When entrepreneur and investor Alex Hormozi shared that he’s looking for an executive assistant, his Facebook post quickly attracted hundreds of comments from professionals around the world. Some wanted to apply. Others asked for advice on how to find, train, and manage an EA. But Hormozi’s search reveals something deeper about leadership and growth: successful entrepreneurs eventually hit a point where they can’t — and shouldn’t — do it all themselves. Key Takeaways A great Executive Assistant (EA) is not just a calendar manager — they’re a strategic partner. The right EA helps leaders make better decisions and protect their most valuable resource: time.

In The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray spotlights how brands like Opal and HubSpot win attention through generous, value-first content. The power lies in teaching, not pitching—building trust before you ever make an offer. Subscribe to our YouTube channel Key Takeaways Lead with education and entertainment, not self-promotion. Build a content rhythm your audience can rely on. Authenticity and generosity convert better than urgency. Great content attracts leads who are already ready to buy. The Rise of Value-First Marketing Audiences today can smell a pitch from a mile away.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray breaks down how business leaders like Sam Altman turn “fear of missing out” (FOMO) into a strategic advantage. The lesson for entrepreneurs: you don’t need manipulation—you need momentum. FOMO can ethically fuel confidence, action, and opportunity. Subscribe to our YouTube channel Key Takeaways Use FOMO to drive progress, not pressure. Keep moving when others hesitate—momentum attracts attention. Believe in your idea so strongly that others fear being left out. Ethical FOMO is about proof, not panic. What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Sam Altman’s Tactics…

As artificial intelligence makes it easier than ever to create content, real trust is becoming harder to earn. In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray explores how entrepreneurs can build and protect credibility when AI can mimic anyone’s voice, face, or writing style. Sign up for your YouTube channel here Key Takeaways The explosion of AI content has made authenticity your top business advantage. Slow down digital interactions—verify before you trust. Be transparent about what’s human versus what’s automated. Deliver consistently and communicate openly when mistakes happen.

Networking can feel intimidating, but it’s one of the fastest ways to grow your influence and opportunities. In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray breaks down how to connect with confidence, spark conversations, and leave a memorable impression—without feeling fake or pushy. Subscribe to our YouTube channel | Sign up to our podcast Key Takeaways A genuine smile is your best business card. Lead with something personal, not just your title. Ask questions that show curiosity, not self-interest. Be the connector who introduces others. Every moment—hallways, lines, elevators—is a networking opportunity.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just for tech experts. It’s for business owners, marketers, and creators who want to save time, get better results, and work smarter. But to really make AI work for you, you need to know how to “talk” to it — and that’s where prompts come in. A prompt is simply what you type into an AI tool to tell it what you want. The clearer your prompt, the better the results. Think of it like giving directions to an employee — the more specific you are, the better they can deliver what you need.

For 25 years, Google Ads has been one of the most powerful tools driving small business growth. What began in 2000 as a simple way to display text ads alongside search results has evolved into a global marketing platform that helps millions of entrepreneurs reach the right customers at the right time. Today, Google Ads is not just an ad platform—it’s a critical part of how small businesses grow, compete, and connect. Key Takeaways: Google Ads democratized advertising, giving small businesses access to global audiences once reserved for big brands.

A new era of e-commerce is emerging — and it’s not driven by people clicking “Add to Cart.” It’s driven by AI agents acting on behalf of humans. Don't' sleep on this. This transformation, called agentic commerce, is changing how consumers discover, compare, and purchase products. Retailers and brands that adapt early will have a major advantage as shopping becomes increasingly automated. Related - AI Agents: What They Are, Why They’re Important, and What the Future Holds What Is Agentic Commerce? Agentic commerce is the next evolution of e-commerce, powered by artificial intelligence.

Running a solo business means wearing multiple hats—marketer, accountant, designer, writer, and sometimes even your own assistant. The good news: AI tools can take a huge load off your shoulders. Here’s a curated stack of AI-powered apps built for productivity, content creation, marketing, sales, finance, and more. Many of these software tools are from vendors you already know and trust, some might be new to you. If you're using "legacy software" and not infusing it with AI, in whole or in part, you're missing out. Use AI to not just create content but to gain INSIGHTS from the data you already have - ecommerce data from customers, financial data from profit and loss, and more.

