Shows
Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business214 - $150K in 3 Weeks Selling Christmas Lights—In August! with Anne McGinty🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Anne McGinty of the How I Built My Small Business Podcast.In this episode, I sit down with Anne, a true hustler who transformed early career struggles into entrepreneurial triumphs. We dive into Anne's journey, starting from a demoralizing toothpaste sales job and a side greeting card business that funded her first foray into real estate.Hear how a serendipitous repeated encounter with an idea led Anne and he...2025-08-0638 min
How I Built My Small BusinessLauren Vermette — How to Invest in a Franchise on the Side (Without Quitting Your Job)Today’s guest is Lauren Vermette, founder and CEO of Franchisee Insight.Lauren has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between franchisees and franchisors, offering a unique perspective on the franchise industry.She truly understands the challenges and rewards that come with franchise ownership, having successfully built and sold multiple units in her own portfolio.Now, Lauren’s mission is to guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the journey of self-discovery—helping them take that first step toward business ownership and, ultimately, toward wealth and independence.And just like a health insurance broker...2025-07-0146 min
How I Built My Small BusinessJohn Clapham - From Volcom Australia/ NZ CEO to RAGLAN SURF EMPORIUMI met John Clapham or "JC" in Raglan, New Zealand last year when I walked into his shop hoping they weren’t yet closing and said while huffing from my brisk walk, “What time do you close?” He responded with a smile, “depends on whose asking…LOL." And from there, we ended up chatting for about half an hour.I left thinking, I want to hear more of this guy’s story.JC didn’t go to college and worked his way up from tagging surf leashes in a retail shop to becoming CEO...2025-06-2437 min
How I Built My Small BusinessAnne McGinty — Finding My Voice: Lessons from Season 2 (So Far)What began as a tribute to my dad has unexpectedly become part of my healing journey, transforming from purely business and entrepreneurship to learning through storytelling. How I Built My Small Business recently won a 2025 Communicator Award of Excellence as an educational series, validating the creative endeavor of hosting, editing, and producing this show.• Season One focused on business creation and growth while Season Two explores guests' expertise and perspectives beyond business• Learning through storytelling was deeply valued by my dad, who believed one must never stop learning• Overcoming autoimm...2025-06-1712 min
How I Built My Small BusinessDavid Pope - Buying a Business in Your 40s: Would You Move Your Family? The KAYTECH, INC. StoryToday’s guest is Dave Pope, a friend of mine from college who spent 14 years in sales in the Northeast before making a bold move and buying Kaytech, Inc., a surface preparation company based in Greenville, South Carolina. At the time, he had no prior experience as a business owner.In this episode, Dave shares what it’s really like before, during and after acquiring a small business with stories from his first year as an owner-operator.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my news...2025-06-1050 min
How I Built My Small BusinessSamantha Rose - Behind-The-Scenes with a 3x NYT Bestselling GHOSTWRITERToday’s guest is Samantha Rose, an Emmy award-winning television writer and three-time New York Times Bestselling ghostwriter.She’s the founder of Yellow Sky Media, a literary development company that collaborates with celebrities, experts, and industry leaders to bring their powerful stories to life.Recently, Samantha stepped into the spotlight with her own memoir, Giving Up The Ghost, a poignant exploration of the grief and unanswered questions that followed her mother’s suicide.Her work has reached readers around the world, with projects translated into more than twenty languages and featured in the Wa...2025-06-0353 min
How I Built My Small BusinessGlenn Harrold - The Voice Behind Meditations That Have Helped MillionsToday’s guest is Glenn Harrold, a meditation guide whose relax and sleep well recordings have personally helped me get much needed rest at times when I’m tired but wired.Glenn is an international best selling self-help author and one of the world’s most successful hypnotherapists. His guided meditations and mindfulness audio titles have been streamed over forty million times.And, his CD title, Complete Relaxation, is the only gold disc ever awarded by Nielsen for a self-help title. Glenn’s story is pretty incredible, from rough teenage years to success in the mu...2025-05-2749 min
