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.

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Welcome to the November 2025 issue of the podcast.

There is quite a bit to talk about today and I am going to begin with this whole issue of distraction and how our small business owners suffer with destruction purely because it’s baked into the way we live our modern lives.

in this short podcast I cover some of the issues that we have been discussing face to face with some of my clients over the past couple of months and also to let you know there is more content over on the Small Business Ninja Tik Tok feed which is currently part way through my 100 series of short videos for small business owners covering such things as business development sales marketing and running away with the circus enjoy and I look forward to hearing from you with your questions.

Are you obsessed with chasing new leads while ignoring the goldmine sitting right in front of you?

In this episode, Richard Smith—one-half of Small Business Ninja—challenges the traditional approach to business growth. If you feel like you are constantly spending money on ads, SEO, and trying to attract strangers into your funnel, you might be “missing a trick.”

Richard argues that while finding new customers is part of business, building a truly profitable, consistent enterprise requires going deep, not wide.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• The 80/20 Rule of Growth: Richard guarantees that 80% of your new business potential lies within your existing customer base—the people who already know, love, and trust you.
• Stop Waiting for the Phone to Ring: Your customers are like your dentist; they might trust you, but they won’t call you spontaneously just to chat. It is your job to proactively reach out using text, WhatsApp, email, or even “snail mail” to keep the relationship alive.
• The “Deep Dive” Strategy: Sustainable growth comes from offering added value to current clients. This includes upselling, cross-selling, or even offering affiliate products and services that solve their problems.
• Aligning Business with Life: With a background in financial services, Richard explains why your business finances need to be structured to support your personal life goals, not just your business turnover.

Ready to stop chasing and start nurturing?
If you want to learn how to implement these retention strategies and get off the “new lead” hamster wheel, head over to Small Business Ninja.

Check out Richard’s 100-video series on TikTok for daily tips.

Get in touch when you are ready.

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Welcome to January 2024 and this issue of the podcast today we are talking about how small businesses can start to take control of their own agenda and to build marketing and sales funnels that work for them rather than funnels that work for the social media platforms.

This year is likely to be very different for all of us small business owners quite simply because everything is changing as it has changed over the last 20 years or so but there are some things we can do we can start to grow our businesses in a different way we can start to use the technology to work for us rather than it working for others and of course we can take back control from the social media platforms by growing our own audience and using our own skills and creative ability to grow our business.

These are the things that I am choosing to focus on in the coming year and we have already started implementing our business plan for our existing customer base and as always if you want some more information or would like to chat through some of the options then please don’t hesitate to get in touch using the form below or the contact form on this site.

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It’s July 2023, where did the year go?

If your small business wants to get shimmy on and needs assistance selling more – then I have some pointers in this months podcast.

There are a number of things that I am talking about specifically in this podcast, if your small business is based in West Sussex or Kent then I can certainly provide you with some hands on help if required.

The main focus for me is always about helping my small business clients do more with what they have. For example selling more to existing customers and using technology in order to leverage sales. This includes putting in place e-commerce websites and using the socials to engage with and sell more to your existing customers. Of course not in an overly sales way. None of our customers like that .

The rest of the podcast is considering carefully the issue in relation to pensions and your small business. We all know that we should be investing more for the long term the question I have, after 30 years in financial services: is a pension the right thing for you to do. Of course putting money into stock could produce a return of 20 or 30% on your capital very quickly whereas the maximum you are likely to get from a pension after charges is going to be closer to 7%.

These are the conundrums we face as a small business owner We’re best to use our money in order to get the safest return.

The podcast and if you’re small business needs some hands-on help to solve some of these problems or if you’re stuck then please get in touch using the form below. I look forward to hearing from you.

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