Small Business Pivots

Michael Morrison
  • 5.0 (7)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Tired of fluff-filled business advice? Small Business Pivots delivers raw, honest conversations with entrepreneurs, content creators, and industry experts who’ve made bold pivots to grow—whether to six figures, seven, or simply the next stage of success. Hosted by nationally recognized small business coach and BOSS founder Michael Morrison, this show shares the unfiltered stories, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes strategies that help real business owners overcome burnout, build momentum, and grow a business that works—without working themselves into the ground. With over 100 episodes, Small Business Pivots is a trusted resource for small business owners who are serious about growth. From the early struggles to the key turning points, you’ll walk away with practical tools, honest encouragement, and actionable insight every week. 🎯 Sample episodes dive into: • Small business marketing and content creation • Building referral networks and strategic partnerships • Mindset, burnout, and decision-making as a founder • Time management, leadership, SOPs, hiring, and team culture  • Systemization, SOPs, and franchising • Social media, branding, automation, and scaling strategies Whether you're aiming for your first six figures or scaling beyond seven, this podcast gives you the real-world insight, inspiration, and community you need to take your next big step. Subscribe now—and start making the pivots that move your business forward. Want to visit with our host, Michael Morrison, about business coaching services for your small business? Go here: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation

  1. 4D AGO

    How to Start a Business the RIGHT Way (Validate, Fund, Pitch & Grow) | Mary Scott

    If you’re thinking about starting a business—or struggling to grow one—this episode will challenge everything you think you know about getting started. In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison sits down with Mary Scott, founder of Pitch STL and longtime startup advisor, to break down what actually works in the early stages of business. From validating your idea before spending money… to building a clear pitch… to finding funding and customers… this conversation is packed with real-world advice most business owners never hear. Mary shares why most startups fail before they even begin, how to avoid turning your business into a hobby, and the simple framework you can use to clearly explain what you do in seconds. If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start—this episode will help you reset and move forward with clarity. 🔑 What You’ll Learn:  Why validating your idea is the FIRST step (before spending money)  The biggest mistake new business owners make when starting  How to find customers where they already are (not where you think they are)  The truth about startup funding and where to actually get money  A simple 30-second pitch formula anyone can use  Why most entrepreneurs spend time on the wrong things  How to use video effectively without overcomplicating it  The role of AI in startups (and what to watch out for)  Why asking for help is the most underrated growth strategy 💡 Key Takeaway: 💡 If you’re not generating income, you don’t have a business—you have a hobby.  🎯 Who This Episode Is For:  New entrepreneurs  Business owners under 5 years  Anyone stuck and not growing  Coaches, consultants, and service providers  Anyone thinking about starting a businessSupport the show 1. Want more resources to grow your business faster? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ 2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn? https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ 3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation FOLLOW US ON: - WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ -WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/ -LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ -YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

    39 min

  2. APR 15

    $140 Billion Problem: How Ad Fraud Is Stealing Your Marketing Budget | Rich Kahn

    What if 25% of your digital marketing budget is being wasted… right now? In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael sits down with Richard Kahn — entrepreneur, Inc. 5000 leader, and co-founder of Anora.io — to expose one of the biggest hidden problems in business today: Ad fraud With over $700 billion spent on digital marketing annually, Rich reveals how $140 billion is lost to fraud — and why most business owners don’t even realize it’s happening.  💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:  What ad fraud actually is (and where it’s hiding)  Why 1 in every 4 marketing dollars is wasted How bots fake clicks, traffic, and conversions  The truth about buying followers and fake engagement  How AI is making fraud harder to detect—and easier to commit  Simple ways to immediately reduce fraud in your ad campaigns  Why relationships still outperform digital-only strategies  How to grow from $0 to $1M with real outreach (not just content) 🚨 Key Takeaway There’s no longer a question of if you have ad fraud… 👉 It’s how much. 🎯 Who This Episode Is For:  Small business owners running ads on Google, Facebook, or YouTube  Entrepreneurs trying to improve ROI  Marketers scaling digital campaigns  Anyone spending money online and not seeing results 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Anora.io Traffic Quality Audit (free analysis mentioned in episode)  Book: How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleAd fraud is when fake users (bots or manipulated traffic) interact with digital ads, costing businesses money without generating real customers. On average, businesses lose up to 25% of their ad spend to fraud.  Support the show 1. Want more resources to grow your business faster? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ 2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn? https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ 3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation FOLLOW US ON: - WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ -WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/ -LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ -YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

    44 min

  3. APR 8

    Earned Media vs Paid Hype: Ronica Cleary on PR That Builds Real Trust

    If you have ever wondered whether public relations is still worth it in a world full of ads, social media, and AI-generated content, this episode will help clear that up. In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison talks with Ronica Cleary, founder and CEO of Cleary Strategies, about what PR actually is, why earned media still carries so much weight, and how business owners can think more strategically about visibility. Cleary Strategies describes itself as a full-service PR agency that helps clients secure media opportunities, preserve their image, and build the skills needed to thrive in today’s media climate.  Ronica explains the critical difference between earned media and paid placements. Paid media has value, but earned coverage — television, radio, digital, print, and podcasts secured because a story is genuinely newsworthy — tends to carry more credibility because audiences know it was not bought. Cleary Strategies’ own materials emphasize earned media, publicity planning, and strategic media exposure as a core part of its work.  Michael and Ronica dig into:  what public relations really means for a small business  why earned media builds trust in a way advertising cannot fully replicate  how to spot “pay-to-play” publicity dressed up as real press  what a good PR agency should actually be doing behind the scenes  how Ronica’s journalism background shaped her agency’s process  why niche focus and repeatable systems made Cleary Strategies stronger  how media training should make you more authentic, not more robotic Ronica also shares how her background in communications, systems engineering, and television journalism shaped the way she built Cleary Strategies. Her firm highlights media placements, crisis communications, and media training, and Ronica’s own founder page highlights agency press, contributed pieces, and award recognition including PRNEWS’ Top Women Awards “Rising Star” mention and Inc. Power Partner recognition.  If you are a small business owner trying to build trust, authority, and long-term visibility — not just get attention for a week — this conversation will help you think differently about PR. What you’ll learn  What public relations actually means for a business owner  Why earned media and paid media are not the same thing  How PR supports credibility, trust, and long-term brand authority  What to ask before hiring a PR agency  Why “featured for a fee” is not the same as real earned press  How to think about media strategy in a more systematic way  Why a focused niche often strengthens a business  How authenticity matters more than on-camera perfection in media trainingSupport the show 1. Want more resources to grow your business faster? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ 2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn? https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ 3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation FOLLOW US ON: - WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ -WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/ -LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ -YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

    35 min

  4. APR 1

    Why Business Owners Stay Stuck: Cori Fonville Foster on Systems, Marketing & Implementation

