Podcast
Problems to Profit
Hosted by Preston Brown · EN
If your business feels more like a job you can’t quit, then welcome to the podcast aimed at finally solving that problem.
Welcome to Problems to Profit Podcast.
Each week, join serial entrepreneur, investor, and your host, Preston Brown, for answers to questions like:
- How do I build a team and culture programmed to find and fix problems in the business?
- What is happening in the economy? How is that going to impact my business, and what can I do about it?
- How do I build my company in a way that makes it more profitable without me running the day-to-day?
Subscribe or follow now on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, and start transforming your problems into profits—one episode at a time.
43episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
May Economic Update: Real Estate, Stocks, and Global Moves You Need to Know
May 22, 202500:20:56Summary readyGet FREE actionable strategies and insights to scale your business in today’s economy—straight to your inbox each week. - Join Newsletter! https://yourfirstmillionmadeeasy.com/businessbreakthroughYou’ve heard it all before—cut rates are coming, inflation’s cooling, the Fed has it under control.Except… they don’t.In this episode, I’m giving it to you straight. The markets are moving, the Fed is fumbling, and we’re about to enter one of the most strategic windows for building wealth we’ve had in years.Not only am I stacking real estate like crazy right now, but I’m also watching how the bond flight, housing pressure, and global power shifts are creating ripple effects you can capitalize on if you stop waiting for perfect conditions.Here’s the truth: you're not gonna win this next round of wealth building by sitting on the sidelines hoping Powell figures it out. And you're definitely not gonna win by waiting for the next headline to tell you what to do.So I’m breaking it down—why housing’s getting hammered (but why that’s good news), how Trump vs. Powell might just become your favorite economic catalyst, what’s really going on with China, Ukraine, India, and the markets, and the plays I’m personally making right now with my own money."What's the best time to buy? Between now and the next six to nine months, and after that, you're probably gonna lose your opportunity to get the best bottom dollar deal." ~ Preston BrownConnect with Preston Brown:- 🌐Website - https://theprestonbrown.com/- 👤Facebook - https://facebook.com/theprestonbrown- 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprestonbrown/- ▶️YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrestonBrownBusinessCoach
SummaryThe Truth About 2025: How to Prepare Your Business for a Stalled Economy
May 15, 202500:25:28Summary readyGet FREE actionable strategies and insights to scale your business in today’s economy—straight to your inbox each week. - Join Newsletter! https://yourfirstmillionmadeeasy.com/businessbreakthroughNot gonna lie—there’s a lot of noise right now about whether the sky is falling or we’re headed into the greatest bull run ever.Here’s what I really think…In this episode, I break down the key threats I see in 2025. Labor data you’ve probably never heard explained like this, the debt traps most entrepreneurs are walking straight into, and why I think we’re not facing a full-on recession, but something even trickier. A stall.Because if you’re running your business on yesterday’s game plan, or you’re hoping the Fed or the next President is gonna magically turn everything around, you’re setting yourself up to lose.This is what you need to know about interest rates, credit bubbles, broken labor data, commercial real estate risk, stock market overconfidence, and how to position your money where it actually has a shot at growing in an inflation-driven economy.I’m not just talking theory here. These are the plays I’m personally making to hedge for chaos and lean into opportunity at the same time."Getting prepared for a potential economic downturn in 2025 is something every entrepreneur should be doing. You wanna ensure you're not caught in the chaos if something comes up." ~ Preston BrownConnect with Preston Brown:- 🌐Website - https://theprestonbrown.com/- 👤Facebook - https://facebook.com/theprestonbrown- 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprestonbrown/- ▶️YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrestonBrownBusinessCoach
SummaryTech That Actually Moves the Needle: Zach Abrams on CRMs, Hiring the Right Nerds and Turning Data into Dollars
May 8, 202501:17:10Summary readyGet FREE actionable strategies and insights to scale your business in today’s economy—straight to your inbox each week. - Join Newsletter! https://yourfirstmillionmadeeasy.com/businessbreakthroughYou know that uneasy feeling when you’re pretty sure your team is dropping leads—but the spreadsheets look “fine,” the phone logs are “somewhere,” and everyone swears the last CRM “didn’t fit the workflow”?Been there. That’s why I pulled my own chief technology officer, Zach Abrams, out from behind the screens and onto the mic. Zach took my companies from software chaos (think six-figure bloatware bills and zero accountability) to a tight, data-driven machine that grew our home-building division 67% in the worst housing market in 35 years.We dive into the nitty gritty of when to hire a tech team, how to vet the right people, and why forcing adoption is the only way to make those expensive investments actually pay off.Zach also shares his take on the future of AI, what it means for the job market, and how businesses can stay ahead of the curve without blowing their budgets on unnecessary bells and whistles.“These tools are going to augment every industry. There isn’t going to be a single sector untouched by AI and technology.” ~Zach AbramsConnect with Preston Brown:- 🌐Website - https://theprestonbrown.com/- 👤Facebook - https://facebook.com/theprestonbrown- 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprestonbrown/- ▶️YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrestonBrownBusinessCoach
SummaryThe Three P's That Filter Everything: Productivity, Profitability, and Purpose
May 1, 202500:08:42Summary readyGet FREE actionable strategies and insights to scale your business in today’s economy—straight to your inbox each week. - Join Newsletter! https://yourfirstmillionmadeeasy.com/businessbreakthroughEver get hit up with a pitch that sounds good, but deep down you’re not sure it’s worth your time, energy, or money?Here’s how I cut through the noise.In this episode, I break down the three filters I use before I invest in anything—whether it’s a business deal, a charity, or even a new use of my time. I call them the Three P’s: Productivity, Profitability, and Purpose.And trust me, once you start applying these lenses to every opportunity, you’ll make smarter decisions, avoid the con artists, and stay aligned with what actually matters.We’re talking about more than just cash flow here. This is how you protect your time, your energy, and your long-term peace of mind.Whether you're dealing with a real estate pitch, a golf hobby, or someone trying to sell you “business coaching,” these three P's will tell you everything you need to know." Whenever you're investing in a deal, you're not just investing in the deal. You're investing in the person and their purpose. Otherwise, it has to be built around your purpose." ~ Preston BrownConnect with Preston Brown:- 🌐Website - https://theprestonbrown.com/- 👤Facebook - https://facebook.com/theprestonbrown- 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprestonbrown/- ▶️YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrestonBrownBusinessCoach
SummaryRiches in the Niches: Dr. Richard Farnam on Robotic Surgery, Overcoming Scarcity, and Why Doctors Burn Out
Apr 24, 202500:56:15Summary readyGet FREE actionable strategies and insights to scale your business in today’s economy—straight to your inbox each week. - Join Newsletter!Let’s talk about something most people don’t realize:You can be rich and still feel broke. You can be successful and still feel not enough. You can save lives every day—and still wonder if you’re failing as a husband, father, or friend.In this episode, I sit down with my long-time friend Dr. Richard Farnam, a top-tier gynecological robotic surgeon, YouTube educator, and self-proclaimed lifelong learner.But this episode isn’t about fancy titles or flashy accolades.It’s about the real stuff. Like growing up poor in rural Wisconsin, wrestling with a scarcity mindset that doesn’t quit, and realizing that being the best surgeon in the world doesn’t excuse you for being a shitty dad or an absent husband.We talk about burnout, what most doctors get wrong about money, why success without family is empty, and how mastery, gratitude, and curiosity can save more than just your bank account.Dr. Rich also breaks down how robotic surgery revolutionized women’s healthcare, the truth about doctors and wealth, and why niching down is the most underrated key to financial freedom, both inside and outside of medicine.“ Being the top best surgeon does not excuse you from being the top best husband and the top best father.” - Dr. Richard Farnam.Connect with Dr. Richard Farnam (a.k.a. Dr. Rich):- 🌐Website: https://farnammd.com/ - ▶️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DoctorRich - 👤TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealdoctorrich Connect with Preston Brown:- 🌐Website - https://theprestonbrown.com/- 👤Facebook - https://facebook.com/theprestonbrown- 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprestonbrown/- ▶️YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrestonBrownBusinessCoach
SummaryControversy Is Your Superpower: Why Playing It Safe Is Killing Your Business
Apr 17, 202500:07:48Summary readyLet me ask you something…Would you sit through a movie where nothing goes wrong, no one struggles, and everything turns out just fine? Of course not. That’s not a story—it’s a snoozefest. So why are so many entrepreneurs trying to build a business like that?In this episode, I’m sharing why controversy isn’t something you should avoid. It’s something you should leverage. Controversy is human. It’s messy, emotional, and powerful. And when you know how to use it right, it becomes your greatest asset in business.People don’t follow you because you're polished and perfect. They follow you because you solve real problems, and real problems come wrapped in controversy. The more honest you are about the struggles you help people overcome, the more magnetic your brand becomes.I’m sharing how to use your truth to build trust, how to tell stories that actually sell, and why the most successful entrepreneurs lean into what others run from."People are not gonna follow you because they just love your beautiful, immortal soul. They're gonna follow you because you solve a problem, and you do it in an epic way." ~ Preston BrownConnect with Preston Brown:- 🌐Website - https://theprestonbrown.com/- 👤Facebook - https://facebook.com/theprestonbrown- 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprestonbrown/- ▶️YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrestonBrownBusinessCoach
SummaryWomen in Business: The Powerhouse You’re Missing, with Victoria Isais
