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Is your small business ready for the chaos of 2026?

Political upheaval, economic swings, supply-chain disruptions, and natural disasters are coming and most side hustles won’t survive them. But you can. 

In this episode of Mastering Risk, Dr. D shares the exact 4-step entrepreneurial survival guide that’s 100% free, requires zero fancy tools, and puts you in control, no matter what the world throws at you.

Here’s what you’ll discover:
How to bulletproof your physical, mental, and financial health (the foundation every entrepreneur ignores until it’s too late).
Why mapping your entire business structure reveals hidden “single points of failure” that could collapse everything overnight — and how to fix them.
The game-changing shift from chasing goals to building unbreakable systems that grow your revenue without burning you out.
Why “embracing the suck” and never committing 100% is the secret to seizing massive opportunities when everyone else is panicking.

This isn’t apocalyptic fear-mongering or expensive software pitches. It’s practical, evidence-based advice from a disaster management professor and real small business owner who’s been exactly where you are, grinding for five-figure revenue in a chaotic world.

2026 will punish the unprepared and reward the resilient. These four steps are what worked for us in 2025, and they’ll work for your Etsy shop, print-on-demand store, local service, or any side hustle in 2026.Don’t wait for the next disruption to force change. Watch now, take control, and position yourself to not just survive, but thrive. 

Free small business risk downloads: https://www.preparednesslabs.ca
 
Subscribe for real-world strategies that actually work

DISCLOSURE 
Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.
Copyright © 2025.

Support the show

https://preparednesslabs.ca/

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Is AI secretly putting your small business at risk?

You’re using ChatGPT, Grok, or Claude to save time, writing proposals, summarizing data, generating ideas and it feels like a superpower. But there’s one massive danger almost every side hustler and small business owner is completely overlooking… and it’s not coming from hackers sneaking in the back door.

It’s walking right through your front door.

Every time you or your employees upload customer lists, pricing strategies, financial reports, or proprietary processes to public AI tools, you’re handing over your most sensitive business intelligence, permanently. Those terms of service you clicked “agree” on? They often grant the AI company an unrestricted license to use your data. And if that platform gets breached (and they all do eventually), your secrets could end up public, triggering lawsuits, ruined reputation, and lost trust.

One company watched their confidential client bids leak online after an employee fed them into an AI tool. The fallout? Lawsuits and a destroyed reputation.

In this episode of Mastering Risk, Dr. D, disaster management professor and small business owner, reveals the unspoken AI risk threatening the 70-75% of North American businesses earning under $100K. You’ll learn:

* Why AI is the first risk that enters through the front door
* How to keep enjoying AI’s massive benefits without exposing your business
* Simple safeguards solo entrepreneurs and small teams can implement today

AI isn’t evil, but using it without boundaries can be catastrophic. Protect your side hustle, your profits, and your peace of mind.
Watch now before your next ChatGPT prompt becomes your biggest regret

Free risk management downloads for small businesses: https://www.preparednesslabs.ca

DISCLOSURE 
Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.
Copyright © 2025.

Support the show

https://preparednesslabs.ca/

Send us a text

Your entire business can vanish tomorrow morning 

One ransomeware email, one fake invoice, one missed update and poof:

Shopify gone, Stripe locked, courses deleted, customer list encrypted.
90% of SMB face a significant disruption every quarter, some never recover.

But here is the truth:
There are near-free strategies to survive and thrive in 2026
We offer the exact five dead-simple ideas followed in our company 

-Change passwords monthly, or more frequent - yes, we still need to talk about this
-Update software and hardware patches, automatically
-and more...

Zero theory
Zero expensive tools and programs
Battle tested and simple strategies to mitigate risk to near zero, for creators, e-com, side hustles, SMB and YouTube personalities

Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/masteringrisk

https://preparednesslabs.ca

DISCLOSURE 
Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.
Copyright © 2025.

Support the show

https://preparednesslabs.ca/

Send us a text

Are you ready for what’s really coming in 2026? Most business owners aren’t—and that’s exactly why so many solopreneurs, micro-businesses, and small companies get blindsided. In this episode of Mastering Risk, Dr. D breaks down the global turbulence ahead and gives you a real-world framework to hedge against the threats you can’t see coming—but absolutely should.
Forget the clickbait gurus promising million-dollar success “in 30 days with AI.” The truth is more sobering—and far more empowering. With over a decade of research in risk, resilience, and preparedness, Dr. D shows you how the actual evidence points toward five major risk escalators highlighted in the 2025 World Economic Forum outlook:

✔ Inflation & the cost-of-living squeeze
✔ Extreme weather and skyrocketing disaster costs
✔ Global economic downturn
✔ Geopolitical conflicts
✔ Social polarization

