The Small Business Show

In this lively FridAI episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean dive into personal experiments with AI tools. Shannon shares how he used AI to analyze his credit card and bank statements, uncovering surprising expenses like $1,143 spent on SaaS subscriptions and nearly $700 on Amazon. He discusses […] The post FridAI with GPT Bank and Credit and Suno Music – Business Brain 665 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon kick off by reflecting on their July 4th holiday weekends before diving into an engaging conversation about energy, connection, and entrepreneurship. Shannon shares insights from over 140 discovery calls he's had with members of his $5 mastermind, emphasizing the surprising value […] The post Energy and Experience – Business Brain 664 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this Independence Day episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon kick things off by reflecting on unbirthdays, reviews from their listeners, and the continued popularity of their “FridAI” episodes. They emphasize the value of experimentation and how the show has evolved over time to stay fresh and relevant for […] The post FridAI – Replit + CoPilot – Business Brain 663 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean kick off with a candid conversation about Dave's recent illness, which includes an unexplained fever and persistent headache. Despite being under the weather, Dave emphasizes the importance of consistency and leadership, especially when managing a growing business. He discusses […] The post Fear of the Unknown + Fever Dreams – Business Brain 662 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this Casual Friday episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon dive into a discussion about Delphi.ai, a tool designed to create a persistent, AI-powered version of your knowledge and insights. Shannon shares his plan to test Delphi by uploading transcripts from his coaching sessions to develop an AI assistant […] The post FridAI with Delphi, ChatGPT and Perplexity – Business Brain 661 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon pay tribute to Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx, highlighting his pivotal role in the development of overnight shipping. They share the legendary story of Smith gambling FedEx's last cash in Las Vegas to make payroll, a gamble that ultimately kept […] The post Overnight Success + Patience is a Currency – Business Brain 660 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Want to live your Charmed Life? Then start using AI like your personal CFO. In this week's episode of Business Brain, Shannon and Dave explore how to feed your business and personal finances into tools like ChatGPT to uncover waste, optimize spending, and build smarter systems—without relying on spreadsheets or […] The post FridAI – Granola AI + LifeGPT – Business Brain 659 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

You're building a business—but are you being too impatient? This week on Business Brain, Shannon and Dave dive into why patience often trumps money in the early stages of entrepreneurship. Instead of chasing quick profits, focus on putting in reps, learning the game, and building a system that pays off […] The post You Need Patience More Than Money – Business Brain 658 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this Business Brain episode, Dave Hamilton celebrates the 20th anniversary of his first podcast, Mac Geek Gab, reflecting on how a direct email to Steve Jobs led to Apple featuring his show on the launch day of their iTunes podcast directory. This moment serves as a springboard for a […] The post FridAI – Gmail and Calendar Takeover – Business Brain 657 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Shannon Jean kicks off the discussion by highlighting the importance of experimentation through a simple product called the Brain Press—a tactile fidget toy created by a fellow entrepreneur he follows on X. The segment uses the Brain Press as a springboard to emphasize the […] The post I Need Time More Than I Need Money – Business Brain 656 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this Casual Friday episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon kick things off with a light-hearted celebration of National Donut Day before diving into a deeper conversation inspired by a post from Dr. Julie Gerner: “If I was a stranger stepping into this person's life, what would I immediately […] The post FridAI – Projects and Strangers – Business Brain 655 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton kicks things off by sharing a standout customer service experience with FMPHost, a FileMaker Pro hosting company. After years of reliable service, Dave moved his FileMaker database to a self-hosted Docker container to save costs and consolidate resources. He praised FMPHost for […] The post Let them Cancel and Don't Make Excuses – Business Brain 654 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In Episode 653 of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton shares a candid story about a business deal that fell apart after 18 months of negotiations. Despite the initial disappointment, Dave felt unexpected relief—realizing that the deal would have meant giving up control of the business and taking on fixed employment terms. […] The post FridAI – Priorities and Calendars – Business Brain 653 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In Episode 652 of Business Brain, Shannon Jean shares reflections from a recent trip to St. Lucia, highlighting the stark contrast between poverty and wealth on the island. He emphasizes how entrepreneurship there is a means of survival, with locals creatively hustling to sell everything from handmade goods to rum […] The post Survival Entrepreneurship – Business Brain 652 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In Episode 651 of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon dive into the concept of a “credibility funnel”—a precursor or complement to the traditional sales funnel. Shannon emphasizes how today's AI tools can elevate a business's professional image, especially through visual storytelling. He shares how he uses Napkin.ai to visualize abstract […] The post The Credibility Funnel + FridAI – Business Brain 651 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In Episode 650 of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon welcome guest Michael Greenberg from 3rd Brain to explore the essential but often overlooked world of digital operations. Michael explains that before companies dive into AI and automation, they need to establish solid foundations—clear processes, documented operations, and organized data. His […] The post You Need a 3rd Brain with Michael Greenberg – Business Brain 650 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In Episode 649 of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon focus on the power of consistency and content creation in modern business. Kicking off with a listener email about the value of handwritten thank-you notes, they stress the importance of thoughtful outreach and relationship-building. From there, they segue into a deeper […] The post Every Business is in the Content Business + FridAI – Business Brain 649 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In Episode 648 of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon dive into the evolving landscape of education and its impact on entrepreneurship and the workforce. Shannon shares a conversation with a colleague who helps businesses start trade schools—not just for profit, but to solve hiring challenges. These businesses leverage trade schools […] The post The EDU Episode – Business Brain 648 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this FridAI episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon dive into the evolving future of pay-per-click advertising in a world increasingly dominated by AI tools like ChatGPT, noting how AI is replacing traditional search behavior and potentially reshaping monetization models. They discuss Shannon's creation of a custom GPT trained […] The post FridAI – ShannonGPT + Shopify – Business Brain 647 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon dive into the value of creating a “working agreement” before starting any business partnership. They discuss how this simple, non-binding document can clarify roles, expectations, and accountability—helping partners avoid misunderstandings and preserving friendships if things don't work out. Framed as the […] The post The Agreement that Saves Partnerships – Business Brain 646 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon dive into a mix of tech, strategy, and entrepreneurship insights. They discuss the mental exhaustion of constant video calls, particularly the unnatural experience of seeing oneself too often on Zoom. They explore the idea that strategy is about choosing what not […] The post Strategy is Choosing What Not to Do + FridAI – Business Brain 645 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon discuss how traits associated with ADHD—like jumping between ideas, hyper-focus, and high risk tolerance—can actually serve as superpowers for entrepreneurs. They share personal experiences, acknowledge their unofficial ADHD diagnoses, and talk about learning to manage it through strategies like using ChatGPT, […] The post Leveraging your ADHD Superpower – Business Brain 644 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton shares a story about a $36,000 IRS refund check he mailed to his bank, which never arrived. After frustrating interactions with Citibank and the IRS, he turned to ChatGPT for help. ChatGPT guided him to use the IRS Practitioner Priority Line and […] The post FridAI + The 3rd Door – Business Brain 643 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Shannon introduces a new concept called the 20-80 Rule, a twist on the traditional 80/20 principle. His version suggests that investing two years of hard work upfront—building systems, making mistakes, and laying a solid foundation—can result in eight years of sustained revenue and business […] The post The 20/80 Opportunity – Business Brain 642 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

