Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean open the episode with a light chat about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Dave then shares insights from attending South by Southwest (SXSW), focusing on a documentary called Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror. Initially intending to cover it for his music podcast, Dave realizes the documentary offers a deeper business lesson. The film covers how Rocky Horror started as a stage musical in London, became popular, moved to L.A., and was eventually turned into a low-budget movie. It initially flopped, but the creators noticed college students were the ones staying to watch. Instead of giving up, they pivoted to midnight showings and built an audience, which turned it into the longest-running movie ever. The main business takeaway: own your content. Richard O’Brien, who wrote and starred in the musical, was advised not to sell the rights. That ownership turned into a valuable long-term annuity, with the Rocky Horror franchise eventually earning an estimated $500 million through box office, merchandise, licensing, and more. They end by emphasizing that audiences create cults—not producers—and reiterate the importance of retaining ownership of your creations. Shannon also teases a story about a billionaire conversation for a future episode. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #636 for Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 00:01:00 April 2nd: National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day 00:03:43 Review Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror (from SXSW) 00:17:06 John Fogerty @ SXSW 00:18:33 Business Brain 636 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain The post Own Your Content – Business Brain 636 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean celebrate National Hot Tub Day by discussing how hot tubs help them decompress and unplug. They transition into AI and automation, sharing practical Gmail tips—like using built-in templates for quick replies and the “+” email trick for tracking sign-ups and spam. They discuss the benefits of small automations, like smart lighting and motion-activated garage lights, which save time and mental energy. Shannon emphasizes using tools like Calendly to automate appointments and streamline client interactions, even incorporating automated sequences for paid consulting calls. Dave encourages listeners to start automating simple tasks and scale up, using tools like ChatGPT for guidance. They wrap up by urging listeners to think constantly about what they can automate to reclaim time and focus, promising more tips in future episodes and inviting feedback and automation ideas from their audience. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #635 for Casual Friday, March 28th, 2025 00:01:07 March 28th: National Hot Tub Day 00:02:25 More Gmail Tips Gmail Templates Plus Addressing 00:07:41 SPONSOR: Shopify – For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/BusinessBrain and upgrade your selling today! 00:08:53 SPONSOR: Rogue Amoeba Software makes some of the best Mac Audio software on the planet, and we couldn’t produce BB this way without it! Just visit MacAudio.com/Brain and use code BRAIN to save 20% on anything they make. Download free trials, then buy online to receive the discounted price. 00:10:31 KDU472-BB Review 00:12:23 FridAI: Automate Everything (your lights, your workflows, everything) 00:15:34 Using Calendly to automate appointments on your calendar (use different types of calls!) 00:19:28 Business Brain 635 Outtro <https://businessbrain.show/> Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain The post Automate Everything – Business Brain 635 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean open episode 634 of the Business Brain podcast by sharing personal updates and diving into a frustrating customer service story from Shannon. He explains his negative experience with Bluehost, a company he used for domain management. After being hacked and receiving poor support with constant upselling, he moved his sites elsewhere but left domains with Bluehost, which later caused major DNS issues. Bluehost reset his DNS records after ending his hosting plan, leaving his business offline for days and requiring a tedious domain transfer process. Dave empathizes and recommends Cloudflare as a better DNS and registrar solution. The conversation transitions into a key business principle: everyone is a customer — not just those who buy from you. They emphasize that employees, suppliers, vendors, attorneys, accountants, and delivery drivers should all be treated with the same attention and care as paying customers. Building good relationships and being kind leads to better service, loyalty, and faster support when needed. Shannon encourages business owners to show appreciation, stay in regular communication, and make positive impacts on everyone around them. They close by urging listeners to adopt this mindset and share their experiences. