Business is Good with Chris Cooper

Top Skills Entrepreneurs Need at Each StageYou don’t need every skill right now—you need the right skill for the stage you’re in. In this episode, I map the journey from Founder → Farmer → Tinker → Chief and show you the two keystone skills that unlock growth at each step, plus quick drills you can run this week.Founder: It’s you against friction. The superpowers are resilience and work ethic—shipping V1s, selling before perfecting, and turning chaos into cash. I share daily habits that keep you moving when everything feels uphill.Farmer: Consistency beats heroics. Here the wins come from focus and a practice mindset. We install a simple weekly scorecard (traffic → leads → show → close → ARPU → churn), build 10-minute SOPs, and kill “new idea whiplash” with a monthly change window.Tinker: Your machine runs; now you protect attention and capital. The keys are an investor mindset and patience—delegating <$100/hr work, measuring Effective Hourly Rate, testing small, and only scaling what beats baseline.Chief: At scale, outcomes are powered by people. Become a connector who goes first—over-introducing, sharing platform, and compounding goodwill. We’ll add simple rituals like “5-Intro Friday” and a give-first calendar.You’ll leave with a field guide to identify your stage, the two skills that matter most right now, and a 30-day plan to practice them. As a bonus, I’ll point you to templates (scorecard, SOP checklist, EHR audit, and intro scripts) so you can start today.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

You can build the best product in your category and still fall behind. Why? Because the market doesn’t reward “best”—it rewards best at business. In this episode, I unpack the pattern I’ve seen in conversations with very smart founders: they perfect the thing, but neglect the system that sells the thing.We start with the two brains of your business:Product/Delivery drives retention.Marketing & Sales drive attention and acquisition.Being great at #1 is necessary—but insufficient in a noisy, novelty-driven world where people discover the loud before the great.Then we dig into three traps that smart people fall into:The Technician’s Curse: When numbers dip, you “improve the product” instead of the pipeline (offer → traffic → show → close). We’ll install a simple weekly scorecard and fix the bottleneck first.The Projection Trap: Assuming customers and staff think like you do. We replace assumptions with customer interviews, plain-English messaging, and clear “definitions of done.”The “I’ll Figure It Out” Fallacy: Brains and hustle aren’t enough without context and reps. Borrow them—via mentors, playbooks, and proven scripts—so you make right moves faster.Finally, we make you best at business: choose a focused market, sharpen your promise and proof, show your mechanism, and adopt a weekly operating cadence—one growth action every morning, one bottlenecked metric every week, one small test at a time.You’ll leave with a playbook to turn smart into scale—and the three actions to run this week so your best product finally wins.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

Killing the Golden Goose — Why Tinkering Hurts (and How to Stop)Ever “improved” your business and watched revenue dip? This episode is about the Tinker phase—when a little success gives you a little freedom…and you accidentally starve the golden goose that got you here. I unpack the three ways owners drag healthy businesses down:Fiddling for “better.” Endless tweaks to offers, pricing, scripts, and schedules without evidence. Fix: install a change discipline—a monthly change window, small A/B tests, a simple decision log, and a weekly dashboard (leads, show/close rate, ARPU, churn, CSAT).Neglect via distraction. A shiny side project steals your best hours while the core engine slows. Fix: a Minimum Care Plan—a daily Owner’s Power Hour (one growth action before anything else), a crisp scorecard cadence, 10-minute SOPs for recurring tasks, and one Primary-in-Command with clear escalation thresholds.Blowing it up. Panic leads to firing staff, scrapping models, or rebranding from scratch. Fix: a 30–60–90 recovery—stabilize, repair what worked, then improve surgically (one test at a time).You’ll leave with a practical cadence to keep speed, protect consistency, and grow without self-sabotage—plus three quick actions to run this week: schedule a monthly change window, add a daily Power Hour, and pick one metric to protect every Friday.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

What was the last nonfiction book you read—and what did you do with it the week after? Books are great for ideas and inspiration, but business results come from guided action. In this episode, I trace how business books evolved—from gatekept publishing to self-published “book-as-business-card”—and why AI now lets anyone draft a passable book in hours. As Jim Rohn put it: don’t let your learning lead to knowledge; let your learning lead to action.Enter bots. AI agents can turn a single idea into a step-by-step plan: bite-size tasks, checklists, quizzes, role-plays, even “office hours” on demand. They follow a proven teaching arc—I do, we do, you do—so you practice, get feedback, and actually ship. Books still win at narrative and worldview; bots win at behavior change.I’ll show where creators are already selling bots (not just books or courses), when to use each format, and a simple playbook to convert one chapter into a 7-day action bot. Then I’ll invite you to try my Mentor GPT—built on the Simple Six framework—so you can feel the difference between reading and doing.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

