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Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

Shannon Jean & Dave Hamilton

Small Business Advice for Present and Future Owners

  • 24 minutes 40 seconds
    Living Through Economic Cycles

    Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss the power of free thinking and the cost of leading an uncommon life. They reflect on Dave’s experience at the NAMM conference, where a minor snub from an industry professional fueled his motivation to make a bigger impact. The conversation explores the concept of “coopetition”—collaborating with competitors for mutual growth—and how having a chip on your shoulder can drive success.

    They then transition into a deeper discussion on economic cycles and business adaptability. Reflecting on past downturns (dot-com bust, 2008 recession, and COVID-19 disruptions), they highlight how advertising trends and market corrections impact business revenue. Shannon emphasizes the importance of being connected in the industry to recognize downturns early and act decisively.

    Key takeaways include:

    • Use setbacks as fuel for future success.
    • Economic downturns are inevitable—prepare by diversifying income streams.
    • Stay informed by networking within your industry.
    • When business slows down, don’t panic—adapt.
    • Signs of economic recovery are emerging, but strategic planning is essential.

     

    The post Living Through Economic Cycles – Business Brain 618 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    29 January 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 25 minutes 34 seconds
    The 10-Year Overnight Success
    Image for episode 617 of the Business Brain podcast

    Business Brain episode 617, hosted by Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean, covers insights on business growth, persistence, and the value of consistency.

    Dave shares his experience attending the NAMM conference, a key event in the music industry, where he was invited as press due to his Gig Gab podcast. Reflecting on his journey, he emphasizes the concept of “overnight success,” taking ten years, underscoring the importance of long-term consistency in content creation. He compares this with the Business Brain podcast, which also started a decade ago, highlighting how both shows have evolved and gained industry credibility over time.

    Shannon shares his own journey, crediting the podcast for helping him refine his ideas, become more comfortable discussing successes and failures, and ultimately transitioning into a content creator and business coach. He explains how consistently sharing content on X (Twitter) and experimenting with different revenue models—such as paid posts, subscriptions, digital guides, and coaching.

    The discussion shifts to the power of persistence, with Shannon reflecting on a past million-dollar mistake that he once kept hidden due to shame but now uses as a learning experience for others. He highlights the importance of having the right support system, particularly his spouse, and how that helped him push forward. Both hosts discuss how consistency, data tracking, and treating content creation as a real business have contributed to their success.

    The episode concludes with a teaser for next week’s discussion on differentiating between the product being sold and the delivery method used to reach customers. They encourage listeners to send feedback and leave reviews, reinforcing the value of audience engagement in their business strategy.

    The post The 10-Year Overnight Success – Business Brain 617 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    24 January 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 21 minutes 56 seconds
    Finding Waves to Ride
    Image for episode 616 of the Business Brain podcast

    Business Brain episode 616 covers a variety of topics related to business strategies, financial efficiency, and personal development. Hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss leveraging business expenses for tax benefits, particularly when planning trips. Dave mentions his travel plans to NAMM and Mexico as business-related deductions. Shannon shares how he and his wife booked a nearly free luxury vacation using reward points, emphasizing the importance of using credit card rewards strategically.

    They dive into the concept of “riding the wave” in business, using Apple as an example of a company that overcame struggles to become dominant. They also discuss the dot-com boom and bust, explaining how understanding market fluctuations allows businesses to capitalize on downturns, such as acquiring liquidation inventory from failed companies.

    Another key topic is the advantages of different life stages in business. They explore how youthful ambition attracts opportunities while experience and wisdom later in life provide credibility and strategic insight. They highlight the importance of adapting business strategies to one’s age and stage in life.

    The episode concludes with a call for listener feedback, reviews, and engagement to help grow the Business Brain community.

    The post Finding Waves to Ride – Business Brain 616 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    22 January 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 30 minutes 8 seconds
    Scott Jordan, Founder of SCOTTeVest

    In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean interview Scott Jordan, co-founder of the apparel company SCOTTeVEST. Scott shares his journey from being a lawyer dissatisfied with corporate life to founding a successful travel clothing brand. He explains how he came up with the idea for SCOTTeVEST after struggling to carry various devices during his frequent travels in the late 1990s. Initially, he aimed to create a proof of concept for tech-enabled clothing, but after launching an e-commerce-enabled website for $700, SCOTTeVEST became one of the first clothing brands to sell online.

    Scott describes his early ambitions for rapid growth, including attempts to scale the business to $50 million in revenue, but he later learned that focusing on profitability and sustainability was more important than aggressive expansion. He recounts how handing control over to someone else led to a significant financial loss, prompting a shift in mindset from growth-at-all-costs to survival and efficiency.

    During the pandemic, Scott and his wife Laura restructured the company, eventually reducing the workforce to zero employees while maintaining profitability. He emphasizes the importance of running a lean business, focusing on quality, and avoiding the trap of pursuing unnecessary growth. He praises his wife’s dedication and credits her as the key factor in their continued success, noting how they complement each other’s skills in running the business.

