Small Business Confidential

Hosted by Mike Reilly

Business Entrepreneurship

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

40+ year business owner, Mike Reilly, shares the dirty secrets of owning your own small business.

Listen to episodes

58 recent

July 31, 2026Episode 5826 min

Raise Your Floor Not Your Ceiling

[1:55] A’marri introduces the idea of raising your floor, focusing on non-negotiable habits and consistent performance. [5:30] Mike connects the concept to real estate and business, explaining why building a strong foundation matters more than chasing appearances. [8:15] Mike discusses owning mistakes, learning from them, and using those lessons as guideposts for real change. [14:00] Mike and A'marri talk about making time to think, review your direction, and define what victory actually looks like. [20:30] Mike explains why confronting yourself, trusting your convictions, and building consistent habits raises your floor over time.

July 23, 2026Episode 5738 min

Business Lessons They Don’t Teach in School

[1:15] Mike introduces the episode and frames the conversation around four generations of entrepreneurial experience. [4:00] A’marri explains RPC’s entrepreneurial mindset, focusing on creativity, fast-paced change, and challenging the status quo. [8:00] Brook discusses why business owners need to understand what is working, handle confrontation, and learn from mistakes. [16:15] Mike and Cavan talk about setting financial goals, tracking progress, and learning to love the process of growing a business. [26:15] Mike explains why school often fails to teach sales, money management, investing, and goal-setting. [32:00] A’marri discusses the psychology of sales and branding, explaining how small details help build trust with customers.

July 20, 2026Episode 5655 min

Managing is Sales: Be Someone Worth Following

[1:15] Mike introduces the topic of managing employees, customers, tenants, and subcontractors, explaining why managing is part of sales. [10:45] A’marri discusses hiring lessons, trusting your gut with low-quality hires, and setting expectations early. [23:15] Bob explains why the customer should never become the foreman and how strong management builds trust and repeat business. [38:30] Dave talks about managing new employees, checking their work, and starting them with simple tasks to see how they listen. [48:00] Lindsey shares how she manages customer expectations by offering practical solutions instead of forcing the wrong fit.

June 19, 2026Episode 5558 min

How To Bring Value To Your Customers and Not Just A Price

[1:15] Mike opens the weekly sales meeting by discussing price, customer budgets, and why the number a customer gives is not always the final number. [13:15] A’marri explains why knowing the product, the audience, and the customer’s hot words is important when marketing properties. [20:30] Bob and Mike shift to the contracting side, using a recent estimate to discuss how to offer value instead of simply giving customers a price. [36:00] A’marri talks about using AI to organize sales situations, understand what went wrong, and learn from why customers say yes or no. [52:15] A’marri and Mike discuss continuous improvement, staying open to change, and using storytelling to strengthen marketing.

May 29, 2026Episode 5443 min

How to Separate Yourself From Competition

[1:15] Mike opens the episode by introducing the sales meeting and framing the discussion around how small business owners can better sell their services, products, and value. [4:45] Mike explains why closing strategy starts with asking the right questions, identifying the customer’s urgency, budget, and “hot word” theme. [13:30] Brook shares an estimate story where listening carefully helped turn a hardwood floor request into a more valuable interior refresh project. [24:15] Mike explains the “customer for life” approach, comparing contracting to an advisory service that helps homeowners protect and budget for their biggest asset. [33:00] The conversation shifts to hiring, with Mike explaining how small businesses also need to sell themselves to attract proactive people who are willing to learn.

May 21, 2026Episode 5327 min

How Selling Informs The Marketing

Mike leads our weekly sales meeting and we talk [1:15] Mike introduces the weekly sales meeting and explains how the team uses sales feedback to adjust marketing. [6:45] A’marri explains how marketing helps communicate RPC’s value, proactivity, and problem-solving approach to customers. [9:30] Mike explains why sales and marketing work together, and how customer questions reveal what people really need. [20:00] Mike and Lyndsey discuss filtering serious leads, responding quickly, and creating urgency during the rental process. [25:00] Mike and A’marri discuss tracking sales statistics, understanding why customers say yes or no, and using that feedback to improve marketing.

