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

In this episode of Small Business Pivots, I sit down with Elina Panteleyeva, founder of Dood Woof, a rapidly growing Austin-based e-commerce brand serving a highly specific niche inside the pet industry: doodle dog owners. After being laid off in 2023, Elina built a 7-figure brand in under two years with only two products—proving what can happen when you stop trying to serve everyone and start serving the right someone.

Elina shares exactly how niching down unlocked her growth, how she validated her first product by interviewing doodle owners inside Facebook groups, and how she used organic content and storytelling to build a community before she ever launched. She breaks down the process of triggering Amazon’s algorithm without paid ads, why you must build your brand off Amazon before selling on it, and the systems she created that now help every new product hit #1 New Release.

Inside this conversation, we cover:
• How choosing one specific customer can explode your growth
• Why most entrepreneurs fail because they refuse to niche
• How Elina built a 7-figure brand with no ad budget
• The exact steps she used to validate her first product idea
• Why customer conversations matter more than product ideas
• How to build hype so your Amazon launch succeeds on day one
• Why you must know your numbers to take calculated risks
• How Elina uses AI to operate with a tiny team
• How she handles product development and manufacturing
• Why systems, email storytelling, and transparency build trust
• What new founders misunderstand about e-commerce
• How to grow without burning yourself out

If you’re an e-commerce entrepreneur, a product-based business owner, or someone with an idea who hasn’t yet taken the leap, this episode gives you a blueprint for launching, growing, and scaling a niche brand—even in crowded markets.

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.

00:00 Intro
01:07 Elina’s background + immigration story
03:04 How being laid off sparked the business
05:12 Niching down into doodle owners
07:40 Product idea discovery using Facebook groups
10:11 Launching without paid ads
12:25 Building community + storytelling emails
15:48 Triggering Amazon’s algorithm
18:05 Knowing your numbers in e-commerce
20:42 Product development + manufacturing
23:15 Scaling with systems
25:58 Using AI to run lean
28:17 Advice for new entrepreneurs

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

Serial entrepreneur Azgari Lipshy reveals how to scale a service business by fixing systems, training employees, and building operations that actually work.

Are you stuck at $200K–$300K and wondering how anyone ever scales a service business to seven figures?
In this episode of Small Business Pivots, I sit down with serial entrepreneur Azgari Lipshy, who has started, bought, and sold multiple companies — including two construction businesses — and now helps first-time entrepreneurs launch and grow real, profitable service companies.

Together, we unpack:

✔ Why most service-based businesses get stuck at the same revenue ceiling
✔ The real reason you can’t find “good employees” (and what to fix instead)
✔ How systems, operations, and daily accountability drive growth
✔ Why scaling has nothing to do with working harder
✔ How to validate a business idea before wasting time and money
✔ What SBA-fundable businesses really look like
✔ Why “everything in your business is your fault” is the best mindset shift
✔ The simple way to build differentiators customers actually care about

If you’re a service-based business owner stuck in the weeds — overwhelmed, overworked, and unsure how to grow — this conversation will simplify the path forward and show you what’s actually holding you back.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to build a business that runs on systems, not stress.

Connect with Azgari Lipshy:
Website: https://azgari.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Azgari.LLC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azgari.lipshy/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azgari-lipshy/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@azgarilipshy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 Welcome + intro
01:22 Azgari’s entrepreneurial background
03:10 Lessons from her first business
05:05 Why most new entrepreneurs skip crucial steps
07:40 How to validate any business idea
10:55 Why service businesses get stuck at $200K–$300K
13:30 Systems every service business needs
15:48 The truth about finding “good employees”
18:26 Operations, accountability, and owner responsibility
21:40 Why business owners run out of time
23:12 How to build differentiators
26:18 SBA funding
29:55 Financial mindset
32:44 Scaling
35:00 Partnerships + family employees
38:20 Final advice

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, I sit down with Amber Hollingsworth — Master Addiction Counselor, licensed mental health counselor, and founder of Hope for Families Recovery Center. With more than 730,000 YouTube subscribers on her channel Put the Shovel Down, Amber has become a leading voice helping entrepreneurs, parents, and families understand addiction long before it destroys a business, marriage, or life.

Together, we unpack how addiction quietly shows up in the entrepreneurial journey, including:

✅ Why business owners are uniquely vulnerable to addiction
✅ The early warning signs most entrepreneurs ignore
✅ Why “high performers” struggle to slow down, rest, or mentally disconnect
✅ How work stress, ADHD tendencies, and perfectionism fuel addictive cycles
✅ What to do when your spouse, partner, or employee is in denial
✅ Why long-form content and authenticity helped Amber build her massive YouTube following
✅ How systems, delegation, and online structure helped her scale her practice
✅ The surprising connection between entrepreneurial traits and addictive behaviors

Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, hiding stress from your team, stuck in an unhealthy habit, or supporting someone you care about — this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

Connect with Amber Hollingsworth:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT8PE1v0xFR9zLXOijxM6hg

Website: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/addictionrecoveryhope

Tune in for an honest, practical, and deeply relatable look at addiction, mental health, and the hidden emotional battles business owners carry.

