Business is Good with Chris Cooper

Big-ticket consulting is wobbling. McKinsey, Accenture, Deloitte, EY, KPMG—together they’ve announced tens of thousands of layoffs while clients feed generative-AI the questions they once paid armies of analysts to answer. In this episode, Chris Cooper unpacks the coming “consulting crash,” explains why AI has punctured the information moat, and predicts that only one in ten traditional consultant...

What if every tax hike was really our government saying, “Sorry—we failed”? In this episode we push past the usual “raise taxes or cut services” dead-end and show how Canada can deliver better policing, faster health care, and leaner mailrooms without taking another dime from your pocket. Episode Snapshot Chris breaks down five evidence-backed alternatives—cutting bloated bureaucracy (hello LCBO p...

Early-stage founders live and die by cash-flow —payroll, rent, survival. But once your bills are covered, the game flips: growth depends on KASH — K nowledge, A ttitude, S kills and H abits. In this episode Chris Cooper breaks down: Why cash is king in the Founder phase and how to keep it flowing. Knowledge : created only through action → reflection → adjustment (Jim Rohn quote). Attitude : balanc...

Is it really possible to build a million-dollar business without hiring staff? Yes—and it’s happening more often. In this episode, I explore how solopreneurs are using AI, automation, and smart systems to run lean, efficient, and scalable businesses without employees. We’ll break down the steps to systemize, optimize, and automate your business, and share real-world examples of solo founders who a...

Canada’s universal healthcare system is a source of pride—but it’s breaking under the weight of rising demand, longer wait times, and shrinking access to services. In this episode, I ask a tough but necessary question: could introducing a paid tier actually save our healthcare system? We explore: Why the current public model isn’t sustainable The myth of the “two-tier” system—and the four real qua...

The Information Age brought prosperity, access, and knowledge to billions. But that era is ending. In this episode, I argue that the Information Age has already given way to a new era: The Augmentation Age . We no longer need to know everything—AI tools and digital memory hold that for us. Knowledge workers are being replaced. Google doesn’t send us to information; it delivers the answer. Designer...

Saving the Sault – Where Truth Meets Action Sault Ste. Marie is at a tipping point. In this long-form episode, I explore the six critical challenges our city is facing—and how we can turn the tide. From economic fragility to the drug crisis, from government reliance to leadership voids, I offer bold but achievable ideas to help the Sault thrive again. This isn’t political. It’s personal. And it st...

What if your business could grow without more risk or more work? In this episode of BusinessIsGood , I unpack the powerful concept of intrapreneurialism —where staff build businesses inside your business. It’s not just delegation or profit-sharing; it’s about giving your team a platform to grow something remarkable while you both win. I’ll define what intrapreneurialism really is, break down the v...

Description: In this episode of BusinessIsGood , we delve into the timeless wisdom of Sun Tzu's The Art of War and explore how its principles can be applied to today's service-based businesses. Discover how to: Leverage strategic deception to outmaneuver competitors. Prepare thoroughly to ensure victory before entering the market. Seize opportunities proactively to multiply success. Achieve victor...

Podcast Summary: Just Do It Over the last six months, I’ve worked with five different business coaches to simplify my company and refocus on what matters. I’ve talked to experts, mapped out plans, brainstormed strategies—until yesterday, when executive coach Dennis McIntee said something that stopped me cold: “You already know what to do. You just have to do it.” In this episode of BusinessIsGood...

If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you think: “To grow, I need to do more—more marketing, more ads, more promotions.” But Keith Cunningham, author of The Road Less Stupid , has a smarter answer: Not all growth strategies are equal. You need to prioritize the right moves in the right order. In this episode of BusinessIsGood , I walk you through Cunningham’s Growth Funnel —a five-step roadmap to gro...

Most entrepreneurs know they should do more of what works. But very few realize they also need to stop doing what doesn’t. In this episode of BusinessIsGood , I walk through how to identify the things in your business that are wasting your most valuable asset: your time . I share stories—from my own businesses and from our mentorship clients—about how much time, money, and energy are lost doing th...