March 13, 2026Episode 5247 min

Sale is Not a 4-Letter Word and How to Create a Customer for Life

[3:10] Mike introduces the topic of sales and explains why selling should not be viewed negatively, emphasizing that strong sales skills help build long-term customer relationships. [11:20] Mike compares sales to investigative journalism, explaining that great salespeople ask questions, listen carefully, and uncover the real problem before offering solutions. [20:05] Mike explains the concept that “the customer is not the foreman,” and how professionals must provide expertise instead of letting customers dictate the solution. [31:40] Brook discusses the importance of listening more than talking in sales and how customers can sense anxiety when a salesperson over-explains or tries too hard. [43:50] The group wraps up with advice for sales professionals—build confidence, focus on relationships, and remember that even if you don’t close the sale, you can still build a connection.

February 27, 2026Episode 5132 min

AI and Improving the Workflow in your Small Business

Mike, Brook, Mac, and A’marri break down how AI is transforming business and everyday life — from workouts and financial planning to marketing and content creation. The conversation highlights proactive leadership, requiring AI adoption in the workplace, and why adapting to technology isn’t optional — it’s survival. 1:15 Mike introduces the discussion on AI tools and explains why being proactive is the most important skill in a rapidly changing business environment. 3:15 Brook shares real-world examples of using ChatGPT for workout planning, health advice, financial analysis, and generating amortization schedules. 9:00 Mac and A’marri explain how they use AI for marketing, creative prompts, transcription, and improving social media content efficiency. 18:15 The conversation shifts to leadership — how employers should require AI usage, reward competence, and challenge employees to step outside their comfort zones. 30:15 Mike wraps up by comparing AI to past technological disruptions like Uber and television, emphasizing the need to “adapt or die.”

December 11, 2025Episode 5043 min

It's Being A Leader.... Stupid. Lessons In Running An Organization.

We break down how leadership, culture, and accountability drive success—using the Cleveland Browns as a case study—why creating a culture matters more than schemes and products 0:30 Mike opens the episode by defining what real leadership looks like — from small businesses to the Cleveland Browns — and why management matters more than schemes. 3:00 Mike uses Bill Walsh and the 49ers’ culture as a model for how winning organizations are built from top to bottom. 7:00 Brook explains why Kevin Stefanski was originally seen as the “safe hire” and why it’s now clear he has reached his coaching ceiling. 17:30 A’marri connects Browns discipline issues to real-world business leadership, stressing how small lapses compound into major failures. 28:45 Mike calls out Stefanski’s press conferences and the Browns’ lack of accountability, challenging ownership and media to demand real leadership.

October 17, 2025Episode 4937 min

Production Is Required in Managing Your Small Business and The Cleveland Browns

Mike, Brook and A'marri talk about managing, leadership and the Cleveland Browns. There is irony in the statement from Kevin Stefanski's first press conference as The Browns coach, "Personality is welcome, production is required." as all we see is platitudes and "personality" in the Browns organization and no production. There is plenty to learn from this as the owner of a small business from how to confront bad attitudes and performance, addition by subtraction, walking the talk as a manager and more. 0:00 Mike opens the episode introducing the crossover topic of management and coaching — connecting leadership lessons between business and football. 2:45 Brook highlights the importance of confronting issues early, whether dealing with employees, customers, or players. 4:30 A’marri talks about setting firm boundaries and addressing problems in the moment to maintain authority and respect. 6:00 Mike compares management fairness in small businesses to accountability problems with the Cleveland Browns’ culture. 14:15 The team discusses Kevin Stefanski’s quote “Personality is welcome, production is required” — emphasizing real leadership through consistent results and accountability.