But here’s the good news: you don’t need a massive budget, a consultant army, or a million-dollar runway to protect your business. You just need a strategy. Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
💡 Why inflation is quietly eroding your margins—and how to fight back
💡 What extreme weather actually means for small business supply chains
💡 The two biggest leverage points you have right now—and how to strengthen them
💡 How to build redundancy, customer awareness, and financial runway—without cash reserves
💡 The real pivot point every entrepreneur must recognize before it’s too late
Whether you’re launching your first product or managing a growing five-figure business, this episode gives you clear, actionable steps to reduce uncertainty and navigate the chaos ahead.
👉 Watch now, subscribe, and turn risk into opportunity.
👉 Explore our full ecosystem at preparednesslabs.ca for tools, courses, and resources built for real entrepreneurs—not fantasy-land business influencers.

https://preparednesslabs.ca

DISCLOSURE 
Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.
Copyright © 2025.

Support the show

https://preparednesslabs.ca/

Send us a text

In a world overflowing with hype, half-truths, and “million-dollar-in-90-days” promises, Mastering Risk cuts through the noise with something radical: honesty.

In this powerful episode, Dr. D takes you inside the real engine of sustainable business success—trust. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, a side-hustler, or the owner of a small but mighty business, this conversation delivers a refreshing, evidence-based look at why integrity isn’t just admirable… it’s profitable.

You’ll learn why most consumers need 11 touchpoints before they buy—and how honesty dramatically reduces that hesitation. Dr. D breaks down the traps of an oversaturated market, from deceptive tactics to manipulative ads, and shows you how authenticity becomes your strongest differentiator. He also exposes the long-term costs of exaggeration, inflated promises, and “get rich” schemes—and why they quietly destroy customer lifetime value.

He shares candid stories from his own entrepreneurial path: scaling a realistic five-figure business, navigating reputational risk, and building a loyal client base through transparency, value, and no-BS guidance. You’ll hear exactly how honesty shapes stronger customer relationships, protects your legal flank, amplifies word-of-mouth growth, and positions you as a trusted authority—not a digital carnival barker.

If you're ready for raw truth, practical insights, and a blueprint for building trust in a marketplace full of noise, this episode is your competitive advantage.

If you want steady growth, loyal customers, and a business built to last—this is the episode you cannot skip.

https://preparednesslabs.ca/

DISCLOSURE 

Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.

Copyright © 2025.

Support the show

https://preparednesslabs.ca/

Send us a text

Tired of gurus promising you’ll be a millionaire in 12 months? Let’s talk reality.
According to official stats, only 5% of businesses ever hit 7 figures… and 75% stay under six figures. The good news? A profitable five-figure business ($10K–$99K) is 100% achievable in 2026 — and it can add $2,000–$7,000+ per month to your family’s income without quitting your job.
In this no-BS episode, 28-year army veteran and university professor Dr. D reveals the exact 5-step framework he uses to run his own five-figure company, Preparedness Labs:
1. Solve a painful problem the easy way (the “pill vs gym” secret) 
2. Go brutally niche so you stand out 
3. Keep overhead stupidly low ($72/year is possible) 
4. Master “aggressive patience” and consistent content 
5. Accept the world as it is — and stop torching your reputation with politics online
Zero fluff. Real numbers. Real experience (including the $20K mistake he made so you don’t have to).
If you’re ready to build something sustainable in 2026 instead of chasing unicorn fantasies, hit play now and smash that Subscribe button — new evidence-based episodes drop every week to help you master risk and win. 

www.preparednesslabs.ca

Business Can Cost as Little as $72 per year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKn446XWUmQ&t=6s

DISCLOSURE 
Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.
Copyright © 2025.

Support the show

https://preparednesslabs.ca/

Send us a text

What if your business was gone tomorrow – fire, flood, ransomware, or a simple power outage? 60% of SMBs that suffer a major disruption without a tested plan close forever within 12 months. 
In 2025, one bad day can erase everything you’ve built.

I’m Dr. D – risk management advisor to entrepreneurs and SMB owners. In this episode I’m pulling back the curtain on the exact 5-part continuity system I use to prepare my business for when disaster hits. 

You’ll walk away with:
• The 3-hour recovery rule 
• The unbreakable 3-2-1-airgap backup method
• Business ready evacuation plan
• Pre-approved emergency cash or credit
• The literal “one-button failover”, replication of critical systems

Watch now – because preparation is profit.

https://preparednesslabs.ca

DISCLOSURE 
Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.
Copyright © 2025.