The future of work isn’t coming — it’s already here. According to Upwork CEO Hayden Brown, freelancers are not just keeping pace with traditional employees — they’re outpacing them. In a recent CNBC interview, Brown shared that freelancers are earning more, adapting faster, and becoming central players in how businesses implement artificial intelligence. As companies race to capture the promise of AI, a growing number are turning to freelancers to make it happen. The world of work is being rewired — not just by technology, but by how people choose to work.

In this special live interview hosted by Ramon Ray, Claude Silver — Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and longtime collaborator with Gary Vaynerchuk — sat down to talk about her new book Be Yourself at Work. Joined by a panel of entrepreneurs including Kedma Ough (President, NinjaVA), Alexandria Nicole (business consultant and founder of Elevate Your Growth), and Tina Wilson (health and life coach), Claude opened up about the emotional side of leadership, how to build a culture rooted in empathy, and why being yourself at work isn’t just nice — it’s necessary.

TikTok isn’t just for dance trends anymore—it’s becoming one of the most powerful sales platforms for small businesses. With over 15 million merchants worldwide and nearly half a million active sellers in the U.S., TikTok Shop is quickly turning short-form videos into real revenue for entrepreneurs. The appeal is clear: creators sell products directly through videos and live streams, engaging buyers where they already spend hours every day. According to reports, 78% of users have purchased something after seeing creator content on TikTok, and half have made a purchase during a live session…

Revenue doesn’t just happen—it’s managed. In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray explains why every entrepreneur should review their sales pipeline weekly and how this simple habit can transform cash flow, forecasting, and growth. Subscribe to our YouTube channel Key Takeaways A weekly pipeline review gives you control over your sales future. Tracking deal stages helps prioritize your time and energy. Adding probabilities to deals clarifies revenue expectations. Pipeline reviews expose slow-moving opportunities early. This discipline builds momentum and predictability in your business. Why You Need a Weekly Sales Rhythm…

Artificial intelligence isn’t just transforming big business—it’s becoming a key advantage for small and midsize companies too. The 2025 Wharton AI Adoption Report reveals that while large enterprises are investing heavily in AI-driven efficiency, smaller organizations that embrace AI are seeing measurable gains in productivity, customer engagement, and profitability. Key Takeaways: AI adoption is accelerating across every industry, but implementation gaps remain. Companies with clear AI strategies report up to 2x higher productivity. Employee training and leadership buy-in are now top drivers of successful AI projects. Small businesses that “start small and scale smart” outperform those that wait.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray unpacks why memorable business cards still matter, how to convert self-doubt into leadership, what YouTube’s AI-driven reorg could mean for creators, and the biggest updates from Canva’s annual keynote. He also shares a personal lesson about lifelong learning as he recommits to formal piano study. Entrepreneurs will find practical, immediate moves to strengthen relationships, protect their brand, and leverage new creative tools without losing the human touch. Subscribe to our YouTube channel Key Takeaways Distinctive, easy-to-read business cards are still a powerful, tactile follow-up tool—use them strategically after real conversation, not as handout confetti.

At its global “World Tour” finale keynote, Canva declared a bold shift: design tools aren’t just support functions anymore—they’re now the heart of an “Imagination Era.” The company laid out a vision of becoming a full-blown Creative Operating System, built for small businesses, brand teams and solo entrepreneurs alike. If you rely on Canva (or are considering it) this update merits attention: design is being re-imagined to power marketing, branding, web presence and even data-driven experiences. Subscribe to our YouTube channel Key takeaways Canva is positioning itself as a Creative OS: Visual Suite + Platform + AI.

Eventbrite continues to evolve from a pure ticketing platform into a more sophisticated event-ecosystem for organizers. The company’s recent innovations—from mobile app redesign to tools tailored for music venues—reflect its push to meet both attendee and organizer needs. This evolution matters especially for small-business event producers looking to maximize reach, streamline workflows, and deliver better experiences Key Takeaways: Eventbrite’s overhauled mobile app makes event discovery and sharing simpler for attendees. New promoter-friendly features offer organizers greater control over listings, marketing and audience reach. Specialized tools for sectors (like music venues) show Eventbrite’s shift toward deeper vertical support.

