In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson welcomes Susan Hall Walker to discuss the inspiring journey behind the Ibu Movement and its impact on artisan networks. Susan shares the origins of Ibu and how it operates to expand and support artisan communities globally. The conversation highlights shifts in consumer preferences toward handmade goods and […]
The AI-Enabled Workplace: 7 Signs Your Business May Be Falling Behind
AI is quickly becoming an everyday business tool that is transforming how we all communicate, make decisions, serve customers, and improve productivity. The question is no longer whether AI will change the workplace. The real question is whether your small business is keeping pace. Many business owners believe adopting AI simply means purchasing a subscription […]
The SmallBizChat Podcast: How to Leverage AI Strategically to Grow Your Business with Clarence Wooten
In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson welcomes Clarence Wooten to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the innovative world of AI. Clarence shares his experiences with successful business exits and his transition from Google to founding CoFounder AI. The conversation highlights how CoFounder AI distinguishes itself from other AI tools and addresses common mistakes […]
Are You Running a Business for Impact or Applause?
Scroll through social media for five minutes, and you’ll see carefully curated highlight reels of entrepreneurial success. Luxury vacations. Sold-out events. Six-figure launches. New cars. Glamorous conferences. Viral videos. Thousands of likes and congratulatory comments. It’s easy to look at all of that and think, “That’s what success looks like.” But is it? As entrepreneurs, […]
The SmallBizChat Podcast: Hit It and Quit It with Jane Veron and LaChelle Adkins
In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson kicks things off with a brief introduction and sponsor mention, followed by the engaging “Hit it and quit it” segment. The conversation shifts to a lively discussion about favorite business tools and marketing tips, offering listeners practical insights to enhance their business strategies. The episode also explores […]
How to Get Your Business Ready for the Holiday Shopping Season
The holiday shopping season can be the most profitable time of year for small businesses, but only if you are prepared. Customers are ready to spend, companies are purchasing year-end gifts, and people are actively searching for products and services that make their lives easier. However, increased demand also brings more competition, tighter deadlines, inventory […]
The SmallBizChat Podcast: How to Utilize Collaboration to Grow Your Visibility with LaChelle Adkins
In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by LaChelle Adkins to discuss her journey and the Fresh Start Coaching Program. LaChelle shares insights on starting a coaching business and the importance of helping businesses enhance their visibility through effective marketing strategies. The conversation explores the differences between networking and strategic collaboration, emphasizing the value of […]
Thinking About Selling Your Business Someday? Here’s What You Need to Do Years Before the Deal
Most business owners spend years building a company and only months preparing to sell it. Unfortunately, that’s backwards. Steven Covey said it best, ‘Begin with the End in Mind.’ The most successful business exits are not created during negotiations. They are created years before a buyer ever appears. The difference between a good exit and […]
The SmallBizChat Podcast: How to Leverage Coaching to Grow Your Business with Jane Veron
In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Jane Veron to delve into the intricacies of entrepreneurship and the support offered by the Acceleration Project (TAP). Jane shares her background and discusses the common challenges entrepreneurs face, including capital and credit issues, and emphasizes the importance of coaching and seeking help. They explore how to […]
How to Vibe Code Your Next Big Business Idea
For years, one of the biggest barriers to starting a technology company was knowing how to code. Entrepreneurs with great ideas often found themselves searching for technical co-founders, hiring expensive developers, or shelving their ideas altogether because they lacked programming skills. Those days are quickly coming to an end. Welcome to the era of vibe […]