Smart Business Revolution | Turn Relationships into Revenues | Networking | More Clients | Relationship Advice

Laura Yang Renner is the Founder of Freedom Makers, a company dedicated to providing small business owners and entrepreneurs with reliable, skilled virtual assistants. She launched Freedom Makers in 2015, recognizing the potential in military spouses seeking meaningful work and small businesses needing adaptable assistants as they scale their operations. Laura is passionate about empowering small-size entrepreneurs to thrive by delegating tasks, streamlining workflows, and enhancing customer outreach, allowing owners to focus on growth. With a background in the United States Air Force and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School, she brings a unique perspective to entrepreneurship. Before founding Freedom Makers, Laura launched BuBuBooks, an online bookstore offering bilingual storybooks for multicultural, multilingual children in America.

Finding the right talent to help grow a small business can be challenging, especially when owners aren’t ready to commit to hiring full-time or even part-time employees. For solopreneurs, the struggle often involves balancing business growth while handling day-to-day tasks without the necessary support. This creates a gap in the market for skilled, reliable assistance that’s flexible, trustworthy, and culturally aligned with the needs of US-based small businesses.

Laura Yang Renner created a solution by tapping into the underutilized resources of military spouses. Drawing on her military background, Laura built Freedom Makers to connect talented military spouses with small businesses in need of flexible support. She emphasizes the unique skills military spouses bring — such as adaptability, organization, and trustworthiness — qualities developed through frequent relocations and challenging environments. Her approach is to make virtual assistance accessible, with no minimum hour requirements or contracts, allowing business owners to delegate tasks like administrative support, marketing, and customer service, freeing them to focus on strategic growth.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Laura Yang Renner, Founder of Freedom Makers, about her journey from military service to entrepreneurship. Laura shares how her experience growing up as an Army brat shaped her adaptability and resilience, the advantages of hiring military spouses as virtual assistants, the benefits of flexible work arrangements for solopreneurs, and the impact of the pandemic on the virtual assistant industry.

Jonathan Small is an award-winning author, journalist, producer, and host of Write About Now, a podcast where he explores the creative journeys of renowned writers and storytellers. He has held executive roles at major media outlets, including Glamour, Stuff, and Entrepreneur, and contributed to The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Maxim, and Good Housekeeping. In 2020, he launched Strike Fire Productions, a podcast production and consulting company, working with high-profile clients like SAG-AFTRA and Purely Elizabeth. Known for his storytelling versatility, Jonathan’s experiences range from producing digital series for Game Show Network to moderating panels on branded content, and he recently turned his popular podcast into a book, Write About Now: 30 Authors on Origin Stories, Creative Inspiration, and the Birth of their Bestsellers.

The shifting landscape of media and content creation has left many creators and entrepreneurs scrambling to adapt. From the rise of digital media to the decline of traditional print and television, building a sustainable brand or platform is now more challenging than ever. How can one navigate the challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving content marketing field?

Jonathan Small, an award-winning journalist, author, and multimedia producer, shares key insights on successfully pivoting in today’s media industry. Emphasizing the value of authenticity, Jonathan advises creators to focus on their unique strengths, crafting content that resonates by genuinely connecting with their audience’s interests. He discusses the importance of origin stories in branding, as these narratives create memorable connections with audiences. Jonathan also suggests embracing a multimedia approach, as he did by founding Strike Fire, a full-service podcast production company, to diversify his storytelling and reach new audiences through collaborations with clients like SAG-AFTRA and Purely Elizabeth.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Jonathan Small, Founder of Write About Now and Strike Fire, about his multifaceted career in media and the art of pivoting. Jonathan dives into how he turned his podcast into a book, sharing authors’ origin stories and creative journeys. He also shares his experiences with true crime storytelling, unique insights on media's shift towards digital, and strategies for using authenticity to build audience connections.

