Big Talk About Small Business

Ever wondered why your business hits a slump every summer or spikes erratically around the holidays? Discover how to master the ebb and flow of seasonal cycles to keep your operations running smoothly year-round. We share firsthand experiences and actionable strategies to help you navigate these predictable yet challenging periods, ensuring your business remains resilient and thriving. From the im...

Embark on an entrepreneurial odyssey with us as Josh Saffran, a trailblazer in franchise ownership, reveals the alchemy of fusing visionary leadership with grounded, actionable steps. Recalling the electric launch of The Gents Place, we weave tales of community support and the impetus behind the brand's inception. Through candid banter, Josh and Eric unpack the importance of networking—especi...

Ever wondered how to craft a brand that sticks in the minds of your niche audience? Strap in and join Eric Howerton and Mark Zweig as have their first show in our newly minted podcast video studio, a tech wonderland designed to pump life into your content creation dreams. From the simplicity of solo pods to the robust offerings of branding and analytics, they will reveal the secrets to making your...

Curious about how a chance meeting at a party can turn into a thriving business and life partnership? Join us as we sit down with Jodie Spears and Glenn Buercklin, the creators of the Couples Inc Podcast and founders of Living Pink. Jodie shares her deeply personal journey through breast cancer and how it inspired the birth of their marketing consulting firm. With stories from her early days in AM...

What if your unique skill set could align perfectly with a transformative project?  Join Eric and Mark as Tanner Bassett, a serial entrepreneur with a background in landscape architecture, shares his compelling journey from design firms to becoming an integral part of a significant wetland construction project for Northwest Health in Bentonville. Tanner’s story reveals how his landscape architectu...

Curious about the secret sauce behind effective project management and team alignment? Join us for an enlightening conversation with JS, an industry veteran who has revolutionized workflows at multiple companies. Discover how JS tackled his new role by systematically organizing and prioritizing numerous development projects, transforming chaos into streamlined success. Hear his firsthand account o...

Ever wondered how a thriving chemical engineering student ends up becoming a leadership guru? In our latest episode of "Big Talk About Small Business," we bring you the fascinating career journey of Chuck Hyde. From his early days in the petrochemical industry to his critical roles at Kimberly Clark and ultimately finding his calling as a management consultant, Chuck shares invaluable le...

Discover the heartwarming journey of Sy Kirby and the legacy behind his earthwork company, Sy-Con. We promise you'll walk away with practical insights on overcoming industry resistance to technological change and building a forward-thinking team. Join us as Sy shares how embracing innovation like GPS technology has given his company a competitive edge in the construction industry, addressing...

Want to turn a high school side hustle into a six-figure business? Join us on "Big Talk About Small Business" as we chat with Jacob Rhea, a recent college graduate who’s projecting $150,000 to $200,000 in profit from his online reselling empire. Jacob reveals his disciplined approach to financial management, including savvy strategies like reinvesting profits into the stock market and se...

Welcome to a new series here on Big Talk About Small Business : the Quick Talk Special . In this special series, we aim to bring you bite-sized segments from some of our most impactful past episodes. Our goal is to highlight the incredible stories, valuable insights, and key lessons that our show has featured, all in a more condensed and accessible format. Whether you're a busy entrepreneur o...

Prepare yourself to be armed with strategies that will propel your business forward as Mark Zweig engages with the incredible Matt Lewis from Lewis Automotive Group in a revelatory conversation about business growth, leadership, and employee incentives. They're cutting through the noise to bring you an episode packed with the essentials of managing a large workforce, fostering an environment...

Get ready to unlock the core of business longevity as the guys reveal the secret ingredient that's even more crucial than intelligence or capital—discipline. Hosts Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton dissect how discipline fuels success and why an abundance of funding can sometimes be a business's downfall. Prepare yourself for a compelling ride through the landscape of consistent, daily action...

Embark on a journey with Ryan Markewich, the entrepreneurial wizard behind Creative Roots, as he lays out the map for business success through transparency and employee empowerment. With the spirit of the Great Game of Business at our conversation's core, Ryan's story unfolds from the seeds of a modest lawn care service to a thriving landscape of ownership and engagement. As we traverse...