How Great Businesses Become Ineffective BureaucraciesEver stood in line for a passport or permit and thought, “How did it get this bad?” Bureaucracy doesn’t start broken—it creeps in. In this episode, we unpack why even great companies calcify: Pournelle’s Iron Law (organizations drift to serving themselves), and Parkinson’s Law (headcount grows 5–7% a year regardless of workload). Wikiquote+1You’ll hear how complexity multiplies—extra layers, approvals, and legacy tech—until speed dies. (Yes, a major UK rail operator still uses fax to reach crews.) And why some governments deliberately keep paper ballots for auditability: simple systems are often the most resilient. The Guardian+1Then we get practical: map the customer journey with value-stream mapping, replace approvals with “freedom within a framework” (think Netflix’s culture), flatten spans & layers, and run a quarterly “kill-a-rule” review. You’ll leave with an audit checklist to keep decisions close to customers—and bureaucracy out of your business. Lean Enterprise Institute+1Sources: Pournelle’s Iron Law; Parkinson’s Law; EAC paper-ballot policy; Northern Rail fax reports; Lean Enterprise Institute (VSM); Netflix culture deck.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

Give Yourself a VacationTime off won’t be handed to you—you must design for it. Run the “hit-by-a-bus” test, appoint a single decision-maker with thresholds, take a 3-day zero-contact trial, then audit and patch your playbook before booking a 7-day break. Think Kintsugi: vacations reveal cracks you can repair, making the business stronger—and you less fragile.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

Give Yourself a PromotionYour Effective Hourly Rate (EHR) tells the truth about your role. If it looks like frontline pay, you’re doing frontline work. Learn how to buy back time (cleaner → VA → fulfillment → sales support), climb the Value Ladder from operator → manager → owner, and follow a 180-day plan to shift your calendar into $100–$1,000/hr tasks—so your pay finally matches your value.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

As a founder, no one’s coming to bump your pay—you have to do it. This episode shows you how to set a market-rate salary, use Profit First with quarterly +5-point raises, and route cash to purpose (Owner’s Pay, Profit, Tax, OPEX) instead of letting it stagnate. Walk away with a step-by-step sweep schedule and a simple rule: pay life from Owner’s Pay; run the business from OPEX.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

hinking about quitting your day job for your business—but not sure when or how? In this episode, we map a clear, low-stress path from side hustle to full-time entrepreneur. You’ll learn how to assess readiness (consistent revenue, basic cushion, repeatable demand), build a step-by-step transition plan, and avoid the common traps that burn founders out in month one. We also cover the human side: how to talk to your family and friends so you gain support instead of friction.You’ll hear the story of Sara Blakely, who built Spanx at night while selling fax machines by day—proof that you can grow a business before you take the leap. Then we get practical: timeline milestones, reducing fixed costs, protecting benefits, and installing the weekly routines that keep cash flowing while you scale.If you’ve been waiting for “perfect timing,” this is your sign. Start with a plan, validate with real customers, and graduate when the numbers (and your calendar) say you’re ready.Key TakeawaysReadiness checklist: revenue consistency, cash buffer, repeatable lead flowA simple transition timeline with milestones you can trackConversation bullets to win family/friend supportWeekly routines that protect cash and momentumConnect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

20 Businesses You Can Start for Less Than the Price of a CarWhat if one car payment could buy your freedom? A bad lease traps you for years; a small, scrappy business can pay you while you learn skills you’ll keep forever.Episode Snapshot: Chris breaks down why the “sure thing” job isn’t so sure anymore—AI automation squeezing office roles, global competition for remote work, and faster layoff cycles—and shows how to de-risk entrepreneurship without quitting your day job. You’ll get 20 practical business ideas you can launch for under ~$20k, from micro-gyms and AI implementation services to mobile detailing, STR cleaning, pressure washing, handyman work, photo-booth rentals, coffee carts, bookkeeping for trades, and more. We walk through lean launch steps, how to pre-sell before you spend, and why your KASH (Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, Habits) compounds faster once you start.Why Listen: For roughly a car payment, you can own an asset that cash-flows and builds you into an entrepreneur. We even run the numbers: a $30,000 starter budget over five years is roughly $580–$670/month depending on rates. Start small, learn fast, and let your first business teach you how to build the next.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

