This Is Small Business

No one gets it right on the first try. But every great idea has a few misses behind it – because getting it wrong is how you finally get it right.In this Small Business Byte on This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez explores why the secret to finding your winning idea often lies in what doesn’t work. From testing products that flop to pivoting when plans fall apart, embracing trial and error is what turns experiments into breakthroughs.You’ll hear how Kim Kerton, host of Unemployed and Afraid, tested business after business before discovering her true calling in podcasting. How Aliett Buttelman of Fazit Beauty learned to let go of what wasn’t working and rebuild stronger. And, how Zoya Biglary of Fysh Foods turned a shipping problem into a whole new way to grow.So, what’s one idea you’re ready to test – or even toss out to make room for something better? Share it with us in a Spotify comment, Apple Podcasts review, or email it to ThisisSmallBusiness@amazon.com. Doing that will not only hold you accountable but could also inspire another entrepreneur to take their next big step.Sources:If you want to know more about Unemployed and Afraid, listen to Kim Kerton’s story here: The Business of Reinvention: Why Experimenting is Kim Kerton’s Superpower - This is Small BusinessIf you want to know more about Fazit Beauty, listen to Aliett Buttelman’s story here: How a Small Business Turned One Celebrity Moment into Long-Term Growth - This is Small BusinessIf you want to know more about Fysh Foods, listen to Zoya Biglary’s story here: How Zoya Biglary Became the Internet’s Fruit Peeler to Fund her Business - This is Small Business

When one stream of income slows down, how do you keep your business moving forward? For a lot of entrepreneurs, the answer is diversification.In this Small Business Byte on This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez unpacks how building multiple revenue streams can help you reduce risk and keep growing without spreading yourself too thin. You’ll hear how Blake Shook of Desert Creek Honey diversified within beekeeping to weather unpredictable harvests, how Angus Willows of Kangaroo Hanger started a side hustle to fund his invention, and how Zoya Biglary of Fysh Foods leaned into content creation to keep her mission alive. Plus, professor Dr. Matt Rutherford shares why diversification can be a smart way to ride out the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.And quick update: we’re going biweekly for a little while as we put together the next season of This is Small Business — there’s a lot of exciting stuff coming your way!In the meantime, what’s one new revenue stream you’ll try? Share it with us in a Spotify comment, Apple Podcasts review, or email it to us at Thisissmallbusiness@amazon.com. Doing that will not only hold you accountable but could also inspire another entrepreneur to take their next big step.Sources:If you want to hear Dr. Matt Rutherford discuss risk and diversification, listen to his episode here: Redefining Risk: A New Way to Make Bold MovesIf you want to know more about Desert Creek Honey, listen to Blake Shook’s story here: FromBee Stings to Big Wins: How One Teen Turned a Backyard Hive into a Thriving Business - This is Small BusinessIf you want to know more about Kangaroo Hanger, listen to Angus Willows’s story here: How a Serial Entrepreneur Launched a Business from His Dorm Room - This is Small BusinessIf you want to know more about Fysh Foods, listen to Zoya Biglary’s story here: How Zoya Biglary Became the Internet’s Fruit Peeler to Fund her Business - This is Small Business

This episode is presented in both Spanish and English, with the original voices of the guests.What if the biggest risk isn’t falling, but staying invisible? After a near-accident on his motorcycle, Gonzalo Zamora, the co-founder of Riderbag, realized his black backpack was blocking out his reflective gear and decided to invent the solution himself. With his longtime friend and co-founder Carlos Colarte, Gonzalo turned a pencil sketch into a global product, navigating missteps, cash-flow challenges, and the risk of standing out in a crowded market.In this special bilingual episode of This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez blends Spanish and English in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month as she dives into Gonzalo and Carlos’s journey. From the crash that started it all, to the friendship that became a business, to the lessons learned about visibility both on the road and in entrepreneurship, their story is a reminder that staying hidden can be riskier than stepping into the spotlight.If you’d prefer to listen fully in English, you’ll also find an English-only version of this episode in your feed!Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us in an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at thisissmallbusiness@amazon.com – you might hear it in a future episode.In this episode, you’ll hear:(1:00) How can a single accident inspire a business idea? Gonzalo shares the moment on his motorcycle that pushed him to invent Riderbag.(4:48) Can friendship really be the foundation of a company? Gonzalo and Carlos explain how a chance reunion turned into a lasting partnership.(08:47) How do you create a prototype when you have no design background? Gonzalo reveals the scrappy first steps that turned sketches into samples.(10:36) What details make a product stand out in a crowded market? From glove-friendly zippers to hidden safety features, Riderbag shows why small touches matter.(14:14) What’s the costliest marketing mistake small businesses make? Carlos and Gonzalo recount the costly lesson that reshaped how they invest.(17:01) How do you know when it’s time to expand internationally? Carlos shares the turning point that convinced them to take Riderbag global.(18:28) What’s the best proof that your business is on the right track? For Gonzalo, the numbers told one story but customer reviews told another.(21:50) What does the future of Riderbag look like? Gonzalo and Carlos talk about dreaming beyond backpacks while staying true to their purpose.(23:15) Are entrepreneurs natural risk-takers or risk managers? Carlos embraces risk, while Gonzalo takes a more cautious approach and together they balance both.