Support the show

https://preparednesslabs.ca/

Send us a text

Every quarter, 90% of small businesses get blindsided by a major disruption—cyberattack, supply-chain meltdown, reputational firestorm, or a strategic curveball they never saw coming.
Of those that get hit hard, 40% never reopen their doors. Another 25% limp along for a few months and then quietly fold.
That’s the brutal reality of going it alone in today’s chaotic economy. But here’s what the most resilient entrepreneurs have already figured out: you don’t have to monitor every threat, regulatory change, or emerging risk by yourself. You don’t need $12,000 consultants on retainer or endless hours prompting AI just to stay in the game.

What you need is the one thing that multiplies your time, your knowledge, and your survival odds almost instantly—other sharp, battle-tested entrepreneurs watching your back (and you watching theirs). In this episode of Mastering Risk, Dr. D reveals why social capital is the ultimate unfair advantage for solo and micro entrepreneurs right now. You’ll discover: Why lone-wolf entrepreneurs miss threats that a simple community would catch in minutes.  
How fractional access to cyber, supply-chain, continuity, and strategy experts costs pennies compared to hiring them solo.
The exact community model that delivers bespoke risk intel, monthly expert Q&As, and zero extra apps or fixed meeting times—so it actually fits your crazy schedule  
Real numbers on how fast a single disruption can kill a business (and how to make sure it’s never yours)

If you’re a solopreneur, side-hustler, Etsy seller, podcaster, or small business owner who’s tired of feeling one ransomware note away from disaster—this episode is your wake-up call and your lifeline.

Hit play now, then grab the free Small Business Risk Guide mentioned in the episode at preparednesslabs.ca. Don’t wait for the next crisis to prove you needed this yesterday.
Your business deserves to be antifragile. Let’s build it—together.

https://preparednesslabs.ca

DISCLOSURE 
Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.
Copyright © 2025.

Support the show

https://preparednesslabs.ca/

Send us a text

In this no-fluff episode, Dr. D reveals the exact 4-step framework he uses to keep his fully digital small business running when the world goes sideways, whether it’s a week-long blackout, a nationwide internet outage, a cyber attack, or any other disruption to the systems we all take for granted.Most entrepreneurs blindly assume the power will stay on, the internet will work, and money will keep flowing into their accounts. The reality? Your business is only as strong as the 10 sectors of critical infrastructure you depend on every single day, and you don’t control a single one of them.Inside this episode you’ll discover:The simple “10-Legged Table” mental model that instantly shows you exactly where your business (and family) are dangerously exposed  
How to quickly rate each of the 10 critical infrastructure sectors as Low, Medium, or High risk for YOUR specific operation (takes 20-30 minutes, costs $0)  
Why “prevention” is a fantasy and the only thing that actually works is mitigation through intelligent replication  
Real-world examples: how Dr. D keeps creating videos, uploading content, running Zoom calls, and getting paid even when the grid power, cell networks, or primary internet providers completely fail  
The “prepper mindset” applied to business, why replicating the 1-2 sectors you rated as HIGH risk is the highest-ROI insurance policy you’ll ever buy  
Why you must run this same exercise on your family’s dependencies (hint: losing public transit or ride-sharing apps can bankrupt some households faster than a power outage)  
The data almost no one talks about: 94% of critical infrastructure failures in North America are restored within 14 days… and what smart owners do to bridge those 14 days without losing everything

If you’re a solopreneur, small-business owner, side-hustler, or even an employee who wants unbreakable job security in chaotic times, this episode gives you a proven, step-by-step playbook you can implement this weekend, for free.Stop gambling with systems you don’t control. Start building the resilience that turns crises into minor inconveniences while your competitors are panicking.Watch or listen now, then head to preparednesslabs.ca for free resources and the Mastering Risk course that takes this framework even deeper.Timestamps, free downloads, and all links in the show notes.
Don’t wait for the next blackout to wish you’d done this.

DISCLOSURE 
Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.
Copyright © 2025.

Support the show

https://preparednesslabs.ca/

Send us a text

If you're considering starting, or just have started an entrepreneurial adventure, listen to these ten reasons why new businesses fail.

Time tested, taken from the graves of over 1000 ventures, this list will provide in depth insight to avoid the pitfalls, leverage risk and embrace the uncertainty of being your own boss.

From no-market products, poor avatar marketing to #10 which will blow your mind, this has much of what you need to consider, to give you a fighting chance to turn positive cash flow and earn from your hustle.

https://preparednesslabs.ca

DISCLOSURE 
Information shared here is for educational purposes only.  Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks.  The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.
Copyright © 2025.

Support the show

https://preparednesslabs.ca/