Above The Business

In this episode, Bradley sits down with Matt Jonza, co-owner of Direct Clicks and longtime digital marketing operator, to talk about what has changed in marketing for small business owners. From the rise of AI-driven ad platforms to shifts in search behavior and lead quality, Matt breaks down what business owners need to understand if they want their marketing to actually support growth. They disc...

Marketing plans provide direction, but without the right metrics, it becomes difficult to know whether your strategy is actually working. This episode is part two of a three-part marketing series. After covering marketing plans in part one, Bradley Hamner now focuses on the core marketing metrics every small business owner should understand. He explains how to measure cost per lead, customer acqui...

In this episode, Bradley sits down with David Barnett, consultant, author, and longtime advisor on buying and selling small businesses. David shares his path from early interest in business to working in Yellow Pages sales, business brokerage, banking, and eventually building a consulting practice focused on helping people buy and sell Main Street and lower middle market companies. They discuss ho...

Marketing is one of the most confusing areas for many small business owners. While sales may come naturally, deciding how much to invest in marketing and where to allocate those dollars often feels unclear. This episode kicks off a three-part series focused on helping business owners build a clearer marketing foundation. In part one, Bradley Hamner breaks down what a marketing plan actually is and...

In this episode, Bradley Hamner sits down with Megan Reitz, researcher, speaker, and author focused on dialogue in organizations. Megan shares insights from years of studying why people speak up, why they stay silent, and how leaders influence both through the way they show up. They explore how leadership presence affects team communication, why most leaders overestimate their listening skills, an...

Many people start a business because they want freedom and flexibility. The ability to decide what to work on, when to work on it, and who to work with is a powerful motivator for entrepreneurs. In this solo episode, Bradley Hamner explores a tension many small business owners experience as their company begins to grow. The same people who started a business to avoid being told what to do often fi...

In this episode, Bradley sits down with Amy Sandler, principal coach at Radical Candor, podcast host, and former chief marketing officer. The conversation explores how emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and communication shape leadership, especially for business owners who are trying to lead well under pressure. They discuss why feedback can feel threatening, why leaders often get defensive i...

In this solo episode, Bradley Hamner explores a powerful idea he first encountered in The Road Less Stupid by Keith Cunningham: the Bathrobe Theory of Business. The concept is simple. One size does not fit all. What works for one business may not work for another, especially when companies are operating at different stages of growth. Bradley breaks down the four stages he commonly sees in small bu...

In this episode, Bradley sits down with Brian Kiley, an insurance agency owner and longtime business leader with more than three decades of experience across multiple industries. From running bike shops to founding a nonprofit ministry and now leading an insurance agency, Brian shares the winding path that shaped his perspective as a business owner. They discuss the realities of the early years in...

In this episode of Above The Business, Bradley Hamner reflects on a simple question he learned from mentor Sean Block that continues to influence how he approaches business and leadership. Bradley explains how two questions, “What matters?” and “What are you going to do about it?”, can guide strategic planning at every level of a company. Whether thinking about a three-year vision, annual objectiv...

In this episode, Bradley sits down with Dr. Matt Paden, founder of Great Days Leadership and former executive vice president at Lipscomb University. The conversation explores how leadership development actually happens inside organizations and why self-awareness plays a central role for business owners. They discuss the difference between leadership knowledge and leadership wisdom, and why leaders...

In this Friday solo episode, Bradley Hamner explores a powerful concept from the book The Gap and The Gain and how it applies to small business owners who constantly feel like success is always just out of reach. As goals get closer, the horizon seems to move. What once felt like progress suddenly feels like it’s not enough. Bradley explains how this mindset shows up in business and why many entre...

Bradley sits down with Greg Crabtree — CPA, author of Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits , and founder of a consulting practice that grew from a $1M local firm to a $7M national operation — for a candid, data-driven conversation about what it actually takes to build a profitable business in today's economy. Greg shares what 40+ years of working with entrepreneurs has taught him, why the ol...

What books have had the biggest impact on how Bradley Hamner thinks about business? In this Friday solo episode, Bradley breaks down his top 10 "Goated Books" — the greatest books of all time — and shares the personal stories and key takeaways behind each one. Whether you're a first-time reader or looking to revisit a classic, this list is your shortcut to the books that have shaped Bradley's mind...

Most small business owners are naturally great at sales — it's their business, their passion, and they've lived it from day one. The problem? What lives in their head is almost impossible to transfer to a team. In this episode, Bradley sits down with Nikki Rausch, founder of Sales Maven and author of The Selling Staircase , to talk about what it actually takes to build a sales team that performs w...

What if the reason you feel stretched thin has nothing to do with how much time you have — and everything to do with where you're putting it? In this episode, Bradley breaks down one of the most impactful exercises a small business owner can do: the time and energy audit. He traces the idea back to its roots, makes the case for why energy matters just as much as hours, and gives you a clear framew...

In this episode of the Above the Business podcast, Bradley sits down with Dustin Booth, a successful small business owner who's navigated the challenging journey from burnout to building a thriving, sustainable business. This conversation is part of our Small Business Blueprint series, where we unpack the real strategies that business owners use to grow from under $500K to over $2M in revenue. Dus...

Ever feel like your notes, files, and ideas are scattered everywhere? You're not alone. In this episode, Bradley tackles one of the most common challenges for business owners: personal knowledge management. From books and podcasts to conference notes and client materials, learn where to put everything so you can actually find it when you need it. Bradley shares his proven three-system approach tha...

"At the very core of everything we do is about meeting and exceeding expectations." Marc Haine shares how theatrical principles can transform your small business's customer experience. Drawing from his unique journey from hospitality consultant to stage actor, Marc reveals why most businesses fail to meet basic customer expectations and provides practical strategies to elevate every customer touch...

Bradley Hamner breaks down a powerful lesson from Michael Jordan's "The Last Dance" documentary about the fundamental difference between playing to win versus playing not to lose—and how this mindset shift can transform your business leadership. Register Now! Lead Yourself First: February 24th - an Above The Business Workshop FREE workshop for business owners who planned well but are running on fu...

"Does your behavior match your stated objectives? If you claim you want to scale the business but you have no framework or capacity building plan in place, there's a disconnect." - Chris Papin. What if your business struggles aren't about working harder—but about whether your daily actions actually match what you say you want to achieve? In this conversation, Bradley sits down with Chris Papin, at...

Time to bring back a word you probably don't use enough in your business: quotas. In this solo episode, Bradley breaks down why setting specific, measurable, time-bound performance goals for your team isn't just a sales concept—it's a clarity tool that transforms how you coach, manage, and drive results across your entire organization. Key Takeaways "How did your sales team perform as a percent to...

"My best learning opportunities were the ones where I've ultimately failed or made huge mistakes. I basically got an MBA in acquisitions in that deal." - Cameron Bishop What if you could see your business through the eyes of someone who's completed over 100 acquisitions? In this episode, Bradley sits down with investment banker Cameron Bishop to explore the mind of an acquirer and how thinking lik...

Are you tired of feeling like you're living the same business year over and over again? In this episode, Bradley Hamner tackles the frustration many business owners feel when December rolls around and they're going through the same annual planning motions—setting objectives, hosting kickoffs, and wondering if anything will really change this time. Drawing inspiration from the classic movie Groundh...

What does it actually look like to build a business you can run for the long haul—without burning out? In this episode, Bradley sits down with Chris Ducker, leadership speaker, serial entrepreneur, and bestselling author of The Long-Haul Leader , Rise of the Youpreneur , and Virtual Freedom . Chris shares his personal journey through two burnout experiences—including a 2021 diagnosis of phase thre...