An AI update from the hosts of the Business Brain podcast. Two powerful prompts to keep you from being left behind and a prompt to analyze your blind spots. Join us! 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs' Podcast #641 for Casual Friday, April 18th, 2025 April 18th: Lineman Appreciation Day […] The post FridAI – Prompts and Blind Spots – Business Brain 641 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Colin Rutherford joins the Business Brain podcast to share his entrepreneurial journey. Starting as a Division I hockey player at Dartmouth, he launched Greenbox Storage, a summer storage service for college students. Despite balancing 30 hours a week of hockey and Ivy League academics, he learned critical time management skills […] The post Collin Rutherford of Founder Brands – Business Brain 640 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Dave and Shannon kick off the episode reflecting on the importance of mindset and self-talk. Dave shares a recent insight: instead of saying “I wish I had known that,” he shifted to “I'm glad I know that now,” which they agree is a powerful mental reframe. They talk about how […] The post The Positive Learning Framework + FridAI – Business Brain 639 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean kick things off with a humorous nod to International ASMR Day before diving into key business tips. Dave shares insights from the Podcast Movement Evolutions conference, emphasizing the importance of identifying where your industry engages online—like how the podcast […] The post The Billionaire Perspective – Business Brain 638 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Dave and Shannon discuss the “consulting trap”—the cycle where coaches or consultants trade time for money and get hooked on the immediate gratification of helping people, like feeling like Superman. Dave shares his own experience getting stuck in it and warns that it's not scalable. Shannon agrees, saying he's early […] The post The Consultant Trap – Business Brain 637 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean open the episode with a light chat about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Dave then shares insights from attending South by Southwest (SXSW), focusing on a documentary called Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror. Initially intending to cover it for his music podcast, Dave […] The post Own Your Content – Business Brain 636 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean celebrate National Hot Tub Day by discussing how hot tubs help them decompress and unplug. They transition into AI and automation, sharing practical Gmail tips—like using built-in templates for quick replies and the “+” email trick for tracking […] The post Automate Everything – Business Brain 635 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean open episode 634 of the Business Brain podcast by sharing personal updates and diving into a frustrating customer service story from Shannon. He explains his negative experience with Bluehost, a company he used for domain management. After being hacked and receiving poor support with constant […] The post Everyone is a Customer – Business Brain 634 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Business Brain episode 633 celebrates Twitter Day and discusses Blue Sky, a decentralized social network originally started as a project within Twitter by Jack Dorsey and now run by Jay Graber. The show then moves to AI topics, emphasizing that people won't be replaced by AI but by people who […] The post FridAI – GPT vs. Perplexity, Zoom AI and Bluesky – Business Brain 633 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean reflect on the unpredictable yet inspiring nature of South by Southwest and dive into two key business lessons: first, that customers today often expect to be disappointed — creating a powerful opportunity for businesses to stand out by exceeding […] The post Your Customers are Expecting to be Disappointed – Business Brain 632 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Business Brain Podcast Episode 631 explores AI applications in business and content creation. Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss a listener's idea to create a custom AI by uploading user manuals of all owned devices into ChatGPT, effectively turning it into a personal tech support assistant. They extend this concept […] The post FridAI – NotebookLM – Business Brain 631 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

