A lot of small business owners are feeling the pressure to keep up right now.

AI is changing how we work. New tools and platforms keep showing up. Buyers are behaving differently, and the market feels harder to read than it used to.

And I get it.

When things feel uncertain, it’s very easy to start adding more.

But for small but mighty business owners, more is not always what creates momentum. Sometimes it just makes the business heavier.

In this episode, I sit down with Lydia Lee, business strategist and work reinvention coach, for a conversation about what it really means to grow in this season.

This is not a tidy framework conversation. It’s more of a real talk about the pressure small business owners are carrying, what is changing in the market, and why some of the most important growth moves right now might actually be quieter ones.

We talk about simplifying, getting clearer on what you actually need, and building a business around your real season of life instead of someone else’s version of success.

We also get into why relationships matter more than ever. AI can give you ideas, outlines, and tactics, but it cannot replace trust.

In this episode, we cover:

• why experienced small business owners are feeling overwhelmed right now
• how AI is creating both urgency and distraction
• why adding more is not always the best response to uncertainty
• what it means to define growth based on the season you are actually in

This conversation is for you if you have been feeling the pressure to do more, but some part of you knows the answer might be to pause, simplify, and ask a more honest question:

What do I actually need right now?

Show Notes:

Website: screwthecubicle.com ​

YouTube: youtube.com/screwthecubicle

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lydiallee

Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep153

Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

A lot of agency owners think about selling one day. But selling is not something you prepare for at the last minute.

And here's what most people miss: the things that make an agency attractive to a buyer are the same things that make it stronger, more stable, and more enjoyable to run right now.

Whether an exit is on your radar or not, this conversation is worth your time.

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Guberman, M&A advisor for agency leaders, to get into what owners are building well, what they're avoiding, and what it really takes to run a business you could sell if you wanted to.

Here's what we cover:

• The difference between building a team and building a team that can run without you
• What "panic selling" looks like and why so many owners end up there
• Why the goal isn't to sell. It's to have the option.

You don't build a great agency to sell it. You build it well, and selling becomes an option.

Show Notes:

-Website: agencyoutsight.com

-Get the Operators Audit Worksheet: agencyoutsight.com/resources

-LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/agencycoach

-Podcast: agencyoutsight.com/podcast

Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.

Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep152

Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

Most agency owners think exit means one thing: finding a buyer.
This episode offers a different perspective.

I sat down with Daniel Pillai, CEO of Langton PR, to talk about a path into ownership that did not come through a traditional sale, but through trust, mentorship, and a gradual transition shaped over time.

It’s a conversation about leadership, succession, and the often unseen inner work of stepping into a role you’re not sure you’re ready for.

Together, we explore what agency owners may be missing when they overlook internal succession, how potential can show up before someone fully believes in themselves, and why leading well is one of the most important parts of building an agency that lasts.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• why exiting an agency doesn’t always have to mean selling to an outside buyer
• how account management and relationship leadership can become a foundation for ownership
• what true mentorship and stewardship can look like inside an agency
• why internal succession is not just an exit strategy, but a reflection of how well you lead

If you’ve ever thought about legacy, leadership, succession, or what it really means to build an agency that can outlast you, this conversation will give you a lot to think about.

Show Notes:

-Website: langtonpr.com

-Instagram: @daniel.pillai

-TikTok: @queendeehbic

Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.

Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep151

Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis