In this episode, Melissa gets real about the power—and necessity—of building a personal brand, whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or scaling your own business. Sharing personal stories from her first corporate training at 22 to landing billboards in Times Square, Melissa breaks down why your personal brand isn’t just a marketing tactic—it’s your reputation, your legacy, and your secret weapon for future-proofing your career.

You’ll walk away knowing:

• Why a personal brand is about perception—not just presentation
• The 6 essential reasons personal branding matters more than ever
• How to differentiate yourself from competitors in a saturated market
• The steps to start building your brand today—even if you don’t want to “be the face”
• How a strong personal brand shortens the sales cycle and attracts high-value opportunities

If you’ve ever said, “I want the business to be the brand, not me,” this episode is your wake-up call. Personal branding isn’t optional—it’s foundational.

✨ Resources & Mentions:

Boring to Brand - https://charlacorn.com

📣 Connect with Melissa:

www.melissafranks.com

Instagram: @melissa_franks

In this episode, Melissa shares seven actionable ways to get your business—and your team—ready for the summer months. Whether summer is a busy season or a slow one for your business, the way you prepare can make all the difference in performance, morale, and momentum going into fall.

Melissa walks you through how to anticipate seasonal shifts, implement flexible schedules without sacrificing accountability, and set your team up for both rest and results.

You'll learn how to lead by example, set smart boundaries, and create a summer strategy that works for your business rhythm and your people.

🧭 What You’ll Learn:

How to use historical business data to forecast your summer season

Setting clear expectations around time off (and how to avoid team conflict)

Flexible work schedules that still drive results

Why summer is the perfect time for mid-year goal reviews and resets

Simple ways to build culture, connection, and fun

How to communicate, automate, and delegate to step away confidently

The critical role of leading by example as a founder or leader

👥 Perfect For:

Small business owners managing a lean team

Founders looking to take real time off without dropping the ball

Leaders who want to create a culture of flexibility and accountability

🔗 Stay Connected:

Website: www.melissafranks.com

Instagram: @melissa_franks

In the final episode of our Mental Health Awareness Month series, Melissa gets real about a topic that too often goes unspoken: the loneliness of leadership. Whether you're a CEO, business owner, or leader navigating your way through the pressures of success, Melissa unpacks the emotional toll that comes with the territory—and why it’s crucial to prioritize your mental well-being.

She shares her personal journey of rising through the corporate ranks, the surprising isolation that came with success, and how she built a strong support system that sustained her through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. You’ll hear:

Why success often feels lonelier than you expect—and how to combat it.

The power of finding your tribe (and where to look).

Practical ways to manage the stress points in your business.

How taking care of your body protects your mind.

A candid reflection on control, burnout, and seeking help when you need it.

This episode is your reminder that you’re not alone, even when it feels that way. Tune in for tangible advice on how to protect your peace, build community, and stay mentally strong as you grow your business.

In this episode, Melissa, continues a deep dive into mental health awareness throughout May. In today’s episode, we tackle one of my all-time favorite leadership topics: leading with empathy.

This is the conversation no one’s having—but it’s critical. Empathetic leadership isn’t just about being nice; it’s about creating a safe, supportive environment where your team can thrive both personally and professionally. I’m sharing stories from my own journey (including one tough lesson early in my career) and giving you practical, actionable ways to build trust and psychological safety in your business.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

✅ Why empathy is a business strategy, not a “nice-to-have”

✅ How to balance boundaries with genuine care for your team

✅ The importance of recognizing behavior changes—and exactly how to address them

✅ How vulnerability as a leader creates deeper trust and stronger teams

✅ Low-cost ways to support mental health in your business

Whether you’re a small business owner or a manager inside a larger organization, this episode will help you lead in a way that truly makes a difference—for your people and your bottom line.

👉 I'd love to hear what you do to foster inclusion, trust, and psychological safety in your business! Reach out and share your thoughts.

Today, Melissa continues and we’re continuing our Mental Health Awareness Month series with a hard look at hustle culture—and its hidden costs.

In this episode, we dive into:

✅ The “invisible load” entrepreneurs carry—and how it sneaks up on you

✅ Why the hustle hard advice works (but only for a while)

✅ How to recognize the early (and surprising) signs of burnout

✅ The three stages of business development—test, verify, grow—and where hustle actually fits in

✅ Practical tactics to step back: redefining success, setting boundaries, and prioritizing your health

Whether you’re addicted to the grind or ready to reclaim balance, this episode gives you actionable ways to shift gears without sacrificing your ambition.