Big-ticket consulting is wobbling. McKinsey, Accenture, Deloitte, EY, KPMG—together they’ve announced tens of thousands of layoffs while clients feed generative-AI the questions they once paid armies of analysts to answer. In this episode, Chris Cooper unpacks the coming “consulting crash,” explains why AI has punctured the information moat, and predicts that only one in ten traditional consultants will survive.But advice-giving won’t vanish. Instead, it splits:Mentors deliver high-level strategy—now super-charged by AI that runs instant market sims.Coaches drive execution—now backed by 24/7 GPT check-ins that break work into bite-sized actions.Using Two-Brain Business’s own Simple Six Mentor GPT as a live example, Chris shows how solo experts can scale to a million-dollar practice without bloated overhead, while clients build skills faster than ever.Whether you’re a consultant, coach, founder, or policymaker, this episode reveals how to pair human judgment with machine leverage in the new Augmentation Age.Key Takeaways / Timestamps0:00 – 3:15 Peter Thiel’s “short consulting” quote3:15 – 10:30 Layoffs & margin squeeze: data from McKinsey, Accenture, etc.10:30 – 16:45 Why governments still hire consultants—and why that shrinks16:45 – 24:00 Mentorship vs. coaching vs. AI augmentation24:00 – 32:00 Live demo: Simple Six Mentor GPT at BusinessIsGood.com32:00 – 36:00 Action plan for founders & advisors in the Augmentation AgeConnect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

What if every tax hike was really our government saying, “Sorry—we failed”? In this episode we push past the usual “raise taxes or cut services” dead-end and show how Canada can deliver better policing, faster health care, and leaner mailrooms without taking another dime from your pocket.Episode SnapshotChris breaks down five evidence-backed alternatives—cutting bloated bureaucracy (hello LCBO payroll), investing in home-grown businesses instead of corporate bail-outs, reining-in public-sector strike leverage, super-charging civil servants with AI, and modernizing relics like Canada Post and the CBC. You’ll hear the latest numbers: Canada Post’s CA $841 million loss, LCBO’s CA $7.2 billion revenue vs. CA $1 billion-plus payroll, and real-world success stories—from Vancouver’s privatized parking model to digital licensing portals that slash wait times.Why ListenIf you’re tired of paying more for shrinking services, this episode hands you the playbook—and the talking points—to demand smarter spending, not higher taxes. Share it with your MP, your mayor, and the friend who says “there’s just no other way.” Raising taxes is an admission of failure. Let’s expect—and fund—better.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

Early-stage founders live and die by cash-flow—payroll, rent, survival.But once your bills are covered, the game flips: growth depends on KASH—Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Habits.In this episode Chris Cooper breaks down:Why cash is king in the Founder phase and how to keep it flowing.Knowledge: created only through action → reflection → adjustment (Jim Rohn quote).Attitude: balancing unshakable optimism with brutal facts (Stockdale Paradox) and daily mindset guards.Skills: how your “tax-proof” abilities must evolve from technician → manager → investor.Habits: Golden Hour, fitness, no-sugar/alcohol, game/practice/rest days—because CEOs are mental athletes.The shortcut: use today’s cash to buy tomorrow’s KASH—mentors, coaches, courses, health pros.Key line: “Your business grows at the speed of your KASH account.”Try the free Simple Six Mentor GPT at BusinessIsGood.com for an instant strategy + next action.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

Is it really possible to build a million-dollar business without hiring staff?Yes—and it’s happening more often.In this episode, I explore how solopreneurs are using AI, automation, and smart systems to run lean, efficient, and scalable businesses without employees. We’ll break down the steps to systemize, optimize, and automate your business, and share real-world examples of solo founders who are doing it right now.In this episode:Why the more valuable you are to your business, the less valuable your business is to othersThe 3-step method to replace yourself: Systemize → Optimize → AutomateWhat “robots” actually are in 2025 (hint: not humanoids with wheels)How tech replaces management: no training, no turnover, no emotional laborCase Studies:🐶 Jasmine, the pet salon owner who uses automation to rebook, upsell, and deliver loyalty rewards📊 Daniel, the remote bookkeeper running 35 clients solo with automated onboarding and reporting🏋️‍♀️ Carla, the coach who replaced staff with Trainerize, Stripe, bots, and weekly voice notesKey Quote:“You don’t need a team—you need systems. Code is your new staff.”Takeaway:We’ve left the Information Age. Welcome to the Augmentation Age—where you can build smarter, faster, and leaner by augmenting yourself with technology.

Canada’s universal healthcare system is a source of pride—but it’s breaking under the weight of rising demand, longer wait times, and shrinking access to services. In this episode, I ask a tough but necessary question: could introducing a paid tier actually save our healthcare system?We explore:Why the current public model isn’t sustainableThe myth of the “two-tier” system—and the four real quadrants that exist todayHow private options can actually reduce pressure on the public systemData-backed examples of care that improved when delisted (chiropractic, physio, eye care)How this model could encourage more doctors to enter the field, especially in family practiceHow it could attract foreign-trained physiciansWhy Canadians are already paying for care elsewhere—and why that’s a problemFinally, I leave you with three questions to challenge your perspective:What if a family wanted to pay for their loved one’s private addiction treatment?What if private care required public service from doctors?What if we could double our number of physicians in 10 years?This isn’t about abandoning universal healthcare—it’s about saving it.