    Cori Fonville Foster joins Small Business Pivots to break down why so many business owners stay stuck even when they have great ideas, strong offers, and real talent. This episode covers implementation, systems, marketing, mindset, and how to pivot when life or business throws you something unexpected. If you have ever thought, “I know what I need to do in my business — so why am I still not doing it?” this episode is for you. In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison talks with Cori Fonville Foster, CEO and founder of IROC Marketable Business Solutions, about one of the biggest challenges small business owners face: implementation. Cori works with coaches, consultants, speakers, and authors to help them market their businesses, build stronger systems, and actually get things done. Her LinkedIn profile identifies her with IROC Marketable Business Solutions in Hampton, Virginia.  Cori shares her own path from the medical field into entrepreneurship after a rare eye condition forced her to leave her nine-to-five job. She talks openly about building a business with a disability, starting with very little money, navigating setbacks, and learning how to create systems that work. Michael and Cori dig into:  why business owners often know what to do but still struggle to implement  how to create systems that fit your real life, energy, and season of business  why SOPs and automations matter if you want to grow  what marketing is actually working now  how to repurpose content instead of constantly creating from scratch  why mindset matters when business gets hard  how to think about scaling before you feel “ready”  when and how to bring on a VA or support team One of the strongest themes in this conversation is the idea of the pivot. Cori explains that business owners do not fail because every strategy is wrong — many times, they fail because they stop adjusting. Her message is simple: if you are willing to pivot, learn, and keep going, you give yourself a real chance to build something sustainable. If you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or like your business has potential but no momentum, this episode will help you think differently about systems, implementation, and what it really takes to keep moving forward. What you’ll learn  Why having a great business idea is not enough  What SOPs and automations should actually look like for a small business  How to repurpose content to save time and market smarter  Why mindset and resilience matter more than most people admit  How to scale before you feel “big enough”  What to outsource first when you are trying to grow  Why being willing to pivot is one of the biggest keys to business survivalSupport the show 1. Want more resources to grow your business faster? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ 2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn? https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ 3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation FOLLOW US ON: - WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ -WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/ -LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ -YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

    42 min

  5. MAR 25

    Overwhelmed at Home and in Business? Lisa Woodruff on Escaping Quicksand

    Lisa Woodruff, founder of Organize 365, joins Small Business Pivots to talk about the hidden mental load that overwhelms so many business owners at home and at work. If you feel like household chaos is draining your focus, time, and energy, this episode will help you think differently about systems, organization, and getting out of reactive mode.  Overwhelmed at Home and in Business? Lisa Woodruff on Escaping Quicksand If you are a business owner who feels like your company is hard enough — and then you go home to more decisions, more clutter, more logistics, and more invisible work — this episode will hit home. In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison talks with Lisa Woodruff, founder and CEO of Organize 365, about the real mental and emotional weight of running a household while also trying to build a business or career. Lisa shares how chaos in the home can spill into work, why so many women hit a point of overload in their late 30s and 40s, and how systems at home can create the same kind of clarity and momentum that systems create in business. Lisa started Organize 365 as a blog, grew it into an in-home professional organization company, then pivoted into podcasting, courses, books, and a broader productivity brand. Today, Organize 365 offers planning tools, courses, and practical systems designed to help people reduce overwhelm and run their homes more intentionally. Michael and Lisa dig into: why home organization is not just about pretty spaceshow household systems work a lot like business SOPswhy women often become the default CEO of the householdhow invisible work and cognitive overload build over timehow planning, batching, and simplifying can reduce decision fatiguewhy “getting organized” often leads to a bigger life transformation than people expecthow household stability can free up time and energy for business growthLisa also talks about her new book, Escaping Quicksand, which Simon & Schuster describes as a psychology-driven guide for women who feel buried by the mental load of modern home life.  If your business growth keeps colliding with home-life chaos, this episode will help you see that getting organized is not shallow or optional — it can be strategic. What you’ll learn Why business owners can feel overwhelmed at home even when they are strong at workHow household systems mirror business systems and SOPsWhat “invisible work” really looks like inside a homeWhy cognitive overload builds over timeHow batching and themed days can reduce chaosWhy organization creates more time than it costsWhat transformation usually happens after someone gets organizedWhy dreaming bigger gets easier when life is less reactiveSupport the show 1. Want more resources to grow your business faster? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ 2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn? https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ 3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation FOLLOW US ON: - WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ -WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/ -LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ -YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