About Amber Hollingsworth
Master Addiction Counselor, mental health professional, founder of Hope for Families Recovery Center, and creator of Put the Shovel Down with 730,000+ subscribers.

What You’ll Learn:

• How addiction shows up early for entrepreneurs
• Why ADHD/high-drive personalities are more vulnerable
• How families can support without enabling
• How YouTube became her #1 growth engine
• The role of systems and delegation
• Amber’s biggest business pivots

Episode Highlights:

• The “entrepreneurial seizure” moment
• Early addiction signs business owners overlook
• Why long-form content outperforms shorts
• AmberAI and the future of recovery

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

Are you feeling stuck in your business—even though you’re already successful?

In this episode of Small Business Pivots, host Michael D. Morrison sits down with Athena Captain, a nationally recognized business coach, consultant, and speaker based in Oklahoma City, who helps business owners scale to their next level of success.

Athena shares her powerful story of resilience—from growing up in extreme adversity to leading multi-million-dollar companies—and reveals the three controllable “knobs” that drive every thriving business:

✅ Your Database — why your contact list is your most valuable business asset and how to finally use it.
✅ Your Clients — how to nurture relationships that create repeat customers and referrals.
✅ Your Referrals — how to turn trusted partners into your true sales force.

You’ll also hear how Athena built multiple businesses while raising a child with special needs, what she learned from her mentor Darren Hardy, and how every entrepreneur can rebuild their mindset, routine, and revenue from the ground up.

This conversation will help you refocus on what really drives growth—relationships, systems, and revenue.

You’ll also hear insights from her mentor Darren Hardy, practical tips on choosing a CRM, and her philosophy on staying grounded through faith, systems, and discipline.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to simplify, scale, and strengthen your business.

Connect with Athena Captain:

• Website: https://www.athenacaptain.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/athenacaptain/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athenacaptaincoaching
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenacaptain/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@athenacaptain1373
• Podcast: https://www.athenacaptain.com/podcast/
• Blog: https://www.athenacaptain.com/blog/

Show Notes / Time Stamps

• 00:00 – Welcome & intro to Athena Captain
• 01:30 – Business today vs 5 years ago: why owners must adapt
• 04:45 – Athena’s story: from trauma to resilience and leadership
• 11:00 – Mindset and routine: how successful people fight limiting beliefs
• 16:15 – The importance of faith, therapy & daily discipline
• 19:40 – “Stop the Noise”: why inertia is killing business growth
• 22:00 – Knob #1 – Your Database: own your data vs depend on social media
• 27:20 – CRM 101: how to choose the right system for your industry
• 31:15 – Knob #2 – Nurturing Clients for Repeat Revenue
• 37:30 – Knob #3 – Referrals as Your True Sales Force
• 43:40 – The $70K lesson: why basics beat shiny objects
• 47:50 – Building intentional referral partnerships and relationships
• 52:10 – Athena’s resources: Goal-Setting Bootcamp & upcoming book
• 54:00 – Final takeaway: “Don’t underestimate the knowledge you already possess."

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

Are you a small business owner thinking about launching a podcast — or wanting to make your existing show work harder for your brand? In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael Morrison sits down with Josh Troche, founder of Pedal Stomper Productions, to unpack how video and audio content with intention can amplify your marketing. Josh shares his journey from mowing lawns as a teen to creating million-view YouTube videos, launching a full-service video and podcast production business, and coaching entrepreneurs on content strategy. They dive into:

• Why most podcasts stall before episode 15 (and how to avoid the trap)
• How to define your “one person” audience, structure your podcast, and build a system
• When and why to outsource editing, production and social / short-form clips
• How to use email, social and guest‐collaboration to get your show discovered
• The mindset shift required for business owners: let go, delegate, grow

If you want actionable insights to use podcasting and video as a marketing engine for your business, this episode is for you.

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a business owner who’s ready for growth!

Connect with Josh Troche

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtroche/
• Website: https://www.pedalstomperproductions.com/
• Blog: https://www.pedalstomperproductions.com/blog

Show Notes Summary (Bullet + Timesamps)

00:00 – Intro: Meet Josh Troche, founder of Pedal Stomper Productions
02:00 – Josh’s journey from trucking to video and podcasting
07:00 – Why most podcasts fail before episode 15
12:00 – How to define your audience and podcast purpose
17:00 – DIY vs professional podcast production
22:00 – Promotion: email lists, clips, guest collaboration
27:00 – Delegating and building a strong team
32:00 – AI’s role and the future of podcasting
36:00 – Final insight: “It’s always a moving target.”

Small business owners: Discover how to use podcasting and video content to build trust, scale your brand and get found. In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael Morrison welcomes photo-video expert Josh Troche of Pedal Stomper Productions as they break down the mindset, strategy and actionable steps behind launching and growing a podcast for your business.

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