Sunny Sheu is the Co-founder of Mpowered Families, a company dedicated to helping high-achieving entrepreneurial couples intentionally balance their family and business lives. His entrepreneurial journey began at a young age, assembling bikes at his family's toy shop, and he later expanded the business into furniture retail. Sunny continuously seeks personal and professional growth through organizations such as the EO, YPO, Stagen Leadership Academy, and Strategic Coach. Together with his wife, Ann, he focuses on helping couples set long-term family goals and balance business success with personal fulfillment.

Ann Sheu is the Co-founder and CEO of Mpowered Families, a company dedicated to helping high-achieving entrepreneurial couples intentionally balance their family and business lives. With nearly 20 years of experience as a consultant, advisor, board member, and Certified EOS Implementer, Ann combines business principles with personal growth strategies to drive meaningful outcomes for families and organizations. She is passionate about helping families enhance communication, create a collective vision, and build stronger connections.

Many successful professionals struggle to balance the demands of their careers with the need for a thriving, connected family life. Professional success doesn’t automatically translate into personal fulfillment, and families often operate on autopilot, neglecting meaningful communication and long-term planning. Is there a way to harmonize personal ambitions with collective visions of well-being?

Ann and Sunny Sheu address this challenge by integrating business principles into family life. They advocate for couples to create a 'decade dream,' a long-term vision that aligns family and individual goals, ensuring both partners work towards a common purpose. Ann emphasizes the importance of starting with personal values, helping couples understand each other's triggers, and using tools like free days to build intentional time together. Sunny highlights the importance of regular recalibration, encouraging couples to reflect on their progress and adjust their vision to stay connected and fulfilled.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Ann and Sunny Sheu, Co-founders of Mpowered Families, about helping high-performing couples build purpose-driven family lives. They discuss the trial-and-error process of applying business strategies to family dynamics, the power of setting a 'decade dream' to create long-term alignment, how marriage mentors can provide guidance, and strategies for empowering children to contribute to the family vision.

Dave Jackson is the Head of Podcasting at Podpage and a podcast consultant at the School of Podcasting. With a career spanning almost two decades in podcasting, he launched his first podcast in 2005, and his show about podcasting has been downloaded over 3.1 million times. Dave has helped hundreds of people launch their podcasts and is the author of Profit from Your Podcast. With a bachelor's degree in education specializing in technical education, he stands out not only for his technical expertise but also for his ability to explain complex concepts in simple, 'geek-speak-free' language. He was named the Director of Podcasting for the New Media Expo in 2014, and in 2018, he was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame.

Podcasting has exploded in popularity, but starting and succeeding in this crowded marketplace can feel overwhelming. Many aspiring podcasters struggle with figuring out where to begin, how to grow their audience, and what mistakes to avoid. As the medium evolves, the pressures of creating content, promoting it, and navigating technical hurdles can leave even the most passionate creators feeling stuck.

Dave Jackson, a podcasting consultant, shares his wealth of experience to help podcasters overcome these challenges. With over two decades in the industry, he emphasizes the importance of staying authentic and knowing your audience deeply. He offers practical strategies for avoiding common podcasting pitfalls, like trying to monetize too early, focusing on the wrong platforms, and overcomplicating production. Instead, Dave advises concentrating on growing a dedicated audience first, exploring alternative revenue streams, and leaning into your unique voice as a creator.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Dave Jackson, Head of Podcasting at Podpage, about mastering the art of podcasting in today's competitive landscape. They explore key strategies for building a successful podcast, including how to stand out, why embracing authenticity is essential, choosing the right monetization approach, and how embracing your peers in the industry results in a mutually beneficial relationship.

Tony Lillios is a leadership coach, entrepreneur, Ironman athlete, and Founder of Spec Products, a design and engineering firm recognized for its innovative tech accessories. With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, Tony successfully built Spec Products into a market leader before selling it to Samsonite in 2014, and he continues to invest in ventures through Ringleader Ventures. He is also a 13-time Ironman athlete and a marathon open-water swimmer, known for his unprecedented round-trip crossing of Crater Lake in 2012. His "Integral Path" approach to coaching, shaped by a personal journey of redefining goals, helps clients achieve transformation through the process, rather than the outcome, of their ambitions.

