #PhoenixBusinessPodcast

    How to Start a Business and Scale It Without Doing Everything Yourself

  3. Oct 27

    How Small Business Owners Are Using AI to Save Time & Make More Money

    AI isn't coming someday, small business owners are already using it to save time, automate repetitive work, build custom software, and solve problems that used to require employees, developers, or expensive platforms. In this episode of the Phoenix Business Podcast, Spencer Ward and Gavin Guthrie share how they're actually using AI inside their businesses. From automating payroll tasks and customer communication to building custom apps, booking platforms, and internal systems, they break down practical examples that business owners can start experimenting with today. They also discuss what happens when difficult markets force entrepreneurs to adapt, why annoying problems inside your business may be the best place to start with AI, and how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Base44, Lovable, and Quo are changing what's possible for small businesses. If you're a business owner wondering how to actually use AI, not just talk about it, this episode is for you.

    How Small Business Owners Are Using AI to Save Time & Make More Money

  4. Oct 20

    You Should Know by Day 90: Hiring A-Players

    What can you really learn about an employee in their first 90 days? Inspired by an A-player hiring memo from Leila Hormozi, Spencer & Gavin break down why the first 90 days aren't about mastering the job, they're about trajectory and core-value fit. Learn how to spot ownership, coachability, work ethic, and character early, why talented employees can still poison your culture, and how tolerating mediocrity can ultimately chase away your best people. You don't need an A-player by day 90 but you should know whether you're looking at one in the making.

    You Should Know by Day 90: Hiring A-Players

  5. Oct 13

    The Bus Test: Build a Business that Runs Without You

    What happens if your key employee gets hit by a bus or wins the lottery and vanishes tomorrow? In this episode of the Phoenix Business Podcast, Spencer Ward and Gavin Guthrie unpack why SOPs and solid systems are the backbone of a business that runs without you.  From the mortgage world to cleaning crews, from invoicing steps to screen-share walkthroughs, they cover how to get ideas out of the heads and into repeatable systems, avoid the workplace telephone game, and build a business that gives you freedom.  Plus, hear how VAs can take tasks off your plate so you can focus on growth and maybe even enjoy a little "walk-around money."

    The Bus Test: Build a Business that Runs Without You

  6. Oct 6

    What Does Success Actually Look Like?

    How much money does it actually take to be successful today? In this episode of the Phoenix Business Podcast, hosts Spencer Ward and Gavin Guthrie tackle a question every entrepreneur eventually has to answer: What does success actually mean to you? Is it making six figures? Owning a home? Having millions in the bank? Or is real success having enough financial freedom to spend time with your family, weather the hard seasons of business, and actually enjoy the life you're building? Spencer and Gavin talk candidly about the rising cost of living, lifestyle creep, buying vs. renting, emergency funds, business cash reserves, investing for growth, and why making more money doesn't necessarily make you feel successful. They also discuss something entrepreneurs don't talk about enough: there are seasons to grow and seasons to enjoy the growth. Building wealth often requires putting capital at risk, reinvesting in your business, and temporarily feeling less financially comfortable even when you're moving in the right direction. If you're a Phoenix entrepreneur, Arizona business owner, executive, or anyone trying to build a successful business without sacrificing your family and quality of life, this conversation is for you. In this episode: • What "successful" actually means • Whether $100,000 is still a great income • Lifestyle creep and the cost of raising a family • Renting vs. buying a home • Why emergency funds matter for families and businesses • Cash reserves and business growth • Knowing when to invest aggressively—and when to enjoy what you've built • Building a business that gives you freedom instead of owning you The Phoenix Business Podcast features conversations with Arizona entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders about growing companies, making money, overcoming challenges, and building a life worth living. Hosted by Spencer Ward and Gavin Guthrie. Sponsored by: Nucleane Commercial Cleaning & The Mortgage Collective

    What Does Success Actually Look Like?
  • 6 Episodes

About

Real Conversations. Bigger Possibilities. The Phoenix Business Podcast features conversations with Arizona entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders about growing companies, making money, overcoming challenges, and building a life worth living. Hosted by Spencer Ward and Gavin Guthrie.

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