What if failure wasn’t the end but the beginning? Dr. Amy Edmondson, Harvard Business School professor and author of The Fearless Organization and The Right Kind of Wrong, says that failure is not proof you’re falling behind – it’s proof you’ve taken a risk. And if you set it up right, it can actually be the key to progress.In this season finale of This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez sits down with Amy to explore why our relationship with failure shapes how far we can go as entrepreneurs. From the science of “psychological safety” to the three types of failure – basic, complex, and intelligent – Amy offers a crash course on how to fail the right way, what to learn from it, and why the best entrepreneurs are the ones who stumble, recover, and keep moving forward.If you’ve ever worried about making mistakes or held yourself back from starting and taking risks because of the fear of failing, this conversation will help you reframe failure as momentum, not defeat. Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us in an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at thisissmallbusiness@amazon.com – you might hear it in a future episode.In this episode, you’ll hear: (1:45) Why do conversations and team dynamics matter so much for success? Amy explains how the quality of everyday interactions shapes an organization’s performance.(3:43) What is psychological safety in the workplace and why should entrepreneurs care about it? Amy explains why people need to feel safe to speak up, ask questions, and admit mistakes in order for teams to learn and innovate.(5:40) How do you actually create psychological safety on your team? Amy shares a simple three-step framework: set the stage, proactively invite voices in, and respond with appreciation.(9:03) What’s the real difference between a mistake and a failure? Amy breaks down her three types of failure – basic, complex, and intelligent – and shows how intelligent failures are actually discoveries that fuel growth and innovation.(12:57) Can failure actually lead to breakthrough ideas? Amy tells the story of her first big research failure and how it unexpectedly led to her pioneering work on psychological safety.(15:49) How do you make failure safe without encouraging the wrong kind of failure? Amy explains why innovation requires failure – but only in the right contexts – and shares three dimensions every entrepreneur should check first: human safety, economic cost, and reputational risk.(18:34) How do you know if a failure is one you can come back from? Amy shares her four criteria for an “intelligent failure” that could help you improve without causing lasting damage.(20:19) Do successful people fail more often than the rest of us? Amy explains why the best in any field – from science to sports – tend to have more failures, not fewer.(22:41) How can entrepreneurs stop being afraid of failure? Amy explains why nobody’s in the “perfection business” and how reframing setbacks as “catch and correct” moments can build resilience.

Entrepreneurship will always involve risk so how do you learn to control it instead of fear it? Dr. Lois Shelton, Professor of Management at the Nazarian College of Business and Economics at California State University Northridge, joins host Andrea Marquez to break down why the most successful founders aren’t thrill-seekers. They’re calculated decision-makers who know how to test ideas, filter feedback and adapt without letting fear or overconfidence take control.You’ll learn practical risk management strategies for making smarter moves — like lean startup experiments and the “affordable loss” approach — plus how to know when to trust your gut and when to listen to your customers.If you’ve ever talked yourself out of an idea because you didn’t feel ready, this conversation will change how you see risk and give you enough information to start or grow your business with confidence.Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us in an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at thisissmallbusiness@amazon.com – you might hear it in a future episode.In this episode, you’ll hear: (01:54) What makes a “rebel with a cause” in business? Professor Lois explains how purpose-driven entrepreneurs think differently and turn ideas into action.(04:06) Do successful entrepreneurs really love risk? Learn why they prefer calculated, manageable risks over extreme leaps.(07:26) How can you test your idea without spending a fortune? Here’s two frameworks that help you reduce risk and gather feedback early.(9:21) How do you know which feedback to listen to? Lois breaks down how to spot patterns in customer responses and block out advice that will send you off track.(13:39) What are the biggest mistakes founders make with risk? From skipping market research to ignoring warning signs, here’s what to avoid early on.(15:50) How can reframing failure boost your chances of success? Professor Lois shares why seeing every setback as a learning opportunity can actually make you more credible to investors and customers.(19:32) What’s the first step you could take if you’re frozen by uncertainty? Discover how to use mentors, free resources, and small actions to move forward even when you don’t feel ready.