Are you running your business on gut instinct instead of data?

In this episode of Small Business Pivots, host Michael D. Morrison sits down with Stacey Bullman, Founder & CEO of I’m Not Mad At You Consulting, to break down how small business owners can apply Fortune 100 systems, financial discipline, and decision-making frameworks without becoming corporate or losing agility.

With over 25 years inside Fortune 100 companies, Stacey brings real-world insight into why most small businesses struggle with forecasting, cash flow clarity, delegation, and scalable systems — and how CEOs can fix it fast.

You’ll hear why:
• Math and financial acuity drive every successful decision
• Systems beat hustle every time
• Small business owners avoid asking for help — and why that hurts growth
• CEOs must stop wearing every hat to scale
• Discipline, delegation, and belief separate growth companies from stalled ones

Stacey also draws powerful parallels between marathon training and business leadership, showing how discipline, consistency, and coaching apply to both.

If you’re a small business owner who feels overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to scale — this conversation will change how you think about your business.

About the Guest:

Stacey Bullman is the Founder & CEO of I’m Not Mad At You Consulting, a leadership and business consulting firm helping CEOs and leadership teams improve decision-making, financial clarity, and operational discipline.

Timestamps (Short)

00:00 — Meet Stacey Bullman & her consulting background
03:40 — From elite athlete to Fortune 100 executive
07:55 — Why marathon discipline mirrors business leadership
12:20 — The real difference between corporate & small business systems
18:10 — Why most small businesses don’t use math to make decisions
24:35 — Forecasting, inputs vs outputs, and financial discipline
31:50 — The 5 PL line items every CEO must understand
38:45 — Delegation, discipline, and why owners wear too many hats
45:30 — Why successful leaders always have coaches
52:10 — Why business owners avoid asking for help
59:00 — Belief, mindset, and the final takeaway for every CEO

Support the show

1. Want more resources to grow your business faster?
https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/

2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/

3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO?
https://www.michaeldmorrison.com

4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host, Founder & CEO?
https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation


FOLLOW US ON:
- WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/

-WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/

-LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/

-YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael Morrison sits down with Francis Flair (Flair Consulting Group) to break down client retention systems and why customer experience is the #1 revenue multiplier for scaling businesses.

Francis shares his journey from Ghana, West Africa to building a consulting firm that helps service-based and scaling companies improve customer experience, employee experience, and retention—because “for every client you keep, it’s a competitor you beat.”

You’ll learn:

• Why retention multiplies growth (and why profits hide in retention—not acquisition)
• How to “think from the market” instead of “thinking for the market”
• The simple (not easy) way to identify your audience: ask better questions and test offers
• Why your people aren’t the problem—your systems (SOPs) are
• How brands like Chick-fil-A, Disney, Amazon, and Southwest set expectations that become your competition
• The 5 mistakes that sabotage customer experience (and how to fix them)

The 5 Mistakes Most Service Businesses Make (Francis Flair):

1. Not realizing customer experience is the #1 revenue multiplier
2. Thinking the staff is the problem (instead of the system)
3. Believing great service is “common sense” (and not defining what “great” means)
4. Wanting the team to care—but not showing the team you care
5. Treating customer service like a department (instead of an identity)

Timestamps

00:00 Francis Flair + what Flair Consulting Group does
02:10 From Ghana to the U.S.—the origin story
06:40 The pivot into consulting + “create your own economy”
10:35 Think from the market vs for the market
14:05 “Just ask”—how to discover what customers really want
18:30 Retention vs acquisition—where profits actually hide
24:10 Chick-fil-A vs Popeyes—what the numbers reveal
29:20 5 mistakes that break customer experience (overview)
31:10 Mistake #2: People aren’t the problem—systems are
36:30 Mistake #3: Define “great” or employees will decide
41:10 Mistake #4: Want them to care? Show them you care
47:40 Mistake #5: Customer service is an identity, not a department
53:10 Final takeaway + where to connect with Francis

Support the show

1. Want more resources to grow your business faster?
https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/

2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/

3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO?
https://www.michaeldmorrison.com

4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host, Founder & CEO?
https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation


FOLLOW US ON:
- WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/

-WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/

-LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/

-YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

Founder April Glavine shares how she turned a near-bankruptcy CPG lesson into Sum Good, a fruit-first electrolyte brand built on health and smart scaling.

Are you building a product brand and hoping the margins will magically work themselves out later?

In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison sits down with April Glavine, founder of Sum Good, a Canadian company pioneering fruit-first electrolyte shots and freezies made with pressed fruit and a potassium-forward formula.

Named one of the Top 100 Women with Natural Products Canada, Rising Star of the Year 2022, and a 2024 EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, April also took Sum Good onto CBC’s Dragons’ Den where she secured a deal to help scale the brand nationally.

April shares the hard lessons from almost going bankrupt with her first CPG company and how she used those scars to build a stronger, data-backed brand with Sum Good. From market validation and packaging strategy to clinical research and investor pitches, this conversation is packed with real-world insights for any founder trying to grow without burning out.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Turn a near-bankruptcy experience into a blueprint for your next successful business
• Use market validation to test flavors, pricing, packaging, and messaging before you over-invest in inventory and design
• Prioritize cash flow and sales velocity instead of chasing perfect margins too early
• Think differently about electrolytes and hydration – including why Sum Good focuses on high potassium and low sodium for cognitive function and muscle repair
• Translate academic or clinical research into simple claims your customers actually understand
• Prepare for high-stakes pitches like Dragons’ Den, VC meetings, or bank presentations – and what investors are really looking for in the founder
• Apply global business management thinking so you don’t assume what works in one market will automatically work in another
• Build the right “informal” team around you as a solo founder – co-packers, brokers, creatives, and mentors who’ve both won and failed in your industry

Whether you’re in food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, or any kind of product-based business, you’ll walk away with practical ideas to slow down, think smarter, and build something that can stand the test of time.

Ranked globally in the top 10% by ListenNotes, Small Business Pivots brings you real, honest conversations with entrepreneurs who’ve built something from nothing. My goal is simple: help you grow your business faster and avoid the mistakes that keep small business owners stuck.

Support the show

1. Want more resources to grow your business faster?
https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/

2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/

3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO?
https://www.michaeldmorrison.com

4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host, Founder & CEO?
https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultation


FOLLOW US ON:
- WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/

-WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/

-LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/

-YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified