Communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, professionalism, time management, accountability, resilience, adaptability; these are the skills employers need, and the ones we never thought we would have to teach. If you’re sick […]
F*CK YOu MENOPAUSE. I apologize in advance. When you see me next, I’ll probably cry. Maybe you’re wearing a color I like, or you said “hi” in a really nice […]
Fast Company asked twenty leaders when they recommend executive coaching, and my answer was to the point, cause it’s how I roll. Honestly? When I don’t know how to help. Getting […]
Remember Home Ec? I do. One hour of my day in high school where we learned the names of utensils, the difference between a teaspoon and tablespoon, and how to […]
Every major decision I’ve made in my life has come out of something traumatic. I guess it’s why I tell people: Trauma may have built you, but it doesn’t define […]
This is the much-requested, much-anticipated sequel to The Gray Wave: Why Women Are Leaving. Men, consider this your notice. Dear Men, If the amount of effort you’ve put into your […]
If you’ve heard me speak or watched any of my clearly professionally produced videos, you’ve probably caught a reference to the story of David and Goliath. Maybe it’s my CRC […]
I was recently quoted in an Inc. Magazine article about balancing growth and profitability, and I want to expand on what I said because there’s a lot more to it […]
People Do Business with People — Not Logos The leaders and brands standing out are not the most polished or predictable; what they are is authentic (and memorable). Let’s use […]
Your “Disadvantages” Are Your Advantages The David and Goliath story we were all told in Sunday School…yeah, it wasn’t true. See, David knew exactly what he was doing and he […]
2025 was a year of reckoning for me both personally and professionally. I got to experience the joy that is perimenopause, continue navigating my ADHD, and I got to witness […]
Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang makes me ridiculously happy. Go listen to every single episode. I’ll wait. In every episode, she talks about the Enneagram; there is always another reference […]
The New York Times published a piece asking if women ruined the workplace. In a time when misogyny, sexism, racism, and discrimination are running rampant because men have been in […]
8THIRTYFOUR is hosting the Community Capital Conversation on November 19th, because enough is enough. Bring your stories. This isn’t the story about the quarter of a million embezzlement that almost […]
I have the phrase “find comfort in the uncomfortable” tattooed on my arm; it’s a reminder that growth happens in the uncomfortable, and while this is true, it’s also my […]
I am the most unathletic person you will ever meet. If you don’t believe me, watch the video of me rollerblading—it’s on my Instagram. I’m not giving you the link, […]
She purchased it off of Amazon, in hopes he would finally “get” it, see she was drowning and step up. The Fair Play Deck is sold as a game, but […]
“Bode, you seem angry. You should take a break.” I’m not angry, I’m f*cking nuclear. I’ve spent my career fighting for small businesses, standing up for vulnerable populations, and building […]
(If I hear this one more time, I’m gonna throat punch someone.) If I had a dollar for every time a technical or contracting company said, “We don’t do marketing*,” […]
“Can a person live on iced, shaken espressos only?” I texted my best friend, Sue. “Yes,” she responded. That, right there, is why Sue is my best friend. The past […]
It was standing room only. Business owners packed into a room to talk about something most of us avoid like the plague: ourselves. Not our services.Not our logos.Not our team’s […]
Imposter syndrome won this past weekend. I think I spent most of Sunday staring at a wall, contemplating all of my failures. What a great time. Highly recommend spending your […]
For years, I saw my gender as a weakness. Working in manufacturing and medical devices industries dominated by men with egos the size of Texas—I did everything I could to […]
Travel is stressful enough without dealing with complete and utter...people who apparently forgot how to act in public the second they stepped into an airport.
Look, I travel a lot. Like, a LOT lot. And after years of trial and error (and some spectacularly bad packing decisions), I’ve got my travel game semi-down. Some of […]
“What on earth are you watching?” I ask Josh as I crawl onto the bed in our motorhome (in our driveway) and lie down next to Frank*, the office dog […]
You know how people say “life is short,” all the time? Well, it really hit me this week. A person I had a massive amount of respect for, passed this […]
The Great Resignation, Great Exhaustion, and Quiet Quitting – what does it mean to small businesses?