Many people chase goals relentlessly, only to feel an unsettling emptiness once they achieve them. Focusing solely on success and external validation can leave a person feeling disconnected from their true self, even if they excel professionally. The question becomes: how can you redefine your relationship with achievement to foster a more fulfilling, integrated life?

Tony Lillios shares his journey of rethinking goal-setting after realizing that accomplishing more wasn’t enough. He emphasizes the importance of viewing goals not as endpoints but as tools for personal growth. Tony’s "Integral Path" approach helps individuals use goals to propel meaningful change while focusing on the unfolding process of self-development, not just the outcome. He also encourages embracing uncharted territories — whether in business or personal — by stepping into uncertainty with intention and resilience.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Tony Lillios, leadership coach and Founder of Spec Products, about navigating new frontiers in life and business. Tony shared how embracing uncharted territories has manifested in a vibrant, fulfilling life. They discuss Tony’s experience with founding a company and selling it to Samsonite, becoming a single gay father through surrogacy, and undertaking endurance challenges like swimming across Crater Lake.

Melissa Morris is the Founder of Agency Authority, an operations consultancy specializing in helping agency owners improve efficiency, streamline processes, and increase profitability. With over a decade of agency experience, Melissa has worked with high-profile clients and honed her expertise in scaling businesses, client management, and operational strategies. She is passionate about helping agency owners grow their firms while maintaining a balanced lifestyle, leveraging her deep understanding of workflow optimization. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Melissa's unique approach to enhancing agency operations and fostering client relationships makes her a sought-after expert in the industry.

Many agency owners struggle to balance efficiency and growth while maintaining a sustainable work-life balance. They often find themselves overwhelmed by client demands, inefficient processes, and the constant pressure to secure new business. How can you successfully manage agency operations while ensuring profitability and client satisfaction? 

Melissa Morris, a seasoned expert in the agency world, offers practical solutions to these challenges. Leveraging over a decade of experience, Melissa transformed her understanding of the agency world into actionable strategies that any agency owner can implement. She emphasizes the importance of building long-term client relationships, regularly checking in with clients for feedback, and creating processes that streamline operations. Melissa also encourages agency owners to focus on expanding existing client accounts instead of only chasing new ones, and she highlights the value of using tools like automated surveys and workflows to improve communication and service delivery.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Melissa Morris, Founder of Agency Authority, about refining agency operations and fostering client connections. They discuss how persistence helped Melissa break into the agency world, actionable strategies to maintain strong client relationships, the role of automation in agency operations, and the importance of regularly seeking client feedback.

John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley,  and ran his boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Since 2012, John has been the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, including Peter Diamandis, Adam Grant, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marie Forleo.

John is also the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that connects B2B  businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. They help their clients generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service.

Are you struggling to find success by only focusing on transactions instead of relationships? Many entrepreneurs overlook the power of simply being helpful and building genuine connections. In the long run, this can result in missed opportunities and a lack of long-term business growth.

John Corcoran learned firsthand the value of being helpful without expecting anything in return. His willingness to share insights from his White House experience with Aaron Sorkin led to his involvement in The West Wing. By always being ready to offer support and expertise, even in small ways, John emphasizes that helping others builds strong, lasting relationships that can open doors to unexpected opportunities.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran, Co-founder of Rise25, shares his unexpected journey from White House staffer to TV inspiration. John highlights how saying yes to opportunities, even small ones, can pay off surprisingly. He also talks about the lessons he learned about relationship-building, the power of writing, and the importance of saying "yes" to opportunities, as you never know where they might lead.

