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Summary:
Jeremy LaDuke, founder of Epic Nine, dives into the attention economy and why bold, memorable branding outperforms safe, copycat marketing. He explains how small businesses can set honest budgets, track what really matters, and build brand familiarity that drives conversion — even without perfect attribution. From Liquid Death’s creative risk-taking to networking tips for introverts, Jeremy shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply to grow with authenticity and courage.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari

💡 GOLD NUGGETS (Key Moments)
• Disruptive branding lessons from Liquid Death
• Defining SMART goals and budget honesty
• Risk appetite and creative differentiation
• Attribution reality and measuring what matters
• Branded search as a proxy for awareness
• Lower, mid, and top-funnel investment strategy
• Climb Club for sub-$2M businesses
• Networking tactics for introverts
• When to use CTAs vs. pure brand
• Distinctive assets: names, themes, mascots

🔗 Guest Links
• Website: https://epicnine.com

• The Climb Club: https://theclimbclub.com

• Book “Climb”: https://theclimb.guide
or Amazon

• LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyladuke/

 • Book Rec: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari
• Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast

• LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/

• Website | https://chrislalomia.com

• Website | www.safaripodcast.com

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Hook in Body:
Chris and Greg met at Accenture and were implementing call center solutions at the nations largest banks, their friendship has been over 30 years and we are excited to share the journey that Greg has taken to this point.

Summary:
Greg, CEO of Timbers Resorts, shares how he went from Corporate Consultant to Real Estate Business Owner life of ownership, service, and decisive leadership. Luxury fractional ownership vs. timeshare, resilience after hurricanes, and how we leveraged a position within the company to be able to move into an ownership position as the previous owner looked to retire.

💡 GOLD NUGGETS (Key Moments)
• Surviving the consulting grind and owning outcomes
• Why the 2006–2007 thesis said do not develop
• Service as strategy in luxury real estate development and operation
• Timeshare vs. fractional ownership with deeded interests
• Referrals as a growth engine and cost of acquisition

 • Italy and Hawaii builds, permits, and GC replacement
 • Buying the company while honoring legacy
 •  Practical on risk, and decisive leadership

🔗 Guest Links
• Website: TimbersResorts.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-spencer-1630044/
 • LinkedIn: “All you have to do is drop Chris Lalomia”

🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari
• Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast

• LinkedIn | Chris Lalomia

• Website | chrislalomia.com

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🎧 The Small Business Safari – Episode Title
Profit Over Revenue: How 4 Corners CFO Turns Chaos into Clarity

Hook:
We dig into profit over revenue, how service businesses should structure their books, and why capacity-based budgeting beats guesses.

Summary:
Danielle Hendon, founder of 4 Corners CFO, shows how niching, clean reconciliations, and cash flow forecasts turn anxiety into action. From culture vs. process tension to bottom-up budgeting, Danielle reframes accounting from a headache into a strategic growth tool. Learn why people costs belong in COGS, how capacity-based metrics expose underutilization, and what separates a weak bookkeeper from a real CFO partner.

💡 GOLD NUGGETS (Key Moments)
• Culture vs. process tension reframed around scalable profit
• Revenue obsession challenged by profit-first thinking
• People costs placed in COGS for real gross margin
• Capacity-based revenue and utilization metrics
• Bottom-up budgeting tied to activities, not accounts
• Expense buckets as required, perks, and investments
• Pricing flat fees to capture efficiency gains
• Segregation of duties and clean reconciliations
• How to spot a weak bookkeeper fast
• Niching into law firms and selling with specifics
• Cash flow forecasting that includes taxes and timing

🔗 Guest Links
• Website: 4cornerscfo.com

 • Special Page: 4cornerscfo.com/smallbusinesssafari

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-hendon/

🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari
• Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast

• LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/

• Website | https://chrislalomia.com

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Marika Ponton, CPA and founder of Profit Truths, shares how she built, sold, and pivoted her way to helping business owners find clarity, profit, and calm. From Big Four beginnings to entrepreneurial coaching, Marika reveals how small business owners can master their numbers, reallocate marketing spend, and finally take control of cash flow.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:
The Small Business Safari on YouTube

💡 GOLD NUGGETS (Key Moments)

• Big Four lessons that translate to small business grit
• Why networking beats waiting for franchise leads
• Subfloor to sales: detailed quotes as a differentiator
• Selling while you’re the rainmaker and still getting value
• Financials that tell a story buyers trust
• Marketing spend benchmarks by industry and region
• Fixing gross profit before chasing net profit
• Judgment-free coaching and honest KPI dashboards
• Cash flow tactics, payroll timing, and owner salary
• Benchmarking, reallocating ad spend, and growing margin

🔗 Guest Links

Marika Ponton – Profit Truths
• Website: https://profittruths.com

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marikaponton

🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari

• Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast

• LinkedIn | Chris Lalomia

• Website | chrislalomia.com

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Justin Goodbread unpacks how concentrated focus beats scattered effort, why enterprise value matters more than income, and how designing for an exit creates freedom long before a sale. He shares the Deca-Millionaire framework forged through wins, losses, and relentless execution.

