It's About Survival: Join the Founding Cohort

How important is design?

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We have a saying around our office, “Presentation is just as important as strategy.” What I mean by that is we could have an amazing marketing strategy that we put together for a client, but if we present it in Word with no logo, graphics or imagery it looks amateurish. We want to stand out from our competitors and we do that through great design.

Invest the money to develop collateral that embodies your company and will speak to your customers.

Take the following for example.

  • Sales presentations should be customized to each potential customer you are going to chat with – include their logo, add in graphs that are relevant to their industry. Let the graphics tell the story.
  • Your website is the first place people go to find out more information about you, with social media being a close second. Is the content, photos, design updated?
  • When you meet someone, the first thing you hand them is your business card. Did you order them through VistaPrint or did you work with a designer to develop a template? What is the message you want to send?
  • In our industry, proposals are a constant and we want to stand out. We have custom letterhead and a cover page that presents our company in a professional and eye-catching manner.
  • Social media is an important tool for businesses. Do you have a cover image for Facebook and LinkedIn? Customizing those images allows companies to share an important message to visitors.

These are just a few examples of how design affects multiple facets of a business. Creative isn’t one and done, it should be ongoing to keep your brand fresh and relevant.

 

Join Me for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Skills Crisis

April 28, 2026

We’re putting employers and Gen Z in the same room, across a table from each other. They’ll discuss what’s working, what’s missing, and what they wish the other side understood.

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Founding Cohort

$2,000
90 Days  |  4 Sessions  |  5 Modules  |  6 Mentor Meetings

Session Dates

  • Kickoff: Thursday, June 25
  • Thursday, July 23
  • Thursday, August 20
  • Capstone: Tuesday, September 22
It’s not about who you know, it’s about who knows you.

When I talk Big Deal Energy™️, I remind people about the power of their network and the investment it requires to actually reap the benefits. You gotta give to get.

I shared some thoughts with @fastcompany on the ROI of conference sponsorships, which only makes sense if you build connections and are visible.

“The benefit and ROI need to outweigh the cost. ROI should be defined in multiple ways: brand awareness, visibility with a core customer base, or being able to share knowledge, which positions you as a thought leader. Note: Invest in personal branding workshops or education so your people know how to connect, make an impression, follow up, and nurture a lead.”

If you don’t know how to work a room, give more than you get, then for the love of all that is holy, register for the Big Deal Energy™ Workshop on June 23.
The moment you step into your Big Deal Energy™️, people will find a reason to hate you. They’ll disagree with you. They’ll leave shitty comments. They’ll try to make you feel small.

Let them.

Their mediocre is not yours to carry, their discomfort with your confidence is a them problem. You aren’t showing up to make everyone comfortable, you’re doing it because being authentically you means something. 

And when the haters roll in? Smile; they just proved your point. See you on the 21st.
Small Business Survival Skills: Critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution, professionalism…when employees are missing these, it costs us a whole bunch of money. 

We have a choice, and I say this with all the love my feral little Gen X heart can muster: we can spend our energy wishing things were different, or we can adapt and teach them.

Companies investing in integrated learning models see 24% higher profit margins and save roughly $18K per new hire in productivity ramp up.

It’s survival. @8thirtyfour Skills Survival School, June 25 - https://8thirtyfour.com/skills/
I started @8thirtyfour #19 years ago because I didn’t see many women in leadership positions; those I saw weren’t real keen to lend a helping hand. If you want something, make it happen; no one is going to hand you your dream.

#smallbusiness #bigdealenergy #womenfounders #womensupportingwomen kimbode
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