Tracy Marlowe is the CEO and Founder of Creative Noggin, a company specializing in building, stewarding, and marketing evocative brands for purpose-driven organizations. With over 20 years of experience and numerous awards, Tracy built Creative Noggin in 2008 to foster a supportive, family-first work environment long before remote work became mainstream. As an advocate for impactful marketing, she specializes in connecting brands to niche markets and women consumers. Her passion for creating a flexible, human-centered workplace has led to both business success and personal fulfillment for her team.

Many businesses struggle to balance high-quality client service with flexible, family-friendly working conditions. As companies grow, it becomes even more challenging to foster a culture where employees can excel at work without sacrificing personal priorities. So, how do you balance client satisfaction with the flexibility remote work offers?

Tracy Marlowe tackled this issue by building her company with a remote-first philosophy as early as 2008. Tracy focused on hiring smart, passionate women who sought meaningful work while maintaining balance in their personal lives. By openly communicating the company’s remote structure to clients and emphasizing authenticity in client relationships, Tracy ensured Creative Noggin provided top-tier service without compromising the well-being of her team. She highlights the importance of hiring the right people, those who thrive in remote environments, and how transparent communication and accountability can help maintain a high standard of work.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Tracy Marlowe, Founder and CEO of Creative Noggin, about building a successful remote-first marketing agency. They discuss how she built a business that empowers women to balance career growth with personal life, the lessons she learned from waiting tables that shaped her leadership style, the bold move that catapulted her career in advertising, and the pandemic's impact on her business and clients.

John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley,  and ran his boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Since 2012, John has been the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, including Peter Diamandis, Adam Grant, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marie Forleo.

John is also the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that connects B2B  businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. They help their clients generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service.

Life can throw unexpected challenges when everything seems to be going well. From job security to personal stability, these certainties can be upended in an instant. When the worst happens, like losing a job during a political crisis, how do we re-evaluate our decisions and adapt to new circumstances?

John Corcoran faced this exact scenario when he lost his job as a speechwriter during the California recall election that brought Arnold Schwarzenegger into power. Despite the upheaval, John used this setback as an opportunity to take control of his career path. He leaned on his strong professional network, a key asset he had cultivated over time, to find new opportunities quickly. His experience highlights how setbacks can lead to personal and professional growth when approached with the right mindset. 

In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran, Co-founder of Rise25, talks about how an unexpected job loss transformed his career and life. He discusses the importance of networking before a crisis, the need for continual skills development, taking control of career transitions, how to prepare for the unexpected, and the lessons learned from navigating major life changes.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz is the Co-founder of Rise25 Media, a company that helps B2B business owners connect with their ideal prospects, referral partners, and strategic partners through a done-for-you podcast service. Dr. Weisz has been involved in podcasting for 11 years and was a senior producer for early business podcasts. He helped put all of their systems in place and helped them add volume, feature, and edify various business leaders.

Dr. Weisz has also been running his podcast, Inspired Insider, since 2011. He has featured top entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs of companies such as P90X, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, the Orlando Magic, and many more through video interviews on Inspired Insider. He also continues to run his chiropractic and massage facility in downtown Chicago and is the founder of a nutritional supplement business.

Many companies struggle to decide whether to handle a project in-house or outsource it to an agency. This challenge often involves balancing core competencies, budget constraints, and internal resources. What factors should influence your decision when leveraging external expertise to improve operational dynamics and competitiveness? 

According to Dr. Jeremy Weisz, several steps exist to effectively navigate this dilemma. Begin by assessing whether the task aligns with your business’s core strengths; if it doesn’t, consider outsourcing for the necessary expertise. Next, evaluate the long-term costs, including any potential hidden opportunity costs. Finally, take a closer look at your internal resources and their ability to manage the task. Sometimes, outsourcing relieves internal strain and leads to better outcomes, especially when specialized skills are required.

Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Co-founder of Rise25, about the decision-making process for outsourcing versus keeping projects in-house. They discuss key considerations such as cost comparison, the strategic importance of tasks, and how to leverage external agencies to build long-term relationships. Additionally, they touch on factors like client lifetime value, timeline management, and the impact on internal resources.