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

Ramon Ray breaks down why a TikTok sale won’t change your growth strategy, how to trim AI tool bloat, and why most founders should chase customers—not investors. We dive into Lucy Guo’s momentum mindset, Carnival’s premium-pricing playbook, Walmart’s AI-plus-talent model, and a quick cybersecurity gut-check for SMBs.You’ll learn: how to prioritize owned media, when to raise prices (and earn it), where AI agents fit in your workflow, and five concrete steps to execute this week. Perfect for entrepreneurs who want practical wins—fast.

On this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray explores what it really means to create value in business. From Seth Godin’s wisdom on value creation to Zoho’s event production lessons, Ramon unpacks how to shift how you show up as a leader, build business flywheels, and protect yourself from scams. Plus, insights from OpenAI’s monetization move and why events are about people, not just logistics.You’ll learn:How to shift your energy and leadership style when neededWhy events succeed when they create experiences, not just logisticsSeth Godin’s rule of value creation and scarcityThe importance of monetizing free products and servicesHow to recognize and avoid sophisticated scamsHow to build repeatable flywheels that drive long-term business growth

On today’s Rundown, Ramon tackles the AI actor debate (hello, Tilly) and why entrepreneurs must compete on value, not sympathy. He breaks down how a Shark Tank rejection became a $2.5M success—and the systems, culture, and hiring discipline that make growth real. Plus, a timely reminder to pre-book life: cruises, family time, and memory-making on purpose. Perfect for founders who want both revenue and a truly fulfilled life. Don't miss out - www.ZoneofGenius.com

Are AI glasses really the next must-have tool for entrepreneurs? How do you “network up” without being awkward? When is the right time to pivot your business? Plus—why choosing the right kind of “better” matters, and what chronic lateness might say about your leadership. Don't miss out - www.ZoneofGenius.comIn this episode, Ramon Ray breaks down 5 big ideas every entrepreneur should know:✅ Subscribe for more daily insights on business, branding, and entrepreneurship.✅ Share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs it.Sponsored by Bitdefender – helping small businesses stay secure so you can focus on growth - www.Bitdefender.com/ramon

The Rundown with Ramon — Today’s episode breaks the money “rat race,” shows how to win in an AI-rewritten job market, and urges you to act now (without rushing). Ramon unpacks Cody Sanchez’s first-principles money playbook, why AI will reshape every role (and how small teams can use it to grow), Seth Godin’s “start where you are” challenge, and Jason Fried’s protect-the-floor advice for entrepreneurs after a big exit. Plus: practical brand-security moves every small business should implement this week.Entrepreneur-focused. Fast. Actionable. Press play and build smarter.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon shares how a simple “good morning” led to an unexpected chat with the former CEO of Hyundai USA—and why staying open to serendipity is a real business strategy. He examines Amex’s Platinum fee hike to spotlight premium pricing for small businesses, breaks down why SEO still matters as AI search rises, and lays out practical steps to spot voice deepfakes and avoid job scams. Brought to you by Bitdefender, this episode is a fast, founder-focused playbook you can act on today.You’ll learn:How to network naturally (even at 30,000 feet) without being “that person”A practical framework for premium pricing and value designThe content and platform mix that wins in both SEO and AI searchVerification habits that shut down scammers before they get paid

Live from San Diego at 4:30 a.m., Ramon Ray explores how to sharpen your “business brain,” why social media can create mental flab, and what entrepreneurs can do today to harden their cybersecurity. He unpacks five compounding habits (inspired by Cody Sanchez)—take risks, sell daily, rise early, cut distractions, and keep your word—and debates whether Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses help or hijack your focus. Plus: a field story on being the thermostat (not the thermometer) in every room you enter. Sponsored by Bitdefender.

In this fast-hit episode, Ramon pulls three levers you can use today: timeless business lessons from Martha Stewart’s documentary, how to escape the “single-axis fallacy” and design for both/and (family and fitness, profit and growth), and a tiny systems upgrade that can make your computer—and your workday—fly. Plus, why AI app rankings don’t matter as much as your daily AI habits. Brought to you by Bitdefender, the small-business cybersecurity that just works.What you’ll learn:The simple hardware swap that speeds up your workflowHow consistency and reinvention power long-term brand valueA practical framework to avoid false tradeoffsReal-world ways to use AI every day—without overthinking itPerfect for: founders, creators, and small business leaders who want practical wins they can deploy this week.

On this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray explores the “silent stories” that shape how entrepreneurs lead, why soft skills now outperform technical skills, and the latest YouTube creator tools you should be using. He also shares his experience using GigSalad for lead generation and a powerful lesson from Zoho’s Ali Shabdar on why scaling down makes your business stronger and more resilient. Plus, a reminder that cybersecurity is part of your brand promise—and why leaders must be thermostats, not thermometers.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome & Bitdefender sponsor note02:40 Silent stories shaping your business06:30 YouTube updates and creator tools10:45 Soft skills that fuel success15:00 GigSalad as a gig pipeline16:20 Scaling down with Zoho’s Ali Shabdar18:40 Cybersecurity as brand trust19:50 Be the thermostat in your leadershipPerfect For: Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creators who want sharper storytelling, stronger pipelines, and a crisis-ready business.

Ramon Ray talks with Ali Shabdar of Zoho about why small and mid-sized businesses must be ready to scale down as well as scale up. They cover cash flow triage, technology elasticity, and how to prepare for downturns without living in fear. Ali shares practical frameworks for scenario planning, vendor and employee communication, and the role of SaaS and AI in keeping businesses flexible. See the full article here - https://zoneofgenius.com/scaling-down-to-stay-strong-how-entrepreneurs-build-elastic-crisis-ready-companies/What you’ll learn:How to stabilize cash flow in a downturnThe difference between fear and preparednessWhy tech elasticity matters for SMB survivalCommunication strategies that strengthen resilienceThis conversation is a masterclass in building an elastic, crisis-ready business.