The episode of Business Brain features Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discussing productivity, mindset, and business strategies. They open with lighthearted Hitchcock-related jokes and discuss the unpredictable nature of the South by Southwest conference. The main discussion revolves around productivity methods, particularly the concept of a “reverse to-do list” or […] The post Discounting Our Own Experiences – Business Brain 630 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Business Brain Podcast Episode 629 discusses the role of AI in learning, business, and social media strategy. The hosts, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean, address an email from a listener who limits their child's AI use to encourage independent problem-solving. They compare this to past educational resistance to calculators and […] The post FridAI + Listerner Mail – Business Brain 629 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean dive into the challenges of balancing work and life, particularly in sales and leadership roles. They also discuss the risks of stepping away from a business while still retaining liability. Key Takeaways: The Dilemma of Instant Email Replies […] The post Sold But Not Paid – Business Brain 628 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean reflect on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, acknowledging the emotional rollercoaster that comes with running a business. They discuss the importance of resilience and how even seasoned entrepreneurs still experience moments of doubt, only to bounce back with […] The post FridAI and Over-Automating – Business Brain 627 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss Levi Strauss and the origins of blue jeans, highlighting how the company pivoted from selling dry goods to revolutionizing durable workwear. They then shift to listener engagement, sharing an updated review from a long-time fan and announcing a […] The post Quitting After the First Failure – Business Brain 626 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

This episode of Business Brain explores strategies for innovation, marketing, and leveraging AI to optimize your business. Hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss how businesses can stay top-of-mind with partners by regularly reaching out with valuable updates. They introduce a new system for vetting podcast sponsors, ensuring that hosts […] The post FridAI + New vs. Better – Business Brain 625 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

The episode celebrates the 10th anniversary of Business Brain and reflects on the challenges and lessons learned from a decade of podcasting. Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean emphasize the importance of consistency, particularly in the face of life's obstacles, and how having a co-host or accountability partner helps maintain momentum. […] The post 10 Years of Business Brain – Episode 624 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean explore the power of AI tools in transforming how entrepreneurs analyze data and streamline decision-making. Shannon shares a fascinating story about using AI to assess and value items from a liquidation auction quickly, saving hours of manual research and […] The post FridAI + Understanding Context – Business Brain 623 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss tips and strategies to stay motivated as entrepreneurs and manage tasks, including “grunt work.” They share personal tactics like breaking tasks into smaller chunks, using dopamine rewards (e.g., taking breaks, engaging in enjoyable activities), and leveraging the fear of failure to push through unappealing […] The post The Hunt for Dopamine – Business Brain 622 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon talk about how the internet warps our sense of success. Shannon shares how getting 15 likes on a post feels like a failure online, but if 15 people came up to you after an in-person talk, you'd feel like a rockstar. […] The post The FridAI Update – AI for the Rest of Us – Business Brain 621 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon kick things off with a fun nod to National Shower with a Friend Day. They chat about the show's upcoming 10th anniversary on February 19th and brainstorm some celebration ideas, like giveaways for listeners who submit questions or leave reviews. They're […] The post The Only Constant is Change – Business Brain 620 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Here's a summary of the episode: In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss the importance of understanding what you're truly selling, beyond just the delivery mechanism. They explore how businesses often mistake their product or service for the actual value they provide, emphasizing that customers […] The post Don't Confuse the Delivery System with what You are Selling – Business Brain 619 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss the power of free thinking and the cost of leading an uncommon life. They reflect on Dave's experience at the NAMM conference, where a minor snub from an industry professional fueled his motivation to make a bigger impact. The conversation explores the concept of […] The post Living Through Economic Cycles – Business Brain 618 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Business Brain episode 617, hosted by Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean, covers insights on business growth, persistence, and the value of consistency. Dave shares his experience attending the NAMM conference, a key event in the music industry, where he was invited as press due to his Gig Gab podcast. Reflecting […] The post The 10-Year Overnight Success – Business Brain 617 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Business Brain episode 616 covers a variety of topics related to business strategies, financial efficiency, and personal development. Hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss leveraging business expenses for tax benefits, particularly when planning trips. Dave mentions his travel plans to NAMM and Mexico as business-related deductions. Shannon shares how […] The post Finding Waves to Ride – Business Brain 616 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean interview Scott Jordan, co-founder of the apparel company SCOTTeVEST. Scott shares his journey from being a lawyer dissatisfied with corporate life to founding a successful travel clothing brand. He explains how he came up with the idea for SCOTTeVEST […] The post Scott Jordan, Founder of SCOTTeVEST – Business Brain 615 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.