Small Business Pivots

Cori Fonville Foster joins Small Business Pivots to break down why so many business owners stay stuck even when they have great ideas, strong offers, and real talent. This episode covers implementation, systems, marketing, mindset, and how to pivot when life or business throws you something unexpected.If you have ever thought, “I know what I need to do in my business — so why am I still not doing it?” this episode is for you.In this episode of Small Business Pivots, Michael D. Morrison talks with Cori Fonville Foster, CEO and founder of IROC Marketable Business Solutions, about one of the biggest challenges small business owners face: implementation. Cori works with coaches, consultants, speakers, and authors to help them market their businesses, build stronger systems, and actually get things done. Her LinkedIn profile identifies her with IROC Marketable Business Solutions in Hampton, Virginia. Cori shares her own path from the medical field into entrepreneurship after a rare eye condition forced her to leave her nine-to-five job. She talks openly about building a business with a disability, starting with very little money, navigating setbacks, and learning how to create systems that work.Michael and Cori dig into: why business owners often know what to do but still struggle to implement  how to create systems that fit your real life, energy, and season of business  why SOPs and automations matter if you want to grow  what marketing is actually working now  how to repurpose content instead of constantly creating from scratch  why mindset matters when business gets hard  how to think about scaling before you feel “ready”  when and how to bring on a VA or support team One of the strongest themes in this conversation is the idea of the pivot. Cori explains that business owners do not fail because every strategy is wrong — many times, they fail because they stop adjusting. Her message is simple: if you are willing to pivot, learn, and keep going, you give yourself a real chance to build something sustainable.If you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or like your business has potential but no momentum, this episode will help you think differently about systems, implementation, and what it really takes to keep moving forward.What you’ll learn Why having a great business idea is not enough  What SOPs and automations should actually look like for a small business  How to repurpose content to save time and market smarter  Why mindset and resilience matter more than most people admit  How to scale before you feel “big enough”  What to outsource first when you are trying to grow  Why being willing to pivot is one of the biggest keys to business survivalSupport the show1. Want more resources to grow your business faster?https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn?https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultationFOLLOW US ON:- WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/-WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/-LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/-YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

Lisa Woodruff, founder of Organize 365 and author of Escaping Quicksand, is a productivity entrepreneur and doctoral candidate in applied psychology. She talks about how household chaos creates cognitive overload and mirrors business SOPs. Short, practical ideas include batching, training partners, outsourcing, and treating the home like an economic entity to reclaim focus and energy.

Austin Willman, Partnerships Manager at Digital Web Solutions and founder of Willman Ventures, is an SEO, digital PR and AEO specialist who helps founders scale personal-brand content. He talks about why founders become bottlenecks, building shared language and simple SOPs, using AI to document brand DNA and speed work, and why narrow, consistent content wins for visibility.

Financial Freedom Is a Choice: Breaking Your Money Limits with Daman GrewalMost people are raised to believe the same story: Go to school, get a “safe” job, stick it out for 20–30 years, and hope the 401(k) or pension takes care of you.Daman Grewal grew up in a single-parent home, faced judgment, bias, and money stress—and still discovered something different: financial freedom is a choice, not a lottery ticket.Today, Daman runs LogisticSales.com, a free education platform that shows everyday people how to build financial freedom through logistics sales—without a fancy degree, a huge bank account, or moving to a big city.In this conversation with host Michael D. Morrison, you’ll hear a real, grounded breakdown of:Why so many people feel trapped by their job, salary, or benefitsHow our upbringing, environment, and “lid” thinking quietly cap what we believe is possibleThe difference between chasing shiny objects vs. building real skills that the market valuesHow entrepreneurship and sales can be an act of service, not pressure or manipulationSimple, practical first steps if you feel stuck financially and don’t know where to startDaman shares stories from his own journey—leaving traditional employment, starting multiple businesses, and realizing that who you partner with (in life and business) can either keep you stuck or push you to grow.You’ll also hear:Why so many people stay in jobs they dislike because of benefits and retirement plansHow to think about “owning 10% of a watermelon vs. 100% of a grape” in businessA healthier way to view wealth, sales, and success that’s rooted in contribution, not greedHow to use simple tools (like Google Maps!) to spot real opportunities in your own backyardWhy community, mentorship, and service-first selling matter more than slick tacticsIf you’ve ever thought: “There has to be more than this paycheck… but I don’t know what else I can do,” this episode will give you perspective, hope, and concrete next steps.In This Episode, You’ll LearnHow Daman went from a one-parent household and repeated job frustration to entrepreneurshipWhy so many people live paycheck-to-paycheck in “a great economy”—and what to do about itHow your environment, music, media, and friends quietly shape your money ceilingA simple framework to start expanding your “lid” and dreaming bigger againWhy sales is really about service and solutions, not scripts and pressurePractical ways to create win-win opportunities with business owners in your communityHow to use introspection and worksheets (like those on LogisticSales.com) to uncover your strengthsThe power of starting small, taking one courageous step, and letting momentum buildSupport the show1. Want more resources to grow your business faster?https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn?https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultationFOLLOW US ON:- WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/-WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/-LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/-YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

In this episode of Small Business Pivots, host Michael D. Morrison sits down with former NFL linebacker and now founder & CEO of Simply Noted, Rick Elmore. Rick went from growing up in a lower-middle-class family, to leading the Pac-10 in sacks, to a short NFL career, to top-1% medical sales rep…and then pivoted again into building a software, automation, and robotics company that sends genuine handwritten notes at scale. Rick shares how a throwaway comment in an MBA marketing class about handwritten notes getting sky-high open rates sparked the idea for Simply Noted, and how he validated the concept by sending 500 letters that produced nearly six figures in additional sales in just a few weeks. Industry data backs him up: personalized handwritten mail is reported to reach open rates as high as 90–99%, dramatically outperforming typical email campaigns. From there, Rick walks through the unglamorous middle: eight years of grinding, building custom handwriting robots, securing patents, hiring and training a lean team, and learning to run a data-driven business using CRMs, automations, and—more recently—AI agents that now work 24/7 on his laptop. If you’ve ever compared yourself to other founders, battled imposter syndrome, or wondered why your business still hasn’t passed that elusive million-dollar mark (less than ~10% of small businesses ever do), this conversation will feel like oxygen. You’ll hear:How Rick turned grief, sports, and “chip-on-the-shoulder” energy into fuel to keep going in businessWhat really happens after the NFL and why his first “real money” came from corporate sales, not footballThe exact experiment that proved handwritten notes could outperform every other sales activity he triedWhy a CRM is non-negotiable if you want to grow, and how to start using automations even as a small teamHow he used 14 “phase zero” proposals to de-risk a huge engineering investment and avoid emotional decisionsThe mental game of entrepreneurship: imposter syndrome, comparison, and choosing not to quitHow Rick uses AI agents today to take repetitive work off his plate—and what that means for small business owners in the next 3–5 yearsWhether you’re in Oklahoma City or halfway across the world, if you’re a small business owner stuck working in your business instead of on it, this episode will help you rethink systems, leverage technology, and rediscover your “why” so you can keep climbing your own mountain.Support the show1. Want more resources to grow your business faster?https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn?https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultationFOLLOW US ON:- WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/-WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/-LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/-YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

Marshall Stern, a small business coach and 35+ year former sign & graphics owner, shares his hard-earned perspective. He talks about why pricey programs fail, how owners become the bottleneck by doing instead of leading, when to build systems and which ones to start with, and how to tell real coaches from system-sellers. Short, direct, and practical conversation about mindset, accountability, and scaling.

Mendy Turk, owner of Three Arrows Coaching & Consulting Group who helps established business owners get unstuck, talks leadership vulnerability, imposter syndrome, and building supportive huddles. She explains DISC personality styles, how they show up under stress, and how adapting communication improves hiring, onboarding, and team trust. Practical stories and clear steps make complex dynamics easy to grasp.

