Sept 24: Let's Get Uncomfortable

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Learning to celebrate

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Apparently 11 years is a milestone for a small business, or so I’ve been told. This week we are throwing a party to celebrate 8THIRTYFOUR’s eleventh anniversary, while also highlighting all things small business.

As a business owner, you tend to be pretty pessimistic, you are always waiting for the other shoe to drop; for the next big surprise. Money, employees, bills, invoices, contracts, taxes, culture, clients, failure, mistakes – if you could see my brain as a word cloud…all of those items would be in it (along with dogs, dogs, dogs and more dogs).

It is hard for me to accept a congrats or way to go when I can’t see past the mistakes and hurdles. How do you feel successful when there are so many things you have messed up? So many things you could have done better?

The lesson in all of this, is that it isn’t about me. It is about those that have supported, worked for and embraced us in the community. This anniversary is about you, just like everything we do. I don’t think any business owner is ever truly satisfied where their company is and maybe that is what makes us keep striving to better ourselves, our company and those we serve.

If I were asked to list the lessons I’ve learned in the past decade, it would include the below.

  1. Failure is part of running a business, so you better get used to it and you better figure out how to learn from it and move on.
  2. There is no professional and personal work life balance.
  3. Spoil the ones you love, always be overly generous. Send thank you notes, celebrate milestones with them, let those you care about know you are thinking of them.
  4. Surround yourself with lots of dogs, in fact six seems like a great number.
  5. Go on adventures with your life partner, whether that is an eighteen hour car ride with six dogs or a trip to Spain with your best friends.
  6. Spend time in the woods, nothing puts things in perspective like trees, water, bugs and your furkids.
  7. You are going to piss someone off. You can’t keep everyone happy and at the end of the day you have to do what is best for the business.
  8. Hire people that possess skills you do not and will take the company where it needs to be.
  9. Never stop reading and learning.
  10. Take the time to think big picture and don’t be afraid of change.

Thanks for supporting 8THIRTYFOUR on this journey and thanks for always being there for me. It does not go unnoticed.

 

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We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly.

We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to just accept it’s part of being a woman.

I reject that narrative. In fact, I like to bring it up in every conversation. Does that make you uncomfortable? Good.

When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared for this sh*tshow.

Come to Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th. Go register; it’s gonna be a powerful convo, and @8thirtyfour is partnering with the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan Michigan Women’s Business Council. Link in bio.

15 5
Open post by bodespeaks with ID 18134378389612281
We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly. We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to just accept it’s part of being a woman. I reject that narrative. In fact, I like to bring it up in every conversation. Does that make you uncomfortable? Good. When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared for this sh*tshow. Come to Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th. Go register; it’s gonna be a powerful convo, and @8thirtyfour is partnering with the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan Michigan Women’s Business Council. Link in bio.

You are the hero in your own story.
Be like Leslie and believe it.

Come to the Big Deal Energy Workshop, I’ll show you how.

It’s personal branding with a shot of tequila. Link in bio.

5 0
Open post by bodespeaks with ID 18034401308822380
You are the hero in your own story. Be like Leslie and believe it. Come to the Big Deal Energy Workshop, I’ll show you how. It’s personal branding with a shot of tequila. Link in bio.

Perimenopause is brain fog, insomnia, rage (so much rage), hair loss, hair growth in the wrong places and you either want to throat punch someone or cry. Did I mention the f*cking rage?

The next Uncomfortable Conversation in partnership with the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan

This is an issue affecting over 50% of our population and 44.6% of businesses in Michigan. Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause will focus on the impact on our businesses, workplace policies, and improving access to education + resources.

16 1
Open post by bodespeaks with ID 18106817758875237
Perimenopause is brain fog, insomnia, rage (so much rage), hair loss, hair growth in the wrong places and you either want to throat punch someone or cry. Did I mention the f*cking rage? The next Uncomfortable Conversation in partnership with the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan This is an issue affecting over 50% of our population and 44.6% of businesses in Michigan. Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause will focus on the impact on our businesses, workplace policies, and improving access to education + resources.

Just some friendly career advice for young professionals or students in internships. Say yes.

Say yes to the after-hour thing. Say yes to the early morning thing. Say yes when your boss asks you to come to something - happy hour, networking event, whatever it is. SAY YES.

You know who gets the job and opportunities? The ones who show up, volunteer, and add value.

Say yes to the additional learning, the webinar, the networking event...the everything.

Sincerely,

Every business owner everywhere.

33 4
Open post by bodespeaks with ID 17938132644319627
Just some friendly career advice for young professionals or students in internships. Say yes. Say yes to the after-hour thing. Say yes to the early morning thing. Say yes when your boss asks you to come to something - happy hour, networking event, whatever it is. SAY YES. You know who gets the job and opportunities? The ones who show up, volunteer, and add value. Say yes to the additional learning, the webinar, the networking event...the everything. Sincerely, Every business owner everywhere.