The holidays, am I right? What a shitshow. I like to give so much I have nothing left, then I’m resentful and bitter. Good times. I should point out it […]
Perhaps by calling it Sharkie Poo, it was a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. All seven dogs have a nickname – Millie is Millie Vanilli, Noodle, Silly Millie…I’ll spare you […]
I started writing this blog last year, and then Imposter Syndrome took over and I killed it. So now it’s more like 17 years but who the hell is counting […]
I am not a fan of the phrase “thought leadership,” but I have yet to come up with a better term, so here we are. It’s why I titled this […]
If I had a dime for every time someone referred to me as “too much,” I’d have a pretty decent chunk of change. Like…what does that even mean? Often-used words […]
If I asked you what your hiring process is would you say: 1. Post job to Indeed/LinkedIn or other job boards, 2. Filter through applicants, 3. Schedule interviews, 4. Interview, […]
I had every intention of continuing this series, but several things have happened since I started it, which I will share at the end. The conclusion is a bit longer, […]
For those late to the party (where the heck have you been) here is part 1. With the pee still drying on my leg, Parker and I made our way […]
While our country was reverting back to the 1950s before women were considered equal to their male counterparts…I was on a road trip with 8 dogs and a very patient […]
Guys, guess what? Women have worth outside of motherhood. Gasp! I know, who would have thought? It’s true! You’d think I was walking around with horns and a tail by […]
Coming back from vacation is so overwhelming that it’s tempting to just never take one. That’s basically been my approach for 2022. To state the obvious, that is not healthy. […]
I spoke to several female business owners/professionals in the past few weeks and they all have one thing in common, they’re exhausted. Just absolutely burned out. Their mental health is […]
Dear Little Bode, We’ve been watching you the past several months as you’ve dealt with loss, grief, growth, conflict and so much more. You’re gonna be alright kid, you’re tough, […]
Someone reached out to me last week needing marketing support for a new business and said the budget was $300 a month. I went back and forth on how to […]
Why the hell is it so hard for us to accept help? The only time we’re in it alone is when we’re too stubborn to rely on those around us. […]
I’ve been quiet lately, laugh it up people that know me. I’ve been grieving privately over the loss of a family member and I have been struggling. The funny thing […]
I’m irrationally mad about the “return to office” discussion/debate/controversy. It’s probably because it is bringing back memories from early on in my career when a bunch of old guys were […]
Coming back from a holiday weekend is kind of a nightmare. I woke up this a.m. completely overwhelmed with all the things I needed to get done and a foreboding […]
Many of you reading this know I have this saying tattooed on my arm, it is my reminder that growth is never easy and requires all of us to push […]
This blog probably won’t earn me a lot of friends in academia or in the parenting world, but hell it needs to be said. No matter what profession you are […]
Today is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate women and their achievements internationally. It’s nice we get a day, isn’t it? The 2021 theme is “Choose to challenge.” In […]
My most hated phrase of all time is, “hey do you have a second to chat?” There is never ANY good news that comes with that question. If you ask […]
It was time to update this blog, the original was written in 2018 and was recently trolled by someone who pointed out several spelling and grammatical errors (oops)…so I figured […]
Public relation professionals are required to abide by a code of ethics. You can read the entire code here, but for the purpose of this blog, I want to highlight […]
PR seems like a sexy field, am I right? If your older like me, then you think of Samantha from Sex in the City and her high rolling lifestyle. She […]
We have a saying at our office, “keep the monkey.” Yeah, it’s weird, but here is the point. You’ve heard people say, “I have a monkey on my back.” They’re […]
So, 2020 has been a bit of a challenge. I believe the word tossed around frequently is “unprecedented.” I’ve been talking to my small biz friends and we are all […]
I was privy to an email the other day that referred to another female professional as “sweet and young,” and it wasn’t meant as a compliment. It irked me, like […]
I know we’re all sick of the word pivot, but I gotta finish the blog series so just hold on through this last part. If you’re new to this riveting […]
Let’s get back to where we left off in Part 1: Pivot!, I wanted to go into more detail about the steps we took, the organizations that stepped up in […]
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, been a little busy ensuring we survive this damn pandemic. Priorities, I suppose. The first week, we lost over $15,000 in revenue a […]
If I hear the word “unprecedented” one more time, I’m going to scream. We are being bombarded by news by the time we wake up to the time we finally […]
As if running a small business wasn’t hard enough, now we’re dealing with a pandemic. At this point, no one has any idea what that will mean for second-stage companies […]
Is there a better title for a blog? I might get it as a tattoo, it’s kind of my life motto. I love books, I’ve had a love affair with […]
