Mastering Risk

Dr. Jeff Donaldson, CD
  • 0.0 (0)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Risk cannot be eliminated, disasters cannot be prevented and you cannot purchase your way to an insulated life. You can identify, codify, judge and mitigate risk in your professional and private life. Non-apocalytpic evidence-based risk and preparedness education, for individuals, families, solo-entrepreneurs, businesses and communities. Your host, Dr. D is a veteran, professor, author and entrepreneur.  No one is coming to help, so you and you alone are responsible for your outcomes. The choice is yours, choose wisely.

  1. 3D AGO

    The Top 6 Preparedness Mistakes Most Entrepreneurs are Making (And How to Fix Them Fast)

    Send us a text Are you unknowingly setting your business up for failure? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. D reveals the Top 6 Preparedness Mistakes that most entrepreneurs make—and exactly how to fix them before disaster strikes.You’ll discover why 91% of small and medium businesses face major disruptions every single quarter (U.S. Small Business Administration stat), yet most owners are still “winging it” when crisis hits. Here are the 6 critical mistakes covered: No formal business continuity plan Inadequate cybersecurity measures and training Poor cash flow management with zero runway Over-reliance on a single supplier or logistics source Zero data backups or redundancy Buying the wrong (or no) insurance The best part? The first five fixes are completely free—they just require a little education and effort. Dr. D shares the exact strategies he uses at Preparedness Labs Incorporated (a proud five-figure business) to stay protected, including simple password rules, update habits, supplier backup systems, air-gapped data storage, and more. Stop treating insurance as an expense, learn why it’s your ultimate investment and how to get the coverage you actually need. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, startup founder, or running a growing small business, this episode could save you from financial ruin.  Free Resource Mentioned: Download the 7-8 page Risk Management Strategy Guide at https://preparednesslabs.ca (completely free under “Free Strategy Guides”). Don’t wait for the bad day to hit—watch now and start protecting what you’ve built. Subscribe for weekly insights on risk management, business resilience, and real-world preparedness for entrepreneurs. Hit the bell so you never miss an episode. Comment below: Which of these 6 mistakes are you guilty of? Visit us: https://www.preparednesslabs.ca DISCLOSURE  Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks. The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary. Copyright © 2025. Support the show https://preparednesslabs.ca/

    31 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Embrace the Suck in 2026: The No-BS Survival Strategy for Real Small Businesses

    Send us a text Is your small business ready for the chaos of 2026? Political upheaval, economic swings, supply-chain disruptions, and natural disasters are coming and most side hustles won’t survive them. But you can.  In this episode of Mastering Risk, Dr. D shares the exact 4-step entrepreneurial survival guide that’s 100% free, requires zero fancy tools, and puts you in control, no matter what the world throws at you. Here’s what you’ll discover: How to bulletproof your physical, mental, and financial health (the foundation every entrepreneur ignores until it’s too late). Why mapping your entire business structure reveals hidden “single points of failure” that could collapse everything overnight — and how to fix them. The game-changing shift from chasing goals to building unbreakable systems that grow your revenue without burning you out. Why “embracing the suck” and never committing 100% is the secret to seizing massive opportunities when everyone else is panicking. This isn’t apocalyptic fear-mongering or expensive software pitches. It’s practical, evidence-based advice from a disaster management professor and real small business owner who’s been exactly where you are, grinding for five-figure revenue in a chaotic world. 2026 will punish the unprepared and reward the resilient. These four steps are what worked for us in 2025, and they’ll work for your Etsy shop, print-on-demand store, local service, or any side hustle in 2026.Don’t wait for the next disruption to force change. Watch now, take control, and position yourself to not just survive, but thrive.  Free small business risk downloads: https://www.preparednesslabs.ca   Subscribe for real-world strategies that actually work DISCLOSURE  Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary. Copyright © 2025. Support the show https://preparednesslabs.ca/

    22 min

  3. DEC 13

    The Hidden AI Danger Every Small Business Owner Is Ignoring (And It Could Destroy You)

