Fun fact: 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 (you have to scroll through 567 dog photos to find it). Ironically, or not ironically, I am ridiculously competitive, which directly challenges my athleticism, often with disastrous consequences. Case […]
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 way; you probably just looked at me. To all of this I say: F*ck You perimenopause. This, coupled with my ADHD (emotional dysregulation, anyone?), has […]
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, 5. Interview again, 6. Hire. We blew up our hiring process this past year, cause we realized it just wasn’t working and it certainly did […]
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. We’re all struggling to adapt to 2020, part three, not to mention the never-ending surprises 2022 has already thrown at us. I mean it’d be […]
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 in, employers are obsessed with a candidate having a 4-year college degree, and in some ways it makes sense. Now, if you ask me, a […]
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 (between 10 to 99 employees), so we sit and wait. Waiting is not something we do well as business owners. Here is what we know: […]
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 are constantly pulled away. I, myself, am a terrible listener, ask anyone. I am easily distracted, ooh shiny object, and I have a hard time […]
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 have made it a priority to spend time talking about the company, plans for the future and each employee’s individual goals. The benefits for doing […]
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 with multiple other businesses chose to cancel their Chamber memberships in a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ community and women everywhere. While the Chamber […]
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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 time, you are too busy trying to not go broke. It’s probably a good thing that most entrepreneurs can’t see past the week they’re living […]
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 cultivate opportunities for my employees that I never had. As a business owner (regardless of my gender), I need to live by example. When reflecting […]
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 and commitment to small business is evident, as is the sacrifice and growth that comes along to it. So, take a gander and if you […]
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 on the right path and fulfilling their goals by creating an unwavering guide. Just this week we rolled out 8THIRTYFOUR core values. As we move […]
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. In your professional life it might involve a raise, increase in a client’s budget or a lease on new office space. Negotiation is a bit […]
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 quiet on what their customers may perceive as controversial. 834, I am proud to say, will always vocally support equality, inclusiveness and diversity. In fact […]
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 learning…well I might as well pass it on to my 30 subscribers. Someone pointed out the other day, that my agency has a reputation for […]
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 – the marketing is also humorous, strategic and well implemented. Here are the top reasons I am crushing on Southwest Airlines: They listen. Every time […]
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 alludes to individuals that are whiny, entitled and expect certain things out of an employer. One company went so far as to create their very […]
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 to define their culture. Take Uber for example, they are facing a media firestorm and branding crisis due to their toxic culture. How does company […]
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? Have we really defined culture? I mean, in my head it is perfectly clear…but isn’t that something every business owner struggles with? Are you actually […]