Today I cried in front of my staff. Me, Kim Bode…queen of abrasive, broke down. Be vulnerable. The reason why isn’t important, most of you will put the pieces together […]
I’ve been running a business for around 13 years, if there is one thing I hate above all else it is the questions women are asked that no one would […]
I don’t talk about my faith. I shouldn’t be ashamed, but I am. I’m a progressive Christian, something that apparently goes against everything organized religion stands for and I openly […]
I get such a f**king kick out of the holidays, it is nauseating. I don’t know when this love of Christmas took over my life, as a little kid my […]
The holiday season is upon us and it comes with all the fun and stress. I’m not an expert on navigating the holidays, but I’ve survived so far and I’m […]
What is it about that name? If your name is Karen, my apologies. My sometimes partner-in-crime, Chris Andrus, wrote this great blog about standing up to customers in defense of […]
Every Veterans Day, I reflect back on the men and women that have served, are serving and have given the ultimate sacrifice. I have read extensively on WWII, I truly […]
For a recent event I was involved in, I was asked to facilitate a roundtable on communicating across generations – Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z. For transparency […]
A growing business is a blessing and a challenge. Hiring is one of the hardest endeavors, regardless of business size. When you have an entry-level position you are hiring for, […]
I had an interesting convo with my therapist the other day (more people should admit they see one, helps erase the stigma), we were chatting about the stress a business […]
“Do you ever just want to scream?” was the text message I sent to three of my friends last week. There are times, we drive ourselves to mental, emotional and […]
Am I the only one, who had never heard this saying, until recently? According to the internet, that is always right in all these types of things, the Sunday Scaries […]
I was reminded the other day of the power of teamwork and what can be accomplished when we work together. Around 3:00 a.m. this past weekend, Joey (one of 7 […]
My lovely friend, Adrienne Wallace, spoke about paid interns at her acceptance speech for PR Pro of the Year or Badass Superwoman of the Year (I forget the category) and […]
I turned 40 last week, and no this is not some blog manifesto…so just calm down. I’m not sure when getting older became such an awful thing, I fricken love […]
Now that the frozen song is stuck in your head, I will get to my point. There have been a few things bothering me, I just can’t seem to get […]
Ladies Listen Up, is going to be an ongoing series because…I have so much to say! With 40, right around the corner, I’ve become really wise or maybe it’s really […]
Ever find yourself scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn…all the photos in your phone…the latest Ann Taylor sale…basically doing anything but tackling the looming project that is due? I’m convinced it […]
I just got back from a relaxing vacation with my girlfriends, we spent our days laying on the beach, sipping cocktails and reading. Instead of fully enjoying my vacation, I […]
One of the most important skills a person can possess is the ability to listen. In a world where phones are beeping, watches are buzzing and emails are popping up…we […]
Dear Michiganders, We find ourselves, once again, in the midst of a blustery winter storm (Snowmageddeon) that has seemingly caught us by surprise…even though it is winter in Michigan. I […]
Be comfortable with change is the best piece of advice I can offer you. Life is going to throw a lot of curve balls your way, so line up to […]
I have been thinking about leadership quite a bit this week, probably because I am in the middle of the woods with 6 dogs and a shitty wifi connection. I’ve […]
First off, I hate the word self-care, so I am annoyed I used it in the title to this blog. It is, however, the quickest way to say “take care […]
As we approach the holidays, I wanted to write this blog as a reminder that it can be a hard time for many. As we age, the holidays can lead […]
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 […]
Change is inevitable; we have all heard it before – but many of us seldom do anything about it. I had the opportunity to hear Josh Linkner speak last week […]
The 8THIRTYFOUR team, took time out to reconnect, strategize and explore a small town in Northern Michigan this past week. Since we began implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®), we […]
If you live in Grand Rapids, chances are you have seen the controversy surrounding the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce’s decision to endorse Republican Gubernatorial candidate, Bill Schuette. 8THIRTYFOUR, along […]
I am not a terribly patient person, my anxiety at times is off the charts. I’m not really a ‘go with the flow’ individual and when it comes to travel […]
Most entrepreneurs and business owners fail terribly a leading. No one tells you when you start your business, that you will someday have to manage an entire team. At the […]
I have struggled with how to share this news, I have avoided it in part because I don’t want to admit to myself that he is gone. You see, Jimmy, […]
We are blogging maniacs at 8THIRTYFOUR, we blog twice a week or more depending on breaking industry news. That is a lot of content to create, which means we have […]
The worst bosses I ever had…were women. I know I am not alone, many share the same experiences. These experiences have driven me to be a better leader and to […]
