Big Talk About Small Business
Hosted by Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Our Mission is to inspire, empower, and equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and insights they need to succeed in their ventures. Through engaging conversations with industry experts, seasoned entrepreneurs, and thought leaders, we aim to provide valuable strategies, actionable advice, and real-world experiences that will enable our listeners to navigate the challenges, seize the opportunities, and build thriving businesses.
Episodes
119 episodes
Ep. 116 - Why Most Small Business Owners Panic
The ground is always moving under small businesses, but panic isn’t a plan. We pull back the curtain on how owners can stay liquid, avoid blind spots, and turn volatility into an edge. From COVID’s lopsided rebounds to today’s AI hype cycle, we...
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54:40
Ep. 115 - Solo Versus Scale: The Realities Of One-Person Companies
Think a one-person business is a fast track to freedom? We pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a resilient solo operation—where pricing, process, and discipline matter far more than motivational slogans. We talk through why...
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Season 1
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Episode 115
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50:20
Ep. 114 - From Paycheck To Practice
Ever feel torn between the safety of a paycheck and the pull to build something of your own? We sit down with Shawn, a software engineer well-versed in bank operations, to chart a practical path from employee to entrepreneur without betting the...
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Season 1
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Episode 114
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40:30
Ep. 113 - From Overwhelm To Order: How Entrepreneurs Choose What To Do First
Overwhelmed by a wall of tasks and not sure what actually moves the business forward? We get honest about the real work of prioritization: choosing one must-do each day, leading with discipline when motivation fades, and betting big on “soft” p...
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Season 1
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Episode 113
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41:55
Ep. 112 - From Niche To Exit: Building A Sellable Business
Want a buyer to knock on your door with a premium offer you didn’t see coming? We dig into how to build a company that’s simple to acquire, hard to replace, and valuable beyond EBITDA. The key is the shim strategy: become the tiny, vital fix in...
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Season 1
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Episode 112
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30:43
Ep. 111 - Inside The Hard Truth Of Management Transitions
Growth doesn’t stall when the product falters; it stalls when management turns into bureaucracy. We dive straight into the messy middle of leadership transitions and share a blunt playbook for founders who want to scale without losing their sou...
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Season 1
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Episode 111
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45:02
Ep. 110 – Strategy Is Not a Spreadsheet
Strategy only matters if it survives Monday. We take a candid look at how small businesses can turn plans into progress by focusing on action, clear ownership, and market reality. From the opening rant on “Department of the Obvious” stats to a ...
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Season 1
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Episode 110
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45:27
Ep. 109 - Stop Faking Corporate: Lead Like a Founder
Most leadership advice assumes you’ve got time, staff, and cash to spare. We don’t. We take you straight into the realities of small business leadership where the bank balance is thin, the to-do list is wide, and your actions, not your titles, ...
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Episode 109
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39:19
Ep. 108 - Stop Being the Victim
Tired of waiting for perfect conditions before you finally feel engaged at work? We get real about why that moment never comes and how to build momentum anyway. The core theme is simple and demanding: act like an owner, even when you’re an empl...
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Episode 108
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52:37
Ep. 107 - Entrepreneurs Don’t Take Vacations
Stop chasing balance like it’s a prize you win at the end of the grind. We delve into the real operating system of small businesses, managing imbalance, where pressure can build you up instead of break you, and where “hustle” is a strategy, not...
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Episode 107
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1:00:14
Ep. 106 - From Door-to-Door to Eight Figures
Growth isn’t magic, it’s math. We sit down with entrepreneur Joe Rare to unpack how he turned a failing, everything-for-everyone agency into a focused, scalable machine by choosing one niche, productizing delivery, and unleashing a disciplined ...
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Episode 106
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50:51
Ep. 105 - The High Cost of Cheap Legal Advice
What's the real cost of cutting legal corners in your startup? Attorney Lucas Regnier explains why your choice of business structure can significantly impact your growth trajectory.The podcast delves into the often-misunderstood world o...
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Episode 105
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55:16
Ep. 104 - Success Starts with Showing Up
Success in your first job isn't what most people think. Forget the conventional wisdom about comprehensive benefits packages, comfortable working hours, and clearly defined job descriptions. The real path to professional achievement requires a ...
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Episode 104
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1:00:02
Ep. 103 - Do the Work. Be Responsive. Win in Business.
Big Talk About Small Business begins with a powerful statement that sets the tone for our entire conversation: "We don't deserve anything, we earn everything." This fundamental truth about entrepreneurship frames our reflections on what it take...
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Episode 103
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1:04:32
Ep. 102 - Nearshoring: The Future of Global Business
Ever wondered what happens when you combine the grit of Latin American talent with the innovation needs of US companies? Brian Samson's journey from San Francisco tech executive to nearshoring pioneer offers a fascinating roadmap for businesses...
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Episode 102
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1:03:32
Ep. 101 - Drone Tech Built in America
Meet the team revolutionizing American drone manufacturing at a critical moment in the industry's evolution. Tobin Fisher founded Vantage Robotics on Christmas Eve 2013, combining his mechanical engineering background with software expertise to...
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Episode 101
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1:00:57
Ep. 100 - Sales Funnels, The Crown Jewel of Business
In this episode, Jose Socorro shows why sales is the crown jewel of entrepreneurship. Marketing may spark awareness, and operations may deliver value, but without sales, nothing moves forward.Jose shares his compelling journey of helpin...
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Episode 100
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53:54
Ep. 99 - CFO Advice Every Founder Should Hear
When does a small business need financial expertise beyond basic bookkeeping? Danielle Hendon, Founder and CEO of 4 Corners CFO, reveals the critical moment most entrepreneurs miss: "You don't want to be responsible for somebody else's payroll ...
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Episode 99
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58:32
Ep. 98 - Is AI the New Calculator?
The rise of artificial intelligence presents the greatest entrepreneurial opportunity of our lifetime, if you approach it with the right mindset. Drawing a powerful parallel between AI and calculators, our guests explore how both tools faced in...
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Episode 98
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42:41
Ep. 97 - AI Revolution in Business
The AI revolution is transforming business at breathtaking speed, and entrepreneurs who don't adapt risk being left behind. This conversation delves into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape in ways strikingly ...
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Episode 97
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35:05
Ep. 96 - Corporate Experience Isn’t Enough
The myth that corporate executives can seamlessly transition to entrepreneurship gets shattered in this candid conversation between Eric Howerton and Mark Zweig, two battle-tested business owners. They break down why these are "two completely d...
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Season 1
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Episode 96
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28:19
Ep. 95 - Great Service Doesn’t Auto-Reply
What makes a professional service provider truly valuable to your small business? It's not cost savings—it's quality, responsiveness, and genuine care. In this candid conversation, we challenge the conventional wisdom that outsourcing is primar...
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Season 1
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Episode 95
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34:31
Ep. 94 - Skip the Startup, Buy a Business
Ever wondered if entrepreneurship really delivers the freedom and flexibility it promises? In this eye-opening conversation, we tackle the myth head-on and reveal why business ownership often means you're never truly "off the clock." Between ca...
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Season 1
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Episode 94
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48:43
Ep. 93 - What Defines an Entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurship defies simple categorization. Despite efforts to profile the "typical entrepreneur," success in business creation spans across demographic boundaries, transcending age, gender, race, and educational background. What matters far...
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Season 1
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Episode 93
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39:46
Ep. 92 - The Entrepreneur's Sacrifice
The truth about entrepreneurship isn't pretty, but it's powerful. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, we tear away the glossy veneer of business ownership to reveal what actually drives success and why so many well-intentioned ventures fail.<...
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Season 1
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Episode 92
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44:13