How I Built My Small BusinessNeri Karra Sillaman - PIONEERS: What 46% of Fortune 500 Founders Have in Common (And What You Can Learn From Them)As the daughter of immigrants, I’ve often turned to my own parents’ story for inspiration, a belief that we’re all capable of achieving anything we truly believe in, and a reminder that taking risks is often the key to making meaningful leaps in life.Today, I’m joined by Neri Karra Sillaman, who shares her extraordinary journey, from fleeing her home country as a refugee to building a global, multi-million dollar luxury brand, and teaching entrepreneurship at Oxford.She’s a 3-time TEDx speaker and the author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immig...2025-05-2057 min
How I Built My Small BusinessJosh Davis phD - The Hidden Science of Communication: NEUROLINGUISTIC PROGRAMMINGToday’s episode is not so much about starting a business, but a glimpse into the neuroscience of influence and the power of Neurolinguistic Programming. My guest is Dr. Josh Davis, PhD in psychology and neuroscience from Columbia University. He’s the international bestselling author of Two Awesome Hours and an upcoming title The Difference that Makes the Difference.Josh is the founder of the Science-Based Leadership Institute, a sought-after keynote speaker, and his writing has appeared in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Inc., and more.In this interview, explore the fascin...2025-05-1342 min
How I Built My Small BusinessJennifer Tsay - Free Photo Shoots to $9M Revenue: The Surprising Business Model of SHOOTTJennifer Tsay is the co-founder and CEO of Shoott - with two Ts, a fast-growing company making professional photography more accessible for clients and a reliable supplemental income for photographers.In just seven years, Shoott has grown from $800K to over $9 million in revenue, achieving operational profitability and expanding services to over sixty cities across the US."Jen" shares her journey in a very candidly and authentically, and we talk about leadership, giving and receiving feedback, and why experience (even unpaid) is one of the most undervalued assets in today’s time-value culture.Sh...2025-05-0646 min
How I Built My Small BusinessLloyd Rooney – Dyslexia, Determination, and 135 Employees: THE JETSON GROUP StoryToday we have Lloyd Rooney sharing his journey - from leaving the traditional schooling system at 12 due to dyslexia, learning how he learned best, to bartending in the UK and now owner-operating multiple restaurants in New Zealand, employing over 135 people.Lloyed is a co-founder of The Jetson Group, a collection of distinctive restaurants in New Zealand:The Quay, No. 8, Loco, and The Cove Cafe.I had the chance to meet Lloyd and Mike during a recent stop at The Cove Cafe and I was struck, not only by their approach to hospitality but...2025-04-2951 min
How I Built My Small BusinessTara Bielawski - Connecting the Seen and Unseen: A Personal Journey Into MEDIUMSHIPTara Bielawski is a medium and today’s conversation is not so much about starting a business and more so about perspective, her gift and her journey to mediumship.Losing my dad was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through, and it’s what led me to start this podcast. Conversations like this, whether you believe in mediumship or not, are part of my journey of asking bigger questions about life, connection, and what really matters.Back in December of last year, I was invited to attend a group medium session. I’m pretty open to...2025-04-2253 min
How I Built My Small BusinessDr. Bill and Braden Rawls - CELLULAR WELLNESS: The Missing Piece in Modern MedicineToday’s conversation with Dr. Bill Rawls and Braden Rawls is about understanding health at a cellular level.Dr. Bill Rawls is a licensed physician with over 30 years of experience in medicine. After facing a personal health crisis in his early forties, he turned to herbal and alternative medicine, restoring his health and becoming a leading voice in holistic wellness. He is the bestselling author of "The Cellular Wellness Solution," and serves as the Medical Director and Co-Founder of Vital Plan, a holistic health company and Certified B Corporation.Braden Rawls is the CEO and ot...2025-04-1552 min
How I Built My Small BusinessKerri Futch - A Candid Year One at WOLF AND FOX, a Wisconsin WineryKerri Futch is a friend of mine who moved from Northern California to Wisconsin to be closer to family and to chase a dream vision for a Wolf and Fox, boutique winery and an event space.This episode is more of a casual conversation and catch-up between friends, but there are oodles of nuggets in her story, her strategic approach, and you’ll get real-time insights and perspective into what it’s like being in the midst of a less than 1 year-old business.Kerri and her husband, Jon, purchased forty acres of land with a barn...2025-04-0834 min
