Small Business Big AI

In this episode of Small Business Big AI , Kim and Hal tackle the invisible force holding small business owners back: thePermission Trap — the tendency to wait for someone else’s approval, clarity, or “perfect timing” before moving forward . With personal stories, expert insight, and strategic perspective, Kim dismantles the myth that patience equals wisdom and shows why decision speed is now the...

It's 2026. The middle is gone. And if you're still standing there, you're about to get crushed. This is the uncomfortable truth most business owners don't want to hear: AI didn't make business harder—it exposed just how much of "work" really never mattered in the first place. In this first episode of the new year, Kim and Hal breakdown why 2025 felt so disorienting, what the "structural break" act...

In this New Year’s Eve episode of Small Business Big AI , Kim Lewis Howard and Hal Howard break down the real storybehind the 2025 layoffs—and why 2026 is quietly creating one of the biggest opportunities we’ve seen in years. This isn’t a tech hype episode. It’s a market shift episode. In 2025, high-skill talent was displaced at the same timesmall business owners hit an execution wall. What looks...

What if losing your Big 4 job wasn’t the end of your career… but the moment you finally took control of it? In this episode, we follow Becky , a former Big 4 consultant who went from 60-hour weeks and partner politics to running a $360K fractional executive practice—solo . No team. No burnout. No Big 4 badge. Just AI-powered leverage , smart workflows, and judgment that machines can’t replace. Thi...

The $25,000 Binder That Changed Nothing It's 11 PM on a Tuesday. Mike sits alone in his convertedstorage room office, staring at a leather-bound binder with gold embossed lettering: "Five-Year Strategic Growth Plan." He paid $25,000 for this plan. Spent two months in planning sessions. Got a 47-page document with charts, timelines, financial projections—everything. And two years late...

The consulting world is experiencing a seismic shift, andthousands of Big 4 professionals are being quietly swept into what Kim and Hal call The Great Displacement . In this episode, we break down the real economic and AI-driven forces behind mass layoffs at Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, andEY, and why this moment is a once-in-a-generation turning point for displaced consultants. Through the story of “Beck...

Is your small business ready for AI—or are you aboutto scale chaos? In this episode, Kim and Hal break down the AI Audit —astrategic 3-question framework that every legacy business must ask before implementing automation, AI tools, or tech upgrades. These aren't fluff questions. They’re the hard ones. The ones that expose operational gaps, team bottlenecks, and silent friction that's erodi...

I built an employee yesterday. In 45 seconds. For free. It's scanning commercial real estate in Florida right now. It knows zoning laws, traffic patterns, and lease rates better than any broker I've hired. And I didn't write a single line of code. For 15 years, we've been sold the Virtual Assistant dream: "Hire offshore labor for $5/hour. Hand over your inbox. Go sit on a beac...

Ever rolled out an AI tool… and everything seemed tocollapse in real time? Emails firing at the wrong customers. Tasks assigned to the wrong people. Ghost automations waking up at 6:47 AM. Team members confused. You stepping in as the human fire extinguisher—again. You’re not alone. And more importantly… it’s not thetool. In this episode, Kim and Hal unpack the hard truth mostowners miss: AI doesn...

Are you drowning in AI tools but seeing zero ROI? You're not alone. Every week brings a new "game-changing" AI tool, another LinkedIn post telling you you're falling behind, and more pressure to adopt before your competitors do. Buthere's what nobody tells you: You're not overwhelmed by AI. You're overwhelmed by decisions. In this episode of Small Business Big AI , ho...

Your team is using AI right now—and you probably have no idea. From Canva to ChatGPT to Zapier, small business employees are quietly automating and creating with AI tools that were never approved, tracked, or reviewed. In this episode, Kim and Hal shine a light on Shadow AI —the silent wave of innovation happening behind your back—and why ignoring it is costing you time, trust, and money. Drawing...

Forty-seven days. That’s how long one small business owner waited to get paid for work she’d already delivered. In this final chapter of AI Meets Humanity , Kim and Hal pull back the curtain on what they call “The Trust Machine” — a simple, zero-code system that turns compliance into confidence and contracts into cash flow. Through real-world examples, sharp strategist banter, andlaugh-out-loud mo...

