Meet Melinda DePalma | Founder of Live Large Launch, LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melinda DePalma and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melinda, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Since 2003 I have been supporting companies with their technology, automations and systems. I kept seeing a recurring theme of businesses getting stuck on the technology and how to use (and optimize) their software. They would hear the buzz words CRM or funnel, so they would sign up and buy all this software that they either did not need, did not know how to use or more common did not have the resources to use.

They would get frustrated, abandon ship and revert back to sticky notes.

I saw a need to fill the gap and become the trusted tech advisor for small to medium size businesses. Beyond just choosing the right software, I provide honest guidance to help businesses strategically setup their software to work with their budget, team and growth goals.

I created what I call a “Point and Purpose Process” (you can see a diagram of how this process works on my website.) Basically we work backwards. First we figure out what your long and short term goals are, then start off with a solid foundation and fill in the gaps in between. This process is ongoing and just continues in a circle as your business evolves and grows.

We create a “Playbook” for your business so you can have a solid blueprint filled with various plays that strategically help support your businesses growth goals.

Essentially I teach businesses how to fish. I often refer to myself as a modern day fisherwoman. I teach businesses how to identify the type of fish they want to attract (their ideal customer), where all these fish hang out, what they like to eat (the bait) and once we catch them the journey we want to take them on.

Many businesses just make a product or service and put it out there in the “buy my stuff” fashion and expect people to just come and purchase. However when you understand how and why people make buying decisions, give them what they want and really understand the 9 mental triggers, then your business will start seeing massive results.

I love what I do. Creating strategies, designing playbooks and setting up systems to measure growth lights me up. I would do it for free (lol). However I realized that I do not do everything and I need web designers, branders, copywriters, developers etc in order for businesses to have success. Thus the agency Live Large Launch was born. Since using the agency model, I have made strategic partnerships with the best vendors that my clients have access to and this also allows me to stay in my lane, which is the strategy, automations and CRM management.

The agency model allows me to serve companies in a higher capacity, so we can hit their growth goals. Once we have systems in place, then we can make data driven decisions to optimize my client’s business, so they can get back to what they love and stay in their creative powers.

I have had the opportunity to serve a variety of businesses such as dog trainers, therapists, massage companies, insurance companies , fashion gurus, tech companies and coaches. I have served a wide variety from the single soloproneurs and now I even manage the operations for one of Tony Robbins coach training schools. The opportunity to help small to medium size businesses has taught me so much and allowed me to continue to learn and grow.
Growth is one of the things in life I value most and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow while doing what I love.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What I am most proud of is my ability to continue to grow and learn (especially from what most people call failures). It is easy to be happy and generous when life is going well. However how I show up when things are crunchy and tough, really defines my character and shows who I am. When something does not go my way or someone does not do something I want, I smile, laugh and typically thank that person for taking care of themself. I have learned to celebrate receiving a “no” as when I receive a no, that means the door is opening to a “yes” that I did not know was there. This has been a huge lesson and part of my upbringing that my older sister, Roxanne has helped me with. Roxanne taught me that when someone gives you a no, that means they are saying yes to something else. She taught me to celebrate receiving a no and thank people for their nos. I now prefer to do things with people (or opportunities) that are absolute yeses.

Learning to be awesome when you receive news or answers you may not want to hear takes practice. I practice being awesome everyday.

In fact my 3 core values that govern how I operate are:

KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING
”Find out where you are at, where you are going and build a plan to get there.” —Robert Kiyosaki

DO THE WORK
”People are always looking for the single magic bullet that will totally change everything. There is no single magic bullet.” —Temple Grandin

BE AWESOME EVERYDAY
”Anyone can be cool, but awesome takes practice.” —Lorraine Peterson

I firmly believe that my ability grow and learn so I can be a better human is because I operate by these 3 values. This is how I overcome challenges and learn the life lessons along the way. For me it is about the journey of how I show up in all situations and treat people, not just the destination.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First I would have my best friend close their eyes and visualize what they want to experience. What feelings do they want to feel, what sights do they want to see, what emotions to they want to have. What foods do they want to taste. Imagining that there are no limitations and just get them into a creative flow state where anything is possible.
Then depending on their answers, I would create an experience for them.

If we are talking my best friend, then I imagine it would involve going to Sedona to be up in nature among the red rocks, getting pampered at one of her favorite spas up there and eating homemade chocolates at one of our favorite cacao cafes there. Plus would be coupled by technology free time with me (that is something she normally wants more of and I try to deliver that when we get together so I can really be present with her). 😉

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One of my greatest mentors who has taught me so much is Jeff Walker. Jeff is the godfather of online marketing and launches. I was first introduced to Jeff and his Product Launch Formula about 10 years ago. Granted I had already been in the tech world 10 years prior and saw the value of CRMs and the power of automations. Jeff’s teachings took my knowledge to another level. He helped me to understand the power of human mental triggers and how to weave them into everything I do (in life and in business). I was skeptical at first until I followed his model just as a test for one of my friends and poof we saw results. Instant profit after their first PLF style launch and the rest is history. From there I have continued to launch (and re-launch) using Jeff’s model seeing massive results.

Another great mentor who has kept me going is my mother. I grew up with a mother raising 3 children, working 3 jobs and she always told us “anything is possible” and that “the only limitation was in our mind.” My mom was the American dream story. She worked hard to make a better life for her children and pulled us out of the world she grew up in, so we could have opportunities that she did not have. She instilled a hard work ethic and “you can dream it, you can create it” values in me, which I am forever grateful for. She sacrificed her life for her children. My mom holds a special place in my heart and most of what I do, I do for my mother. I do for all the single moms out there who are struggling. I have a soft spot for single mother entrepreneurs and often end up taking on a few each year as a service to help them get a head start.

So there it is: My mom and Jeff Walker. They are my mentors and my guides. I would not be where I am today without them and their influence in my life.

Website: https://www.livelargelaunch.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-depalma/

Image Credits
Nez Production | https://www.nezproduction.com