What if your random doodles in meetings could launch a global business?

In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, host Grant Fisher sits down with William Warren, founder and CEO of The Sketch Effect—a visual communication company that helps brands bring ideas to life through live illustration, animation, and graphic recording.

William shares the story of how a casual creative outlet during his corporate job turned into a full-time business, the six-month side hustle runway he used to make the leap, and the key decisions that helped him scale a creative service into a sustainable operation. From hiring his first team members to building a repeatable process for artistic quality, this conversation is packed with lessons for creatives, solopreneurs, and anyone looking to grow a service-based business.

🎙️ Topics covered:

• Turning a creative skill into a paid service

• How to transition from a side hustle to a full-time business

• Scaling a creative company while protecting the creative spark

• The power of visual storytelling in corporate communication

• Building a business that doesn’t revolve around you

If you’re a creative entrepreneur or just looking for inspiration to make your business more engaging, this episode is for you.

🔗 Learn more at thesketcheffect.com or williamcwarren.com

Public speaking isn’t just for keynote pros—it’s one of the most overlooked growth tools in small business. In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, I sit down with Eva Daniel, founder of The Speak Shop and former speechwriter for Dave Ramsey, to talk about how entrepreneurs can build confidence, grow their audience, and land more clients through strategic speaking.

Eva shares how her time at Ramsey Solutions helped her step into entrepreneurship, the power of content creation on platforms like LinkedIn, and why every business owner should have at least one signature speech. Whether you’re pitching, networking, or sharing your story on a stage, Eva breaks down how to improve your message and delivery—no matter your experience level.

We cover:

• ​Why speaking is a high-ROI visibility tool for small businesses
• ​How Eva transitioned from corporate to solo business owner
• ​How content marketing (especially on LinkedIn) drives inbound leads
• ​Why most delivery problems are actually content problems
• ​A practical framework for building your first signature speech
• ​How to give and receive useful feedback on your talks
• ​The role of in-person networking and referrals in long-term growth

If you’ve ever said “I’m not a speaker,” this episode will challenge that and give you the tools to start.

🔗 Connect with Eva:TheSpeakShop.com

LinkedIn: Eva Rose Daniel

🎧 New episodes of Small Business, Big Engine drop every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow the show and leave a review if this helped you!

What started as a backyard obsession with Japanese maples turned into a thriving, high-end landscaping business serving the Nashville area. In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, host Grant Fisher sits down with Colby Jenkins, founder of Maple Hills Nursery and Maple Hills Design, to unpack how he went from pruning trees on his lunch break to building a design-build firm that handles 6-figure outdoor living projects.

Colby shares his journey from commercial banker to business owner, how he made his first $1,600 on Facebook Marketplace, and the moment he realized he was sitting on a real business. We talk about the power of focusing on one product, why good marketing matters more than just relying on word-of-mouth, and how he strategically positioned his business to attract premium clients.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How to turn a niche passion into a profitable business

• The difference between doing the work and designing the vision

• When it’s time to stop being the labor and start being the leader

• Why high-end clients require a different mindset — and different marketing

• The value of borrowed branding and strategic partnerships

• How to fire bad clients without losing your peace

• What to consider before scaling your service-based business

Whether you’re in landscaping, design, or just trying to grow your side hustle into a full-time gig, this episode is full of honest insights on entrepreneurship, client management, and marketing that actually works.

🎧 Follow the show for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Jeremy Mitchell didn’t plan to start a baseball bat company, he just had an idea, some design skills, and a passion for baseball. In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, we dive into how Mitchell Bat Co started, a custom-painted bat brand that went viral within days, got featured by ESPN, and landed licensing deals with NCAA programs and major brands like Jack Daniels.

You’ll hear how Jeremy kickstarted the business while working a full-time job, how he navigated college and pro sports licensing, and what it’s really like to turn a side hustle into a sustainable product business.

What we talked about:

• ​The moment Mitchell Bat Co. launched during Game 6 of the 2013 World Series
• ​How early exposure on Instagram and ESPN led to unexpected growth
• ​The behind-the-scenes of sports licensing with NCAA, MLBPA, and more
• ​Why keeping a day job isn’t a failure—it’s a smart strategy

Learn more at: https://mitchellbatco.com

If you read this far, you are my favorite 👋

In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, Grant Fisher sits down with Hailey Johnston, founder of Project Free 2 Fly, a mission-driven small business based in Cleveland, Tennessee. What started as a handmade sewing business has grown into a nonprofit-social enterprise that empowers women in crisis through employment, life skills, and community support.

