Small Business Pivots

Michael D. Morrison
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Stuck in your business and not sure what's next? Small Business Pivots delivers honest, real-world conversations with entrepreneurs and business owners who've made bold moves to grow, adapt, and build something that lasts. Hosted by nationally recognized business coach and keynote speaker Michael D. Morrison, each episode goes beyond the highlight reel. Guests share the real turning points, hard lessons, and strategies that actually moved the needle, whether they were chasing six figures or scaling past seven. With 140+ episodes and ranked in the top 10% of podcasts globally, Small Business Pivots drops every Wednesday, giving small business owners a trusted weekly resource to help them grow. Each week you'll hear real conversations about: Small business marketing, branding, and social mediaSales strategies, referral networks, and building partnershipsLeadership, hiring, team culture, and systemsMindset, burnout, and decision-making as a founderScaling, SOPs, automation, and building a sellable business If you're a small business owner who's done guessing and ready to grow, this is your show. Subscribe and join thousands of business owners making pivots that actually matter. Ready to work with Michael D. Morrison?  Visit: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation

  1. 2d ago

    How to Build Wealth Through Business Ownership & Real Estate | Steve Lawson

    In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and wealth strategist Steve Lawson to discuss one of the biggest misconceptions about building wealth—and why owning a business and investing in real estate continue to outperform traditional investing for long-term financial independence. Steve shares his journey from financial advisor to real estate investor, business owner, and founder of Unbroken Investing. Along the way, he explains why passive cash flow matters, how entrepreneurs can create true wealth instead of simply growing savings, and why leveraging other people's money, knowledge, and time accelerates financial freedom. Whether you're just starting a business, looking to diversify your investments, or wondering how to escape trading time for money, this conversation provides practical strategies that every entrepreneur should understand. In this episode you'll discover: ✔ Why businesses and real estate create wealth while traditional investing primarily grows existing wealth ✔ How passive cash flow leads to financial independence ✔ The Wealth Formula and how capital, knowledge, and time work together ✔ Why entrepreneurs should leverage other people's money (OPM), knowledge, and time ✔ How Amazon product businesses can create scalable income ✔ Why business ownership often produces faster cash flow than real estate ✔ The importance of defining your own version of financial freedom ✔ Budgeting strategies that actually work ✔ Why systems, delegation, and outsourcing accelerate growth ✔ How entrepreneurs can stop reinventing the wheel and build faster using proven models If you're serious about building wealth, increasing cash flow, creating financial freedom, and growing a scalable business, this episode is packed with practical insights you can begin implementing immediately. About Steve Lawson Steve Lawson is an entrepreneur, investor, author, and founder of Unbroken Investing. After spending years as a financial advisor and real estate investor, Steve now helps entrepreneurs build wealth through business ownership, alternative investments, passive cash flow strategies, and diversified income streams. About Small Business Pivots Hosted by Michael D. Morrison, Small Business Pivots features entrepreneurs, authors, investors, and business leaders from around the world sharing the pivots, systems, and lessons that help business owners grow. 🏆 Ranked among the Top 10% of podcasts globally by Listen Notes. Support the show 1. Want professional business coaching with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 2. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation Connect and follow the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison to learn how to grow a successful business : - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDMorrisonOKC - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc Email the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison: Michael@MichaelDMorrison.com

    28 min

  2. Jul 1

    Why Most Small Businesses Stay Stuck (And How to Fix It) | Rob Young

    Most business owners are experts at their craft—but they've never been taught how to run a business. In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison sits down with business coach and author Rob Young to discuss the foundations every small business needs to grow, scale, and avoid becoming stuck. After spending years in executive leadership roles before leaving corporate America, Rob transitioned into real estate renovation and construction. Along the way, he noticed a common pattern: highly skilled tradespeople and business owners were losing their businesses—not because they lacked talent, but because they lacked systems, processes, financial understanding, and business structure. Rob shares practical insights from his book and coaching work, covering business plans, financial statements, KPIs, hiring, networking, systems, playbooks, and how owners can stop being the bottleneck in their own companies. Whether you're a startup founder, contractor, consultant, service provider, or established business owner, this conversation provides actionable frameworks for building a healthier, more scalable business. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why every business needs guardrails and a working business plan • The biggest mistakes small business owners make when scaling • How to identify your best and highest use (BeHU) • Why business owners become bottlenecks • The importance of systems, playbooks, and documented processes • How to hire the right people and avoid costly mistakes • Why financial statements tell the real story of your business • How KPIs help business owners make better decisions • The difference between working in your business and working on your business • How to build a company that doesn't depend entirely on you About Rob Young: Rob Young is a business coach, author, and founder of Stage 3 Group. After a successful executive career, he shifted into entrepreneurship and business coaching, helping small business owners develop systems, leadership skills, financial awareness, and operational structure to create sustainable growth. About Small Business Pivots: Hosted by Michael D. Morrison, Small Business Pivots features entrepreneurs, experts, and business leaders sharing the pivots, lessons, and strategies that help business owners get unstuck and grow. Ranked among the Top 10% of podcasts globally by Listen Notes. Support the show 1. Want professional business coaching with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 2. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation Connect and follow the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison to learn how to grow a successful business : - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDMorrisonOKC - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc Email the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison: Michael@MichaelDMorrison.com

