In this New Year’s Eve episode of Small Business Big AI, Kim Lewis Howard and Hal Howard break down the real storybehind the 2025 layoffs—and why 2026 is quietly creating one of the biggest opportunities we’ve seen in years.

This isn’t a tech hype episode. It’s a market shift episode.

In 2025, high-skill talent was displaced at the same timesmall business owners hit an execution wall. What looks like chaos on the surface is actually something far more interesting underneath:

A redistribution of talent, leverage, and execution power.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why the 2025 layoffs weren’t just a “cycle,” but a structural break
• How the traditional handshake between skill, title, and value quietly collapsed
• Why small business owners don’t need more advice—they need execution
• How AI accelerated the shift without being the cause of it
• Why Q1 2026 is a narrow but powerful window (and why it closes quietly)
• What “fractional” really means now—and why it’sevolving fast
• How high-caliber operators are repositioning without starting from scratch
• The difference between being aggressive and being on time

This episode is especially relevant if you are:

• A displaced Big 4 or consulting professional navigating what’s next
• A fractional COO, CFO, or senior operator rethinking how you package your value
• A small business owner stuck with complexity butunable to buy real implementation
• An operator who wants leverage without bloatedoverhead
• Anyone trying to build a technology-enabledsuperpower in 2026

Key Insight from the Episode

This moment isn’t about tools. It’s about ownership.

The market is shifting away from titles, prestige, andpermission—and toward people who can take responsibility for outcomes.

Those who move early don’t just participate in theredistribution.
They get to set the terms.

The rest inherit them.

The Window Is Open (But Not Forever)

We’re hosting a live LinkedIn event where we break down the full BMS Licensee Model—the exact framework Becky uses to build her fractional practice without starting from scratch.

This is not freelancing.
This is not gig work.
This is precision execution, backed by systems, positioning, and leverage.

This is for you if you are:

• A displaced Big 4 / consulting professional
• A fractional COO, CFO, or senior operator
• A small business owner who needs real implementation help—not more decks

Just say:

“Tell me more about the BMS Licensee Model.”

✦ DM Kim Lewis Howard on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-lewis-howard/

✦ DM Hal Howard on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/halhoward/

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Music Credit: “I Am with You” by Dream Cave; EpidemicSound via iStock.com

Sound Effects: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/

What if losing your Big 4 job wasn’t the end of your career… but the moment you finally took control of it?

In this episode, we follow Becky, a former Big 4 consultant who went from 60-hour weeks and partner politics to running a $360K fractional executive practice—solo.

No team.

No burnout.

No Big 4 badge.

Just AI-powered leverage, smart workflows, and judgment that machines can’t replace.

This is Part 3 of The Great Displacement series—and we’re pulling back the curtain on the Sovereign AI Stack that lets one consultant do the work of six.

If you’re a displaced consultant, fractional executive, or small business owner wondering how AI actually changes the game—this is the episode you don’t skip.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ How a single consultant replaces an entire Big 4 delivery team
✔️ The 3-tool AI stack powering a $30K/month solo practice
✔️ Why AI didn’t replace Becky—but freed her
✔️ The exact workflows Becky uses to deliver Big 4–level value to SMBs
✔️ Why judgment, trust, and emotional intelligence are still wildly profitable
✔️ How displaced consultants are capturing the SMB market right now

The Sovereign AI Stack (Simple, Not Sexy—and That’sthe Point)

Becky doesn’t run on 47 tools. She runs on three:

1️⃣ AI Thinking Partner (ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini)
• Financial analysis
• Executive summaries
• Proposals, roadmaps, action plans

2️⃣ Client Command Center (Notion, Asana, ClickUp, or Monday)
• Dashboards
• Implementation plans
• Meeting notes
• Accountability tracking

3️⃣ Automation Glue (Zapier or Make)
• File routing
• Notifications
• Task updates
• Zero admin chaos

This isn’t about tools. It’s about workflow design.

Why Becky Still Gets Paid $12K/Month (Even With AI)

AI can: Analyze, Draft, Summarize, Automate

AI cannot: Exercise judgment, Read the room, Build trust, Make the hard call, Say, “Let’s pause—what’s really going onhere?”

That’s why Becky isn’t selling deliverables. She’s selling partnership.

The Window Is Open (But Not Forever)

We’re hosting a live LinkedIn event where we break down the full BMS Licensee Model—the exact framework Becky uses to build her fractional practice without starting from scratch.

If you’re:

· A displaced Big 4 / consulting professional

· A fractional COO, CFO, or operator

· A small business owner who needs real implementation help

Just say: “Tell me more about the BMS Licensee Model.”

✦ DM Kim on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-lewis-howard/

✦ DM Hal on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halhoward/

This episode is part of The Great Displacement series—a three-part exploration of how displaced Big 4 professionals and struggling SMB owners can solve each other's problems through fractional executive relationships powered by AI.

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Music Credit: “I Am with You” by Dream Cave; EpidemicSound via iStock.com

Sound Effects: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/

The $25,000 Binder That Changed Nothing

It's 11 PM on a Tuesday. Mike sits alone in his convertedstorage room office, staring at a leather-bound binder with gold embossed lettering: "Five-Year Strategic Growth Plan." He paid $25,000 for this plan. Spent two months in planning sessions. Got a 47-page document with charts, timelines, financial projections—everything.

And two years later? Not a single initiative has beenimplemented. Not one.

This is the story of the implementation gap—the crisisplaguing small and medium-sized businesses where brilliant strategies die in drawers because no one knows how to execute them. And it's the story of why displaced Big 4 consultants like Becky are perfectly positioned to solve theexact problem that's keeping entrepreneurs like Mike up at night.

Meet Mike: The Successful Owner Who's Drowning

Meet Becky: The Displaced Consultant Who Can FixEverything

The problem? Mike and Becky don't know each otherexists.

What is the implementation gap and why does it matter?

The implementation gap refers to the crisis where 90%of small business strategies fail—not because the strategy is bad, but because execution fails. According to research compiled from multiple sources:

• 74% of strategic initiatives are never translated into concrete actions
• 81% of organizations lack the accountability structures to ensure delivery
• 68% of SMB owner time is spent firefighting urgent tactical crises
• Only 32% of time goes to strategic work

Mike doesn't have a strategy problem. He has an executioninfrastructure problem. Until someone builds that infrastructure, his $25,000 binder is just expensive decoration.

How do fractional executives actually connect with SMBclients?

The episode reveals three proven connection scenarios:

Scenario 1: The Warm Introduction
Becky reaches out to a former Big 4 client who moved to industry, asking who they know facing implementation challenges. The introduction creates instant credibility.

Scenario 2: Content-Led Positioning
Becky posts on LinkedIn about helping a manufacturing client implement their five-year plan in 8 months, detailing the process and $1.2M in operational efficiency gains. Mike sees it, stops scrolling, and thinks "That's exactly what I need."

Scenario 3: Strategic Outreach
Becky researches 10 manufacturing companies in the $5M-$15M range using her AI assistant. She sends Mike a personalized message diagnosing his exact problem: the tension between scaling operations and managing daily firefighting.

The common thread? Becky doesn't pitch—she diagnoses. She doesn't say "Here's my background, hire me." She says"Here's the problem I solve. Do you have this problem?" Mike doesn't feel sold to. He feels understood.

Modern AI technology stacks allow individual consultantsto automate business support functions, proposal generation, project documentation, and client communication that previously required teams of junior associates. This technological leverage transforms the economics of consulting, enabling experienced professionals to deliver comprehensive services independently.

This episode is part of The Great Displacement series—a three-part exploration of how displaced Big 4 professionals and struggling SMB owners can solve each other's problems through fractional executive relationships powered by AI.