Your lead technician just took on 47% more work. Your designer stopped showing up to video calls. Your best customer sent an angry email at 11 PM—not about the service but about feeling invisible. What if these weren't separate problems, but the same signal? In this episode, Kim and Hal explore how empathy has become your most advanced operating system in the age of AI. Spoiler alert: it's...

This week, we’re diving into what AI can’t automate — authentic human connection. When an unexpected “Pitch incoming 😎” message caught Kim’s attention, it sparked a bigger conversation: Why do some automated messages make us roll our eyes, while others make us reply? Join Kim and Hal as they break down: The DM that did everything “wrong” — and yet worked brilliantly. Why automation without empath...

Small business owners are drowning in AI subscriptions—and most of them are wasting money, time, and customer trust. In this episode of Small Business Big AI , Kim and Hal wrap up their trilogy on AI Agents & The Future of Small Business with a blunt truth: AI tools without strategy are liabilities, not assets. You’ll learn how to stop chasing shiny objects and instead build systems that boost...

Shiny apps are everywhere. But small businesses don’t need more noise—they need results. In Part 2 of our 3-part series, AI That Actually Works for Small Business , Kim and Hal take you inside the new business model playbook: Agents that actually do the work. Predictive analytics that tell you what’s next. Curated, verifiable hires you can trust. Kim shares her own in-progress story of opening a n...

Feeling behind in the AI race? You’re not alone. In this episode, Kim and Hal pull back the curtain on a truth most business owners miss: you’re already paying for AI—you just haven’t turned it on yet. Whether you’re a solopreneur drowning in admin, a seasoned agency owner juggling compliance, or a local service shop trying to keep up with customer requests—this episode shows you how to unlock the...

One year. 53 episodes. And today, we reveal Your Year-TwoBlueprint for Small Business Success: 3 plays to scale smarter, 2 traps to avoid, and 1 decision you’ll want to make in the next 7 days—so you can build a true superpower. You’ll Learn How to choose the right growth play for year two Which two common traps sink small businesses—andhow to sidestep them The single decision you must make this w...

The deal room is where businesses rise… or collapse. Whether you’re buying a company, signing a lease, or just negotiating with a vendor, the stakes are high — and the old ways of due diligence aren’t enough. In this episode of Small Business Big AI , Kim shares her real-world story of scouting office space for her new AAA agency — and how AI helped her see the red flags before locking into a deal...

Google changed the rules. SEO is shifting. Here’s howsmall businesses can win before the big brands even catch up. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Google’s new AI-powered search isn’t just changingvisibility—it’s redistributing it. And small business owners who understand the shift can turn panic into positioning. In this episode of Small Business Big AI , Kim and Hal break down: Why AI Overvie...

Feeling invisible in a noisy marketplace? You’re not alone. Millions of small businesses are competing for the same customers, but here’s the secret: survival isn’t about going bigger—it’s about getting sharper. In this episode of Small Business Big AI , Kim and Hal reveal how AI helps you stop fighting over scraps in the crowded ocean and start owning your own pond—a hyper-niche where you become...

Tariffs are spiking, supplier prices are jumping, and small business owners are feeling the squeeze. In this episode of Small Business Big AI , Kim and Hal bring Olivia, our solopreneur persona, to the Coffee Table to face a real scenario: what happens when supplier costs jump 30%overnight? You’ll discover how AI isn’t just about working faster —it’s about making your business safer . From spottin...

If you think “someday” is the right time to start your business, think again— someday is here. In this high-voltage episode of Small Business Big AI, Kim and Hal break down why this is the most opportunity-rich moment in modern history for entrepreneurs… and why waiting could cost you everything. From tearing down the old barriers to entry, to automating the busywork that drains your energy, to ta...

Ever feel like you're stuck doing intern-level tasks in your own business? In this unforgettable, story-driven episode, Kim walks you through a real-life transformation—from administrative chaos and chargeback panic to clarity and control—all powered by AI. This week, we're not just talking about AI tools. We're showing you how to fire the intern and hire the assistant —without adding...

Two entrepreneurs. Same resources. Same goals. Verydifferent results. In the final episode of our Mindset & Messaging mini-series, Kim and Hal expose the pivotal mindset shift separating thebusiness owners who scale from the ones who stall. If you’ve been burned out, buried in busywork, or hesitant to fully embrace AI—this episode is your rally cry. Because this isn’t about tech skills. It’s a...