You’ve probably heard the saying: “The rich get richer during a recession.” But here’s the truth: It’s not the crisis that makes people successful—it’s their preparedness . In this episode of BusinessIsGood , I share one of the best lessons I’ve learned from Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach: “Give half the credit to luck—and the other half to your ability to take advantage of it.” Luck will come. O...

In this episode of BusinessIsGood , I talk about one of the biggest mistakes business owners make: running their business by story instead of by numbers . The problem with stories—especially the ones we tell ourselves—is that they’re often wrong. We tell ourselves things like: “My clients can’t afford to pay more.” “I’m working as hard as I can.” “I’m doing everything right, but it’s just not work...

We’ve all heard that we should “have a growth mindset.” But what does that actually mean in business—and how do you practice it? In this episode of BusinessIsGood , I break down the difference between a growth mindset and a scarcity mindset, and explain how most of us were raised to believe in competition, limitation, and fear of loss. The truth? Business isn’t a zero-sum game. Success isn’t finit...

Culture Is What You Tolerate In this episode of BusinessIsGood , I give full credit to Keith Cunningham, author of The Road Less Stupid , for one of the clearest insights I’ve ever heard about culture: “Culture is what you tolerate.” It’s not about nap rooms, Red Bull in the fridge, or inspirational posters. Culture is shaped by what we allow, what we ignore, and how we interact with each other—es...

Podcast Summary: Chicken and Rice In this episode of BusinessIsGood , I talk to business owners who feel like they’re pushing harder than ever but getting the same—or worse—results. Maybe your sales have plateaued. Maybe retention’s dropping. Or maybe your business just doesn’t feel fun anymore. It feels heavy. Slow. Like you’re pushing a rope uphill. You remember when it used to feel easier, and...

In this episode of BusinessIsGood , I talk about how it feels to take one step forward in your business—only to get pulled one step back. Most entrepreneurs think they have a growth problem. But the real issue? Shrinkage. You make progress… and lose it. Over and over. I share why that happens and how to fix it. The solution is to hit "Save Game"—by building a staff playbook made up of clear, repea...

In this episode of BusinessIsGood , I talk about one of the most common breakdowns in founder-led businesses: lack of clarity. Too often, CEOs and founders assume that once is enough when it comes to communicating vision, expectations, or processes. But the truth is, if your team doesn’t seem to "get it," it’s not a people problem—it’s a clarity problem. I share why founders need to repeat their m...

Podcast Script: Why Business Leaders Should Be Coaches, Not Captains Intro Music Fades In Host: Welcome to BusinessIsGood , the podcast where we explore the ideas and practices that help entrepreneurs grow their businesses and create lasting success. I’m your host, Chris Cooper. Today, we’re tackling a big question: should you lead your business as a “captain” or as a “coach”? To illustrate this,...

Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe .  Abraham Lincoln You're buried in work. Who has time to work out? Being a good entrepreneur doesn't just mean making money. It doesn't mean out-grinding the competition, or even loving your work every day. But it does mean: Selling your service Negotiating Leading others Focusing Thinking with a clear...

How To Calm Down Every entrepreneur gets triggered sometimes. The reasons might be obvious: a late employee, a missed detail, a poor customer experience. Or they might not be: we could show up to work escalated; we could be carrying dread or guilt around; we could have a fight with our spouse before we left for work. Many days, our emotional meter is already cranked up to 9 before we start our day...

In this episode of *Business Is Good*, I explore the concept of self-leadership and why it’s the foundation of all other types of leadership. I share that while a business's efficiency helps it survive tough times, it’s the strength of its leadership that determines its success in the good times. Often, the biggest limitation to growth is the founder or CEO—their personal knowledge gaps, emotional...

This November, join me for a 30-day GOLDEN HOUR Challenge to grow your business! To participate: Commit to participating in our Facebook group (join here) Post "done!" under each daily GOLDEN HOUR CHALLENGE post when you've completed the work for the day! Connect with Chris Cooper: Website - https://businessisgood.com/

Why Get Rich_ Chris Cooper discusses the motivations and challenges of gym owners, who often sacrifice higher-paying careers to pursue their passion despite low earnings. He argues that wealth creation is essential for personal and societal progress, emphasizing that wealth enables freedom, problem-solving, and opportunities for others. Cooper highlights the importance of entrepreneurship in drivi...