The Rundown with Ramon - Ramon Ray - small business podcast for entrepreneurs

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray breaks down the hidden habits that hold entrepreneurs back — especially the danger of being “too thirsty” for the sale. Ramon explains why desperation pushes prospects away, how unpreparedness causes entrepreneurs to fumble big opportunities, and why visibility and trust must come long before the ask. He also unpacks powerful business lessons from the week’s headlines, including what Cloudflare’s recent outage teaches us about rebuilding trust, why small businesses must diversify clients using the USPS–Amazon shake-up as a case study, and how Netflix’s long-game persistence is a blueprint for underdog success.Ramon also dives into cybersecurity fundamentals that every small business must adopt, along with the importance of entering the right rooms, partnering strategically, and knowing when it’s time to end a collaboration. Whether you’re trying to land more clients, avoid risky business dependencies, improve your systems, or simply grow your entrepreneurial mindset, this episode gives you the clarity, confidence, and practical coaching to make your next move smarter — not thirstier.If you want, I can also create:A shorter YouTube descriptionA set of Spotify chapter markersSocial media promotional copy for this episodeJust say the word.Podcast Description – The Rundown with Ramon: “Are You Too Thirsty?”

Ramon celebrates how not getting what he wanted yesterday, was GOOD! That unexpected “no” turns into a powerful lesson about gratitude, improvisation, and staying ready to create great content anywhere. Ramon breaks down what entrepreneurs can learn from recent stories about Waymo, Nike, Dollar Tree, and why cybersecurity needs to be taken seriously by every small business.The gift of a “no” – How a locked office door led to unexpected wins, a fresh episode vibe, and a meaningful connection with entrepreneur Jessica Johnson.Waymo’s controlled risk strategy – Why moving from hyper-defensive driving to “confidently assertive” driving holds major lessons for innovation, experimentation, and pushing your limits before you’re forced to.Nike’s C-suite shakeup – What we can learn from a global brand restructuring itself to remove layers and refocus on its core identity.Dollar Tree’s surprising customer shifts – How wealthy households are increasingly shopping at Dollar Tree and what that means for audience segmentation and messaging.Cybersecurity reminders for entrepreneurs – Why digital locks matter as much as physical ones, and why small businesses need strong habits like 2FA, secure passwords, and team education.Entrepreneurial mindset & brand-building – Ramon reinforces the value of building your personal brand, joining Office Hours with Ramon, and leveraging live events to deepen client relationships.Be grateful for rejected opportunities—they often redirect you to better ones.Innovation requires controlled risk, not blind fear.Even billion-dollar companies restructure; small businesses should too.Know your customer segments—sometimes new groups are showing up.Protect your business with strong cybersecurity habits.Use your content to build trust, visibility, and momentum for your offers.If you’d like a shorter description, an SEO-optimized version, or a chaptered YouTube version, just tell me.Whenever you're ready, tell me which article theme you want next.Podcast Summary for YouTube & SpotifyWhat’s Inside This EpisodeKey Themes