How I Built My Small BusinessDuncan Wardle - Set Your Creativity Free Inside the IMAGINATION EMPORIUMThis interview was so entertaining to host because I felt like I was back in college for an hour and had the most interesting guest teacher who made me laugh, play games, and have fun - all while learning.Duncan Wardle, the former head of innovation and creativity at Disney, is on a mission to teach people how to access their natural creative abilities, to be innovative, explore curiosity, connect through empathy and tap into one’s intuition.As soon as I saw Duncan in the online recording room, he just jumped straight into teaching an...2025-04-0150 min
How I Built My Small BusinessJackie Ashton - Secrets to Landing a Non-Fiction Book Deal with THE BOOKMARK AGENCYToday we’re diving into the world of publishing with Jackie Ashton—literary agent, journalist, and founder of Bookmark, a boutique agency helping thought leaders bring impactful books to life.Before launching The Bookmark Agency, Jackie was an agent at Lucinda Literary, where she landed major publishing deals for authors like Dave Pell (Please Scream Inside Your Heart) and Scott Shigeoka (Seek). With a deep understanding of the publishing industry, she specializes in helping authors craft books that don’t just share expertise but resonate with readers, disrupt industries, and fill market gaps with empathy over ego.S...2025-03-2542 min
How I Built My Small BusinessChristopher Helfrich - How EAT.LEARN.PLAY. is Changing Lives in OaklandToday’s episode is part of Podcasthon, a global effort bringing thousands of podcasts together to raise awareness for charitable causes.My guest today is Christopher Helfrich, President and CEO of Eat. Learn. Play., the foundation he co-founded with Stephen and Ayesha Curry to tackle childhood hunger, early literacy, and active lifestyles for kids in Oakland.Since launching in 2019, Eat. Learn. Play. has raised and invested over $32 million—directly impacting underserved children and families. Under Christopher’s leadership, the foundation has grown into a force for ch...2025-03-1841 min
The Business Owner's JourneyAnne McGinty: Entrepreneurship, Financial Freedom, and How to Grow My Small Business PodcastFull Episode Page: Anne McGinty: Entrepreneurship, Financial Freedom, and How to Grow My Small Business PodcastSummary: How do you grow a business, achieve financial freedom, and still follow your passion? Anne McGinty, host of How I Built My Small Business, shares her journey from launching multiple businesses - including two successful exits - to building a top 1% global podcast.Anne opens up about the creative process behind her show, balancing passion with business, and why internal validation matters more than external success. Whether you're scaling your business or refining your...2025-03-1257 min
How I Built My Small BusinessLaura Wachtel - Why You Should Try IMPROV At Least OnceLaura Wachtel talks about how improv can make life—and work—better.The principles of improv—like saying ‘yes, and,’ thinking on your feet, and embracing the unexpected—can transform how you communicate, lead, and handle challenges.Laura is the owner of Zipline Improv, where she’s bringing improv out of the theater and into the real world—helping individuals, businesses, schools, and communities use play to sharpen listening, build connection, and get out of their heads.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Tim...2025-03-1136 min
How I Built My Small BusinessRu Hill - The Rise of SURF SIMPLY RESORT in Costa RicaRu Hill is the founder of Surf Simply, a globally renowned boutique coaching resort in Costa Rica that has transformed the way people learn to surf. Unlike traditional surf schools, Surf Simply takes a science-based, technique-driven approach, breaking down the complexities of surfing into teachable, measurable skills. This method has attracted everyone from complete beginners to seasoned surfers looking to refine their craft.Beyond the waves, Ru is a deep thinker on business, leadership, and intentional growth. His grassroots journey—from coaching out of the back of a car to running a...2025-03-041h 03
How I Built My Small BusinessAlexa D'Agostino - Secrets to go from $0 to 7-8-9 FIGURES from a Serial 6x Exit EntrepreneurToday, Dr. Alexa D’Agostino is coming on the show to share insights on how to build a company from six to seven figures or seven to eight.Alexa founded her first official company at 18 and went on to build and then exit multiple businesses achieving over nine figures in exits by the age of 30.As a part of her journey, she has raised over $100m for charities worldwide.As the CEO of Thynk Consulting Group, Alexa specializes in scaling businesses through strategic marketing, sales, and leadership development. Her expertise has been featured in...2025-02-2533 min
Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business123 - How I Made $150K in 3 Weeks with Christmas Lights (After a Job Selling Toothpaste) with Anne McGinty🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Anne's Podcast: How I Built My Small Businesshttps://www.annemcginty.com/how-i-built-my-small-businessJoin me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I speak with Anne McGinty, who shares her journey from a demoralizing sales job selling toothpaste to building a successful Christmas light hanging business. Anne discusses her early hustle in the Bay Area, including a greeting card business and real estate investments in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Sh...2025-02-1945 min
How I Built My Small BusinessHayes Hitchens - MOONDANCE ADVENTURES: Unplugging Teens with Life-Changing Adventure TravelIn today’s episode, Hayes Hitchens talks with us about his journey starting and building Moondance Adventures.Moondance is a teen adventure travel program that sends over 2000 teenagers each summer on trips across five continents and over twenty countries with a commitment to foster personal growth, leadership skills, problem solving, decision making and a love for the outdoors.For some backstory, Hayes was the dean of students and director of summer programs at my school and I remember him talking about starting Moondance Adventures when I was in the 7th grade.So, this is...2025-02-1851 min
How I Built My Small BusinessDr. Megan Lyons - Stop Burnout Before It Starts: Staying Healthy and HappyToday we have Dr. Megan Lyons on the show to talk about recognizing early symptoms of burnout, ways to optimize your health, and fix the root causes of illness.Megan is a Harvard graduate with two Master’s degrees, two Board Certifications, and a Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition. She is a passionate health and wellness expert, inspiring others to feel their healthiest and happiest. In 2014, Megan pivoted from the management consulting business world to follow her passion for wellness by opening The Lyons' Share Wellness.Since then, Megan and her team have amassed ove...2025-02-1153 min
How I Built My Small BusinessAndy Hunter - Saving Indie Bookstores: The Innovated Model Behind BOOKSHOP.ORGAndy Hunter is the founder CEO of bookshop.Org In todday's episode, he talks about his innovative solution to save indie bookstore.Quoting the New York Times, “The rapid rise of Bookshop.org during the shutdown has been hailed as a boon for independent stores.” B-Labs announced the company as one of the “best for the world,” and in the top 5% of all B-Corps.The business model is brilliant on so many levels, and I can’t wait for you to hear what he has to share.Andy is also the co-creator of the webs...2025-02-0443 min
How I Built My Small BusinessAlexandra Janelli - HYPNOTHERAPY: What Celebrities and CEOs Know That You Don’tToday we’re joined by Alexandra Janelli, a leading hypnotherapist and founder of ModrnSanctuary, an alternative beauty and wellness spa and winner of Philadelphia Magazine’s 2024 “Best of Philly.”She is also the founder of My Burble, a transformative app designed to help users overcome stress, anxiety, sleep issues, and other personal challenges through tailored guided visualizations and meditations.As one of New York City’s premier hypnotherapists, Alexandra has guided Academy Award-nominated actors, renowned photographers, singers, and executives toward meaningful transformation. Her work has been featured in top publications like The New York Times, Elle, Opra...2025-01-2850 min
How I Built My Small BusinessHIGHLIGHTS Geoff Smart EpisodeI’m trying something new this week by releasing a shortened highlights episode alongside the full one. It’s designed for those of you who may not have time to listen to the whole episode—perfect for a quick commute or a busy day.To be honest, it’s more work, and my ADD brain isn’t entirely convinced this idea is worth continuing, but I wanted to experiment and see how it goes.I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you like and appreciate the highlights version, or should I stick to full-length episodes? Yo...2025-01-2414 min
How I Built My Small BusinessGeoff Smart - The Power of WHO from New York Times BestsellerToday we’re diving into why building and scaling a business—and achieving more freedom and free time—starts with the “who” in your business.Our guest, Dr. Geoff Smart, is the Chairman and Founder of ghSMART, a leadership advisory firm specializing in helping companies make high-impact hiring and leadership decisions. With over $100 million in revenue, ghSMART’s hiring strategies are in high demand because they deliver results.If you’ve ever wondered, “Who is the world’s expert on hiring?”—just ask ChatGPT, and Geoff Smart’s name will surely come up. He’s the New York Times...2025-01-2153 min