    Scott offers advice to entrepreneurs about focusing on fundamentals, maintaining profitability, and ignoring hype around competitors and rapid scaling. He stresses the value of lifestyle businesses and encourages listeners to build a business that supports the life they want to live rather than chasing unicorn status.

    The episode wraps up with Scott recommending SCOTTeVEST’s popular travel vest and Q-Zip shirts. He advises listeners to focus on sustainable, profitable growth and avoid being distracted by competition or trends.

    Press play and be sure you don’t miss a bit!

     

    The post Scott Jordan, Founder of SCOTTeVEST – Business Brain 615 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    17 January 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 18 minutes 18 seconds
    Using Emotion and Desire in Your Business

    In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss Dave’s recent experience at CES 2025, including standout products and the importance of planning for trade shows. Dave highlights a notable $800 5K Thunderbolt display from ViewSonic, offering significant value compared to similar products from Apple and LG. Shannon emphasizes the value of exclusivity and rarity in products, sharing his past experience selling white iPhone case backs, which attracted high demand due to their uniqueness.

    They transition into a discussion about how to introduce emotion, desire, status, and prestige into sales strategies. Shannon explains how selling luxury goods taught him to leverage exclusivity and scarcity, which drove up perceived value and pricing. They encourage listeners to identify products or services that can evoke desire or offer social validation, helping businesses stand out in competitive markets.

    The episode also revisits the concept of the “Whistle, Workhorse, and Whale” strategy: the whistle attracts attention, the workhorse generates steady income, and the whale represents high-end, exclusive offerings that enhance brand image. They urge businesses to think creatively about how to incorporate prestige, exclusivity, or guarantees to add value and attract customers.

    Press play and ensure you learn what you need in order to keep living that charmed life!

     

    The post Using Emotion and Desire in Your Business – Business Brain 614 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    15 January 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 24 minutes 30 seconds
    The Every Platform Experiment – Business Brain 613
    Image for episode 613 of the Business Brain podcast

    In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss the concept of “Quitter’s Day,” which falls on the second Friday of January and highlights the high rate of people abandoning their New Year’s resolutions by mid-January. They share personal experiences with social media experiments, where Dave posts identical content across various platforms, including X, Threads, Mastodon, and LinkedIn, to measure audience engagement and decide where to focus future efforts. Shannon emphasizes the importance of intentional platform growth, sharing how he grew his following on X from 500 to over 33,000 by consistently engaging and applying the 80-20 content rule—80% value-driven content and 20% fun or intriguing posts.

    They also discuss platform-specific audiences, noting that different platforms cater to different demographics and engagement styles. Shannon explains his approach to managing content across platforms using an assistant, while Dave considers platform diversity for his various content topics—tech, business, and music. Both agree that it’s essential to grow one platform at a time to avoid being overwhelmed.

    The discussion touches on using algorithms effectively by creating secondary anonymous accounts for experimentation and leveraging high-engagement posts, even on seemingly unrelated topics, to boost overall visibility. They conclude by highlighting the importance of adaptability in social media strategy and hint at upcoming topics for future episodes, including emotional triggers in sales and an interview with Scott Jordan of ScottyVest. The episode ends with a call to action for listeners to leave a review.

    The post The Every Platform Experiment – Business Brain 613 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    10 January 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 22 minutes 42 seconds
    Getting Comfortable with Chaos
    Image for episode 612 of the Business Brain podcast

    In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean kick off the new year with an insightful discussion on embracing chaos, managing schedules, and giving more compliments. Shannon shares two things he loves about the New Year: selling exercise equipment during peak season and setting resolutions, particularly focusing on giving intentional and authentic compliments. He notes how giving compliments, especially to men who are often under-complimented, can uplift and improve social interactions.

    The conversation then shifts to managing chaos in personal and professional life. Dave describes his packed January schedule, balancing conferences, rehearsals, and travel while ensuring he stays productive and energized. He emphasizes the importance of mindset and planning to thrive in chaos rather than just survive it. Shannon shares a personal story about juggling tasks during a family vacation and how intentional planning leads to a sense of accomplishment.

    They also highlight the role of having the right partner in life, calling the right spouse a “force multiplier” in managing chaotic schedules. Both stress the significance of shared family calendars and tools like Calendly to coordinate busy schedules and prevent burnout.

    They wrap up by encouraging listeners to embrace chaos, give more compliments, and use effective tools for time management. Listeners are invited to leave reviews and keep living a “charmed life.”

    The post Getting Comfortable with Chaos – Business Brain 612 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    8 January 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 29 minutes 43 seconds
    Nuhuel Hilal, Founder - Iris Tattoo

    In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean welcome guest Noelle Hilal, owner of Iris Tattoo and Piercing. The discussion dives into the innovative approach Noelle has taken to redefine the tattoo industry, emphasizing customer experience, premium service, and top-tier talent management.