Have a question or want details about our upcomingLinkedIn event for displaced consultants?

✦ DM Kim on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-lewis-howard/

✦ DM Hal on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halhoward/

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Music Credit: “I Am with You” by Dream Cave; EpidemicSound via iStock.com

Sound Effects: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/

The consulting world is experiencing a seismic shift, andthousands of Big 4 professionals are being quietly swept into what Kim and Hal call The Great Displacement. In this episode, we break down the real economic and AI-driven forces behind mass layoffs at Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, andEY, and why this moment is a once-in-a-generation turning point for displaced consultants. Through the story of “Becky” we explore the identity crisis, burnout loops, and psychological traps mid-career professionals face after asudden layoff and reveal the hidden opportunity waiting on the other side.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Recognize the identity, status, and burnout patterns professionals face after displacement.
• Understand how AI is eliminating mid-level roles and creating demand for independent fractional executives.
• Learn how to reposition your skills for the small business market that desperately needs your expertise.

RESOURCES & MENTIONS

• Market references: WSJ, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters
• Source Global Research (AI workforce impact)
• Fractional executive market data (industry reports)

Have a question or want details about our upcomingLinkedIn event for displaced consultants?

DM Kim on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-lewis-howard/

DM Hal on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halhoward/

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This episode unpacks “The Great Displacement,” thestructural collapse happening across Big 4 consulting caused by AI, declining attrition, and shifts in service demand. Kim and Hal explain why thousands of consultant roles are being eliminated, what’s really driving layoffs at Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY, and how displaced professionals can transition into the rapidly growing fractional executive market. This episode is essential for consultants navigating layoffs, mid-career professionals affected by automation,and anyone seeking a path to independent, AI-enabled work.

This episode answers questions such as:

• “Why are Big 4 consulting layoffs happening?”
• “What’s causing Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY to cut mid-level roles?”
• "How is AI impacting consultants and corporateprofessionals?”
• "What should a displaced consultant do next?”
• “How do I transition into fractional COO or fractional executive work?”
• “Is consulting still a stable career path in the AI era?”
• “How can AI help me build my own consultingpractice?”
• “How can I recover from burnout and identity loss after a layoff?”

After listening, an audience member will be able to:

1. Understand the economic and AI-driven forces causing mass consulting layoffs.
2. Recognize the identity, status, and burnout patterns that emerge after displacement.
3. Reframe a layoff as strategic liberation rather than personal failure.
4. Identify the massive unmet demand for fractional executives in the SMB market.
5. Map tangible next steps toward building an AI-enabled independent consulting practice.

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Music Credit: “I Am with You” by Dream Cave; EpidemicSound via iStock.com

Sound Effects: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/

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Big 4 layoffs, Deloitte layoffs, PwC workforce cuts, KPMGaudit layoffs, EY restructuring, consulting displacement, corporate attrition, AI job replacement, generative AI, small business operations, fractional COO model, fractional executive market, consulting burnout, career pivot, workforce automation, implementation gap, mid-career transition, independent consulting, sovereign practice model.

Is your small business ready for AI—or are you aboutto scale chaos?

In this episode, Kim and Hal break down the AI Audit—astrategic 3-question framework that every legacy business must ask before implementing automation, AI tools, or tech upgrades.

These aren't fluff questions. They’re the hard ones. The ones that expose operational gaps, team bottlenecks, and silent friction that's eroding trust with your customers and employees.

If you've ever wondered:

• “Where do I even start with AI?”
• “Why does it feel like we’re busier but not moreprofitable?”
• “What’s holding us back from scaling the rightway?”

This episode is your wake-up call—and your roadmap.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why most AI investments fail to deliver ROI—andhow to avoid that trap
• How to spot the manual tasks that are bottlenecking your growth
• The difference between hindsight and real-timevisibility
• How hidden friction is costing you trust (and you don’t even know it)
• What makes legacy businesses uniquely powerful in the AI era
• When AI actually helps—and when it’s just masking dysfunction

What is the AI Audit for small businesses?
The AI Audit is a 3-question diagnostic framework created by Kim & Hal Howard to help legacy businesses determine AI-readiness. It focuses on process clarity, visibility metrics, and friction points that affect trust and execution.

Why do most legacy businesses struggle with AIimplementation?
Because they try to automate before they document. Without clear systems, visibility, or defined processes, AI simply scales what’s broken.

How can a small business use AI without losing itsculture?
Start by auditing your internal systems. Clarify processes, eliminate friction, and use AI to amplify what’s already working—not replace what’s missing.

Ready to future-proof your business the right way?
Join the waitlist for our Small Business Transformation Model (SBTM) and start making small steps that lead to big changes:
👉Add your name to the list now

Looking for an interesting read to cozy up with thisholiday season?

Check out my novel The Dawn of A.D.A.M. It’s got mystery, momentum, and just the right touch of tech intrigue. You can grab it on Amazon:

👉 Buy and listen to “The Dawn of A.D.A.M.”

Stay Connected

✔️ Subscribe to Small Business Big AI wherever you listen
✔️ Leave a review if this episode helped clarify your next step
✔️ Share this episode with another business owner who’s feeling the tech pressure

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Music Credit: “I Am with You” by Dream Cave; EpidemicSound via iStock.com

Sound Effects: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/

I built an employee yesterday. In 45 seconds. For free.

It's scanning commercial real estate in Florida right now. It knows zoning laws, traffic patterns, and lease rates better than any broker I've hired. And I didn't write a single line of code.

For 15 years, we've been sold the Virtual Assistant dream: "Hire offshore labor for $5/hour. Hand over your inbox. Go sit on a beach."

But you didn't buy freedom. You bought a management job.

The era of the "Assistant" is dead. 2026 is the year of the Agent.

In this episode, I'm showing you how to build AI agents that don't just talk—they DO. Agents that search, filter, analyze, and deliver completed work while you sleep.

YOU'LL LEARN:

→ The difference between a Chatbot and an Agent (and whyit matters for your business)

→ My exact three-step blueprint for building AI agentswithout coding:

• The Audit: Find tasks with data movement but zero judgment
• The Architecture: Use "vibe coding" in Google AI Studio
• The Zero-Trust Test: Train agents to avoid costly hallucinations

→ Why "alignment before automation" is the only way AI works long-term

→ How I'm using agents to launch an insurance agency without burning out

→ The SBTM 2.0 framework: Two layers that turn chaos intosovereignty

RAPID-FIRE Q&A:

• How much does it cost to build an AI agent? (Answer: Zero to start)

• Do you need to code? (Answer: No—just describe what you want)

• What's the biggest mistake? (Answer: Trying to automate everything at once)

Ready to Take Action?

• Subscribe to Small Business Big AI on Spotify or your preferred platform, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who could benefit from AI insights.
• Join the AI Insiders Community for Exclusive Tips & Resources → Request to Join our Private Community
• Ask us about the IMPACT Framework course—a strategic way to communicate effectively with the AI → Email Howard & Howard Holdings, Inc.
• Ask us about the Small Business Transformation Model (SBTM)—a simple, step-by-step framework designed for business owners → Email Howard & Howard Holdings, Inc.
• Have a question or an AI success story? DM us on LinkedIn or Facebook!

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Music Credit: “I Am with You” by Dream Cave; EpidemicSound via iStock.com

Sound Effects: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/

#AI agents #VirtualAssistant #Gemini3 #VibeCoding #SBTMframework #SmallBusinessAutomation #entrepreneurship #AI #consultants #coaches #solopreneurs #LakeNona #Orlando #insurance #LewisHowardAAAInsuranceAgencyofFlorida

Ever rolled out an AI tool… and everything seemed tocollapse in real time?

