It seems odd that a large corporation would launch a campaign that’s neither proprietary nor tightly controlled. So when American Express — a not-so-small business — created Small Business Saturday, they must have envisioned a great opportunity. And with the President and U.S. Senate’s support, in addition to countless Mom & Pops, it’s clear they were on to something.

Join host Mike O’Toole as he chats with several guests including one of the leaders behind Small Business Saturday, Mary Ann Fitzmaurice Reilly. They discuss how the initiative was started and how it has helped small, local shops gain a fair share of the holiday shopping season.

Having a sense of naïveté is never a bad thing. Because there are no risks, when there are no rules.

In the Beginner’s Mind, the most outlandish and bizarre ideas could be the best. And who knows? Maybe they’re right.

In this episode, host Mike O’Toole is joined by David Rogers of the Columbia Business School to discuss the "Zen mentality" importance of naïveté for new, unconventional brands. Using previous guests – such as Higher Ground Farm and Unreal Brands ­– they explain how sometimes not having an expertise gives brands more options to succeed.

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