According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as reported by Fundera, approximately 20 percent of small businesses fail within the first year. By the end of the second year, 30 percent of businesses will have failed. By the end of the fifth year, about half will have failed. And by the end of the decade, only 30 percent of businesses will remain — a 70 percent failure rate.
Business can be challenging. It's simple but not easy. With so many factors involved in making a venture successful, it becomes a challenge to know which "lever" to pull to increase your likelihood of success.
That's where I've learned so much from hosting thousands of podcast guests (1,600+) and our team from thousands of blog posts (6,000+). This is also where the 8 business pillars come in. This is what I want to share with you.
But before diving in...
How Did I Get Here?
I'm Gresh, the founder of CBNation powered by Blue 16 Media. I started everything by interviewing entrepreneurs and business owners to learn more about business and entrepreneurship. At that time, I was doing freelance writing for various publications like Fox Small Business, Under 30 CEO, Reader's Digest, Patch, and many more.
I've always wanted to start a business but wasn't sure what that business would be. I was the kid who sold potato chips on the playground and got my parents to be my VC for trips to MJ Designs to create necklaces and bracelets. My crowning achievement was the family newspaper I launched when my dad was restationed for a year when I was 10. It was basically a TMZ for my family, covering all the top family stories—from a squirrel breaking into my grandma's house, to my cousin being born, to a wedding that didn't happen. I mixed in some current events and news from other media sites like Soap Opera Digest and NBA Finals results.
It was my first "media company," planting a seed I continued to cultivate and grow.
Fast forward many years, after college and grad school, I knew I wanted to start a business but wasn't sure exactly what it would be.
So I did what "10-year-old Gresh" would do and started what eventually became Hearpreneur, which evolved into CEO Blog Nation, and finally, CBNation. This venture includes blogs, podcasts, and video content to help businesses succeed. At its heart it was always the goal of learning from others why they started their businesses, the advice they would have for others (like myself), and the resources and information they relied on.
I was standing on the "shoulders of giants," which allowed me to start a six-figure digital marketing business—Blue 16 Media (which has pivoted slightly). This gave me the confidence, resources, and tools to grow. I always say CBNation was my "business school."
What better way to learn than from people who are actually doing "IT"?
I've kept going with CBNation, and now we have over 5,000 blog posts and roundups across CEO Blog Nation. Our podcast, which started as a weekly podcast and inspired a daily podcast, has over 1,600 episodes and hundreds of video interviews.
I took a "sabbatical" for a year to figure out what to do with all this content. I tried many things, but they didn't quite fit—like a pair of shoes.
Then I tapped into "10-year-old Gresh" and realized that while the content was great, my focus needed to be on actually helping businesses and organizations succeed.
From there, thousands of pieces of content revealed hundreds of hacks and nuggets that could help people level up in their organizations. After taking time away from recording, I distilled this knowledge into 16 business themes, which then became 8 core business principles.
Now...
How Does this Help?
We have taken a library of this content and information and distilled it into 8 essential business pillars. This premium library, which we are dubbing our "Netflix for Business," contains snippets from interviews tailored around the levers you can pull to improve your business or polish certain skills.
You can certainly go through every blog post, page, video, and podcast to learn, but we hope this simplifies the opportunity for you.
You can take these courses and browse the library step-by-step, but the reality is that business is rarely linear. Even on the podcast, I say success is much more like a "plate of spaghetti." So, I would approach it more like a lever—the more you learn about it, the more you can improve that aspect of the business, which can have an exponential impact.
Think like from one of my favorite CEO Hacks, what is the "One Thing" that, by doing it, makes everything else easier or unnecessary?
Introducing Our "Netflix for Business"
Are you an entrepreneur or business owner looking to level up? Introducing our Premium Library aka our Netflix for Business—your ultimate resource for business growth and success, curated around 8 essential business pillars!
With our extensive library, you get access to lessons and snippets from:
🎧 1,600+ Podcast Episodes
✍️ 5,000+ Blog Posts
📹 800+ Videos ...and more!
The beauty of this being a library, rather than a course, is that you get to "choose your own journey." We constantly update the content with new podcast episodes, book reviews, tactics we learn, and blog posts.
Instead of having to go through all this content yourself, we save you time and give you the opportunity to grow your organization and spend more time in your zone of genius.
Why Join?
See further by standing on the shoulders of giants
For Builders (first 5 years in business):
🔧 Actionable insights and strategies tailored for those starting out or deep in the trenches of their business
🔑 Overcome common challenges and achieve sustainable growth
🛠️ Focus on the bigger picture and work ON your business, not just IN it.
For Business Architects (more seasoned entrepreneurs and business owners):
🏢 Refine and polish your business knowledge with curated content
📚 Stay ahead in your industry with continuous learning and improvement
💡 Gain expert insights to drive long-term success
Additional Benefits
🗓️ Weekly Updates with the latest trends and best practices
🧠 CEO Hacks for productivity and efficiency to maximize your time
🛠️ Practical tools and exercises to implement what you’ve learned
💼 Transformative learning to help you "know what you don't know" and unlock hidden growth levers
8 Business Pillars
So now what are these business pillars...
Whether you're launching a startup or scaling an established enterprise, every Builder must strengthen these foundational pillars to soar new heights. This is how you transition from a Builder to an Architect to a Mogul. We are transitioning our content across our sites to be structured across these 8 pillars so that you level up and succeed.
#1 – Entrepreneurship/Journey: The essence of business. Foster an entrepreneurial spirit within your organization to innovate and capture new opportunities.
#2 – Strategy: Vision without action is merely a dream. Develop a clear strategy that aligns with your business goals and market dynamics.
#3 – Offering/Product and/or Service: Offer value that can't be ignored. Continual improvement of your offerings ensures relevance and competitiveness.
#4 – Human/People: Don't forget about the human part of business. People can be your greatest asset. Invest in the right talent and cultivate a culture that promotes growth, innovation and connection through all aspects of your business.
#5 – Operations/Legal: Streamline your processes to enhance efficiency and productivity. Remember, operational excellence leads to customer satisfaction.
#6 – Visibility /Marketing/Sales/Advertising/PR: Make sure your potential customers know who you are. Leverage marketing and public relations to increase your brand's presence and attract new business.
#7 – Financial: Solid financial management is the backbone of any successful business. Keep a close watch on cash flows and budgeting to fuel your growth strategies.
#8 – Technology: In the digital age, staying ahead means staying updated. Embrace technology to enhance your operational capacity and customer engagement.
Take the Quiz to See How These Pillars Can Help You as a Builder or Architect
Preview Lessons from the Library & So Much More
Not ready to dive in, no problem. Check out these resources that can help
The 8 Pillars of Business Success: Lessons from Over 1600 Podcasts
IAM2100 – The 8 Pillars of Business Success: Lessons from Over 1600 Podcasts
Ready to Try?
Join the Netflix for Business Premium Library today and transform your business! Empower yourself with the knowledge and tools to achieve your goals and realize your vision.