    Send us a text Is AI secretly putting your small business at risk? You’re using ChatGPT, Grok, or Claude to save time, writing proposals, summarizing data, generating ideas and it feels like a superpower. But there’s one massive danger almost every side hustler and small business owner is completely overlooking… and it’s not coming from hackers sneaking in the back door. It’s walking right through your front door. Every time you or your employees upload customer lists, pricing strategies, financial reports, or proprietary processes to public AI tools, you’re handing over your most sensitive business intelligence, permanently. Those terms of service you clicked “agree” on? They often grant the AI company an unrestricted license to use your data. And if that platform gets breached (and they all do eventually), your secrets could end up public, triggering lawsuits, ruined reputation, and lost trust. One company watched their confidential client bids leak online after an employee fed them into an AI tool. The fallout? Lawsuits and a destroyed reputation. In this episode of Mastering Risk, Dr. D, disaster management professor and small business owner, reveals the unspoken AI risk threatening the 70-75% of North American businesses earning under $100K. You’ll learn: * Why AI is the first risk that enters through the front door * How to keep enjoying AI’s massive benefits without exposing your business * Simple safeguards solo entrepreneurs and small teams can implement today AI isn’t evil, but using it without boundaries can be catastrophic. Protect your side hustle, your profits, and your peace of mind. Watch now before your next ChatGPT prompt becomes your biggest regret Free risk management downloads for small businesses: https://www.preparednesslabs.ca DISCLOSURE  Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary. Copyright © 2025. Support the show https://preparednesslabs.ca/

    32 min

  4. DEC 10

    90% of Small Businesses Get Hit Every 90 Days: Here’s My Near $0 Cyber Defence That Actually Works

    Send us a text Your entire business can vanish tomorrow morning  One ransomeware email, one fake invoice, one missed update and poof: Shopify gone, Stripe locked, courses deleted, customer list encrypted. 90% of SMB face a significant disruption every quarter, some never recover. But here is the truth: There are near-free strategies to survive and thrive in 2026 We offer the exact five dead-simple ideas followed in our company  -Change passwords monthly, or more frequent - yes, we still need to talk about this -Update software and hardware patches, automatically -and more... Zero theory Zero expensive tools and programs Battle tested and simple strategies to mitigate risk to near zero, for creators, e-com, side hustles, SMB and YouTube personalities Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/masteringrisk https://preparednesslabs.ca DISCLOSURE  Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary. Copyright © 2025. Support the show https://preparednesslabs.ca/

    29 min

  5. DEC 6

    2026 Is Coming: How Small Businesses Survive the Next Global Shock

    Send us a text Are you ready for what’s really coming in 2026? Most business owners aren’t—and that’s exactly why so many solopreneurs, micro-businesses, and small companies get blindsided. In this episode of Mastering Risk, Dr. D breaks down the global turbulence ahead and gives you a real-world framework to hedge against the threats you can’t see coming—but absolutely should. Forget the clickbait gurus promising million-dollar success “in 30 days with AI.” The truth is more sobering—and far more empowering. With over a decade of research in risk, resilience, and preparedness, Dr. D shows you how the actual evidence points toward five major risk escalators highlighted in the 2025 World Economic Forum outlook: ✔ Inflation & the cost-of-living squeeze ✔ Extreme weather and skyrocketing disaster costs ✔ Global economic downturn ✔ Geopolitical conflicts ✔ Social polarization But here’s the good news: you don’t need a massive budget, a consultant army, or a million-dollar runway to protect your business. You just need a strategy. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: 💡 Why inflation is quietly eroding your margins—and how to fight back 💡 What extreme weather actually means for small business supply chains 💡 The two biggest leverage points you have right now—and how to strengthen them 💡 How to build redundancy, customer awareness, and financial runway—without cash reserves 💡 The real pivot point every entrepreneur must recognize before it’s too late Whether you’re launching your first product or managing a growing five-figure business, this episode gives you clear, actionable steps to reduce uncertainty and navigate the chaos ahead. 👉 Watch now, subscribe, and turn risk into opportunity. 👉 Explore our full ecosystem at preparednesslabs.ca for tools, courses, and resources built for real entrepreneurs—not fantasy-land business influencers. https://preparednesslabs.ca DISCLOSURE  Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary. Copyright © 2025. Support the show https://preparednesslabs.ca/