Today’s episode of The Rundown with Ramon is a candid riff on taking imperfect action, staying secure in a risky digital world, and reading the tea leaves from Big Tech to sharpen your small-business strategy. Ramon shares a vulnerable moment about self-doubt, then turns headlines about Alphabet, OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and GM into practical moves entrepreneurs can use right now. At its core: do the work before it’s “perfect,” double down on your few highest-leverage strengths, keep learning fast from AI’s rapid shift, and protect your business like it matters—because it does.

Recently, Amazon’s devices division sent an internal memo in the wake of significant layoffs. According to reporting by Business Insider, the memo came from Tapas Roy, Vice President of Device Software & Services. It noted that roles in the OS & Services team were being eliminated and urged remaining employees to “lean in on AI” — specifically: focus on the work that most directly impacts customers, simplify or eliminate internal processes, and use AI to enhance effectiveness. Earlier in mid-2025, Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy warned that the adoption of generative AI and autonomous agents would likely reduce the size of the company’s corporate workforce in the coming years.

The Rundown with Ramon is built for entrepreneurs who actually want to win. In this episode, Ramon Ray talks about why you have to stop “playing checkers” in a world that’s playing chess, how to turn bad situations into brand visibility, what real companies are doing with AI right now, and why you have to challenge your own thinking if you want to grow. He also opens up about his own 2026 business game plan. Don't miss out. Sign up to our podcast. Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs Stop playing checkers while everyone else is playing chess.

Today’s announcement that PayPal is becoming the first major digital wallet integrated directly into ChatGPT marks a new chapter in how businesses, consumers and AI platforms interact. The move shifts ChatGPT from being primarily a conversational/ productivity tool to functioning as a commerce platform — and it gives small business owners a front-row view of how fast the AI wave is moving. Below are several key take-aways, followed by a deeper dive. Key take-aways: The pace of AI adoption across business functions is accelerating. ChatGPT is evolving beyond prompts to become a platform for transactions and commerce.

In the fast-moving world of online tools, another wave of change is arriving at our browser tabs. Traditionally, you open Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Safari, type a URL or search, and browse websites. Zoho's Ulaa browser came out some time ago and offers enhanced privacy and data security. But now, companies such as OpenAI and Perplexity AI are introducing browsers with built-in artificial-intelligence features—essentially giving your browser a “brain.” For small business owners and creators, this shift — from legacy browsers to AI-powered ones — raises important questions. What are the real advantages and pitfalls of an AI browser?

The Rundown with Ramon is here to help entrepreneurs build stronger businesses, become more visible, and live more intentionally. In this episode, Ramon Ray talks about the mental health crisis that’s showing up in AI chats, why “average” is officially over in business, how AI video is changing marketing, and what real wealth looks like at $1M, $10M, $100M and beyond. He also reminds us that none of this matters if we’re not taking care of ourselves and each other. Subscribe to you YouTube Channel Key takeaways for entrepreneurs:

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray dives into the next wave of AI-powered browsers, how creators are making real money on Substack, the easiest way to launch a merch line without inventory, and what Travis Kelce’s Six Flags investment teaches entrepreneurs about personal branding. Ramon also reminds every small business owner: your business isn’t truly strong until it’s secure. Key Takeaways AI browsers like Comet and Atlas are transforming how we work online — they don’t just browse, they do. Substack is helping creators and experts monetize newsletters while owning their audience relationships.

Artificial intelligence is supposed to make work easier. But for many businesses, AI adoption has been anything but simple — from complex integrations to high costs and unclear results. Zoho wants to change that. The global tech company has introduced new agentic AI features across three major areas — Collaboration, Customer Experience, and Human Resources — designed to help businesses save time, improve accuracy, and focus on high-value work. And here’s the headline: these tools are free for Zoho users. Key Takeaways Zoho is embedding powerful AI agents directly into its apps — no third-party tools or extra fees required.