Learn from your mistakes. How many times have you heard that tired old phrase? But the truth is that it’s a very true phrase that describes why those who succeed in business DO succeed. They make mistakes. Nothing wrong with that. But they learn from them, they grow from them, and they don’t make them again. That’s the message you’ll hear loud and clear from Melinda Emerson, the Small Biz Lady who has made million dollar business hum along on the back of her own mistakes. She’s turned those mistakes into lessons that she now uses to help other women entrepreneurs start the business that will give them happiness and freedom. Join Rosetta on this episode as she and Melinda chat about business, life, regrets, and the will to succeed.
Trusting yourself when nobody else will.
If you want to start a business that can create the lifestyle you want, you have to have thick skin at times. Not everyone is going to support you. Sometimes the ones who should be cheering you on the most will be the ones who are the most negative about your dreams. Are you ready for that? Are you able to trust yourself, your ability, and your desire to make yourself succeed to the point that you can keep going when everyone says you’re crazy? That’s what Melinda Emerson had to do and her persistence has paid off with a million dollar business. Hear her story of pain and triumph, on this episode of Happy Black Woman.
Don’t start a business by quitting your job!
Your dream is not enough to justify you quitting your day job. That’s one of the messages Melinda Emerson shouts from the rooftops. You’ve got to take care of yourself and your family while you build that business dream. It’s typically going to be a side hustle you do in your spare time while you keep on working at the job you want to leave. It’s how you do things wisely, securely, and in a way that enables you to learn your lessons and make your mistakes while you have something secure to fall back on. Hear more of Melinda’s practical advice for starting your own business on this episode.
You don’t have to be everywhere on social media.
You just have to be in the right places. What ARE the right places? The social media sites that are right for you are the social media sites where your ideal customers hang out. It doesn’t matter if it’s your favorite or the one you hate. If it’s where your ideal customers are, you’ve got to be there. In this episode, the small biz lady, Melinda Emerson shares how she learned that principle and how it’s leveraged her business into a million dollar brand that has become well known and very successful. You’ll love her practical approach.
You never lose in business. You either win, or you learn.
That’s Melinda Emerson’s favorite mantra for her business and that attitude of learning from mistakes has carried her to the heights of success. She’s made all kinds of mistakes, which she’s outlined in her book, “Becoming Your Own Boss in 12 Months,” and it’s those mistakes that have given her the expertise and education to turn the corner toward success and help others build their businesses without making the same mistakes. If you take the time to listen to this episode you’ll see why Melinda is The Small Biz Lady, so be sure you do it.
Outline of this great episode:
- [0:29] Rosetta’s welcome to this episode and her introduction of her guest, Melinda Emerson.
- [1:22] The work Melinda does and the mission she’s about.
- [3:39] The turning point that got Melinda into helping other business people.
- [11:00] Trusting yourself when nobody else will.
- [14:05] Why you have to be steadfast and determined.
- [16:44] Advice to those who are looking to launch a business this year.
- [20:44] How Melinda runs a productive business.
- [26:26] Why “team” is one of the most important words in Melinda’s business.
- [31:00] A favorite book or two from Melinda.
- [34:40] A personal mantra or motto.
- [35:47] The #1 tip for the Happy Black Women community.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- www.SucceedAsYourOwnBoss.com – Melinda’s blog
- Become Your Own Boss In 12 Months – Melinda’s book
- Quintessence Group – Melinda’s company
- Small Business Lady – Melinda’s Facebook Page
- BOOK: The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber
- BOOK: The Salt Eaters by Toni Cade Bambara
- The Color Purple on Broadway
About Melinda Emerson:
Melinda F. Emerson, known as SmallBizLady, is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She has been a thriving entrepreneur for nearly 15 years and is an internationally known keynote speaker. Melinda’s small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week on the internet. A pioneer in social media marketing, she is the creator and host of #Smallbizchat, the longest running live chat on Twitter for small business owners.
In addition to being a regular columnist for the New York Times, she is frequently quoted by other media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MSNBC and Fox News. Forbes magazine named her the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She is an expert on what it takes the start a successful small business, marketing pitfalls to avoid, and how to become a brand in demand using social media. She is the publisher of her resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com, which is syndicated by the Huffington Post and is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months and the ebook How To Become a Social Media Ninja. She is also a regular contributor to Essence magazine and the lead instructor for the Black Enterprise Small Business University.
Melinda is the founder and president of the Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA. Her company works with Fortune 500 companies on to build marketing campaigns and social media strategy to engage small business customers. She advises her clients on how to create a path to purchase with entrepreneurs and women business owners. Notable Clients Include: Pitney Bowes, American Express, Dell, Staples, Sam’s Club, Chase Bank, Facebook, FedEx, IKEA, Verizon, Wells Fargo, and Xerox.
In 2012, she created the Melinda F. Emerson Foundation for small business success. The focus of the organization is to provides training materials for small organizations and schools to teach her Become Your Own Boss business curriculum, provide mentoring and business training for minority and women entrepreneurs through the Reinvention Weekend Program, and scholarships for existing entrepreneurs to attend executive education programs.
Melinda is a graduate of Virginia Tech and the proud mother of her amazing son. Her favorite message to small business owners; You never lose in business! Either you win or you learn.
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Rosetta Thurman is a nationally-recognized author, speaker, mentor and coach dedicated to helping women create their ideal lives.