The SmallBizLady Buzz - Issue 12

Extreme circumstances Require Extreme Prayer

The events of the last week and a half have taken me through a range of emotions from extreme sadness and trauma to furious anger and then exhaustion. Handling systemic racism in America is exhausting. Since I was a little girl, I was taught that I must be excellent to even measure up to the average Caucasian counterpart. The constant drive to be excellent turned me into a Type AA overachiever for sure, but it also gave me a complex. I have always been aware that I would be carefully scrutinized. That my business would be carefully scrutinized, and even after all that inspection, I am often offered less for my services, or charged a higher interest rate for my loan, or have little to no access to capital, despite my esteemed pedigree, credit score and education. Despite my 21 years in business, it's still a struggle to get capital. As a mother of a black teenager, who stands 5'9", I fear for my son’s safety and my own at times. 

So now all of this maltreatment has hit a fever pitch. 

If you ask me if I’m ok, I’m not really. But what I know for sure is when I don't feel ok, all I can do is stand on God’s promise. You see His love never changes, and He does His best work in valley seasons. He hears the prayers of the righteous. Some battles can only be fought on your knees. Thus, extreme circumstances require extreme prayer.

If you are looking for a new way forward in your business, blogging could be a new business model. My weapon of choice has always been a pen. If you help people with your words, you can turn it into a business. Check out this week’s feature article which is part of the three part series. Blogging for Business Part 1: Developing a Content Strategy.

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Blogging for Small Business Part I – How to Develop a Content Strategy

I’ve been blogging for 12 years, and I will tell you that it’s no small thing to build a brand online using content. To develop a blog, you need to define the purpose for your blog, a specific target audience, an engaging content strategy, and build up a significant following in social media, if you want to monetize your blog. Continue reading....

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Feeling anxiety? Try a meditation app. 

I like the Calm app. It helps you begin each day with The Daily Calm, a unique 10-minute mediation. So, breathe in, hold, breathe out, and get into the practice of not giving in to overwhelm.

They offer a free trial, so try it today. 

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Check out my recent podcast, Africa: The Continent of Opportunities with Thelma Ekiyor.

Thelma Ekiyor is an investor, entrepreneur, advisor, fundraiser, attorney, and international development expert who is passionate about empowering women, specifically in decision-making. Thelma is the Managing Partner of impact investment platform SME.NG, co-founder of Ebi Fund, CEO of Afrigrants Resources Ltd, and founder of The Funding Space. She has also served as a strategic policy adviser and consultant for UN Women Nigeria on Peace & Security. 

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Develop your new plan for life beyond the crisis, today!

Are looking for a new business strategy. Check out my new ebook How to Recession Proof Your Small Business.

This new ebook holds the information you need to reorganize your business in this new era.

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Subscribe and don't forget to leave a comment below!

Melinda F. Emerson, “SmallBizLady” is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, marketing and social selling. Melinda is also the president of the Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA, serving Fortune 500 brands who target small business market. LinkedIn named her a Top Voice for 2019 in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In addition to being a former NY Times columnist, she is frequently quoted by media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MSNBC, CNBC and Fox News. She is the host of #Smallbizchat LIVE and The SmallBizChat Podcast. A prolific writer, Melinda has published more than 5000 articles on her blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, 2nd Edition. Her latest book is Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.