Hailey shares how she turned a simple idea into a sustainable organization—balancing retail operations, fundraising, and mentorship. You'll hear how she navigated early challenges, built a supportive team, and created a program that helps women gain independence, confidence, and long-term career success.

Whether you're building a purpose-driven brand, starting a nonprofit, or just looking for inspiration on how business can change lives, this episode is packed with practical insights.

Topics Covered:

• How to launch a mission-driven business from scratch

• Hiring with purpose and building the right team

• Managing the dual roles of nonprofit and retail operations

• Creating impact through community-focused entrepreneurship

• Tips for growing without losing your vision

In this conversation, Andrea Boddeker shares her experiences as a franchise owner, discussing the importance of marketing, creativity, and customer relationships in running a successful business. She highlights the support provided by the franchise, the challenges of navigating social media, and the significance of understanding seasonal trends in business growth. Andrea reflects on her journey, the lessons learned, and the balance between structure and creativity in the franchise model.

02:58 Transitioning from Printing to Franchising

05:47 Marketing Challenges and Solutions

08:37 Franchise Support and Community

11:41 Creative Limitations in a Franchise

14:38 Evaluating Franchise vs. Independent Business

17:27 Understanding the Competitive Landscape

20:27 Growth Strategies and Revenue Predictions

21:41 Understanding Seasonal Business Trends

25:05 The Importance of Recurring Customers

27:29 Challenges in Business Operations

27:33 Navigating Franchise Ownership

34:34 Connecting with Customers

35:53 Transitioning from Print to Franchise

36:16 Navigating the Franchise Landscape

36:28 The Importance of Knowing Your Strengths

What if the biggest obstacle in your business... is you?

In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, I’m joined by Aaron Bellar—military chaplain, executive coach, and university instructor—who shares how 30 years of experience in high-stakes leadership shaped his no-nonsense approach to coaching high performers.

We dive into:

• ​Why most business problems are personal problems in disguise
• ​How empowering questions can fuel breakthrough growth
• ​The difference between transformation and advice
• ​Why clarity is more powerful than hustle
• ​How to lead yourself before you lead others

Whether you're scaling a company, leading a team, or building something from scratch, Aaron's perspective will challenge you to look inward, build emotional intelligence, and grow across every dimension of your life—not just in business.

👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode helped you reframe your next step.

🎧 Learn more about how we're helping entrepreneurs grow at SingleStack.io

If you read this far, you’re awesome 👋

#LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #Entrepreneurship #SelfLeadership #PersonalGrowth #SmallBusinessPodcast #BusinessMindset

🎙️ In this episode of Small Business Big Engine, host Grant Fisher sits down with Brittany Katz, owner of Terra Running Company in Cleveland, Tennessee. Brittany shares her how she made the leap from middle school teacher to becoming a small business owner in a new city, and how she built a thriving running store that’s now the heartbeat of Cleveland’s active community.

From launching race events and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, to making the emotional decision to close her coffee shop, Brittany talks candidly about what it really takes to run (literally) a successful local business. Whether you're a runner, a small biz dreamer, or just love a great story — this one's got miles of insight.

📍 Visit Terra Running Company in person: Click for directions
🌐 Online: www.terrarunning.com

👟 Topics: small business growth, Cleveland TN, running store success, event marketing, community building, entrepreneurship lessons

Can you grow a successful business and stay true to your purpose? In this episode, we chat with Shannon Greer—pastor, entrepreneur, and founder of Cadence Coffee Company and the Oasis Center in Chattanooga. Shannon shares how he built a multi-location coffee business that does more than sell great coffee—it builds community, supports nonprofits, and lives out a mission every single day. We dive into leadership, family, scaling with heart, and what it really means to blend profit with purpose.

In the first episode of Small Business, Big Engine, Grant Fisher chats with Bryan Meeker about his journey as the owner of Nextdoor Photos, a real estate photography business. Bryan shares insights on the challenges of hiring, scaling his business, and the importance of having a business coach. Bryan emphasizes the significance of building a strong team, managing client relationships, and the strategies he employs for predictable revenue. He also reflects on the lessons learned from difficult client experiences and the resilience required to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.