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #634 for Wednesday, March 26th, 2025 March 26th: Live Long and Prosper Day 00:01:11 First official Shannon Wears Shorts day of 2025 00:01:37 The Worst Customer Service Experience Bluehost Eversite 00:08:22 Dave’s advice: Use Cloudflare Domain Registrar 00:10:23 SPONSOR: Shopify – For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/BusinessBrain and upgrade your selling today! 00:11:35 SPONSOR: Rogue Amoeba Software makes some of the best Mac Audio software on the planet, and we couldn’t produce BB this way without it! Just visit MacAudio.com/Brain and use code BRAIN to save 20% on anything they make. Download free trials, then buy online to receive the discounted price. 00:13:14 Everyone Is a Customer Your Employees Your Suppliers Your Vendors Even Your Attorneys And, of course, your Customers (aka the people who spend money with you) This is an attention game 00:21:12 Teach your employees this concept, too 00:22:14 Business Brain 634 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain The post Everyone is a Customer – Business Brain 634 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Business Brain episode 633 celebrates Twitter Day and discusses Blue Sky, a decentralized social network originally started as a project within Twitter by Jack Dorsey and now run by Jay Graber. The show then moves to AI topics, emphasizing that people won’t be replaced by AI but by people who use AI. They discuss how AI has enhanced their workflow, especially with creating podcast images and using tools like Zoom’s AI summaries to generate meeting action items automatically. They also compare ChatGPT with Perplexity, noting Perplexity’s more detailed, direct answers. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #633 for Casual Friday, March 21st, 2025 March 21st: Twitter Day (also National Common Courtesy Day) 00:01:07 Lessons from Bluesky’s Jay Graber SXSW Keynote 00:11:07 SPONSOR: SelectQuote — Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/businessbrain. 00:12:32 SPONSOR: Shopify – For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/BusinessBrain and upgrade your selling today! 00:13:49 FridAI, the weekly AI segment 00:17:03 Zoom AI 00:20:25 Perplexity vs. ChatGPT 00:23:36 Business Brain 633 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain The post FridAI – GPT vs. Perplexity, Zoom AI and Bluesky – Business Brain 633 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean reflect on the unpredictable yet inspiring nature of South by Southwest and dive into two key business lessons: first, that customers today often expect to be disappointed — creating a powerful opportunity for businesses to stand out by exceeding expectations with clear communication, fast responses, and proactive service; and second, the surprising value of sabbaticals, where intentional, long-term breaks not only refresh individuals but also strengthen businesses by forcing better systems and planning. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #632 for Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 March 19th: Small Business Development Centers Day (also International Client’s Day) 00:01:09 SXSW Platinum Pass seems purpose-built for Dave 00:03:18 Customers are expecting to be disappointed. Opportunity: Delightfully surprise your customers! How much would you pay to get that negative review removed? 00:08:50 SPONSOR: SelectQuote — Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/businessbrain. 00:10:13 SPONSOR: Shopify – For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/BusinessBrain and upgrade your selling today! 00:11:31 Navigating Sabbaticals and Career Breaks — SXSW Session with Happiness Lab and DJ DiDonna The Power of Planning Your Future Sabbatical 00:25:12 Business Brain 632 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain The post Your Customers are Expecting to be Disappointed – Business Brain 632 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Business Brain Podcast Episode 631 explores AI applications in business and content creation. Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss a listener’s idea to create a custom AI by uploading user manuals of all owned devices into ChatGPT, effectively turning it into a personal tech support assistant. They extend this concept to businesses, suggesting that customer service departments upload historical support tickets to train AI models, instantly improving response accuracy. The conversation shifts to AI’s potential for content creators. Shannon considers uploading his entire written content library to an AI model for repurposing and reformatting. Dave envisions an AI tool that can be trained on personal email archives for more context-aware assistance, speculating that Google’s Gemini may soon provide such a feature. Shannon introduces Google’s Notebook LM, an AI tool that converts written content into natural-sounding audio discussions. He explains how he uploaded a 250-page book, and the AI generated an 18-minute conversation summarizing its key points. This feature enables businesses to transform white papers, blog posts, and other text-based content into audio for easier consumption. They compare it to ChatGPT’s voice mode but highlight its passive listening benefits. Dave shares an insight from using ChatGPT’s voice feature, emphasizing the value of delayed responses. Unlike human conversations, AI waits indefinitely, allowing users to think through responses without pressure. He notes how this improves interactions and creativity. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #631 for Casual Friday, March 14th, 2025 March 14th: Pi Day (also National Legal Assistance Day) 00:01:07 Using AI as tech support by uploading your user manuals 00:05:49 SPONSOR: Shopify – For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/BusinessBrain and upgrade your selling today! 00:07:26 Revisiting NotebookLM 00:12:43 Chatting with ChatGPT…don’t worry if you take some time to reply! 00:15:27 Be Polite…and considerate! 00:16:00 Business Brain 631 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain The post FridAI – NotebookLM – Business Brain 631 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

The episode of Business Brain features Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discussing productivity, mindset, and business strategies. They open with lighthearted Hitchcock-related jokes and discuss the unpredictable nature of the South by Southwest conference. The main discussion revolves around productivity methods, particularly the concept of a “reverse to-do list” or “to-did list,” where one focuses on what has been accomplished rather than what still needs to be done. Shannon shares his preference for using reminders instead of traditional to-do lists, explaining how he frames tasks as things he wants to do rather than has to do, which keeps him motivated. They also discuss the power of storytelling in business and personal life, emphasizing that people are naturally interested in everyday experiences. Shannon recalls a successful newsletter he wrote that started with a humorous personal anecdote, demonstrating how relatable stories can engage audiences. Dave notes that while people often downplay their own experiences, they eagerly consume mundane details from others, as seen in social media. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #630 for Wednesday, March 12th, 2025 March 12th: National Alfred Hitchcock Day 00:03:06 Michelle Penczak’s Reverse To-Do List 00:09:23 SPONSOR: Shopify – For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/BusinessBrain and upgrade your selling today! 00:11:00 Discounting Your Own Experiences 00:15:39 Business Brain 630 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain The post Discounting Our Own Experiences – Business Brain 630 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Business Brain Podcast Episode 629 discusses the role of AI in learning, business, and social media strategy. The hosts, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean, address an email from a listener who limits their child’s AI use to encourage independent problem-solving. They compare this to past educational resistance to calculators and emphasize the importance of using AI as an assistant rather than a crutch. Dave shares a personal story about how using an early word processor for a school assignment led to a confrontation with a teacher, illustrating how technology adoption meets resistance before becoming standard practice. Shannon shares a real-world example of using AI for business strategy. A client sought help refining their sales messaging. Shannon used Grok, X’s AI tool, to analyze the company’s social media presence and compare it with the salesperson’s posts. The AI identified a disconnect in messaging and highlighted areas for improvement. This allowed Shannon to provide detailed, data-driven feedback that led to an “aha” moment for the client. The conversation expands into how AI can analyze successful and unsuccessful social media accounts in the same industry, providing actionable insights on engagement strategies. They discuss Grok’s ability to compare accounts and generate step-by-step plans for growth. Dave acknowledges that AI excels at processing vast amounts of data and summarizing key insights faster than humans. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #629 for Casual Friday, March 7th, 2025 March 7th: National Employee Appreciation Day 00:01:05 JHonaFalculan-Coaching AI Use in Children 00:04:21 AI and the Classroom 00:08:28 SPONSOR: Rogue Amoeba Software makes some of the best Mac Audio software on the planet, and we couldn’t produce BB this way without it! Just visit MacAudio.com/Brain and use code BRAIN to save 20% on anything they make. Download free trials, then buy online to receive the discounted price. 