Hit It and Quit It with Tonya Thomas, Saul Cohen, and Garrick C. Francis

In this episode of The SmallBizChat podcast, Melinda Emerson hosts a panel with Tonya Thomas, Saul Cohen, and Garrick C. Francis for a lively conversation about the tools and ideas that help small businesses keep moving. They share favorite podcasts, business apps, and old school marketing tactics, along with the books that have shaped their thinking.

How to Build a Legacy by Design with Garrick C. Francis

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson talks with Garrick C. Francis about building a legacy by design before retirement. They discuss how small business and corporate experience shape a legacy mindset, the move from success to significance, and why legacy goes beyond assets. The conversation covers life events that prompt leaders to rethink purpose, separating founder identity, reducing founder gravity, and seeing legacy as relationships, mentorship, service, and stewardship. Garrick also shares the habits and internal work needed for intentional legacy planning, plus the value of taking a legacy deployment gap before the next chapter.

How We Can Truly Take Care of Our Customers with Scott Romesser, Chief Customer Officer, GoTo

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson talks with Scott Romesser about why customer care is central to business growth. They discuss how to create a strong first impression, common service mistakes small businesses make, and why existing customers can become a business’s best marketing channel. Scott shares ways to stand out, support customers with limited staff, empower frontline employees, and use AI without losing the human touch. The conversation also covers feedback, differentiation, and caring for customers before they become customers.

How to Increase Your Business Valuation and Build Wealth with Saul Cohen

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson is joined by Saul Cohen to explore strategies for increasing business valuation. They discuss the differences between an operator and an investor mindset, addressing common revenue misconceptions. The conversation covers key drivers of business valuation, the importance of knowing and tracking key performance indicators, and effective tax planning for selling a business. Saul also highlights the emotional aspects of selling and common mistakes that can reduce business value.

How to Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Business with Tonya Thomas

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson is joined by Tonya Thomas to explore the pitfalls of becoming a bottleneck in business and how it can impede growth. They discuss the critical responsibilities of a CEO and the challenges associated with delegation, highlighting common mistakes when hiring operations or virtual assistants. The conversation includes a comparison of US-based versus overseas virtual assistants and presents a real-life example of a CEO overcoming overwhelm.

Hit It and Quit It with Clarence Wooten and Susan Hull Walker

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson starts with an introduction, providing an overview of the podcast and encouraging subscriptions. The episode is sponsored by Cofounder.ai. Melinda then introduces the "Hit It and Quit It" segment, where she engages in a rapid-fire discussion about business favorites, including podcasts, apps, marketing tricks, and books.

How Global Artisans Are Building Scalable Brands with Susan Hull Walker

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 operational challenges faced by artisan groups. Susan delves into the process of transforming local crafts into global brands and envisions the future of the global artisan economy.

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 small businesses make when implementing AI. Clarence introduces the concept of software as a partner (SAP) and outlines the first steps small businesses should take to integrate AI effectively.

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 essential business literature, highlighting some of the best books for entrepreneurs.

How to Utilize Collaboration to Grow Your Visibility with LaChelle Adkins

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson is joined by LaChelle Adkins to explore the power of collaboration in small business success. LaChelle shares her journey into coaching and emphasizes the importance of choosing collaboration over traditional marketing. The discussion delves into the difference between networking and strategic collaboration, highlighting common mistakes and offering creative strategies for small businesses. LaChelle shares insights on overcoming fear when approaching potential partners and recounts a personal success story.

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 become a coach and access TAP services, and discuss building an advisory ecosystem. Jane highlights the signs that coaching is needed and shares insights on TAP's reach and success. The conversation concludes with practical steps for overwhelmed entrepreneurs, identifying TAP's ideal customer, and sharing valuable business advice.

America at 250: Mary Ellen Pleasant - America's First Black Venture Capitalist

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson delves into the remarkable entrepreneurial journey of Mary Ellen Pleasant as part of the America 250 series. The discussion covers Pleasant's ventures during the California Gold Rush and draws parallels with modern AI advancements. Melinda highlights Pleasant's role as America's first black venture capitalist, her challenges, and her use of social capital to champion civil rights.

America at 250: Mary Katharine Goddard - America's First Woman Publisher

In this episode, Melinda Emerson continues the America 250 series by spotlighting Mary Katharine Goddard, a pioneering figure in American history. The discussion begins with an overview of Goddard's early life and her significant contributions as a printer and distributor of the Declaration of Independence. Melinda examines Goddard's role as a postmaster and the enduring legacy she left in the realm of entrepreneurship.

America at 250: Frederick Douglass - The Power of Owning Your Voice

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson highlights Frederick Douglass's remarkable entrepreneurial journey as part of the America 250 series. The discussion delves into Douglass's early life, his escape from slavery, and his rise as a prominent public speaker. Melinda explores Douglass's founding of The North Star newspaper, emphasizing his pursuit of financial independence and mission-driven entrepreneurship.

America at 250: James Forten - America’s First Black Millionaire

In this episode, Melinda Emerson introduces a special series spotlighting historical entrepreneurs, focusing on James Forten. The discussion highlights Forten's early life and challenges, his significant role in the American Revolution, and his innovative contributions to sail making. Melinda delves into Forten's acquisition of the sail loft and his approach to building a skilled workforce. The episode also explores his philanthropic efforts and family legacy.

America at 250: Benjamin Franklin - America's First Great Entrepreneur

In this episode, Melinda Emerson delves into a special series spotlighting notable entrepreneurs, with a focus on Ben Franklin as America's first mega entrepreneur. The discussion covers Franklin's early life, self-learning, and his move to Philadelphia, highlighting his printing career and the acquisition of the Pennsylvania Gazette. Melinda explores the creation and impact of Poor Richard's Almanac and Franklin's innovative business model, including his approach to franchising. The episode also examines Franklin's contributions to public institutions and key entrepreneurial lessons that can inspire today's small business owners.

How to Use Social Ecosystems to Build Your Business with Terry James

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Terry James, who shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights on the impact of social media on loneliness and consumer behavior. Terry provides an overview of his ventures, OffLeashed and Nibble and Wag, emphasizing the importance of listening to customers. The discussion explores the distinction between building an audience and fostering a community, and how to balance community engagement with innovation.

Hit It and Quit It with Michelle Snow and Malcolm Reid Sr.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson kicks off the rapid-fire session where guests share their favorite podcast, app, marketing tip, and business book.

How to Grow a Coaching Business with Malcolm Reid, Sr.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Malcolm Reed Sr. to explore his journey into business coaching and the common challenges faced by coaches. They discuss the critical role of building robust business systems and the importance of establishing a solid business infrastructure. Malcolm shares insights on the risks of positioning oneself as a guru and offers strategies for building trust and authority without relying on social media. The conversation highlights integrity within the coaching industry and recommends the first system overwhelmed coaches should implement.

How to Transition from Business Owner to CEO with Michelle Snow

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Michelle Snow to explore the transition from business owner to CEO, highlighting key differences and necessary mindset shifts. They discuss the importance of delegation, training, and effective business operations, along with systems and tools for scalability. The conversation delves into the role of integrity and accountability in leadership, the significance of building a transparent business culture, and offers advice on operating with full integrity.