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
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
Why Organizations Become Less Profitable As They Grow with Nick Avaria – Ep. 399
In this eye-opening episode, Nick Avaria, Founder of Agency Acquisitions, shares why many stage 4 founders get trapped in the missing middle. If you're growing revenue but profits are shrinking, complexity is overwhelming you, and your team feels misaligned, you won't want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why growth rewards you with more problems and a dangerous chasm called the missing middle
- How to stop promoting individual contributors and build real middle management systems
- What it takes to transition from founder to CEO so you stop being the speed limit
You Don’t Have a Business You Have a Job with Jesse Gilmore – Ep. 394
In this strategic episode, Jesse Gilmore, Founder of Niche in Control, shares how to escape the founder-as-bottleneck trap by shifting your identity from doer to leader and building real systems so you stop owning a job and start owning a business. If you’re still the single point of failure and every client or fire runs through you, you won’t want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why succeeding as the best doer in stage two can make you the bottleneck that prevents scaling into higher stages
- What signs reveal you've built yourself a job instead of a business, such as inability to take a week off without everything stalling
- How to complete a 7-day time log to identify tasks for eliminate, automate, delegate, and time-block so you can shift from doer to trainer to manager to visionary
Why Your Team Isn’t Enough with David Miller – Ep. 389
In this transformational episode, David Miller, Founder and CEO of Alchemy of Scale, shares how to move from overwhelmed founder to effective leader in stage 4. If you have managers but still feel like everything runs through you, you're frustrated with constant questions, and the team isn't owning results, you won't want to miss it.
You will discover:
- Why having managers doesn't mean you have real leadership
- How to shift from managing people to building systems that create accountability
- What it takes to develop leaders who think and act like owners
5 Tips for Creating a Career Path Program That Pays for Itself, and Then Some
Contrary to popular belief, the workforce is no less career-focused today than they were 30 years ago. But if employees want lasting careers, why are they switching companies at a faster rate than ever? The problem is with the organization, not the individual. In this article, you'll learn 5 tips for creating a career path program that will keep your top performers at the top of their game for the long haul!
The Hidden Solution to Your Employee Retention Dilemma
Training takes time. Promotion-level openings don't become available simply because someone is ready. Change is uncomfortable. These realities make it hard to move employees within your company, which forces them to start looking for work outside of your company. But what if you could substantially extend the shelf-life of your average employee even if you can't give them a promotion?