Welcome to a new episode of Business Lunch!In this episode, Roland Frasier and Ryan Deiss dive into "the great flattening"—the radical shift where AI enables entire departments, and even companies, to be run by a single person. They explore real-world examples from tech and traditional industries, discuss the risks and rewards of this new model, and offer practical advice for leaders and entrepreneurs. If you're a business owner, manager, or anyone interested in the future of work, this episode is for you!

Highlights:

"What if the highest performing marketing team at your company was actually just one person?"

"AI is compressing entire departments into individual 'departments of one.'"

"The coordination tax is the overhead of meetings, getting along, and not getting along."

"This may be the end of the middle manager and the rise of the player-coach."

Timestamps:

01:41 – Introducing "The Great Flattening" Concept

02:30 – WhatsApp: $345M Value Per Employee

03:30 – Midjourney & Cursor: Creative and Dev Pancakes

07:21 – The Coordination Tax Explained

11:18 – Team Size, Efficiency, and the Two Pizza Rule

14:25 – AI Agents Replacing Marketing Teams

22:35 – Risks of Single-Person Departments

26:53 – The End of Middle Management?

37:19 – The Pancake Test: Is Your Department "Pancakeable"?

54:20 – Digital Marketer’s Department of One Beta Program

CONNECT

• Ask Roland a question HERE.

RESOURCES:

• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook

• Get my book, Zero Down, FREE

To learn more about Roland Frasier 👉 https://msha.ke/rolandfrasier/

Connect with me on social:

🎵 TikTok:

/ rolandfrasier

📸 Instagram:

Welcome to a new episode of Business Lunch. Today, we discuss practical strategies to navigate economic slowdowns, particularly during summer. They share insights on creative marketing, leveraging internal resources, and maximizing downtime. Whether you're experiencing a seasonal dip or a broader economic challenge, this episode is packed with actionable advice to keep your business thriving.

Highlights:

"The quickest way to drown out negativity is with an abundance of positivity."

"The Lord puts you into these situations knowing you can handle them. It's a test."

"Hard makes you resilient. Soft and easy doesn't make you resilient."

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

02:30 - Current Economic Trends

05:00 - Seasonal Slowdowns

10:00 - Strategies to Combat Slowdowns

15:00 - Leveraging Internal Resources

20:00 - Creative Marketing Ideas

25:00 - The Importance of Not Panicking

30:00 - Enhancing Offers and Bundles

35:00 - Acquisition Opportunities

40:00 - Long-Term Planning and Testing

CONNECT

• Ask Roland a question HERE.

RESOURCES:

• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook

• Get my book, Zero Down, FREE

To learn more about Roland Frasier 👉 https://msha.ke/rolandfrasier/

Connect with me on social:

🎵 TikTok:

/ rolandfrasier

📸 Instagram:

/ rolandfrasier

📱 Facebook:

Welcome to a new episode of Business Lunch! In this episode, Roland Frasier and Ryan Deiss dive deep into the importance of taking real vacations as entrepreneurs and business owners. They share personal stories about extended time off, discuss the dangers of burnout, and offer practical advice on setting boundaries and making rest a non-negotiable part of your business life. The conversation covers how stepping away can reset your habits, boost creativity, and ultimately make you more productive and fulfilled. This episode is a must for entrepreneurs, business owners, solopreneurs, and anyone feeling overwhelmed by their work. If you struggle to take time off, feel burned out, or want to learn how rest can actually help your business thrive, this conversation is for you.

Highlights:

“You have to not let your work schedule bully you.”

“Burnout happens when you run out of options and get super hyper resentful of the business.”

“Rest is work. You actually are more productive when you take some time off.”

“If you’re in a state of extreme burnout, before you do something drastic, take at least one week off.”

Timestamps:

00:00 - Returning from Vacation: Setting the Stage

00:38 - The Value of a 30-Day Break

00:54 - Off-Peak Living and Family Scheduling

03:55 - Work Expands to Fill Your Time

07:18 - There’s Never a Perfect Time for Vacation

0:09:22 - Burnout and Resentment: The Real Cost

0:10:54 - Teams vs. Solopreneurs: The Vacation Impact

14:11 - Why Your Business Exists to Serve You

19:18 - Staycations and Non-Negotiable Time Off

21:58 - Advice for Burnout: Take a Break Before Quitting

CONNECT

• Ask Roland a question HERE.

RESOURCES:

• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook

• Get my book, Zero Down, FREE

To learn more about Roland Frasier 👉 https://msha.ke/rolandfrasier/

Connect with me on social:

🎵 TikTok:

/ rolandfrasier

📸 Instagram: