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/