November 2025 Number 3 | Podcast – Small Business Decision Making

In today’s podcast, I’m talking about some important things for small business owners – in particular those of you that work in your own show (business)

As small business owners, we often start the day fighting fires, staring at the “burning embers” of yesterday’s problems. This leads to overwhelm, analysis paralysis, and the feeling that you need 100% of the information before you can move an inch.

In this latest update, I tackle two critical components for future-proofing your business: The Speed of Decision Making and The Leverage of AI.

Here are the specific questions this episode answers:

1. Why am I stuck and unable to move forward?
You are likely treating every choice as a life-or-death situation. The episode explains why “waiting for all the information” is killing your momentum and why competitors won’t wait for you to be thorough.

2. What is the difference between a “One-Way” and a “Two-Way” door?
Richard breaks down this vital management theory. He explains how to distinguish between irreversible decisions (firing staff, killing a product line) and reversible ones (hiring, testing a new method). The key to growth? Make the reversible decisions immediately. Just do it.

3. How can I safely test new ideas without risking the business?
Treat new marketing or product launches as a “side hustle within your business.” If the door swings both ways, the cost of waiting is usually higher than the cost of fixing a mistake later.

4. How can AI act as a “Highly Qualified Helper” for my team?
Beyond just writing emails, how to create custom AI tools that do a “deep dive” into your specific company policies and expectations, guiding staff and solving client issues exactly how you would.

5. Can I build a “Virtual Board of Directors”?
Yes. The episode answers how you can use AI models to build a portfolio of knowledge uploading the works of figures like Lincoln, Edison, or Darwin to act as a virtual peer group when you need advice on a difficult problem. You can choose who you want – even me. But then again I do swear a lot.

Listen to the full episode to learn how to stop overthinking and start automating.

Ready to get a “shimmy on” with your business growth?
If you are a small business owner looking for hands-on help to implement these decision frameworks and AI tools, get in touch using the form below.

Get In Touch

Name *Email *Subject *Comment or Message *EmailSend Message