    36 min

  3. Jun 24

    How Entrepreneurs Can Reclaim Their Health, Energy and Purpose | Justin Roethlingshoefer

    Most entrepreneurs spend years building their businesses while unknowingly destroying their health. In this powerful episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael Morrison sits down with Justin Roethlingshoefer, founder of Own It Coaching and author of Holy Health, to discuss the hidden health crisis facing business owners, executives, and high-performing leaders. After battling obesity, anorexia, liver and kidney failure, depression, anxiety, addiction, precancerous polyps, and a bleeding ulcer, Justin discovered that success without health eventually becomes unsustainable. Together they explore why so many entrepreneurs struggle with burnout, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, anxiety, poor sleep, and declining energy despite building successful businesses. You'll learn why balance is a myth, how to create rhythms that support long-term success, and the five common habits that quietly destroy the health of high achievers. If you're a business owner who feels exhausted, overwhelmed, or stuck in survival mode, this conversation offers practical strategies to help you regain energy, increase capacity, and build a healthier life without sacrificing your business goals. In This Episode  Why entrepreneurs often sacrifice health for growth  The difference between balance and rhythm  How burnout develops in high performers  The five habits stealing your health  Why accountability matters for long-term transformation  Building sustainable health systems for busy leaders  How faith, purpose, and health work together  Practical strategies for increasing energy and capacity  Why your body was designed to heal About Justin Roethlingshoefer Justin is the founder of Own It Coaching, speaker, health strategist, and author of Holy Health. He helps entrepreneurs, executives, and high-capacity leaders improve their mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health through personalized coaching and sustainable lifestyle systems. Questions & Answers Why do entrepreneurs burn out? Entrepreneurs often prioritize business growth while neglecting recovery, sleep, nutrition, and stress management, leading to physical and mental exhaustion. How can business owners improve their health? By creating sustainable daily rhythms, prioritizing recovery, improving nutrition, managing stress, and building accountability systems. Is work-life balance realistic? Justin challenges that balance is a myth. Instead, entrepreneurs should focus on creating healthy rhythms that adapt to different seasons of life. What is the biggest health mistake entrepreneurs make? Sacrificing their health in pursuit of success and assuming they will focus on wellness later. Support the show 1. Want professional business coaching with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 2. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation Connect and follow the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison to learn how to grow a successful business : - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDMorrisonOKC - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc Email the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison: Michael@MichaelDMorrison.com

    38 min

  4. Jun 17

    Why Most Business Problems Aren't Problems | Tracy Christopherson & Michelle Troseth

    Many business owners spend years trying to solve the same problems over and over again. But what if those challenges aren't actually problems? In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison sits down with leadership experts Tracy Christopherson and Michelle Troseth, co-founders of Missing Logic and authors of Polarity Intelligence: The Missing Logic in Leadership. Together they explore why many leadership challenges, communication breakdowns, team conflicts, partnership struggles, and work-life balance issues are not problems to solve but polarities to manage. They share practical insights on building stronger business partnerships, improving communication, creating healthier workplace cultures, navigating conflict, and balancing the growing relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence. If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, manager, or leader looking to build stronger teams and scale your organization without burnout, this episode is packed with actionable leadership wisdom. In This Episode: ✔ Why most business challenges are not actually problems ✔ The concept of Polarity Intelligence ✔ How successful business partnerships survive difficult seasons ✔ Leadership lessons for entrepreneurs ✔ Building trust through communication ✔ Creating psychological safety within teams ✔ How work-life balance is really a leadership polarity ✔ Why AI and Human Intelligence must work together ✔ Common mistakes leaders make during growth ✔ How to reduce conflict and improve collaboration About Tracy Christopherson & Michelle Troseth Tracy Christopherson and Michelle Troseth are co-founders of Missing Logic and creators of the Polarity Intelligence framework. They help leaders navigate complexity, improve communication, reduce burnout, and create healthier organizations through practical leadership development strategies. Connect With Tracy & Michelle: Website: MissingLogic.com Questions and Answers: Q: What is Polarity Intelligence? A: Polarity Intelligence is the ability to recognize challenges that require balancing competing priorities rather than solving a single problem. Q: Why do business partnerships fail? A: Most partnerships fail because of poor communication, unclear expectations, and unresolved tensions. Q: How do leaders improve communication? A: Leaders improve communication by creating psychological safety, encouraging dialogue, and clarifying expectations. Q: How should businesses use AI? A: Businesses should balance artificial intelligence with human intelligence, leadership, relationships, and culture. Support the show 1. Want professional business coaching with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 2. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation Connect and follow the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison to learn how to grow a successful business : - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDMorrisonOKC - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc Email the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison: Michael@MichaelDMorrison.com

    47 min

  5. Jun 10

    How to Build a Business That Runs Without You | Jay Adewole

    Most business owners believe hustle is the answer. Work harder. Stay later. Handle everything yourself. But what happens when your business depends entirely on you? In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison sits down with Jay Adewole, executive coach, business consultant, founder of Point of View Consulting, and host of the Winner Circle Podcast, to unpack one of the biggest reasons businesses stay stuck: Lack of structure. Jay shares the painful story of launching his first business, losing everything within a year, and realizing that passion alone does not create sustainable success. His lesson? Passion without structure eventually becomes pressure. This conversation dives deep into founder dependency, leadership growth, CRM systems, SOPs, business automation, client retention, and how business owners can shift from being overwhelmed operators into true CEOs. If your business cannot survive when you step away, this episode is for you. In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why businesses collapse without systems  How founder dependency limits growth  Why passion alone is not enough  The difference between hustle and leadership  How CRM systems increase retention and revenue  Why SOPs matter in scaling a business  Jay’s CSS Framework: Clarity, Systems, Scale  How business owners become bottlenecks  Why automation creates freedom  How to move from operator to CEO mindset Key takeaway: If your business dies when you stop working, you do not own a business. You own a job. The path forward is clarity, systems, and scalable leadership. Listen now. Support the show 1. Want professional business coaching with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 2. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation Connect and follow the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison to learn how to grow a successful business : - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDMorrisonOKC - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc Email the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison: Michael@MichaelDMorrison.com

    42 min

  6. Jun 3

    Why Your Business Is Stuck: The Leadership Bottleneck Every Owner Must Fix | Croft Edwards

    Most business owners think their team is the problem. But what if the real bottleneck is the leader? In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison sits down with Croft Edwards, leadership coach, ontological coach, author, and founder of Croft + Company, to talk about what leadership really is and why business owners must grow before their business can grow. Croft has coached leaders since 2001, working with frontline supervisors, CEOs, Navy admirals, founders, and business owners across industries. In this conversation, he explains why leadership is not just a title, position, or personality trait. Leadership is a practice. You’ll hear why management gives you authority, but leadership earns commitment. Croft breaks down why business owners often struggle to create real team buy-in, why employees do not automatically give more just because you are the boss, and why the owner’s growth sets the ceiling for the company’s growth. If you feel like your team is not motivated, your culture is stuck, or your business depends too much on you, this conversation will challenge you. In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why leaders are developed through practice  The difference between management and leadership  Why you cannot mandate motivation or commitment  How business owners become the bottleneck in their own company  Why leadership is closer to coaching than commanding  How to build commitment instead of compliance  Why curiosity, practice, and beginner mindset matter  How leadership impacts culture, team performance, and business growth Croft also shares lessons from his military background, coaching underground mine supervisors, writing leadership books, and helping leaders shift how they show up physically, emotionally, and mentally. Key takeaway: Your business’s ability to grow is directly connected to your ability to grow as a leader. If you want a stronger team, stronger culture, and stronger business, start practicing leadership. Listen now to learn how to stop being the bottleneck and start becoming the leader your business needs. Support the show 1. Want professional business coaching with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 2. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation Connect and follow the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison to learn how to grow a successful business : - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDMorrisonOKC - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc Email the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison: Michael@MichaelDMorrison.com

    38 min

  7. May 27

    Why Customers Buy on Emotion (Not Logic) | Paul Larche on Branding, Sales Psychology & Business Growth