I was labeled a pessimist the other day and my first reaction was to be defensive. Let’s be honest, pessimism is not viewed favorably; we are considered the Eeyores of […]
The most important relationships in your business are the ones you already have. We spend so much time searching for the next big thing, new project, new client…we miss or […]
I originally wrote this article for Huffington Post over a year ago and I doubt it will ever lose its relevance. “There are two kinds of evil people in this […]
If you are not writing, do you even exist? Kidding…sort of. In the world of business ownership, you have to write – emails, blogs, notes, strategies, press releases, newsletters…the list […]
At some point in the lifespan of your small business, you have to grow up. What do I mean by this? You stop living in a reactive, chaotic environment and […]
Why, as women, do we feel the need to be liked by everyone? Why are our feelings hurt when we aren’t included? Is high school still haunting us? I won’t […]
I have heard the word mindfulness at least 15 times this week (ok, maybe it was 3 times), so I started wondering what the hell it is. Here is the […]
It seems all you hear talk about these days is the need for skilled, STEM and high-tech candidates. A recent article by the Washington Post titled, Forget coding. It’s the soft […]
I’ve made a lot of mistakes along this small business journey and leadership is at the top. No need to rehash for the purpose of this blog, don’t worry they […]
Perhaps one of the most harmful things we can do as business owners is dwell on the past. It is hard to look forward and not backwards when we are […]
As entrepreneurs and business owners, our days are anything but consistent. It is a word we loathe, how can we possibly be consistent when everyday is full of surprises and […]
With it being Friday, I want to remind you to put yourself and your happiness first. We get lost in our responsibilities, to-do lists, worries and commitments; losing focus often […]
Don’t have a heart attack, but I currently have 1,215 emails in my inbox. Are you hyperventilating? Take a deep breath, here’s a paper bag – I hear you can […]
I had a great conversation this past week with good friend of mine, who is in an influential and important role in Grand Rapids. She was looking to amplify her […]
I would never discourage anyone from starting their own business and going out on their own, but I do think it is important to have all the facts before making […]
I’ve been having a conversation with several other business owners regarding balance and finding that within your life. Can I just say, I think it is utter bullshit? When did […]
It is part of all PR practitioners jobs to stay up-to-date with current events and we often stumble across interesting stories. This past week is no different, so I offer […]
I couldn’t help rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles last night, Nick Foles’ story is just amazing and who doesn’t love a great underdog story? As everyone by now knows, Foles almost […]
When starting a business the only thing you can think of is….$$$. How will you pay bills? Hire employees? Feed your dog? Fast forward and you are now a relatively […]
Yesterday, 8THIRTYFOUR officially celebrated 11 years with our community, clients and staff. While our anniversary gave us an excuse to throw a party, our intent was much more powerful than […]
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 […]
“Leadership that is not deeply rooted in a foundation of truth is leadership destined to fail.” – Mike Myatt of Innovation Excellence. As a leader, you are only as good […]
My top blogs of 2017 were incredibly personal and a bit painful to write. I narrowed last year’s blogs down to the top 5. In each of these my passion […]
Strategies are hard. Where the hell do you even start? Whether you are the one responsible for creating a marketing plan or you are working with an agency, you need […]
At the end of every year, people lose their minds and make a bunch of resolutions they are never going to keep. The definition of insanity is doing the same […]
The holidays are a great time to sit back and strategize on your business for the coming year. The weeks leading up to Christmas are a great reprieve from email, […]
The holidays, am I right? Just typing that I am exhausted. What is it about them that just mentally exhausts us and makes us ridiculously emotional? For a lot of […]
The use of social media is a hot topic around our office lately. We have a social media policy at 8THIRTYFOUR, it is all of one paragraph and states that […]
How do you stay motivated when faced with overwhelming loss? Whether it is a death, personal failure, business failure or other; motivation can seem unattainable – especially when all you […]
If you don’t understand what is happening in our country as it relates to the stories circulating around sexual harassment and assault, then you are not listening. Women have never […]
Back in September the news out of D.C. was the reversal of the pay gap rule put in place by the Obama administration. After reading about it, I started thinking […]
It’s that time of year where we are bombarded with ads, coupons, sales, doorbusters – you name it. If you are a small business you may struggle to stand out, […]
I failed today in setting an example, in leading, in following our core values. I let frustration and stress get the better of me. Want to know the great thing […]
