As part of her ongoing mission to save entrepreneurs from business failure, Emerson has published a brand new book Fix Your Business: A 90-Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Remove Chaos From Your Business. 

Emerson has distilled the critical success factors of your business into what she calls the 12 P’s of running a successful business; preparation, purpose, people, profit, processes, productivity, performance, product, presence , prospects, planning, and perseverance. Think of them as pillars that hold up your business. If you run one pillar a week over 12 weeks, that’s 90 days.  You don’t have to run through the whole book, you can select any chapter or pillar and simply do a deep dive.

In each chapter, you’ll find a basic description of the concept an interview with an expert on the topic and a selection of fixes that you can use to get your business moving in the right direction.  At the end of each chapter is a section Emerson calls “Emerson’s Urgencies” where Melinda lists some triggers or events that serve as red flags for any small business owner.  Basically, if you are experiencing any of these emergencies — seek immediate help.

Read more…

1. 32 Ways to Fix Your Business
2. 6 Steps to Fix Your Culture and Get Your Business Back on Track.
3. 7 Flaws in Your Business Plan You Need to Fix

From the Tweet Chat

Q1: What’s the difference between a business and a hobby?

A1 The difference between a hobby and a business is the need for profit. Hobbies don't need profit but businesses do. #bizapaloozachat

— AJ Borowsky (@AskWhatNext) April 16, 2018

A1. One is a form of recreation and one is a profit-driven operation. #BizapaloozaChat https://t.co/7ekqo1dJCl

— Mike Rana ✈️📱🇺🇸 (@michaelranaii) April 16, 2018

A1. A hobby depletes checking and gain things. Business like a vacumm and vortex fan. #BizapaloozaChat pic.twitter.com/y6VGqi0IMq

— Dr. Dorrie Cooper (@sittingpretty61) April 16, 2018

Q2: What does it mean to be a business owner?

A2: Being a business owner means you understand the supply and demand for your product, you are able to delegate, and oversee all key functions necessary for a successful profit. #Bizapaloozachat pic.twitter.com/SscrwLErvl

— Andrea LiVigni (@Andrea_LiVigni) April 16, 2018

A2: Being responsible for the success or failure of your venture. Charting the path that allows you to achieve your business goals and plan. #BizapaloozaChat https://t.co/wm9cl4iRSj

— Jim Fuhs of Fuhsion Marketing #DSATL (@FuhsionMktg) April 16, 2018

Q3: In your opinion, why do small businesses fail?

A3: #bizapaloozachat
1) Not paying attention to cash flow
2) Trying to do everything
3) Not having a clear plan
4) Not being able to pivot when something goes wrong, lack of flexibility https://t.co/znkDwYqnA5

— Andrea Villeneuve (@DreaVilleneuve) April 16, 2018

A3) Hi folks – busy day but saw this question and thought I'd make a quick answer. 5 reasons #smallbiz fail: Don't understand customer; Undercapitalized; Don't plan; Fail to execute; Owner can't delegate https://t.co/E3EWUd87g5 (6 Little/no marketing) #BizapaloozaChat

— Louis Gudema (@LouisGudema) April 16, 2018

Q4: What are some red flags that will tell you that your business needs “fixing”?

A4: Lack of revenue #bizapaloozachat pic.twitter.com/cnqqARssH7

— Andrea LiVigni (@Andrea_LiVigni) April 16, 2018

A4 high employee/customer churn, constant cash flow challenges, daily stress and you dread going to work…. #bizapaloozachat

— Melinda Emerson (@SmallBizLady) April 16, 2018

Q5: What are some things every business owner should be doing regularly to assure that their business is healthy?

A5 Ensure you have a business plan that includes risk management and flexibility. And don't just fling it anywhere. Work your plan #bizapaloozachat

— ShereeseM, MS/MBA (@ShereesePubHlth) April 16, 2018

A5 Use a budget and set annual sales goals, which in turn become monthly and weekly sales goals.
#bizapaloozachat

— Melinda Emerson (@SmallBizLady) April 16, 2018

Q6: If you were a camera documenting a “successful and happy” business owner, what would you see?

A6 You would see a business owner that had staff and know how to delegate
#bizapaloozachat

— Melinda Emerson (@SmallBizLady) April 16, 2018

A6: A successful business owner would look like someone who is putting in the hours to meet customer demands as well as analyzing trends to make necessary changes in order to MAKE THAT MONEY #bizapaloozachat

— Andrea LiVigni (@Andrea_LiVigni) April 16, 2018

Q7: How do you manage the stress of running a business?

A7: My stress busters:
💜morning kundalini meditation 💚daily green breaks (look at or walk in nature)🌿
❤️ dance or hear live music weekly 💃🎶
💛 connect with community & family 👩‍❤️‍👩
🖤eat high-protien organic meals 3x/day🥑#BizapaloozaChat#BizapaloozaChat https://t.co/VS7AhX9cmm

— Stacey DePolo 🌻 (@sdepolo) April 16, 2018

A7 To me is fun so limited stress & we automate many systems so it makes it EZr across the board 😎 #Bizapaloozachat

— BrainBlender🤔🌐 (@BrainBlenderTec) April 16, 2018

A7. By looking for ways to reduce it. Taking care of ourselves personally is a large component of managing the stress.#BizapaloozaChat

— Walt L. Jones III (@seqadvisory) April 16, 2018

Q8: Should every small business owner strive for growth? Why or Why not?

A8: Absolutely! we all want have growth. You will creating jobs and still having the same standards as you did in n the beginning stages. Be sure to stay "CLOSE KNIT FAMILY " #bizapaloozachat

— Yakitonka Vaughn (@YakitonkaV) April 16, 2018

A8 Yes! No one feels likes to feel like they are running the hampster wheel and not getting anywhere. #BizapaloozaChat pic.twitter.com/IttL7IGm16

— Sarah Lynn Medlock (@beergaloc) April 16, 2018

Q9: What are the different types of growth worth striving for?

A9:
Customers/Clients
Repeat customers/clients
Staff/employees
Diversification – other ventures, physical locations, added services/products
Passive income possibilities – less work for more or same money#BizapaloozaChat

— Suzanne Stewart (@SuzanneStewart1) April 16, 2018

A9 personal and career. Find your niche, learn everything you can, become an “expert” and teach others what you know. #BizapaloozaChat pic.twitter.com/bcy9sxl5jh

— Tianna Winters (@socialbytw) April 16, 2018

Q10: What is ONE “Fix” you are working on in your business RIGHT NOW? Why?

A10 Pulling back on events & portfolio so that I can finish up editing a few books 📚 so I can tandemize tour😎 #BizapaloozaChat

— BrainBlender🤔🌐 (@BrainBlenderTec) April 16, 2018

A10 We are getting our site up soon for launch (https://t.co/V4rF43jAp8). So for right now, it's user acquisition, initial interest, and early adopters. On top of that, getting the right message out. #bizapaloozachat #DigitalMarketing

— Joe Jason Cayetano (@GameofJoes) April 16, 2018

A10) I'm currently recovering from an externally imposed TERRIBLE 2017. Rebuilding the pipeline, doing some restructuring, and ramping up the book promotion. So far, so good. #BizapaloozaChat

— Tom Reid (@_TomGReid) April 16, 2018