Why Do so Many Small Businesses Fail?
Somewhere between 60-90% of new businesses fail to survive. Just about everyone agrees, starting a new business has a low success rate. The real question is not how many fail, but WHY so many fail.
Why You Can’t “Just Figure it Out” Anymore (And What to Do Instead) with Michael Swenson – Ep. 359
In this essential episode, Michael Swenson, Founder of CrisisTrak, shares how to build crisis plans that safeguard your enterprise from disasters. If you struggle with blind spots that could erase years of value, you won't want to miss it.
You will discover:
- How to form a crisis team for rapid, organized response
- Why early planning protects customers, employees, and investors
- What Crisis Track automates to streamline your recovery
The Only Good Reason to Be In Whitewater with Scott Ritzheimer – Ep. 429
In this actionable episode, Alícia Rius, Founder of Hive - Leadership & Team Coaching, shares why promoting your best individual contributor rarely creates a great manager. If you're in stage 4 frustrated that your promoted leaders are struggling and your team isn't performing as expected, you won't want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why stepping into management is a career change, not a promotion
- How to create clarity around expectations for new managers
- What the Four Ps of Leadership framework reveals about where clarity is missing
Why You Should Ignore Most of Your Business Books with Scott Ritzheimer – Ep. 428
In this liberating episode, Scott Ritzheimer, Founder of Scale Architects, shares why most business books overwhelm founders and how to stop applying the wrong advice at the wrong time. If you feel buried in “shoulds,” frustrated when strategies fail, or unsure which books actually apply to you right now, you won’t want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why business books written for one stage create confusion when read by founders in every stage
- How to identify the level a book was written for and match it to where you are today
- What to do when the first chapters are strong but the rest is just filler
The Solopreneur Scaling Without A Team with Silvio Porcellana – Ep. 427
In this clarifying episode, Silvio Porcellana, Founder of SilvioPorcellana.com, shares how to escape the solopreneur trap of hiring your way out of overwhelm and instead build systems that protect your capacity. If you’re drowning in tasks, frustrated by people, and doing less of the work you love, you won’t want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why thinking in systems instead of constantly putting out fires is the real path forward
- How to treat yourself as a resource and build systems around your actual strengths
- What to prioritize so the system grows while you keep doing the work you enjoy
Why Your Managers Stopped Managing with Mike Krupit – Ep. 426
In this actionable episode, Alícia Rius, Founder of Hive - Leadership & Team Coaching, shares why promoting your best individual contributor rarely creates a great manager. If you're in stage 4 frustrated that your promoted leaders are struggling and your team isn't performing as expected, you won't want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why stepping into management is a career change, not a promotion
- How to create clarity around expectations for new managers
- What the Four Ps of Leadership framework reveals about where clarity is missing
Why Integrity Isn’t Actually Your Core Value
Your culture isn't the words on your walls, t-shirts, and website. It is those things that you do as a company that works and is therefore promoted, encouraged, repeated, and honored. Let me pick on integrity to illustrate my point as many, many businesses will include integrity in their core values.
Your Achievements Are Hiding The Real Problem with Esther Zeledon – Ep. 420
In this revealing episode, Esther Zeledon, President of Be.Act.Change, shares how success itself can keep you stuck as a dissatisfied employee and how to break free into purpose. If you're in a great job that still feels like the wrong life and wonder whether to stay or start something of your own, you won't want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why inheriting dreams from others leads to misalignment and eventual regret
- How to uncover your unique problem-solving patterns before launching anything
- What it takes to move from dissatisfaction to purposeful action with clarity
You will discover:
- Why stepping into management is a career change, not a promotion
- How to create clarity around expectations for new managers
- What the Four Ps of Leadership framework reveals about where clarity is missing
Why Smart People Build The Wrong Business with Rich Potter – Ep. 419
In this insightful episode, Rich Potter, Franchise Business Consultant of Franchise Heroes, shares how to transition from corporate success into structured business ownership without costly mistakes. If you're a burned-out executive considering entrepreneurship but unsure how to start or whether to buy versus build, you won't want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why talking to people who have already done it is the most important first step
- How franchising provides a proven game plan and support instead of starting from zero
- What questions to ask existing owners during validation to uncover real risks and rewards
You Can’t Promote Someone Into Management with Alícia Rius – Ep. 418
In this actionable episode, Alícia Rius, Founder of Hive - Leadership & Team Coaching, shares why promoting your best individual contributor rarely creates a great manager. If you're in stage 4 frustrated that your promoted leaders are struggling and your team isn't performing as expected, you won't want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why stepping into management is a career change, not a promotion
- How to create clarity around expectations for new managers
- What the Four Ps of Leadership framework reveals about where clarity is missing
Should You Really Step Down or Sell with Scott Ritzheimer – Ep. 415
In this explanatory episode, Scott Ritzheimer, Founder of Scale Architects, shares when and why to step down as CEO into level 6 ownership. If you're in stage 5 wondering whether it's time to exit the CEO seat or if you still have more to give, you won't want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why stepping down too early without a clear vision for what's next usually fails
- How to evaluate if your vision truly requires you to move from CEO to owner.
- What it takes to intentionally prepare a successor while thriving in level 5
How Solopreneurs Win in the Automation Age with Tim Harrison – Ep. 408
In this practical episode, Tim Harrison, Founder and CEO of Coaching Innovation Lab, shares how AI can be your most powerful leverage tool as a stage 2 solopreneur. If you're overwhelmed wearing every hat, struggling with time constraints, and doing too much low-value work yourself, you won't want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why AI is now the essential third option beyond just eliminate or delegate
- How to focus on your zone of genius while letting AI handle everything else
- What it takes to build simple systems that multiply your impact and productivity