In this episode of Small Business Big AI, Kim and Hal tackle the invisible force holding small business owners back: thePermission Trap — the tendency to wait for someone else’s approval, clarity, or “perfect timing” before moving forward. With personal stories, expert insight, and strategic perspective, Kim dismantles the myth that patience equals wisdom and shows why decision speed is now the realcompetitive edge in business — especially in an era reshaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change.

This week, we also weave in takeaways from the All-Inpodcast’s CES 2026 discussion on how AI is set to dwarf every tech revolution before it — transforming not just robots and gadgets, but how leaders accelerate decisions and reshape organizations in real time. (Apple Podcasts)

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔ The Permission Trap defined:
Learn the three versions that keep founders stuck — waiting for gatekeepers, waiting for markets to “settle,” and waiting for personal readiness.

✔ The real cost of waiting:
It’s not just time — it’s position, momentum, and opportunity in a hyper-accelerated business landscape.

✔ Inside CES 2026 insights:
We connect macro tech trends from the All-In podcast — where thought leaders argued that AI’s impact will eclipse past breakthroughs — to the micro reality of your business decisions.

✔ A real-world story that hits home:
Hear how hesitation cost a logistics leader his competitive edge, even when the right tool was in front of him all along.

✔ The Operator Moment:
Kim shares her personal journey with lease rejections, mindset shifts, and why she’s moving forward without permission.

✔ Weekly challenge:
Identify the one decision you’ve been waiting on — then flip the frame and ask what you’re really waiting for.

Join Us Live

Save the date: January 27th — Kim and Hal are hosting a LinkedIn Live event to pull back the curtain on what they’vebeen building and answer audience questions live.

This is for you if you are:

• A displaced Big 4 / consulting professional
• A fractional COO, CFO, or senior operator
• A small business owner who needs realimplementation help—not more decks

Just say:

“Tell me more about the BMS Licensee Model.”

✦ DM Kim Lewis Howard on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-lewis-howard/

✦ DM Hal Howard on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/halhoward/

---Music Credit: “I Am with You” by Dream Cave; EpidemicSound via iStock.com

Sound Effects: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/