Small Biz Saturday is coming in hot on November 25th. The ‘holiday’ was created by American Express and shines a much-needed light on small businesses. Michigan small businesses employed 1.8 million people, […]
It is hard to fight perfection. We are taught that we should always pursue it, even if it isn’t attainable. Why is that? If it is a lesson in failure […]
I have a Mac, an iPhone, an Apple TV, an iPad and all the accessories; suffice to say I am an avid Apple product user…however I cannot possibly fathom paying […]
I had a friend send me the below the other day and I literally laughed out loud and then went and followed Smirnoff on all of their social channels. Whatever […]
I am sitting here with perma-grin on my face after creating a presentation for the GVSU Public Relations Student Society of America. The group asked me to speak on the […]
Dear Sarah Sanders: It’s time. No one is debating your talent, well some are, but we are all beginning to question your sanity. I mean, how much abuse can someone […]
Me Too. A powerful two word phrase that has been spreading like wildfire on social media started up on Sunday night. With the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault allegations dominating headlines, […]
This article previously appeared in the Grand Rapids Business Journal on September 29, 2017. Peanut butter. Jam. Bread. Besides a craving for a sandwich, do you think of certain brands […]
My favoritist (I know it isn’t a word), time of the year is Christmas. I love everything about the holiday season – the gift wrapping, decorations, parties, food, gift-giving and […]
Recently Anheuser-Busch released a statement on the NFL ‘kneeling’ controversy and in 110 or so words said absolutely nothing. At Anheuser-Busch we have a long heritage of supporting the institutions […]
Phew…this weather…am I right? I am beginning to think sweating is my new way of life. The weather certainly seems to be symbolic of where we are as a country […]
You’ve heard the saying “evolve or die”, well it couldn’t be more true. If you are a business you can’t continue to do things the same way year after year […]
The definition of core values according to dictionary.com is the below: Core values are the fundamental beliefs of a person or organization. … Core values also help companies to determine if they are […]
Is it too easy to land a job? And I am not talking about those companies that do 6 hour interviews – that is ridiculous and I am not sure […]
I’m sure I have written on this before, but I don’t care. It’s my blog and I’ll write if I want to. My firm of 10 years just moved into […]
I made the decision to go see a business coach/counselor/therapist – whatever you want to call it….and it was the best. Granted, I’ve gone once but I’m clearly already cured. […]
Is gratitude lost in todays society, never to be found again? Am I jaded in thinking that younger professionals want things handed to them without first working for it? It […]
Behind closed doors and in private we are constantly thinking, worrying, fretting and planning. This is what business owners don’t tell you: The termination of an employee is not a […]
Negotiation is a part of every aspect of our life. In your personal life it could be trying to get your spouse to do a chore or run an errand. […]
Hello everyone seeking a job, connection, friend, mentor, advice – stop bugging everyone. Make it happen yourself. No one owes you anything. They certainly don’t owe you their time, an […]
As women we are programmed to be apologetic. “Sorry i’m late.” “Sorry this seat is taken.” “Sorry to bother you.” “Sorry to interrupt.” Can we just knock it off already? […]
Everyone wants to be a leader, until you are and then you most definitely don’t. There are a lot of misconceptions on leadership, like you will have minions to do […]
Quitters never prosper. Don’t be a quitter. We’ve all heard it before, but when is it time to throw in the towel? As a small business owner, when do you […]
When do you put the phone away for the night? When do you close your laptop? Boundaries is something a small business owner will never have. We don’t shut it […]
To be clear, I mean public speaking not just talking out loud. Although I do excel at that regardless if I have an audience. This week, actually today, I am […]
Jerry Maguire, eat your heart out. As a business owner you need to constantly ask yourself, “is this a good investment?” or “what is the ROI?” Marketing is one of […]
Before starting a business, ask yourself the question “Do I value time away from the grind?” There is no wrong answer to this question. The fact is, we all need […]
It will be 10 years for 834 Design & Marketing this fall. Some of those years I would like to forget, there was a lot of failure, frustration and drinking […]
As 834 continues to grow (along with my anxiety), we naturally add more employees. Our culture is a unique one, or so I have heard, and integrating a new employee […]
What do you support? Do you stay neutral? Stay out of any political discourse? Many companies choose to quietly support or not support certain organizations in their community or remain […]
I always think it is ironic I write these blogs about management, when I often struggle to find my way. I guess I figure, when I am researching, reading and […]
Being a business owner is incredibly lonely. I am reminded of this daily, when I have no one but myself to turn to when it comes to tough decisions. No […]
Is it important to be seen? To network? The answer is quite simply, yes. 834’s Lansing partner, Vanguard Public Affairs, and I are taking in the Michigan Policy Conference on […]