    Most business owners believe customers make rational buying decisions. They don’t. In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison sits down with Paul Larche, branding strategist, former business owner, and author of The Divided Brain, to break down why customers actually buy based on emotion first… and justify with logic later. If your marketing isn’t converting, your sales feel inconsistent, or your brand message isn’t sticking, this conversation explains why. Paul shares his “Divided Brain” framework — a practical business model built around how human decision-making actually works. You’ll learn why your customer’s subconscious “old brain” is constantly scanning for trust, safety, familiarity, and emotional payoff… and why facts, features, and logic often fail to close sales. This episode covers branding, customer psychology, decision-making, leadership, hiring, systems, and what every small business owner needs to understand about AI’s growing ability to influence buying behavior. If you’ve ever wondered:  Why customers hesitate  Why marketing doesn’t connect  Why rebranding can backfire  Why business owners struggle with indecision  Why familiar brands dominate …this episode is for you. In this episode: ✔ Why people buy on emotion and justify with facts  ✔ The “old brain vs new brain” decision-making model  ✔ How branding builds familiarity and trust  ✔ Why consistency matters more than creativity  ✔ The Tropicana $65 million branding mistake  ✔ How AI is learning emotional targeting  ✔ Why business owners get stuck in indecision  ✔ Hiring great employees vs keeping the wrong ones too long  ✔ Systems that help businesses scale Q&A you'll learn: Q: Why do customers buy emotionally? Customers make subconscious emotional decisions first because the brain prioritizes safety, trust, familiarity, and emotional outcomes before rational logic. Q: Why doesn’t fact-based marketing always work? Because features and facts appeal to logic, but buying decisions are often triggered emotionally before logic gets involved. Q: Why is branding consistency important? Consistency creates familiarity, and familiarity builds trust — making customers more likely to choose your business. Q: Why do business owners struggle with decision-making? Because emotional subconscious reactions often influence decisions before conscious reasoning catches up. Support the show 1. Want professional business coaching with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 2. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation Connect and follow the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison to learn how to grow a successful business : - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDMorrisonOKC - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc Email the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison: Michael@MichaelDMorrison.com

    45 min

  8. May 20

    From Prison to CEO: How Fleet Maull Built a Scalable Business Through Radical Responsibility

    What if the biggest breakthrough in your business had nothing to do with strategy… and everything to do with YOU? In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael sits down with Fleet Maull — founder of HeartMind Institute, Inc. 5000 entrepreneur, and former federal inmate turned business leader — to unpack one of the most powerful transformations you’ll hear. From spending 14.5 years in prison to building a high-growth company, Fleet shares how radical ownership, nervous system regulation, and CEO thinking changed everything. We dive deep into:  Why most business owners stay stuck as operators  How to shift from working IN your business → working ON it The real reason you feel overwhelmed (and how to fix it)  Why AI is forcing every business owner to pivot right now  How to build systems that increase business value and scalability  The power of daily routines and “habit stacking” for peak performance  Why regulating your nervous system may be your biggest competitive advantage If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what the next move is… this episode will challenge how you think about business and leadership. Key Takeaways:  The difference between operator vs CEO mindset Why systems (SOPs) are critical for scaling  How to “buy back your time” as a business owner  The hidden cost of doing everything yourself  Why personal growth = business growth  How AI is reshaping business models across industriesSupport the show 1. Want professional business coaching with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com 2. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation Connect and follow the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison to learn how to grow a successful business : - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDMorrisonOKC - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldmorrisonokc/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaeldmorrisonokc Email the podcast host, Michael D. Morrison: Michael@MichaelDMorrison.com

    45 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Stuck in your business and not sure what's next? Small Business Pivots delivers honest, real-world conversations with entrepreneurs and business owners who've made bold moves to grow, adapt, and build something that lasts. Hosted by nationally recognized business coach and keynote speaker Michael D. Morrison, each episode goes beyond the highlight reel. Guests share the real turning points, hard lessons, and strategies that actually moved the needle, whether they were chasing six figures or scaling past seven. With 140+ episodes and ranked in the top 10% of podcasts globally, Small Business Pivots drops every Wednesday, giving small business owners a trusted weekly resource to help them grow. Each week you'll hear real conversations about: Small business marketing, branding, and social mediaSales strategies, referral networks, and building partnershipsLeadership, hiring, team culture, and systemsMindset, burnout, and decision-making as a founderScaling, SOPs, automation, and building a sellable business If you're a small business owner who's done guessing and ready to grow, this is your show. Subscribe and join thousands of business owners making pivots that actually matter. Ready to work with Michael D. Morrison?  Visit: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/consultation

Information

  • Creator
    Michael D. Morrison
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    151
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Small Business Pivots
  • Show Website
    Small Business Pivots

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