00:10:06 Using Grok to Get Ready for a Client Meeting 00:18:21 Business Brain 629 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain The post FridAI + Listerner Mail – Business Brain 629 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean dive into the challenges of balancing work and life, particularly in sales and leadership roles. They also discuss the risks of stepping away from a business while still retaining liability. Key Takeaways: The Dilemma of Instant Email Replies in Sales Dave shares a real-life scenario where he responded to a client’s email over the weekend instead of waiting until Monday. They debate whether being always responsive is beneficial or if it creates an unhealthy work-life balance and unrealistic customer expectations. Shannon argues that in sales, responsiveness is crucial to success and one cannot always follow a strict work schedule. The hosts acknowledge that not all roles require 24/7 availability, and expectations should be set accordingly. Training Employees for Responsiveness They explore whether employees should be expected to reply instantly to emails outside work hours. Dave suggests that salespeople, in particular, must be available if they want to outperform competitors. They acknowledge that expecting constant availability could lead to burnout but recognize that customer perception matters in sales. Should You Delay Sending Emails? A LinkedIn user asks whether delaying email responses (e.g., scheduling them for the next morning) is a better approach. The hosts agree that for non-sales roles, delaying responses may help establish boundaries, but in sales, responding immediately often signals urgency and commitment. The Risks of a Business Running Without You They analyze a statement from entrepreneur Noel Halal, who argues that if a business runs entirely without its owner, it’s essentially a “silent sale” where the owner assumes all risks but sees no real reward. Dave and Shannon debate the idea, acknowledging that while delegation is essential for scaling, owners must maintain oversight to avoid financial or operational risks. They highlight the importance of structuring business ownership so that financial rewards offset the liability of stepping away. Final Thoughts & Engagement They encourage listeners to weigh the risks and rewards of stepping back from business operations. The hosts invite feedback from the audience on balancing business ownership and delegation. The episode concludes with a promotion for their MacBook giveaway for listeners who leave a review. Conclusion: The episode offers insightful perspectives on business growth, delegation, and responsiveness in sales. While being highly available benefits sales, it must be balanced with sustainability and realistic employee expectations. Additionally, business owners should carefully structure their roles to avoid assuming risks without proper compensation. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #628 for Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 March 5th: National Stop Bad Service Day 00:01:51 Working weekends…triage vs. deep work; responsive vs. reactive. Employees? 00:09:35 SPONSOR: Rogue Amoeba Software makes some of the best Mac Audio software on the planet, and we couldn’t produce BB this way without it! Just visit MacAudio.com/Brain and use code BRAIN to save 20% on anything they make. Download free trials, then buy online to receive the discounted price. 00:11:11 Would Delay-sending that email help train everyone, including you? 00:13:46 Nahuel Hilal: Did you sell your business without getting paid? 00:20:33 Business Brain 628 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain The post Sold But Not Paid – Business Brain 628 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean reflect on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, acknowledging the emotional rollercoaster that comes with running a business. They discuss the importance of resilience and how even seasoned entrepreneurs still experience moments of doubt, only to bounce back with new energy and perspective. The main topic of the episode focuses on the risks of over-automation. Shannon shares his philosophy of manually doing a task before automating it to fully understand the process and add a personal touch—what he calls avoiding the loss of “Dave-ness.” Dave agrees, emphasizing that starting with a manual process allows businesses to iterate and refine their systems before automating them efficiently. They share real-world examples, including how Dave’s company initially managed podcast ad placements with spreadsheets before building a custom solution, and how Shannon believes hands-on experience in business operations prevents blind spots when scaling. In their weekly FridAI segment, Shannon introduces Napkin.ai, a tool that extracts key insights from written content and automatically generates visually appealing charts and diagrams. Dave shares a personal story of using ChatGPT to decipher his illegible handwriting from a critical business call, highlighting the importance of interacting with AI as a collaborative tool rather than expecting perfect results on the first try. 00:00:00 Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast #627 for Casual Friday, February 28th, 2025 February 28th: National Chocolate Souffle Day 00:02:22 Beware of over-automating BackBeat Media’s PodMan Zapier Walter Bishop from Fringe said “posit” 00:11:58 FridAI: Napkin.AI 00:14:19 ChatGPT, I can’t read my own handwriting…can you help? Apple spending $500B on AI Servers 00:19:50 Business Brain 627 Outtro Review Business Brain Subscribe to the show feedback@businessbrain.show Call/Text: (567) 274-6977 X/Twitter: @ShannonJean & @DaveHamilton, & @BizBrainShow LinkedIn: Shannon Jean, Dave Hamilton, & Business Brain Facebook: Dave Hamilton, Shannon Jean, & Business Brain The post FridAI and Over-Automating – Business Brain 627 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.