If your team is struggling, that is on you. Don’t look to place the blame on someone else, it is your team. Leadership starts at the top. I was reminded […]
When I first heard of KPIs (thanks Sue), I immediately felt dumb. I mean, what the hell is a key performance indicator? Also, why are there acronyms for everything? Sarcasm […]
I just got back from being gone for 15 days. It was the longest I have traveled away from 834, my team and my dogs. It was amazing, scary, frustrating […]
This won’t be exciting for anyone reading it, but I’m going to write it anyways – because it is my birthday. This past year has been exciting, terrifying and adventurous […]
Mondays, am I right? Seems like I never escape one without feeling overwhelmed, stressed and pissy. I usually go home, drink a bottle of wine and reflect on all the […]
I had a friend pose a question to me this past week on the future of social media. Will it remain an important tool for marketers? Has fake news, spam […]
I was reading a recent Inc Magazine article and they interviewed multiple entrepreneurs such as Reddit, IPSY, SLACK and Shark Tank about how they spend their day. I thought, what a […]
This past weekend I got up in front of an auditorium of people and talked about failure. I talked about a time in my life when I thought everything was […]
Entire sections of bookstores are dedicated to self-help and self-improvement. Many individuals dedicate hours and hours to the pursuit of happiness. They turn the focus inward and change their own […]
We are in the process of hiring our summer interns for 834 which means lots and lots of interviews. Every interview we give is treated as important as if we […]
I have long been a fan of Southwest Airlines. Besides the fact that their boarding process is genius, prices are on point and the staff always seems pretty damn nice […]
We have all heard the saying “special snowflakes”, most often this is referring to a certain age group or generation. The connotation is not meant to be positive, rather it […]
It still astounds me that PR professionals send mass emails when sharing client news. I didn’t think this was the norm anymore, until I was on the phone with my […]
This past weekend, I attended the West Point gala, Founder’s Day. The event is a celebration of Michigan graduates of the academy, as well as those who have just been […]
One of the best ways a company can gain awareness is visibility in the media. Public Relations and media coverage has changed over the years which is good and bad. […]
We have gotten lazy. Gone are the days when many of us were expected to wear a suit to work; which is not a bad thing. I love being able […]
Employees wanted to feel valued, in today’s world they are no longer working for just a paycheck. As a small business, benefits can be a large cost to undertake and […]
I met with a potential client this past week and we started talking about networking, being a connector and building valuable relationships. I know I have talked about this in […]
A recent Inc. article stated that high value work is now done more by teams than individuals with “type A” characteristics. The article went on to say that to solve complex problems, […]
So often the importance of company culture is overlooked. In the past few months, I have put emphasis on mapping 834’s culture out, but not all companies see the need […]
There is a lot in the works at 834 right now, it is exciting, thrilling, unknown and scary. But so what. Everything in life is terrifying if you think about […]
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 […]
Oh small businesses how do I love thee. I remember the early days of running 834, when it was myself, Bentley the wonder dog, my computer and a can-do attitude. […]
If you’re like me, your motivation can wane at times. This past week has been especially hard as I experienced a loss that I am still reeling from. I needed […]
In the past few months I have been solicited multiple times through LinkedIn, email or phone. These individuals always have a great partnership opportunity for 834 and it is always […]
Grief is a funny thing. They say time heals all things and perhaps that is true but at the time it is crushing, suffocating and unbearable. Loss leaves an empty, […]
If everyone agreed, what would be the point of teamwork? Idea exchange is messy, loud and conflicting and that is how it should be. Too often, in this politically correct […]
This past week I met with a young woman in her 20s that was considering starting her own business, primarily because she didn’t see another option. Her degree was not […]
We live in an age where every tweet, post, gram and snap are available for the masses to see. Privacy is at a premium and those at the helm of […]
This past weekend was emotionally charged for a large portion of America and the world. There is no doubt that our nation is in a transition period and we have […]
No lie, this is mapped out in our standard operating procedures. I absolutely hate meetings to have meetings, you can feel the productivity just sucked out of your day. Meetings […]
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein As a business owner you need to constantly adapt, innovate and be willing to […]
Public relations can only do so much. PR practitioners can build brand awareness, attract attention to new products, manage a crisis and so much more. What we can’t do, is […]
Mondays seem to hang over our heads mocking and taunting us as we enjoy football and relaxing on Sunday before heading back to work. As a business owner, prepping for […]