Chris Hallberg, The Business Sergeant, is an EOS implementer and leadership coach who helps businesses replace chaos with clarity. He discusses the six core components that create traction. He covers aligning vision, putting the right people in the right seats, using measurable scorecards, solving root issues, and standardizing processes for reliable scaling.

Business owners don’t need a “perfect” story—just a structured one. Bill Blankschaen (StoryBuilders) shares a 5-part storytelling framework to make any message matter, build credibility, and turn your story into impact, influence, and income. If you’ve ever thought “my story isn’t that interesting”—this episode will change how you see your experiences (and how you use them to grow your business).Michael D. Morrison sits down with Bill Blankschaen, founder and Chief StoryArchitect of StoryBuilders, a team that helps entrepreneurs and thought leaders turn their ideas into brand stories, books, and learning experiences that increase impact, influence, and income. Bill breaks down a simple, proven storytelling model you can use immediately—whether you’re:selling a servicepitching an idealeading your teamspeaking on stageor just trying to explain what you do in a way people actually rememberIn this conversation, you’ll learn:Why most business owners undervalue their story (Bill calls it the “normalcy trap”)How to make your story impactful without exaggerating or getting “too dramatic”The 5-part framework that makes any message matter: Attention → Tension → Connection → Solution → ActionHow to identify your core audience so your message lands with the right peopleThe real value of a book as a credibility and business-building tool—and why a book should be as long as it needs to be (no magic number)What it typically takes to publish a book (and why “30-day AI books” can backfire long-term)Bill also shares the concept of a “story ecosystem”—how your message can evolve from a brand story into a book and then into IP (courses, workshops, coaching, and more).Support the show1. Want more resources to grow your business faster?https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn?https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultationFOLLOW US ON:- WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/-WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/-LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/-YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified

Welcome back to Small Business Pivots, the podcast created for small business owners who want real conversations, real lessons, and real growth.In this episode, host Michael Morrison sits down with Katie Nelson, CEO of Sales Uprising and a serial entrepreneur on her third business journey.Katie is on a mission to help business owners stop hating sales — and start seeing it for what it really is: a human conversation that fuels business growth.Together, Michael and Katie dive deep into:Why sales feels “icky” for so many business owners — and how to change that mindsetThe real difference between sales vs. marketing (and why confusing the two hurts growth)Why sales is the most human function in any businessHow to simplify funnels, pipelines, and CRMs without overcomplicating themWhy your clients already have the answers to your best messagingHow to build a simple sales process that actually worksWhen to keep things simple — and when systems matterWhy pivots aren’t failures, but necessary iterations for long-term successKatie also shares powerful insights from her early days in sales, lessons learned from growing businesses to multi-million-dollar run rates, and practical advice for business owners who want to work on their business — not just in it.If you’re a small business owner who struggles with sales, avoids it altogether, or wants a simpler, more authentic approach — this episode will change how you think about selling.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs to hear it.Timestamps (Short)00:00 — Meet Katie Nelson & Sales Uprising02:20 — Why sales feels “icky” for business owners06:45 — Katie’s first sales job at 15 (and what it taught her)12:10 — Why sales hasn’t really changed over time16:40 — Sales vs. marketing: the real difference23:05 — Why sales should come before branding29:30 — Asking clients for messaging (the golden nugget)35:20 — Simplifying funnels, pipelines & CRMs43:10 — How many sales stages do you really need?49:55 — Working on your business vs in it 56:30 — Pivots, iterations & long-term growth 01:02:15 — Sales playbooks, scripts & keeping it human 01:09:40 — Best beginner sales books 01:13:30 — Final mindset takeaway for entrepreneursSupport the show1. Want more resources to grow your business faster?https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/2. Want to connect with our Host, Founder & CEO on LinkedIn?https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/3. Want professional business coaching with our Host, Founder & CEO? https://www.michaeldmorrison.com4. Want to set up a FREE business consultation with our Host,  Founder & CEO? https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/consultationFOLLOW US ON:- WEBSITE: https://www.businessownershipsimplified.com/-WEBSITE: https://www.michaeldmorrison.com/-LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldmorrisonokc/-YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@businessownershipsimplified