    Noelle explains how Iris Tattoo was born out of the desire to improve the traditional tattoo shop experience, creating a boutique-style environment often likened to an “Apple store” for tattoos. The studio prioritizes customer service, offering curated experiences that include amenities like beverages, concierge service, and high levels of communication. Iris charges a premium—sometimes four times standard rates—but ensures unmatched quality and comfort.

    The conversation also highlights Noelle’s approach to managing talent, treating tattoo artists as “internal clients” and providing stability to attract and retain top talent. While the artists are independent contractors, Noelle fosters loyalty through robust support systems, training, and ensuring their focus remains on their craft.

    Noelle shares challenges, including a difficult partnership breakup, and emphasizes the importance of complementary skills in business relationships. He also discusses plans to expand Iris Tattoo into new markets, choosing locations like Nashville based on gut instincts and market potential.

    The hosts and Noelle reflect on the entrepreneurial journey, the loneliness it can bring, and the importance of community and support networks like the Business Brain podcast. The episode concludes with encouragement for listeners to pursue their dreams in 2025, emphasizing connection and growth.

    The post Nuhuel Hilal – Iris Tattoo – Business Brain 611 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    1 January 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 21 minutes 15 seconds
    EOY Expenses and Deals
    Image for episode 610 of the Business Brain podcast

    In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean share insights and stories, kicking off with holiday greetings and their sponsor, LegalZoom, which simplifies business setup. They discuss the value of LegalZoom for cost-effective business needs and transition to a casual “grab bag” discussion.

    Dave and Shannon explore their recent experiences with car buying, including strategies to save money, using networks for discounts, and leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT to compare vehicle options. They highlight how networks and AI can assist in decision-making and negotiations. They also touch on using credit management strategies, such as freezing and unfreezing credit to enhance security for business owners.

    Shannon shares a story about receiving supplier discounts through social media connections, emphasizing the power of networking. Dave reflects on lessons learned about dealer pricing and the benefits of financing for discounts during the pandemic. They also discuss the value of understanding dealership incentives like holdbacks and bonuses.

    They highlight the peculiar productivity of the holiday period between Christmas and New Year’s, noting how fewer external demands allow for personal projects, reflection, and productivity. The episode closes with reflections on the year, appreciation for listeners, and holiday wishes, promising an exciting 2025 for Business Brain.

    The post EOY Expenses and Deals – Business Brain 610 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    25 December 2024, 5:00 pm
  • 18 minutes 51 seconds
    Break the Rules

    In this episode of Business Brain, hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss a range of topics, emphasizing the importance of creativity, adaptability, and breaking conventional rules in business and life. They highlight tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly, showcasing how AI can enhance productivity, creativity, and problem-solving. The conversation touches on using AI for brainstorming, tech support, and exploring innovative ways to simplify tasks.

    They also dive into the concept of challenging traditional rules, sharing anecdotes about questioning societal and business “guardrails” that often hinder creativity or progress. Shannon reflects on his upbringing, where his parents instilled the idea that “reality is flexible,” encouraging confidence and rule-breaking as a path to success. Both agree that many rules are either arbitrary or created to maintain control, encouraging listeners to find ways to navigate or challenge these barriers.

    The hosts also discuss leveraging tax laws and compliance rules creatively, underscoring the importance of staying informed and consulting experts to make the most of existing systems. They highlight the value of experimentation and not letting fear of failure or rigid mindsets prevent action.

    The episode closes with an invitation for listeners to share feedback on what they’ve learned throughout the year and what they’d like to explore in the future, reinforcing the show’s mission of helping others live “charmed lives.”

    The post Break the Rules – Business Brain 609 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    20 December 2024, 5:00 pm
  • 21 minutes 24 seconds
    Action - NOW

    Dave and Shannon discuss the relevance of business cards in today’s world, emphasizing creative and practical ways to make them valuable. Shannon suggests using unique designs and multi-purpose formats, such as including discount coupons or magnetic versions for placement in strategic locations like break rooms. Dave highlights the convenience of having essential details on cards for conferences and trade shows, underscoring their usefulness in building connections.

    The hosts pivot to the importance of taking immediate action rather than delaying plans, especially as the year winds down. They share personal anecdotes and strategies for staying productive, such as working at night, utilizing downtime like TV-watching for brainstorming, and consistently achieving small goals daily. Shannon encourages writing one page daily and sharing it to build accountability and momentum. Both emphasize that consistent, incremental progress is key to entrepreneurial success.

    They conclude by inviting listeners to share their productivity tips and leave reviews, stressing the importance of community feedback in growing their podcast.

     

    The post Action – NOW – Business Brain 608 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    18 December 2024, 5:00 pm
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