Apr 10, 202501:09:07Summary readyGet FREE actionable strategies and insights to scale your business in today’s economy—straight to your inbox each week. - Join Newsletter!Alright, let’s get real for a second.You’ve probably heard the chatter. Hiring women is “risky,” or it’s a legal minefield, or maybe you’ve just been burned by a toxic hire and swore off the idea. I get it. But here’s the thing: that’s a load of crap if you know what to look for.In this episode, I’m sitting down with Victoria Isais, a woman who’s been through the wringer—from abandonment at two weeks old to toxic relationships, five marriages, and a reputation as the “biggest bitch” in town—and came out the other side a millionaire entrepreneur leading tens of thousands of women. Victoria is here to share why women are the secret sauce your business needs, not just for the warm fuzzies but for cold, hard results.We’re talking culture that keeps people loyal, work ethic that doesn’t quit, and a nurturing vibe that turns an office into a tribe. Plus, she’s spilling the tea on how to spot the red flags so you don’t end up with a lawsuit instead of a rockstar employee.“Women are the pillars of our household. So if we’re the pillars of our household, what could we do in your business?” ~ Victoria IsaisConnect with Victoria Isais:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/queenupnow Connect with Preston Brown:- 🌐Website - https://theprestonbrown.com/- 👤Facebook - https://facebook.com/theprestonbrown- 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprestonbrown/- ▶️YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrestonBrownBusinessCoach
SummaryThe Business Advice You Need (and What to Ignore)
Apr 3, 202500:06:54Summary readyGet FREE actionable strategies and insights to scale your business in today’s economy—straight to your inbox each week. - Join Newsletter!Let’s talk about something that’s been bugging me for a while.You’ve seen it. The viral reels, the TikToks, the fake flexes, the business coaches who haven’t built a single thing but want to charge you $10K to “unlock your potential.”Yeah, I’m over it. And honestly, you should be, too.In this episode, I’m breaking down why you need to ignore 90% of the business advice floating around online. Not because advice is bad but because most of it has one goal: to hook your attention and sell you something. Not to help you win.I’m also diving into where I think the future is heading. With AI, quantum computing, and automation, it’s not a matter of if traditional jobs die off—it’s when. So yeah, we need to rethink everything."The sales process is education. The marketing process is entertainment. The clickbait that you see on 90% of social media misses the education piece. " ~ Preston Brown Connect with Preston Brown:- 🌐Website - https://theprestonbrown.com/- 👤Facebook - https://facebook.com/theprestonbrown- 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprestonbrown/- ▶️YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrestonBrownBusinessCoach
SummaryIf I started a Business in 2025…
Mar 27, 202500:09:02Summary readyGet FREE actionable strategies and insights to scale your business in today’s economy—straight to your inbox each week. - Join Newsletter!The idea of starting a business sounds exciting—freedom, flexibility, and financial upside. But there’s one truth no one wants to tell you. Most people don’t fail because the idea was bad; they fail because they skipped the work before the work.In this episode, you will learn what actually matters before you ever open the doors.I’m breaking down what I’d really be thinking through if I started a business in 2025. Not only the type of business but also the economics, the timing, the market, the risk, and an exit strategy.You don’t need another clickbait list. You need to know how to build a financial vehicle that takes you where you want to go—and how to know if you should even get into that vehicle in the first place."Business is the financial vehicle, when you set it up, that makes your life better." ~ Preston BrownConnect with Preston Brown:- 🌐Website - https://theprestonbrown.com/- 👤Facebook - https://facebook.com/theprestonbrown- 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprestonbrown/- ▶️YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrestonBrownBusinessCoach
SummaryThe Data-Driven Playbook: Matthew Barnes on Fixing Broken Marketing & Scaling Real Businesses
Mar 20, 202500:56:30Summary readyEveryone talks about data, but few actually know what to do with it. Matthew Barnes, founder of Proteus Digital Lab, is the guy top-tier businesses turn to when they need their analytics to work for them, not against them.Matthew helps the biggest brands on Shopify cut through the noise, measure what truly matters, and turn wasted ad spend into profit. And if you think you can just hire him, think again. You don’t get on Matthew’s client list unless you’re already doing 10M+ in revenue.But today, you get access to him. In this episode, Matthew shares why most digital marketing is a waste of money, how he built a software company that serves multi-million dollar clients, and why optimizing for customer lifetime profitability will transform your business."There's one metric that actually ends up mattering to the people that own the business in the end. Marginal dollars in the bank account. Everything else is a proxy for that." ~ Matthew BarnesConnect with Matthew Barnes:🌐 Website – https://proteusdigitallab.com/ 👤 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjbarnes/ Connect with Preston Brown:🌐Website - https://theprestonbrown.com/👤Facebook - https://facebook.com/theprestonbrown 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprestonbrown/▶️YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrestonBrownBusinessCoach
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