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You are here: Home / The SmallBizChat Podcast / The SmallBizChat Podcast: Hit It and Quit It with Joe Mindak and Michelle Walker-Davis

The SmallBizChat Podcast: Hit It and Quit It with Joe Mindak and Michelle Walker-Davis

February 19, 2026 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

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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, and author focused on turning social capital into real economic outcomes. He co-founded Nolodex, a referral platform designed to help communities and B2B organizations capture, track, and pay for introductions, bringing transparency and accountability to a channel that’s historically been hard to manage. He is also the founder of The Connective, a curated, multi-chapter network of vetted connectors, experts, and founders who open doors for one another and share commissions through a clear, tech-enabled model. For more information: https://www.nolodex.com

Michelle Walker-Davis is a serial entrepreneur, global speaker, author, and social justice advocate for women in business. Known as the “$850 Billion Dollar Boss,” she is a nationally recognized expert in grants, government contracting, and funding strategy. Michelle is the CEO and Founder of Imperial Management Group (IMG), the only AI generative tech development firm dedicated to helping minority-serving organizations and communities access public and private funding. Under her leadership, IMG has helped clients secure more than $50 million in grants and government contracts, building capacity, sustainability, and long-term economic impact. For more information https://www.imgconsulting.info

Listen to the podcast below:

https://media.blubrry.com/thesmallbizchatpodcast/succeedasyourownboss.com/audio/SBC-HitItAndQuitIt-Feb2026.m4a

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Podcasts Mentioned: 

  • SmallBizChat Podcast with Melinda Emerson
  • Big Heads Network Podcast with John Palumbo

Apps Mentioned: 

  • Whatsapp
  • ChatGPT
  • Mint

Old School Marketing Tips: 

  • Always be selling.
  • Spend time on LinkedIn every day, add your ideal client profile, and look at who you might be connected to.  Get introductions that way.

Books Mentioned: 

  • Dare to Dream by Valerie Jeannis
  • One Phone Call Away: Secrets of a Master Networker by Jeffrey Meshel
  • 10x is Easier than 2x by Dan Sullivan

Connect with Joe Mindak:

Website:  https://www.nolodex.com
LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemindak

Connect with Michelle Walker-Davis:

Website: https://www.imgconsulting.info
LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-walker-davis
Instagram:  
https://www.instagram.com/michellewalkerdavis
Facebook: 
 https://www.facebook.com/mwalkerdavis
TikTok: 
https://www.tiktok.com/@michellewalkerdav5

Get More!

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Filed Under: Business Inspiration, Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Leadership, SmallBizChat, Teams, The SmallBizChat Podcast Tagged With: AI in business, business funding, business grants, business management tips, business networking, business tips, entrepreneurship, financial readiness, first-time funding mistakes, government contracts, maintaining business relationships, minority entrepreneurs, monetizing relationships, Nolodex platform, referral strategies, revenue channels, small business advice, small business resources, women entrepreneurs

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About Melinda Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, “SmallBizLady” is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, social selling, and online marketing strategy. As CEO of Quintessence Group, her Philadelphia-based marketing consulting firm serves Fortune 500 brands that target the small business market. Clients include Amazon, Adobe, Verizon, VISA, Google, FedEx, Chase, American Express, The Hartford, and Pitney Bowes. She also has an online school, www.smallbizladyuniversity.com, that teaches people online marketing and how to start and grow a successful small business and publishes a blog SucceedAsYourOwnBoss.com. Her advice is widely read, reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She hosts The Smallbizchat Podcast and is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, Revised and Expanded, and Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.

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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, […]

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