Is your logo outdated and no longer relevant to your customers? Do you even know how your brand is perceived? A brand’s mark can be very subjective as individuals see […]
This time of year, a lot of companies will reach out to us in an effort to incorporate marketing into their strategy for the new year. Prior to forming a […]
Repeat after me: 2017 is going to be a great year for you, a phenomenal year, the best year ever. As a business owner, you set lofty goals for your […]
The first day back after the holidays can be overwhelming. If you are like me, I tried to avoid even thinking about work while I was off, which proved to […]
Why is it that guilt is an accepted and normal part of a small business owner’s life? I was taking time this past week to reflect on what I would […]
Don’t worry this isn’t another blog about resolutions that we all know you will never keep. Save yourself the trip to the gym and instead let’s focus on business diversification. […]
It’s the most hectic time of the year, so how can you even think about 2017? Since most business owners can be procrastinators it is a pretty safe bet to assume […]
Guest post by: Sue Tellier, JetCo Solutions Seriously. We fail all the time, and our job is to learn from the failures and find smart people to guide us along […]
There is no such thing as traditional PR anymore, I mean sure I can write up a press release and send to the masses and wait for my phone to […]
As a small business I am a big supporter of shopping local, that being said I also hate shopping so if I can’t buy it online, I won’t buy it. […]
I think everyone should have a blog, whether it is personal or company focused. I started Small Biz Musings, so I could talk about my journey as a business owner […]
In a previous post I wrote about adapting to change and surviving it. This morning I stumbled upon an article in Inc. that talked about the questions you should ask […]
I suck at change, which is rather ironic when you are a small business owner. Change is the norm. Over the years, I have adapted several ‘coping’ mechanisms to offset […]
834 was set up to be an integrated communications agency, which means we can manage all your needs under one roof. We build a strategy, we implement the strategy and […]
This past week, Jimmy Lab, 834’s chief happiness officer decided to wander off and leave his humans completely panicked. Thanks to the power of social media, he was returned safe […]
We hear people say it all the time, how busy they are and how they can barely keep their head above water. Trust me, I get it. 834 is in […]
With growth comes hiring, with new hires comes lots and lots of interviews. How do you stand out from the crowd? How do you leave a good impression? As a […]
I’m a feminist. This is a surprise to no one. I am very loud about it and I am very proud of it. I was raised to be independent, challenge […]
In my blog last week I talked about the power of small businesses. It is no secret running a business is hard, most of us are not qualified to manage […]
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms. Since 1995, small businesses have generated 64 percent of new jobs, and paid […]
When we recommend communication activities for our clients and outline tools, tactics and timeline; one of the most common responses we hear: “We don’t have time for that, we are […]
Cruising is pretty cool, I learned a lot. For example, you can get sick of sitting by a pool 7 days in a row for hours at a time sipping […]
This past week I went on my first ever cruise with Royal Caribbean on the Allure of the Seas. As with all things in my life, I take in details […]
As we gear up for another week of media announcements, press conferences, media training and pitching, I wanted to share some tips on media preparation. Reporters use interviews to gather […]
My first job was working in the facilities planning department at a university, I was a glorified assistant/secretary and it was definitely not what I went to school for. I […]
So you hired us…because we know stuff. We clearly have a track record of success in public relations or you never would have come to us in the first place. […]
Content rules the world, you know this, your mom knows this, hell…even your dog knows it. Content done well, can drive sales, build brand awareness and has countless other benefits. […]
A communication strategy really does serve a purpose, it isn’t just something you read once and set on a shelf. It should be your roadmap to meeting your business goals, […]
As I got ready to attend my 3rd or 4th event this week, I thought – what the hell keeps me motivated to attend all of these business events? Wine. […]
Team 834 is working with our local community theatre on the promotion of an unknown play that deals with some very real but difficult issues. In an effort to bring […]
Does Twitter really have a place in business? Are you really going to suggest it as part of a marketing strategy? Short answer: Yes. Here is the deal, just a […]
It dawned on me after just returning from meetings in the Big Apple, that I am incredibly fucking blessed. 834 is the little engine that could, here’s why: Several years […]
Designing is not a skill I possess. I do, however, understand the importance of integrating visual content into every aspect of your communication tools. A recent article by HubSpot states: […]
Every week, I have a Sunday night freak out. I start worrying about the coming week, the stuff I didn’t get done on the weekend, the meetings I have to attend, […]
