In this episode Melissa shares actionable strategies to wrap up 2024 and enter 2025 with clarity and purpose. As the year-end approaches, Melissa discusses the common challenges business owners face—whether you're pushing to hit your goals, taking a well-deserved break, or feeling stuck—and how to tackle them head-on. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: How to analyze your business month by month. Key metrics to evaluate: revenue, cash flow, sales strategies, and more. The difference betwe...
Dec 11, 2024•22 min
Melissa dives into one of the most pressing challenges businesses face: team dynamics and performance. As the busy season shines a spotlight on every crack in the system, Melissa shares how leaders can create clarity, foster accountability, and build a high-performing team. Key Takeaways: The Power of Clarity: Why clearly defined roles and responsibilities are the cornerstone of success. Temporary vs. Permanent Changes: How to handle shifting responsibilities without creating confusion. Leadersh...
Dec 04, 2024•31 min
In this episode, Melissa dives deep into the mindset shift required to transform your business from survival mode to thriving in an era of constant disruption. Melissa shares: The contrasting leadership models in business—traditional versus unconventional—and their impact on resilience. Real-life examples of industries facing disruption, like the wine industry, and the lessons they offer for adapting and innovating. Practical advice for overcoming stagnation in your business by fostering curiosi...
Nov 27, 2024•35 min
In this episode Melissa dives into the often-overlooked challenges of low team morale and how it impacts business success. If you've noticed team members showing up late, losing enthusiasm, or just not performing as they used to, this episode is for you. Melissa breaks down six core reasons behind low morale and offers actionable steps to address each one. Episode Highlights: Identify the Root Cause of Low Morale Melissa emphasizes the importance of understanding that low morale can stem from va...
Nov 20, 2024•38 min
In this powerful episode of The Opt In Podcast, host Melissa Franks steps into a space she rarely does—politics. Reflecting on the recent election results and the unexpected outcome, Melissa shares her personal journey as a female business owner, a survivor of domestic violence, and a mother of three boys navigating a landscape of shifting rights and responsibilities for women. Speaking directly to women in business, Melissa provides a raw, candid look at how political shifts impact women and wh...
Nov 13, 2024•28 min
In this conversation, Melissa discusses the fundamental principles of running a business, emphasizing the importance of clarity in defining what a business sells, who it sells to, and how it operates. She outlines a framework for developing a business model, sales strategy, and marketing strategy, highlighting the interconnectedness of these elements in creating a cohesive business machine. The discussion stresses the need for decision-making grounded in a clear understanding of the business's c...
Nov 06, 2024•30 min
In this episode, Melissa discusses the significance of feedback in business, emphasizing the need to cultivate a feedback culture. She explores the differences between formal and informal feedback, the importance of seeking input from both clients and non-clients, and shares a cautionary tale about Adidas's failure to listen to customer feedback. The conversation highlights how feedback can drive business growth and improve customer satisfaction, urging entrepreneurs to embrace feedback as a vit...
Oct 30, 2024•34 min
In this episode Melissa discusses the essential aspects of people management, focusing on the importance of clarity in organizational structure, defining roles and responsibilities, setting performance metrics, and developing effective compensation strategies. She emphasizes the need for clear communication and regular performance appraisals to foster employee engagement and satisfaction, ultimately driving business success. Takeaways Managing people is a significant challenge for entrepreneurs....
Oct 23, 2024•32 min
In this episode, Melissa discusses her experiences attending multiple in-person events and shares five key insights about the benefits of networking, changing environments, fast-tracking skill acquisition, finding community, and gaining clarity in business. She emphasizes the importance of human connection and encourages listeners to embrace opportunities for personal and professional growth through live events. Key Take-aways from this episode are: Attending in-person events can lead to signifi...
Oct 16, 2024•25 min
In this episode, Melissa discusses the challenges business owners face when feeling stuck and the importance of distinguishing between business coaches and expert consultants. She emphasizes the need for skill acquisition through coaching and the value of expert advice for long-term solutions. The conversation highlights the dangers of relying solely on quick fixes and the necessity of thorough research before hiring help. Melissa offers insights into how to navigate business stagnation and enco...
Oct 09, 2024•29 min
In this episode Melissa explores how to leverage the last 90 days of the year to gain a competitive edge. Drawing from Rachel Hollis’ "Last 90 Days Challenge" and Ed Mylett’s "Separation Season," Melissa shares strategies to keep pushing forward while others slow down, ensuring a strong finish to the year. Key Points: Last 90 Days Challenge: Inspired by Rachel Hollis, this challenge encourages setting three focused goals—two business, one personal—to stay on track during the final quarter. Separ...
Oct 02, 2024•25 min
In this episode Melissa shares four key lessons learned from her journey as a fractional COO after her startup experience. She emphasizes the importance of adaptability in business strategies, the universality of business functions despite their unique implementations, the value of expertise over unnecessary reinvention, and the significance of recognizing when to say no to opportunities that do not align with one's goals. These insights are applicable to entrepreneurs and professionals navigati...
Sep 25, 2024•32 min
Melissa discusses the critical role of trust in business relationships and how to recognize when a deal is no longer viable. She shares personal experiences from her corporate career, emphasizing the importance of building and maintaining trust, the consequences of lost trust, and strategies for assessing trustworthiness in potential partnerships. Melissa encourages listeners to act with integrity, recognize when to walk away from a bad deal, and maintain professionalism throughout the process. ...
Sep 18, 2024•28 min
In this episode, Melissa discusses the importance of having a strategy and a plan in business. She emphasizes that while it may be tempting to act on inspiration and avoid necessary tasks, having a clear strategy and plan is crucial for long-term success. Melissa explains that a strategy is a master plan for achieving multiple long-term results, while a plan is a specific, detailed course of action that yields a specific result. She provides a step-by-step process for creating a strategy and pla...
Sep 11, 2024•29 min
This episode discusses the considerations and differences between hiring an employee or an independent contractor. Melissa emphasizes the importance of understanding employment laws and regulations specific to the state or jurisdiction in which the business operates. The episode covers topics such as budgeting, job descriptions, directing work, duration of the role, and the financial implications of hiring an employee. The host provides guidance on how to make an informed decision based on the s...
Sep 04, 2024•33 min
Melissa discusses the importance of career history and experiences in building a successful business. She shares her own journey and highlights the lessons she learned along the way. Melissa emphasizes the value of working for others, learning from mentors, and acquiring diverse skills and experiences. She also explores the idea that your 20s are a time for hard work and learning, which sets the foundation for success in your 30s and beyond. Melissa encourages listeners to take the time to build...
Aug 28, 2024•36 min
Melissa shares five people management hacks for small business owners. She emphasizes the importance of effective communication, establishing a communication approach and process, and using a project management tool. She also highlights the value of creating a weekly list of priorities to provide transparency and accountability. Melissa advises hiring experts to reduce the need for extensive management and to improve productivity. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of asking questions a...
Aug 21, 2024•33 min
This conversation discusses the evolutionary stages of business growth and the importance of building a team. The stages range from doing everything alone to having a fully functioning business with executives and directors. The conversation emphasizes the misconception that as a business owner, you can pick and choose how you spend your time as your business becomes more successful. It also highlights the fallacy that hiring people and outsourcing functions automatically buys back your time. Th...
Aug 14, 2024•35 min
In this podcast episode, Melissa discusses five common myths that business owners believe. She emphasizes: the importance of not relying on out-of-the-box solutions, the need to delegate tasks and seek help, the misconception that working 24/7 is necessary for success, the fallacy that lower prices attract more customers, and the idea that taking on debt is essential for business growth. Melissa provides insights and advice on each myth, encouraging business owners to critically evaluate their d...
Aug 07, 2024•37 min
In this episode, Melissa discusses the little mistakes that can create big problems in business. She emphasizes the importance of reading the fine print in contracts, not letting contracts lapse, and having contracts with clients. Melissa also highlights the significance of getting trademarks, patents, and copyrights to protect intellectual property. Additionally, she advises creating a central place to store documents and emphasizes the need for job descriptions and performance targets. Finally...
Jul 31, 2024•43 min
In this episode, Melissa discusses how to effectively manage time and increase productivity in a business setting. She emphasizes the importance of having a master calendar that includes all commitments and scheduling everything, including dedicated working time. Melissa also encourages saying no to unnecessary meetings and eliminating distractions to stay focused. She highlights the need for communication and setting boundaries to ensure everyone understands and respects each other's time. By i...
Jul 24, 2024•35 min
For a limited time you an book a free consultantion call. To schedule: https://www.melissafranks.com In this episode, Melissa discusses the importance of effective communication in people management. She emphasizes that everyone, regardless of their job title, manages people in some capacity. Melissa provides examples of common people management challenges, such as unresponsiveness and attitude problems, and offers strategies for addressing them through clear communication, setting expectations,...
Jul 17, 2024•42 min
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Jul 10, 2024•40 min
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Jul 03, 2024•36 min
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Jun 26, 2024•34 min
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Jun 19, 2024•31 min
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Jun 12, 2024•36 min
The episode discusses Melissa's awakening at a conference and the impact it had on her business identity. It explores the importance of adapting to changes in the business environment and the insights gained from attending a conference. The experience at the conference led to a new understanding of entrepreneurship and a reevaluation of the entrepreneurial spirit. Takeaways Adapting to changes in the business environment is crucial for professional growth. Attending conferences and events can pr...
Jun 05, 2024•36 min
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May 29, 2024•39 min
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May 22, 2024•29 min
