Ramon Ray opens today’s show from Orlando, where he’s hosting Black Enterprise’s Excel Summit for Men, with a powerful reminder for entrepreneurs: get off the timeline and get in the room. He dives into why small in-person gatherings still drive real business results, why your social media reach is bigger than you think, and what Walmart’s latest AI-powered checkout means for the future of small business.

Key Takeaways

• In-person micro-meetups deepen trust, spark referrals, and cost almost nothing to host.
• Your audience is larger than your comments — many people are watching silently and still being influenced.
• Collaboration drives visibility — Spotify podcasts showing up on Netflix remind entrepreneurs to partner up where attention already exists.
• Conversational commerce is here — Walmart’s ChatGPT checkout shows how search is collapsing into purchase.
• Business growth requires investment — from Wells Fargo’s small business focus to Sharpie’s U.S. expansion, progress takes reinvestment.

The Power of In-Person Meetups

Ramon shared the impact of hosting small, local meetups for entrepreneurs. These events aren’t about grandeur — they’re about connection. When you bring five or ten business owners into a room, something powerful happens. Conversations flow, relationships form, and opportunities appear.

Hosting a meetup can be as simple as inviting your network to a coffee shop or coworking space. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s connection. Ramon reminded listeners that showing up in person gives your brand authenticity that online engagement alone can’t replace.

Your Hidden Social Media Reach

One of the biggest myths in social media is that “engagement equals impact.” Ramon pushed back on that idea, explaining that your posts often reach people you never hear from. They might not like or comment, but they’re watching — and they’re paying attention.

Entrepreneurs shouldn’t judge success only by visible metrics. Someone who never interacts online might become a client, partner, or advocate months later. The key is consistency: keep showing up with valuable content, even when it feels like no one’s listening.

Collaboration Is the New Growth Strategy

Ramon also highlighted a major partnership between Spotify and Netflix — where select podcasts are now streaming as shows. This crossover points to the power of collaboration and content repurposing.

For entrepreneurs, that means asking: where can you show up in someone else’s space? Whether it’s being a podcast guest, writing for another publication, or co-hosting an event, shared platforms expand your audience faster than trying to do it all alone.

AI Checkout and the Future of Business

Walmart’s new ChatGPT-powered checkout is another signal that the way consumers buy is changing fast. Instead of typing or browsing, customers can now describe what they want — and the AI will find it, add it to their cart, and complete the purchase.

For small business owners, this means your visibility in AI-powered systems matters more than ever. Make sure your products, services, and content are discoverable through conversational search. The businesses that adapt early will gain a serious advantage.

Invest in Your Own Growth

Ramon closed the show with a reality check: business success requires investment. Wells Fargo’s renewed focus on small business lending and Sharpie’s expansion in the U.S. both show that reinvesting in infrastructure, talent, and innovation leads to long-term payoff.

The same applies to entrepreneurs. Whether it’s upgrading your systems, hiring smarter, or marketing more strategically — invest now so you can scale later.