    34 min

  6. DEC 4

    The Ultimate Differentiator: Honesty in a World of Business BS

    Send us a text In a world overflowing with hype, half-truths, and “million-dollar-in-90-days” promises, Mastering Risk cuts through the noise with something radical: honesty. In this powerful episode, Dr. D takes you inside the real engine of sustainable business success—trust. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, a side-hustler, or the owner of a small but mighty business, this conversation delivers a refreshing, evidence-based look at why integrity isn’t just admirable… it’s profitable. You’ll learn why most consumers need 11 touchpoints before they buy—and how honesty dramatically reduces that hesitation. Dr. D breaks down the traps of an oversaturated market, from deceptive tactics to manipulative ads, and shows you how authenticity becomes your strongest differentiator. He also exposes the long-term costs of exaggeration, inflated promises, and “get rich” schemes—and why they quietly destroy customer lifetime value. He shares candid stories from his own entrepreneurial path: scaling a realistic five-figure business, navigating reputational risk, and building a loyal client base through transparency, value, and no-BS guidance. You’ll hear exactly how honesty shapes stronger customer relationships, protects your legal flank, amplifies word-of-mouth growth, and positions you as a trusted authority—not a digital carnival barker. If you're ready for raw truth, practical insights, and a blueprint for building trust in a marketplace full of noise, this episode is your competitive advantage. If you want steady growth, loyal customers, and a business built to last—this is the episode you cannot skip. https://preparednesslabs.ca/ DISCLOSURE  Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary. Copyright © 2025. Support the show https://preparednesslabs.ca/

    33 min

  7. NOV 28

    Why “Million in Your First Year” is a Lie – A Realistic 5-Figure Business in 2026 Instead

    Send us a text Tired of gurus promising you’ll be a millionaire in 12 months? Let’s talk reality. According to official stats, only 5% of businesses ever hit 7 figures… and 75% stay under six figures. The good news? A profitable five-figure business ($10K–$99K) is 100% achievable in 2026 — and it can add $2,000–$7,000+ per month to your family’s income without quitting your job. In this no-BS episode, 28-year army veteran and university professor Dr. D reveals the exact 5-step framework he uses to run his own five-figure company, Preparedness Labs: 1. Solve a painful problem the easy way (the “pill vs gym” secret)  2. Go brutally niche so you stand out  3. Keep overhead stupidly low ($72/year is possible)  4. Master “aggressive patience” and consistent content  5. Accept the world as it is — and stop torching your reputation with politics online Zero fluff. Real numbers. Real experience (including the $20K mistake he made so you don’t have to). If you’re ready to build something sustainable in 2026 instead of chasing unicorn fantasies, hit play now and smash that Subscribe button — new evidence-based episodes drop every week to help you master risk and win.  www.preparednesslabs.ca Business Can Cost as Little as $72 per year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKn446XWUmQ&t=6s DISCLOSURE  Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary. Copyright © 2025. Support the show https://preparednesslabs.ca/

    33 min

  8. NOV 25

    The 5 Strategies I Use to Protect My Business in 2026

    Send us a text What if your business was gone tomorrow – fire, flood, ransomware, or a simple power outage? 60% of SMBs that suffer a major disruption without a tested plan close forever within 12 months.  In 2025, one bad day can erase everything you’ve built. I’m Dr. D – risk management advisor to entrepreneurs and SMB owners. In this episode I’m pulling back the curtain on the exact 5-part continuity system I use to prepare my business for when disaster hits.  You’ll walk away with: • The 3-hour recovery rule  • The unbreakable 3-2-1-airgap backup method • Business ready evacuation plan • Pre-approved emergency cash or credit • The literal “one-button failover”, replication of critical systems Watch now – because preparation is profit. https://preparednesslabs.ca DISCLOSURE  Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary. Copyright © 2025. Support the show https://preparednesslabs.ca/

    34 min
See All (387)

Trailer

About

Risk cannot be eliminated, disasters cannot be prevented and you cannot purchase your way to an insulated life. You can identify, codify, judge and mitigate risk in your professional and private life. Non-apocalytpic evidence-based risk and preparedness education, for individuals, families, solo-entrepreneurs, businesses and communities. Your host, Dr. D is a veteran, professor, author and entrepreneur.  No one is coming to help, so you and you alone are responsible for your outcomes. The choice is yours, choose wisely.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Jeff Donaldson, CD
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    387
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Preparedness Labs Incorporated
  • Show Website
    Mastering Risk

You Might Also Like