🎥 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari

💡 GOLD NUGGETS (Key Moments)

·        • The black dot metaphor for singular focus

·        • Early entrepreneurship, hardship, and the mountaintop reset

·        • Mindset rewiring and fitness as business force multipliers

·        • Vision and values as non‑negotiables for scaling

·        • One client, one offer, one outcome discipline

·        • The 4% drives 64% principle for prioritization

·        • Quarterly enterprise value reviews and execution sprints

·        • Building a business that runs without you

·        • Always be exit‑ready to maximize timing and valuation

·        • Practical examples: productizing services, narrowing offers

🔗 Guest Links

• Website: https://JustinGoodbread.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justingoodbread

• Instagram: @justingoodbread

🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari

• Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast

• LinkedIn | Chris Lalomia

• Website | https://chrislalomia.com

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Skot Waldron shares how business leaders can transform their company culture by focusing on intentional leadership and internal brand development before external marketing. He explains that effective culture-building creates environments where people feel valued and motivated from within rather than being micromanaged.

• The distinction between managing people versus leading them—people want to be led, not managed
• How company culture is "the air you're breathing" and exists whether you're intentionally cultivating it or not
• Small businesses often "get the shaft" from marketing agencies selling superficial solutions without strategic foundations
• Replacing employees costs 1.5-2.5 times their salary, making culture investment financially sound
• The importance of intentional mentorship programs for retaining younger generations
• "Don't light fires under people, light them inside them" as a leadership philosophy
• Skot's book "Unlocked" provides a 52-week framework for developing intentional leadership
• Every interaction creates either a "brand deposit" or "brand withdrawal" with your team
• Leaders should consider how people will think and talk about them 20 years in the future

To learn more about Skot's speaking, coaching, and leadership development programs, visit his website or connect with him through his social media channels.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/skotwaldron

skotwaldron.com

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LinkedIn strategist Al Kushner shares essential strategies for cutting through the noise and leveraging AI to establish yourself as a thought leader on the world's largest professional network.

• Creating an optimized LinkedIn profile is essential before any outreach
• Establishing yourself as a thought leader requires providing value, not just selling
• LinkedIn newsletters bypass spam filters and deliver directly to subscribers' inboxes
• Using AI can help craft better responses and engage with influential content creators
• Sales Navigator provides valuable insights into who's viewing your profile and who's active
• Focus on connecting with referral partners rather than direct prospecting
• Recent recommendations significantly impact how prospects perceive your credibility
• Responding to others' content is more effective than just posting your own
• Follow influencers and thoughtfully comment on their posts to increase visibility

If you want to learn more about optimizing your LinkedIn profile and leveraging AI in your professional networking, visit linkvantage.com where you can access Al's free ebook and other resources.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-kushner/

linkvantage.com

AlKushnerSpeaks.com

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Southside Steve Rickman shares his journey from radio personality to entrepreneur, revealing how corporate radio's restrictions pushed him to bet on himself and build multiple businesses on his own terms.

• Began in radio accidentally by filling in for a voice talent at 96 Rock while working at an ad agency
• Became known on "The Regular Guys" morning show for outrageous stunts including being shot with BB guns
• Developed a loyal following but faced increasing corporate restrictions on content
• Was fired with no severance despite being a top revenue generator for the station
• Opened a Smokey and the Bandit themed bar while still working morning radio
• Faced challenges from skeptical family members during the transition to entrepreneurship
• Currently developing "Yeah C'mon" bourbon brand aimed at blue-collar consumers
• Runs his own radio platform on My Fox FM where he follows FCC rules but not "corporate woke rules"
• Maintains an optimistic outlook despite setbacks: "Even if it's half full, it's full"

Check out the Yeah C'mon Show podcast on YouTube, and follow Southside Steve on social media to keep up with his latest ventures.

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Ian Hay returns to share crucial disaster preparedness strategies for business owners during hurricane season and National Preparedness Month, emphasizing self-reliance when government resources may be limited.

• Text instead of calling during emergencies and include specific location information
• Keep multiple backups of all cloud-based data in different physical locations
• Maintain cash in small denominations for emergencies when electronic payments fail
• Have essential emergency supplies readily available including water, food, and batteries
• Keep fire blankets accessible for electrical fires rather than just fire extinguishers
• Establish clear communication plans with employees including alternative contact methods
• Understand your business insurance coverage thoroughly before disaster strikes
• Consider carrying phones on different networks to maintain communication during outages
• For career transition and AI integration coaching, contact Ian at 770-293-8870
• Visit lickitysplitdisasterkit.com for a special discount on Ian's disaster preparedness video package

https://licketysplitdisasterkit.com/

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In this episode, Eric Fortenberry takes us through his unique journey—from software entrepreneur, to running a construction company, to discovering firsthand the operational flaws that hold businesses back. What started as troubleshooting for his own company turned into the creation of JobTread, a platform designed to solve the biggest pain points in the construction industry.

Gold Nuggets from Eric’s journey:

• Working on Estimating First to get the profit built into the Job Upfront
• Building documentation systems that clearly define project scopes and make change orders simple and enforceable
• Fixing the “shopping and shit” TIME WASTER by moving crews from hourly pay to fixed-price work
• Driving a business turnaround from $5M to $8M in revenue with a 43% jump in gross profit in just one year
• Scaling JobTread from 200 customers in 2021 to more than 7,500 today (adding 500+ new accounts monthly)
• Structured onboarding, training programs to ensure customer success

Eric shares powerful insights that every business owner can use to tighten operations, boost profits, and scale with confidence.

Visit jobtread.com to learn more or schedule a demo. Eric is also active in the JobTread Pros Facebook group with over 7,000 members and can be reached directly at [email protected].

https://www.youtube.com/JobTread

https://www.facebook.com/JobTread/

https://www.instagram.com/jobtread

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jobtread/

https://x.com/JobTread