The Small Business Development Academy

Most businesses think they need more leads. In reality, they’re sitting on a goldmine they’re not using. In this episode, we break down one of the biggest mistakes we see across almost every business we work with: a lack of follow-up. We dive into why so many business owners stop after one message, why rejection holds people back, and how much revenue is being left on the table because of it. The...

Most people start a business because they’re good at a job. They’re great at delivering the work, solving problems, and ticking tasks off a to-do list. But that’s also the exact reason many businesses stop growing. In this episode, we break down one of the biggest bottlenecks we see with agency owners and service-based businesses: the founder being stuck in the day-to-day work of the business inst...

Most small business owners fall into the same trap: thinking the answer to everything is “just sell more.” In this episode, Greg and Nicky break down why that mindset keeps you stuck, overwhelmed, and trapped in a business that can’t grow without you. They dig into: The real identity shift from job-doer to business owner Why replacing yourself with admin is the first game-changer The danger of hir...

Most small businesses don’t fail because of cash flow or marketing, they fail because the owner’s mindset collapses first. In this episode, Greg and Nicky break down what really keeps a business owner performing at their best mentally, emotionally, and physically and the five mindset disciplines that separate those who grow from those who give up. They dig into: Why your business rises and falls w...

Every business owner makes mistakes. But few talk honestly about them — or how they turn them into success stories. In this episode of the SBDA Podcast , Nicky and Greg unpack the real, unfiltered lessons from Greg’s book “How Not to Run a Small Business.” They share the chaos, bad calls, and breakthroughs that took a struggling company from borrowing money just to survive… to selling for seven fi...

Most business owners think growth comes from better marketing, more clients, or new systems. But the real driver of a 7-figure business? Leadership. In Part 2 of our 5 Stages of Leadership series, Greg and I dive deep into the next stages — how to lead people, manage performance, drive change, and develop other leaders so your business can run and grow without you being in every detail. We share:...

Most business owners think leadership is about telling people what to do. We learned the hard way that it’s not. In this episode of the SBDA podcast, we share the biggest leadership mistakes we made while building our businesses — and how we discovered the 5 stages of leadership that transform not just your team, but your entire business. We cover: Why “command and control” leadership costs you go...

If sales feels like the hardest part of running your business, you’re not alone. We used to struggle with it too. In this episode, we share how we overcame the biggest sales challenges we faced while building our businesses — and the lessons that helped us go from awkward and uncertain to confident and consistent in selling. 👉 What you’ll learn: The most common mistakes small business owners make...

Getting new clients can feel overwhelming — but the truth is, there are only 5 ways to do it . Everything else is just noise. In this episode, we break down the only 5 proven methods to win clients , so you can stop chasing shiny objects and focus on what actually works. Drawing on our experience building and selling our own businesses, we’ll share the strategies that consistently bring in clients...

Most small business owners don’t lose profit because of bad products or poor service, they lose it because of bad pricing . In this episode, we uncover the 3 biggest pricing mistakes we see business owners make every day… and share the 3 simple solutions to fix them fast. As business coaches who’ve built (and sold) our own companies, we know firsthand how easy it is to undersell, undervalue, and s...

Building a small business is tough, but it doesn’t have to be guesswork. In this episode, we break down the 3 essentials every business owner must get right to create lasting success. As two entrepreneurs who built and sold our own businesses, we share the hard lessons, the biggest mistakes we see owners make, and the practical steps you can take to grow smarter, faster, and stronger. Whether you’...