Ever chuckled at the sight of a newbie maneuvering a big truck? That's exactly how our latest episode rolls out before we veer into the rich tapestry of magazine publishing with Fayetteville City Lifestyle's own Gavin Magee. His passion for the printed page in our swipe-right digital era not only rekindles a love for tangible media but also proves that ink and paper still hold a special...

Have you ever wondered what magic lies behind the creation of a home that mirrors your life's story? Becky Charton from Table Setters Inc. joins us to pull back the curtains on the intimate process of interior design, where personal connections are the heart and soul of crafting spaces that resonate deeply with clients. She shares the charming origins of her company's name and the profou...

Embark on a voyage through the peaks and valleys of real estate development with Paul Esterer, whose journey from a banker to a real estate virtuoso unveils the essence of ambition and creativity. Paul's narrative, infused with wit and wisdom from a lifetime of diverse experiences, provides a treasure map for the entrepreneurial spirit. His reflections on embracing challenges and fostering co...

 Mark Zweig, Eric Howerton, and their wives, Tara Howerton and Sonya Zweig, shed light on the intricacies of balancing entrepreneurship with family life. Tara, with her structured background in the military and medical field, presents a stark contrast to Eric's entrepreneurial path, underscoring the diverse career backgrounds and how they influence family dynamics. Similarly, Sonya’s varied w...

Ever felt like you're braving the entrepreneurial storm solo? This week, we shatter the 'solopreneur' myth and revel in the symphony of our collective journey. Join us as we dissect the mirage of going it alone, and instead celebrate the harmonious chorus of building businesses that resonate value beyond our individual tunes. With warmth and wit, we tackle the beasts of procrastinat...

Are you ready to unlock the secrets to thriving in the entrepreneurial world? Join us as seasoned entrepreneurs Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton, share the raw truths and game-changing strategies for small business owners. Together, they navigate the tightrope between being an entrepreneur and running a small business, emphasizing the importance of innovation and team empowerment. They dissect the art...

Ever wondered if the sweet allure of Coke Zero can lead to an intense business discussion? That's where we kick things off in our latest chat, where sparks of humor fly as we dissect the world of artificial sweeteners before diving headfirst into the entrepreneurial deep end with Garrett Peters, the mastermind behind Duncan and Stone Paper Company. Garrett, with the wisdom only a seasoned CEO...

Ever encountered a crossroads that seemed insurmountable until a chance meeting changed everything? That's the story of Trent Brock, a Shreveport native whose initial pursuit of a medical career was upended by a challenging MCAT, propelling him towards an MBA and an unexpected foray into the corporate world with Accenture. As we sit with Trent, his narrative unfolds, offering a blend of perso...

Navigating the construction industry's labyrinth can be as daunting as commanding a fleet through a storm. Yet, Eric Howerton and Mark Zweig stand at the helm, ready to chart a course for small business owners piloting through the complexities of construction and renovation projects. In their candid conversation, we tackle everything from orchestrating house renovations with the precision of...

This week we are throwing it back to our VERY FIRST episode of Big Talk About Small Business. We break down some of the basics of entrepreneurship as well as what the core of the show is all about.  Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business! Stay...

Unlock the potential of cash value life insurance as a beacon of financial stability for small business owners. Join Mark Zweig in a conversation teeming with insights from Theresa Dilatush a trailblazing entrepreneur from Northwest Arkansas, and Mika McFadden, who has transitioned from a traditional financial advisor to a specialist in small business health insurance needs. Together, we dissect t...

Ever felt the rush of turning a dream into a thriving business reality? Amber Dietrich, the heart and soul behind Confident Coffee, joins us to spill the beans on her vibrant journey from a modest Michigan upbringing to the aromatic world of coffee entrepreneurship. With wit as rich as her brews, Amber takes us through the twists and pitfalls of climbing the corporate ladder, from her teenage food...