If your sales feel random, inconsistent, or dependent on how motivated you feel that week, you don’t have a sales problem. You have a systems problem. Too many small business owners are selling by personality rather than process, and that’s a fast track to burnout from feast-or-famine sales. When you feel energized, you sell. When […]
The SmallBizChat Podcast: Lessons from Trailblazing Women Entrepreneurs with Melinda Emerson
In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson celebrates Women’s History Month by highlighting female business trailblazers. She shares lessons from iconic figures such as Madam CJ Walker and Estee Lauder, focusing on their strategies for building successful brands. Insights from Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Blakely offer valuable brand-building techniques, while growth strategies from Janice […]
How to Get Ready to Sell Your Business
Most entrepreneurs say they want to exit “someday,” but very few are intentionally building a company that is actually sellable. Exit planning isn’t about walking away tomorrow; it’s about building a business that someone would want to buy at any time. It’s about creating an asset instead of owning a job. If your company cannot […]
The SmallBizChat Podcast: Hit It and Quit It with Joe Mindak and Michelle Walker-Davis
In this episode, Melinda Emerson kicks off The SmallBizChat with a discussion on favorite business tools and tips. She shares her own recommendations and invites listeners to explore new strategies for enhancing their business operations. The conversation transitions to recommended business books, highlighting influential reads that have shaped successful entrepreneurs. Joe Mindak is a connector, operator, […]
For Better or Worse: The Vows Every Business Owner Eventually Learns
We rarely describe small business ownership as a love story. We dress it up as ambition, independence, or strategy. We talk about growth plans, revenue targets, and market positioning. But if you’ve owned a business long enough, you know the truth most owners eventually discover, often the hard way. Business ownership is one of the […]
The Team you Need to Buy a Business or Franchise (And Why Going Solo Is a Costly Mistake)
Buying a business or franchise is one of the smartest ways to step into entrepreneurship, but it’s also one of the fastest ways to lose money if you try to do it alone. Too many first-time buyers focus only on the deal, the price, the brand, and the opportunity, without considering the team needed to […]
The SmallBizChat Podcast: Hit It and Quit It with Carson Wagner, Angela Williams, and Dr. Stephanie West
In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Angela Williams, Dr. Stephanie West, and Carson Wagner for a panel discussion on their favorites in the world of podcasting, top apps for small business owners, marketing tips to enhance business growth, and must-read business books that have influenced their journeys. Carson Wagner, is the Founder and […]
How to Generate True Financial Freedom in America
For decades, Americans were taught a simple formula for security: earn a degree, work hard, climb the corporate ladder, and stay loyal to one employer. If you followed the rules, stability would follow. But over the last decade, that promise has quietly expired. Wages have failed to keep pace with inflation. Layoffs are now routine, […]
What to Stop Doing in Your Business This Year
January is full of noise. New planners. New goals. New promises to “do more.” But if you’re serious about growth this year, the smartest move you can make isn’t adding more to your plate; it’s deciding what to stop doing. This is a contrarian guide to reclaim your time, sharpen your focus, and lead your […]
Your 2026 Game Plan – How to Stop Reacting and Start Building a Profitable, Intentional Business
If the last few years have taught business owners anything, it’s this: hoping things will “settle down” is not a strategy. 2026 will reward the businesses that plan with precision, manage with discipline, and execute with confidence. If you want next year to look different from this one, you need a real game plan, not […]
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