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Supporting small business

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My favorite subject is small business and through the 8THIRTYFOUR Happy Hour Hustle podcast, WGVU Your Biz Your Town radio show with Shelley Irwin or this blog, I am constantly promoting the amazing businesses in our community.

Small Business Saturday is tomorrow and while this is mostly for retailers, it is a good opportunity to shine the spotlight on all small businesses.

Starting and growing a business is daunting, to say the least, but you are not alone. There are some amazing organizations in our state that are here to help. This blog is dedicated to just a few of them, who have assisted 8THIRTYFOUR over the years.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
When I was starting 8THIRTYFOUR, I needed a crash course in business finance and SBDC offers financial counseling and much, much more. They offer expert assistance at NO cost to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their business. You heard that right, their services are FREE.

The SBDC is headquartered within Grand Valley State University with 11 regional offices and more than 20 satellite offices.

I just recently reengaged their services to assist us in our Entrepreneurial Operating System journey, they offer facilitated sessions to ensure you are properly implementing.

Find out more by visiting, sbdcmichigan.org.

Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM)
If you know me, then you know I am very involved with SBAM, with over 26,000 members it is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community.They have been successfully serving small businesses in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969.

As a business owner, the ability to meet, network and commiserate with other owners is priceless. They keep us informed of policies at the state and national level that will affect our businesses and provide opportunities for us collaborate and partner.

Find out more at sbam.org.

There are many more great orgs, such as Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women, local chambers and Inforum Michigan. Determine what your need is then reach out to one of these great resources to take your business to the next level.

Are there others that should be on the list? Add them in the comments below.

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8THIRTYFOUR Skills Survival School: PRogram: 90 days, 4 sessions, 5 modules, 6 mentor meetings. Developed by business owners for business owners.

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You have to give to get.

Stop asking for favors and sliding into people’s DM‘s for an introduction or to pitch your kid for a job. Relationships are not transactional and it is no one else’s responsibility to get you where you’re going.

Invest in your network, show up, send the handwritten note, go to events, grab coffee - it’ll pay off.
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#networking #personalbranding #bigdealenergy #kimbode

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Open post by bodespeaks with ID 18592756093034423
You have to give to get. Stop asking for favors and sliding into people’s DM‘s for an introduction or to pitch your kid for a job. Relationships are not transactional and it is no one else’s responsibility to get you where you’re going. Invest in your network, show up, send the handwritten note, go to events, grab coffee - it’ll pay off. . #networking #personalbranding #bigdealenergy #kimbode

AI is not a replacement for Actual Intelligence. Stop forcing it down everyone’s throat. We are replacing independent thought with the convenience of Claude.

Stop the AI videos, AI songs, AI headshots, AI writing. In the age of fake, fabricated, and false, be authentic. The world needs more of you, not ChatGPT.

#bigdealenergy #personalbranding

22 2
Open post by bodespeaks with ID 18068981903355460
AI is not a replacement for Actual Intelligence. Stop forcing it down everyone’s throat. We are replacing independent thought with the convenience of Claude. Stop the AI videos, AI songs, AI headshots, AI writing. In the age of fake, fabricated, and false, be authentic. The world needs more of you, not ChatGPT. #bigdealenergy #personalbranding

When you won’t do it, she does.

She holds space in her head, her task list, and her life to follow up, pick up, remind, and eventually do, because you don’t see all the emotional labor, and frankly, you’ve never had to.

Society enabled you, your mom enabled you, and for a long time, we did too.

We are done. Welcome to perimenopause, it’s gonna be one hell of a wake-up for you.

#perimenopause #menopause #graydivorce #emotionallabor

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Open post by bodespeaks with ID 17872658172504876
When you won’t do it, she does. She holds space in her head, her task list, and her life to follow up, pick up, remind, and eventually do, because you don’t see all the emotional labor, and frankly, you’ve never had to. Society enabled you, your mom enabled you, and for a long time, we did too. We are done. Welcome to perimenopause, it’s gonna be one hell of a wake-up for you. #perimenopause #menopause #graydivorce #emotionallabor

Drink red wine with ice, say no, drop the f bomb, speak up, rescue 9 dogs, and most of all…be unapologetically you. That’s your Big Deal Energy™️.

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Open post by bodespeaks with ID 18108071965905617
Drink red wine with ice, say no, drop the f bomb, speak up, rescue 9 dogs, and most of all…be unapologetically you. That’s your Big Deal Energy™️.

#You will make decisions, and then you will make those decisions “right.”

Indecision keeps you paralyzed, failure is part of the process, and you need to treat every outcome as a learning opportunity. Life and business require constant iteration, and the best you can do is keep moving forward.

No one has it all figured out, but not deciding means not growing.

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Open post by bodespeaks with ID 17951436735148470
#You will make decisions, and then you will make those decisions “right.” Indecision keeps you paralyzed, failure is part of the process, and you need to treat every outcome as a learning opportunity. Life and business require constant iteration, and the best you can do is keep moving forward. No one has it all figured out, but not deciding means not growing.