Making difficult decisions is part of being a business owner, whether it is parting ways with a client, admitting you screwed up or having unpleasant conversations with an employee. Running […]
We have all gotten a little lazy with our style. Gone are the days where a suit, nylons and pencil skirt were the norm. With an influx of millennials into […]
I had a conversation with a friend, and someone I respect immensely professionally, about a company’s brand and how it is interpreted across all channels. She shared with me a […]
Sometimes, a girl just needs office supplies. When you spend the majority of time at work or in meetings, you tend to splurge on the super boring items you use […]
I wanted to start this blog out with “The problem with young-ins nowadays is…” but then I thought better of it. When I was just beginning my career I had no […]
We currently have a position open at our company and I started thinking about our employee onboarding process and integrating a new person into the 834 culture. Just this year, I […]
As I sit here writing this, I am staring out across a large body of water from my campsite in the Manistee National Forest. Seriously…look at this view! Holy shit […]
It still amazes me how bad individuals are at promoting themselves, the fact is everything you do shapes your personal brand. The benefits of personal branding are numerous, the only […]
You often hear how hard the startup stage is for a new business but not a lot of people address the headaches of growth. Personally, I think the growth stage […]
In the last week, our country has experienced a lot of tragedy. From the mass shooting in Orlando to the 2 year old being attacked by an alligator to who […]
I love reading. It is my favorite thing to do, besides work. I love delving into historical nonfiction by authors such as Stephen Ambrose, Erik Larson and Nathaniel Philbrick. Reading books […]
When you are managing over 30 clients, overseeing 20+ social channels and communicating with 100 or more media outlets on a monthly basis…you need to have your organizational shit down. […]
One of the biggest issues I have struggled with as 834 continues to grow is culture. How do we maintain our existing culture when adding new employees into the mix? […]
Heading back to work after a long holiday weekend is tough, especially if you can’t truly unplug from your job. Part of agency life, is understanding that the work we […]
I have been waiting for 10 YEARS for an article that accurately depicts integrated communications (thank Brian) and why it is the ONLY way agencies should function. This past week, […]
This past week I moved an entire house, 4 dogs and a husband. I came to several realizations while packing, unpacking and drinking multiple bottles of wine. Life is short. […]
Most of us crave leadership, we want to be looked upon as an expert and someone that others look up to. But what does it take? You don’t wake up one […]
A bit morbid of a subject but something, as a business owner, you absolutely have to think about. This is especially relevant if you are the sole proprietor. After owning […]
Dear Graduate, What an exciting time for you! This past weekend you graduated, celebrated with friends and family and toasted the accomplishment of receiving a degree. After a 4.5 hour […]
My sister-in-law contacted me the other day to ask me about an individual, marketing themselves as a social media guru that promised her for $247 she could increase her Instagram […]
This past weekend, I felt immense guilt for sitting around and chillaxing (as I like to call it), which may or may not have involved watching Hallmark movies…but probably not. […]
Last week, I announced a new blog series called #GirlBoss. This series is meant to educate and offer hope to women bosses, entrepreneurs, business owners and general badasses. The hardest […]
As professional, career-driven individuals we work hard and often, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for self-learning. We all understand the importance of it, but in a 12 to […]
In an effort to further support women in business and share their stories of success, failures and triumphs; I am excited to announce a new blog series called #GirlBoss. This […]
In the last week it occurred to me what a terrible job professionals do marketing themselves. Developing your personal brand and communicating your value proposition is key to success. Everything […]
You are only as smart as the people you surround yourself with, this refers to staff, friends, mentors, colleagues and more. We may not be able to choose our family, but […]
Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, networking is a necessary evil, unless of course you work in a cave and are required to stay in said cave and […]
This same time every year, I question my decision to run my own business. Why? Because…taxes. When you are paying out an unGodly amount at the end of the year, […]
Every January I sit down and write up our growth strategy for the coming year – it keeps us on track with milestones and goals to reach. I take a few […]
~The unicorn is part of the world of nature and part of the world of dreams–and completely of the heart. In many ways, it is a symbol of our longing […]
For the first time in my 36 years (I know…it took me that long), I traveled overseas to spend 2 weeks in a foreign country. The country of choice? Spain. […]
I remember thinking, just last week, I wish someone had a small business handbook that gave you step by step instructions on running your company. When I started 834 back […]