💬 Key quote: “Boring is the opposite of burnout. Consistency and calm are where sustainable success lives.”

✨ Plus: Tips for leading your team out of hustle culture and creating a business that thrives without burning out your people—or yourself.

It’s time to take care of your whole self—because your business depends on it.

This week, Melissa brings you behind the scenes of one of the hardest (and most unexpectedly pivotal) weeks she’s faced — a raw, unfiltered look at what it really means to juggle personal loss, business growth, client demands, and once-in-a-lifetime professional opportunities all at the same time.

She opens up about:

✅ Navigating a devastating personal loss while running a growing business

✅ How she set ultra-clear daily and monthly priorities to stay afloat

✅ The real mindset tactics she used to push through exhaustion and overwhelm

✅ Why resilience isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a muscle you build and a playbook you return to

✅ A powerful “pivot” analogy (yes, from basketball!) that can help you break through feeling stuck

Plus, Melissa shares the behind-the-scenes story of landing her biggest media opportunity ever — and how she was forced to practice the exact resiliency strategies she teaches.

As we kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, Melissa reminds us all: your mind and body are your most important assets. If you’re struggling, ask for help.

To learn more about working with Melissa: https://www.melissafranks.com

To Connect with Melissa on Instagram: @melissa_franks or @on_call_coo

Have you ever opened your inbox to find a customer complaint that instantly spiked your blood pressure? If you're in business, it's not a matter of if but when it will happen. In this episode of the Opt-In Podcast, Melissa walks you through how to reframe customer complaints as valuable feedback, the biggest mistakes businesses make when responding, and a proven strategy for handling criticism with professionalism and empathy. You'll learn why your response matters more than the complaint itself — and how managing complaints well can actually grow your brand loyalty.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ Why you should view customer complaints as a gift

✅ The common mistakes to avoid when responding to negative feedback

✅ How to acknowledge complaints without being defensive or over-apologizing

✅ Why consistency is critical to protecting your brand

✅ The exact steps to gather facts and create a timely, professional response

✅ How to train your team to handle complaints the right way

✅ When it’s time to fire a toxic client (and how to spot the red flags)

✅ How to turn criticism into a growth opportunity and stronger customer loyalty

Key Takeaway:

How you handle a complaint is more memorable than the complaint itself. Developing a clear, consistent process for addressing negative feedback can strengthen your brand, increase customer trust, and even unlock new stages of business growth.

Connect with Melissa:

🌐 Website: https://melissafranks.com

📸 Instagram: @melissa_franks and @on_call_coo

Is your inbox overflowing? Are you losing track of tasks, deadlines, or team updates? Whether you're solo or managing a growing team, this episode is your go-to guide for choosing the right project management tool to reduce chaos and reclaim control.

Join host Melissa Franks as she walks through the most common project and task management tools used by small businesses, startups, and creative teams—including Trello, Asana, ClickUp, Monday.com, Notion, and Airtable. She breaks down the pros, cons, ideal use cases, and the one question you must ask before choosing a platform.

You'll also learn:

The surprising origin stories behind your favorite tools (and why that matters)

How to avoid overbuying software you don’t need

What kind of business each tool works best for

Common setup pitfalls and how to assign ownership

Melissa’s favorite tools for ease, cost, and team clarity

Whether you're task-based, creative, or managing high-growth operations, this episode will help you simplify your workflow and set your team up for success. It’s time to stop relying on email chaos and move into structured, streamlined execution.

🔧 Tools Mentioned:

ClickUp – Best for highly task-driven, detail-heavy teams

Asana – Ideal for routine projects and teams with varying PM experience

Notion – Great for document storage and SOP libraries, but not for true project management

Monday.com – A hybrid option with powerful integrations for larger teams

Airtable – Essentially a spreadsheet; limited true PM functionality

Trello – Visual, easy to use, perfect for creatives or monthly task cycles

📌 Connect with Melissa:

DM questions or tool suggestions:

📱 Instagram: @_melissafranks or @on_call_coo

Want help picking the right tool & implementing complementary strategies? Schedule a free consultation call. Visit https://www.melissafranks.com/fractionalcooservices