In this episode, broadcast live from the lobby of Luminary in New York City, Ramon Ray delivers a straight-talk message to every entrepreneur and small business owner who has ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or “not chosen.”Ramon breaks down the true meaning of the underdog season—why it happens, what it reveals about your mindset, and how it can become the most transformative stage of your business journey. Whether you're fighting for visibility, battling doubt, or waiting for your big break, this episode will challenge you to stop waiting to be picked and start creating your own opportunities.You’ll learn why excellence is the first rebellion of an entrepreneur, how proximity creates luck, and what it means to stay hungry when no one is applauding yet. If you’ve ever been told “you’re not ready,” this episode is for you.Being an underdog is a season, not your identity.Excellence is your best response to doubt or dismissal.Don’t wait for invitations—create your own opportunities.Your preparation during the “quiet” season determines your success in the spotlight.Hunger, grit, and consistency are competitive advantages.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray shares how tracking his treadmill stats inspired a new level of discipline in tracking his business metrics. He walks through the simple dashboards he uses to monitor registrations, ad performance, and conversions—and explains why your next level of growth depends on what you measure, not just how hard you hustle.Ramon also pulls powerful lessons from three major headlines: OpenAI’s reported “code red” and renewed focus on ChatGPT, Instagram’s push to bring employees back into the office, and Apple’s latest AI leadership shift. Together, these stories reveal how great companies double down on their core product, leverage in-person connection, and keep building even when they’re under pressure.In this episode you’ll learn:Why measuring your progress (in health and in business) creates real, compound growthThe must-have metrics every entrepreneur should be tracking weeklyWhat OpenAI’s focus shift teaches you about saying “no” to distractionsHow Instagram’s office mandate underscores the power of in-person experiencesHow to balance survival mode with building your long-term business flywheelPerfect for entrepreneurs, coaches, and small business leaders who are ready to stop guessing, start tracking, and use their numbers to make smarter, more confident decisions.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray sits down with PR strategist and media expert Lauren Cabello to break down what actually works in publicity today. Lauren shares how she went from blogger and self-published author to national TV regular, bestselling author, and founder of a seven-figure media company. Together, Ramon and Lauren unpack how small business owners, authors, coaches, and experts can use PR, books, and personal branding to build credibility, get known, and ultimately grow their businesses.Lauren explains why success is rarely about going viral—and almost always about clear positioning, consistency, and knowing your numbers. She also reveals her process for landing top media placements, how her agency uses AI to newsjack faster than ever, and why a book is still one of the most powerful tools for entrepreneurs who want to stand out.If you’ve ever wondered how PR really works, whether you should hire an agency, or how to leverage media to boost your brand, this episode gives you the roadmap.PR isn’t fame chasing—it’s strategic visibility that supports business goals.The entrepreneurs who win are the ones who fail often but don’t quit.Books remain one of the strongest top-of-funnel assets for thought leaders.Earned media beats pay-to-play placements for long-term credibility.AI is transforming PR: story speed, timing, and relevance matter more than ever.Don’t just get press—leverage every interview, clip, and quote in your funnel.Lauren’s journey from blogger to national media contributorWhy most people misunderstand how PR worksThe real purpose of a book for entrepreneursWhat PR agencies actually do behind the scenesHow much you should realistically expect to invest in PRHow AI is changing media pitching and expert sourcingHow to turn visibility into revenue through systems and leverageEntrepreneurs, founders, consultants, speakers, authors, and anyone building a personal brand who wants more visibility—and wants to use PR the right way.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray walks in from the gym and dives straight into a conversation about what your priorities really are—because your life will always follow your calendar, not your intentions. He shares insights from Entrepreneur Media’s Jason Pfeiffer on how to stand out in a noisy world and stop obsessing over who doesn’t want to work with you, along with lessons from the Wall Street Journal on caring for others when you’re running on empty, and a Seth Godin–inspired challenge to move beyond a “checkbox” mindset.Perfect for entrepreneurs, solo founders, and small business leaders, this episode will help you protect your time, your energy, and your business—so you can make a bigger impact without burning out.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray unpacks a stack of headlines—Amazon scam warnings, a partner hack impacting OpenAI customers, rising coffee prices, and an MIT study on AI job loss—and translates them into practical moves for entrepreneurs. He also dives into why Gen X’s spending power is being ignored, why your cybersecurity habits are now part of your brand, and how events can multiply your opportunities. Ramon opens with a heartfelt Thanksgiving reflection on how you never know who sees your home or your business as an “oasis,” and closes by challenging listeners to keep learning, stay visible, and protect what they’re building. Tune in if you want a fast, energetic briefing that helps you run a smarter, more resilient business.

In this Thanksgiving episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray explores how gratitude can transform both your life and your business. From being thankful for decades of marriage and a growing family to honoring friends, clients, and community, Ramon shows how thankfulness is more than a feeling—it’s a strategy for clarity, resilience, and growth.He breaks down eleven powerful reasons gratitude matters for entrepreneurs, including how it changes your emotional state, strengthens relationships, creates competitive advantage, and even improves your health. Whether you’re in a season of wins or walking through something hard, this episode will challenge you to lead, build, and live with a deeper sense of gratefulness.In this episode, you’ll learn:How gratitude instantly shifts your mindset out of stress and scarcityWhy thankful leaders are more approachable, trusted, and effectiveHow a grateful perspective turns setbacks into lessons and fuel for growthWays gratitude strengthens customer loyalty and differentiates your brandSimple, daily practices to build a lifestyle of thankfulness as an entrepreneur

On this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray unpacks one big theme for entrepreneurs: value. He shares why he turned down a seemingly prestigious global mentorship opportunity, how he closed a major Manulife Canada and Black Enterprise event on a powerful high note, and what HP’s AI-linked layoffs and Roblox’s AI age verification push really mean for your business and career.You’ll learn how to better own your worth, choose the right opportunities, close events and meetings with impact, and protect your future in an AI-driven world by doubling down on relationships, skills, and trust. Tune in if you’re an entrepreneur, speaker, or leader who wants to build a business that’s both secure and deeply impactful.

On today’s episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray returns from two weeks of travel with a powerful message for entrepreneurs. After speaking with a new founder struggling to define her target customer, Ramon unpacks a tough but necessary truth: many entrepreneurs are running hobbies, not businesses.In this episode, you’ll learn the difference between passion and profit, how to identify your ideal customer, why “helping people like you” isn’t a sustainable business model, and what it truly takes to build a company that pays you—reliably and sustainably.Perfect for: early-stage entrepreneurs, creators, coaches, consultants, and anyone ready to build a real business instead of an expensive hobby.