Emails firing at the wrong customers. Tasks assigned to the wrong people. Ghost automations waking up at 6:47 AM. Team members confused. You stepping in as the human fire extinguisher—again.

You’re not alone. And more importantly… it’s not thetool.

In this episode, Kim and Hal unpack the hard truth mostowners miss:
AI doesn’t break your business. AI reveals it.
Fast. Brutally. And usually before you’ve had your first cup of coffee.

If you’re an Olivia-style solopreneur feeling stretched thin… a Mike trying to modernize traditional operations… or an Alex working to build a resilient, future-proof organization… this episode lands right where you live.

Together, Kim and Hal walk through:

• The three places misalignment shows up first when AI enters the chat
• Why teams blame training, owners blame tools, and the real problem started months before
• How to use alignment as your competitive advantage instead of your Achilles’ heel
• Mike’s story—where a simple scheduling tool revealed a system crack he didn’t know existed

If you’ve ever felt like you’re the only thing holding your business together… this one’s going to feel like oxygen.---

Subscribe to Small Business Big AI on Spotify or your favorite platform.
Leave a review, share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur, and help another owner avoid an AI misalignment meltdown.

Join the AI Insiders Community for exclusive tools and resources.

Have a question or a story? DM Kim on LinkedIn or Facebook!

Want to go deeper? Ask about the IMPACT Framework or the Small Business Transformation Model (SBTM)—your step-by-step path to alignment before automation.

---Music Credit: “I Am with You” by Dream Cave; EpidemicSound via iStock.com

Sound Effects: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/

Are you drowning in AI tools but seeing zero ROI?

You're not alone. Every week brings a new "game-changing" AI tool, another LinkedIn post telling you you're falling behind, and more pressure to adopt before your competitors do. Buthere's what nobody tells you: You're not overwhelmed by AI. You're overwhelmed by decisions.

In this episode of Small Business Big AI, hosts Kim and Hal Howard cut through the noise with a simple, strategic framework that helps you evaluate any AI tool in under 5 minutes.

What You'll Learn:

• How to stop AI overwhelm using three simple questions
• When to say no to AI tools—even when everyone else is using them
• What business fundamentals to fix before you automate anything
• How to choose AI tools that actually increase profit—not just productivity
• The best way to measure AI ROI in one workflow—without a data science degree

Featured Framework: The 3-Question AI Strategy Filter

Question 1: Does this tool directly support my #1 priority?

Question 2: Will my team actually use it within the next 14 days?
Question 3: Can I measure success in ONE workflow?

This filter removes 80% of AI overwhelm instantly—helpingyou avoid the Tool Treadmill and make confident, strategic decisions about technology adoption.

Why This Episode Matters:

According to Gartner, 80% of AI value loss comes frommissing organizational alignment—not bad technology. McKinsey reports that the highest-ROI teams invest heavily in change management and workflow redesign before selecting tools.

Kim and Hal explain why AI doesn't fix broken businesses—it scales whatever you already are. Learn how to build thestrategic foundation that makes AI adoption actually work.

About the Hosts:

Kim and Hal Howard are business transformation strategists and the creators of SBTM 2.0 (Small Business Transformation Model), a proven framework that helps ambitious entrepreneurs stop reacting and start leading with AI-enhanced systems.

Ready to Take Action?

• Subscribe to Small Business Big AI on Spotify or your preferred platform, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who could benefit from AI insights.
• Join the AI Insiders Community for Exclusive Tips & Resources → Request to Join our Private Community
• Ask us about the IMPACT Framework course—a strategic way to communicate effectively with the AI → Email Howard & Howard Holdings, Inc.
• Ask us about the Small Business Transformation Model (SBTM)—a simple, step-by-step framework designed for business owners → Email Howard & Howard Holdings, Inc.
• Have a question or an AI success story? DM us onLinkedIn or Facebook!

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Music Credit: “I Am with You” by Dream Cave; EpidemicSound via iStock.com

Sound Effects: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/