The Information Age brought prosperity, access, and knowledge to billions. But that era is ending. In this episode, I argue that the Information Age has already given way to a new era: The Augmentation Age.We no longer need to know everything—AI tools and digital memory hold that for us. Knowledge workers are being replaced. Google doesn’t send us to information; it delivers the answer. Designers, coders, lawyers, and writers are being augmented—or automated.So what’s next? We explore the new economy of augmented labor—where hands-on skills matter again, trades thrive, and entrepreneurs are free to build leaner, faster businesses with AI as their co-pilot. I share how we’re already augmenting our bodies and minds—digitally, chemically, and mechanically—and what this means for the future of work, leadership, and strategy.Whether you're a business owner, coach, or creative, this episode will help you understand what's ending—and what to do next.🔧 Topics covered:Why the knowledge economy is fadingHow AI is replacing—but also empowering—creatorsWhy labor and trades will thriveWhat entrepreneurs should automate firstThe power of early adoption in the Augmentation Age📌 Takeaway:You don’t need to fear AI—you need to build with it. Systemize, automate, and get ahead of the curve.

Saving the Sault – Where Truth Meets ActionSault Ste. Marie is at a tipping point.In this long-form episode, I explore the six critical challenges our city is facing—and how we can turn the tide. From economic fragility to the drug crisis, from government reliance to leadership voids, I offer bold but achievable ideas to help the Sault thrive again.This isn’t political. It’s personal. And it starts with honesty, unity, and hope.🔑 What You’ll Learn:Why our population, wages, and workforce are in declineWhat’s actually working to reduce drug use (hint: we can borrow from Vancouver and Portugal)Why government grants and consultants won’t save usWhat comparing Sault, ON and Sault, MI reveals about entrepreneurshipWhy hope is the greatest growth strategy of allHow leadership (using the CALM model) can unite us around a real plan📚 Sources (select highlights; full links in show notes):Opioid death rates – OntarioPortugal’s Drug Policy Model – Drug Policy Alliance[Insite Vancouver – CMAJ & The Lancet](https://www.cmaj.ca, https://www.thelancet.com)Sault College & Algoma U international student stats – SooTodayBuilding permit values – City of Sault Ste. MarieEmployment data – Statistics CanadaLet’s save the Sault—together.🔗 businessisgood.comConnect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

What if your business could grow without more risk or more work?In this episode of BusinessIsGood, I unpack the powerful concept of intrapreneurialism—where staff build businesses inside your business. It’s not just delegation or profit-sharing; it’s about giving your team a platform to grow something remarkable while you both win.I’ll define what intrapreneurialism really is, break down the value for staff and owners, and share five real-world examples from service industries (including one from the fitness space). Plus, I’ll give tips for structuring revenue-sharing and avoiding common pitfalls like overpaying, underexplaining, or doing too much of the work yourself.If you're a founder who wants to scale impact and reward great people—without adding overhead or stress—this episode will show you how.🔗 businessisgood.comConnect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

Description:In this episode of BusinessIsGood, we delve into the timeless wisdom of Sun Tzu's The Art of War and explore how its principles can be applied to today's service-based businesses. Discover how to:Leverage strategic deception to outmaneuver competitors.Prepare thoroughly to ensure victory before entering the market.Seize opportunities proactively to multiply success.Achieve victories without direct confrontation.Gain deep self-awareness to navigate business battles effectively.Tune in to learn how ancient military strategies can provide a competitive edge in the modern business landscape.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/

Podcast Summary: Just Do ItOver the last six months, I’ve worked with five different business coaches to simplify my company and refocus on what matters.I’ve talked to experts, mapped out plans, brainstormed strategies—until yesterday, when executive coach Dennis McIntee said something that stopped me cold:“You already know what to do. You just have to do it.”In this episode of BusinessIsGood, I unpack the hard truth:👉 Knowing what to do isn’t enough.👉 Learning and planning can become avoidance strategies.👉 Change only happens when you act.You’ll learn:The two-part process of change: decision + actionThe sneaky ways entrepreneurs avoid action (even when they know better)Why the smarter you are, the easier it is to rationalize waitingFive tactical tips to move from stuck to startedHow to stop circling the hard decisions and just do the thingIf you’ve been circling a big decision, this episode is your call to break the loop.The opportunity is there—but only you can act on it.Connect with Chris Cooper:Website - https://businessisgood.com/