    36 min

  6. MAR 11

    The Founder Bottleneck: How to Scale with Systems, SEO & AI | Austin Willman

    If you feel like your business can’t grow without you personally touching everything, this episode of Small Business Pivots is for you. Michael D. Morrison sits down with Austin Willman — Partnerships Manager at Digital Web Solutions, founder of Willman Ventures, and host of E-Coffee with Experts — to talk about one of the biggest problems in small business: the founder becoming the bottleneck. Austin works in SEO, digital PR, visibility strategy, and now AEO, helping brands earn authority through placements and content that can be discovered in both traditional search and AI-driven search experiences.  In this conversation, Austin shares what he learned working around high-level founder-led brands and why small business owners need to stop separating themselves from their company. His message is clear: your company is your brand, and the systems, language, and expectations inside your business all flow from you first. Michael and Austin dig into: why founder-led businesses often get stuck between lead generation, sales, and deliveryhow to build simple SOPs and workflows without overwhelming yourselfwhy shared language and clear expectations matter before you ever build complex systemshow AI can help with documentation, prompting, brainstorming, research, and content creationwhere SEO is heading, how AEO fits in, and why founder content is becoming more importantwhy narrow, consistent, depth-driven content wins over broad generic contentAustin also shares his own story — from small-town Ohio to Ohio State, then through coaching, consulting, Mindvalley, door-to-door solar, Cardone Ventures, Neil Patel’s orbit, and Digital Web Solutions — and explains how curiosity, proximity, and learning from world-class founders shaped the way he thinks about business today.  If you are a business owner who knows you need better systems, clearer messaging, and stronger visibility online, this episode will help you think bigger and execute smarter. What you’ll learn: Why the founder becomes the bottleneck in small businessesHow to create SOPs without building a giant operations manual overnightWhy company values and shared language come before better systemsHow to use AI as a coworker instead of just a chatbotWhat SEO and AEO mean for founder-led brands in 2026Why personal-brand content is becoming a serious business assetHow to think about go-to-market strategy in a noisier digital worldWhy narrow focus and consistent content beat broad generic marketingSupport the show 1. Want more resources to grow your business faster? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ 2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn? https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ 3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation FOLLOW US ON: - WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ -WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/ -LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ -YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

    41 min

  7. MAR 4

    Stuck Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck? This Simple Shift Changes Everything | Daman Grewal

    Financial Freedom Is a Choice: Breaking Your Money Limits with Daman Grewal Most people are raised to believe the same story:  Go to school, get a “safe” job, stick it out for 20–30 years, and hope the 401(k) or pension takes care of you. Daman Grewal grew up in a single-parent home, faced judgment, bias, and money stress—and still discovered something different: financial freedom is a choice, not a lottery ticket. Today, Daman runs LogisticSales.com, a free education platform that shows everyday people how to build financial freedom through logistics sales—without a fancy degree, a huge bank account, or moving to a big city. In this conversation with host Michael D. Morrison, you’ll hear a real, grounded breakdown of: Why so many people feel trapped by their job, salary, or benefitsHow our upbringing, environment, and “lid” thinking quietly cap what we believe is possibleThe difference between chasing shiny objects vs. building real skills that the market valuesHow entrepreneurship and sales can be an act of service, not pressure or manipulationSimple, practical first steps if you feel stuck financially and don’t know where to startDaman shares stories from his own journey—leaving traditional employment, starting multiple businesses, and realizing that who you partner with (in life and business) can either keep you stuck or push you to grow. You’ll also hear: Why so many people stay in jobs they dislike because of benefits and retirement plansHow to think about “owning 10% of a watermelon vs. 100% of a grape” in businessA healthier way to view wealth, sales, and success that’s rooted in contribution, not greedHow to use simple tools (like Google Maps!) to spot real opportunities in your own backyardWhy community, mentorship, and service-first selling matter more than slick tacticsIf you’ve ever thought:  “There has to be more than this paycheck… but I don’t know what else I can do,” this episode will give you perspective, hope, and concrete next steps. In This Episode, You’ll Learn How Daman went from a one-parent household and repeated job frustration to entrepreneurshipWhy so many people live paycheck-to-paycheck in “a great economy”—and what to do about itHow your environment, music, media, and friends quietly shape your money ceilingA simple framework to start expanding your “lid” and dreaming bigger againWhy sales is really about service and solutions, not scripts and pressurePractical ways to create win-win opportunities with business owners in your communityHow to use introspection and worksheets (like those on LogisticSales.com) to uncover your strengthsThe power of starting small, taking one courageous step, and letting momentum buildSupport the show 1. Want more resources to grow your business faster? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ 2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn? https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ 3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation FOLLOW US ON: - WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ -WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/ -LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ -YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

    52 min

  8. FEB 25

    From NFL to CEO: How Rick Elmore Built Simply Noted with Systems, CRM, and Handwritten Notes

    In this episode of Small Business Pivots, host Michael D. Morrison sits down with former NFL linebacker and now founder & CEO of Simply Noted, Rick Elmore. Rick went from growing up in a lower-middle-class family, to leading the Pac-10 in sacks, to a short NFL career, to top-1% medical sales rep…and then pivoted again into building a software, automation, and robotics company that sends genuine handwritten notes at scale.  Rick shares how a throwaway comment in an MBA marketing class about handwritten notes getting sky-high open rates sparked the idea for Simply Noted, and how he validated the concept by sending 500 letters that produced nearly six figures in additional sales in just a few weeks. Industry data backs him up: personalized handwritten mail is reported to reach open rates as high as 90–99%, dramatically outperforming typical email campaigns.  From there, Rick walks through the unglamorous middle: eight years of grinding, building custom handwriting robots, securing patents, hiring and training a lean team, and learning to run a data-driven business using CRMs, automations, and—more recently—AI agents that now work 24/7 on his laptop.  If you’ve ever compared yourself to other founders, battled imposter syndrome, or wondered why your business still hasn’t passed that elusive million-dollar mark (less than ~10% of small businesses ever do), this conversation will feel like oxygen.  You’ll hear: How Rick turned grief, sports, and “chip-on-the-shoulder” energy into fuel to keep going in businessWhat really happens after the NFL and why his first “real money” came from corporate sales, not footballThe exact experiment that proved handwritten notes could outperform every other sales activity he triedWhy a CRM is non-negotiable if you want to grow, and how to start using automations even as a small teamHow he used 14 “phase zero” proposals to de-risk a huge engineering investment and avoid emotional decisionsThe mental game of entrepreneurship: imposter syndrome, comparison, and choosing not to quitHow Rick uses AI agents today to take repetitive work off his plate—and what that means for small business owners in the next 3–5 yearsWhether you’re in Oklahoma City or halfway across the world, if you’re a small business owner stuck working in your business instead of on it, this episode will help you rethink systems, leverage technology, and rediscover your “why” so you can keep climbing your own mountain. Support the show 1. Want more resources to grow your business faster? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ 2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn? https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ 3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation FOLLOW US ON: - WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/ -WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/ -LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ -YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

    42 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Tired of fluff-filled business advice? Small Business Pivots delivers raw, honest conversations with entrepreneurs, content creators, and industry experts who’ve made bold pivots to grow—whether to six figures, seven, or simply the next stage of success. Hosted by nationally recognized small business coach and BOSS founder Michael Morrison, this show shares the unfiltered stories, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes strategies that help real business owners overcome burnout, build momentum, and grow a business that works—without working themselves into the ground. With over 100 episodes, Small Business Pivots is a trusted resource for small business owners who are serious about growth. From the early struggles to the key turning points, you’ll walk away with practical tools, honest encouragement, and actionable insight every week. 🎯 Sample episodes dive into: • Small business marketing and content creation • Building referral networks and strategic partnerships • Mindset, burnout, and decision-making as a founder • Time management, leadership, SOPs, hiring, and team culture  • Systemization, SOPs, and franchising • Social media, branding, automation, and scaling strategies Whether you're aiming for your first six figures or scaling beyond seven, this podcast gives you the real-world insight, inspiration, and community you need to take your next big step. Subscribe now—and start making the pivots that move your business forward. Want to visit with our host, Michael Morrison, about business coaching services for your small business? Go here: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Morrison
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    140
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Small Business Pivots
  • Show Website
    Small Business Pivots

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