The SmallBizLady Buzz - Issue 40

This is a good time to reflect and get ready.

This has been a very trying year for us all, but I think it gives us new appreciation for family and those who are like family who we've allowed to be in our respective bubbles. I am very grateful the Congress finally got its act together to send more relief for America's small businesses. I am grateful to my family and Team SmallBizLady for grinding with me through the year, this my 21st year in business. We have been tested this year, but we are stronger than ever. I am grateful to our many customers who have allowed us to serve small businesses this year including Chase, Verizon, Thryv, Citi, Citizens Bank, Inc., PwC, Dell, and American Express. 

We have great things ahead in 2021. Look for a big announcement on January 11th, and I am very proud to announce that the new edition of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months will be released this Summer. We have not been idle throughout this Pandemic. I've been in the lab reading and writing figuring out new ways to help you live your dream life as a small business owner. For those of you, who saw your businesses close this year, try to look for the lesson. When you regroup and relaunch your business, you are going to be that much better. For those of you who couldn't apply for PPP Loans because your paperwork and taxes were not in order, get ready, your second chance is weeks away. Get Ready. God bless you all, you are my heroes. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all.

We have pulled together the best of my blog posts this year according to what you all read, clicked on and shared. Maybe a reread, will give you a great new idea. Enjoy!  

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Top 10 Small Business Blog Posts from 2020

2021 is around the corner, so it is time to look back and reflect as I share my annual list of the top 10 small business blog posts from 2020. 

2020 was certainly a year for the history books! A global pandemic struck and completely changed the way we worked (and lived) – changes that will continue to impact us for years to come. 

This list of top 10 small business blog posts from 2020 captures the essence of this crazy year and highlights the most relevant articles that resonated with my readers this year. There is some great content on this list, so make sure to check out the articles you missed! Continue reading....

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EFFORTLESS SECURITY...FROM ANYWHERE.

The end of the year is a great time to change your passwords. The app Last Pass allows you to set up your master password & let LastPass take care of the rest. Get LastPass for free across all of your devices & stay in control of your digital data. They provide convenient access, best in class security, generate secure passwords with autofill. They offer free and premium accounts.

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Podcast: How to Build a Business that Can Run Without You

Check out this week’s Podcast: How to Build a Business that Can Run Without You

On this podcast, I discuss why your ultimate goal as an entrepreneur should be to build your company to run without your immediate influence as a leader. I highlight the rewards you can reap as a leader by building a business that can run independently, including the ability to be more selective with the projects you take on personally. I also share several steps you can take to move your company and its culture in a direction that is more self-sustaining and less owner-dependent.

“A business that is independent of its owner is more valuable than ones that are owner-driven.” - Melinda Emerson

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Alert: African-American Women Business Owners Babson College is looking for you!

Join a group of up to 40 black women entrepreneurs and get access to vital business expertise, and a supportive community of mentors and fellow female founders. Apply to Babson’s Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (BWEL), a program created for Black female founders by the #1 school for entrepreneurship education in the world.

The BWEL program is designed specifically for black women seeking to hone their entrepreneurial leadership skills, grow their network, and gain resources to propel their businesses and professional growth. Applications are open until Sunday, January 3rd, 2021. To learn more, go to: https://bit.ly/babsonbwel

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Want to Be a Guest Blogger?

Our mission is to end small business failure. We welcome expert voices to submit guest articles of original, high-value content that focus on educating and helping entrepreneurs and small business owners run a better business.

If you have topics of interest to small business owners, click here to contribute!

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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.