The 7 Roles Every Small Business Owner Must Master (and How to Manage Them

The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I discussed the many hats small business owners wear and how to manage them effectively. Running a business often feels like spinning plates—balancing leadership, sales, client management, and more. Without the right systems in place, entrepreneurs can quickly become overwhelmed.

I broke down the seven essential roles every small business owner must master and shared practical strategies for streamlining operations, leveraging automation tools, and using business delegation to scale efficiently. From marketing strategy to project management, these insights help entrepreneurs focus on business growth while reducing day-to-day chaos.

Mastering these small business management roles is key to scaling a business without burnout. By delegating, automating, and focusing on core priorities, entrepreneurs can build a more sustainable and profitable business.

Key Takeaways:

• CEO Vision: Small business owners must take time to plan long-term goals and growth strategies to avoid getting stuck in daily tasks.
• Sales & Marketing: Consistently generating leads and automating follow-ups ensures a steady pipeline of clients.
• Strategic Planning: A repeatable marketing strategy helps differentiate your business and deliver measurable results.
• Project & Client Management: Using productivity tools for entrepreneurs like Monday or Asana simplifies workflow and client communication.
• Finance & Accounting: Outsourcing bookkeeping frees up time and ensures financial stability.
• Time Management & Delegation: Leveraging virtual assistants for business and outsourcing for small businesses reduces workload while improving efficiency.
• Automation & AI: Sales automation and business process automation help small business owners scale without increasing workload.

Chapters:

[00:26] Juggling Multiple Roles
[04:38] The CEO Role
[05:37] The Sales Person Role
[07:09] The Strategist Role
[08:46] The Project Manager Role
[09:49] The Marketing Role
[12:59] The Client Manager Role
[13:56] The 4-Prong Approach