Main Street Success Stories
Main Street Success Stories is a monthly podcast that explores the journeys, challenges, and triumphs of local entrepreneurs. Each episode features real-world business owners who share their experiences of starting and growing a venture. The show aims to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs and provide motivation for those looking to expand their local businesses. Listeners can expect deep dives into the realities of entrepreneurship, celebrating the spirit of small business.
Episodes
Episode 77: When Customers Show You the Next Step: The Story Behind Vilah Bloom
What happens when a simple idea at the kitchen table grows into a multi-location, experience-driven brand?In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Jackie Garrett, founder of Viola Bloom, to talk about the real journey behind building a business that has evolved over 16 years.Jackie’s entrepreneurial story began as a new mom who kept forgetting wet wipes while wor
Episode 76: Financial Clarity = Freedom: How to Build a More Profitable Business
What do you do when life knocks you all the way down… and you still have no choice but to keep going?In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Natalia Zacharin, founder of Zacharin Consulting, for a powerful conversation about resilience, financial clarity, and what it really takes to build a profitable business from the ground up.Natalia shares her deeply persona
Episode 75: Hustle Isn't the Problem, Your "Who's" Are the Answer
Bouncing her employees' paychecks on a Friday afternoon in July was one of the lowest moments of Jennifer Kok's 20+ years in business and one of the best things that ever happened to her.In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, host Jennifer Kok shares the raw, real story behind the "hustle harder" moment that almost broke her and the mindset shift that actually saved he
Episode 74: The Habit Loop That's Keeping Your Stuck (And How to Break It)
What if the habit you rely on to “take the edge off” is actually the thing keeping you stuck?In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Cari Walters, a sober curious life coach, to explore the powerful connection between habits, emotions, and the way we cope as busy entrepreneurs.Cari shares her personal journey from years of habitual drinking — not out of addictio
Episode 73: From Hustle to Harmony: How to Focus on What Actually Matters in Your Business and Life
What if the goal isn’t a perfectly balanced day at all?In this episode, Jennifer Kok sits down with Suzy Hillegas of Suzy Connect for a thoughtful conversation about moving from hustle to harmony in your time, work, and life.If you’re a busy woman entrepreneur juggling business, family, responsibilities, and the constant pressure to keep everything moving, this episode will feel like a deep breat
Episode 72: Are You Pivoting Toward Something or Away From Something? The Question Every Entrepreneur Needs to Answer
Are you pivoting toward something or away from something? In this episode, Jennifer Kok breaks down what she calls "the art of pivoting" and why the best pivots she's made and witnessed didn't come from desperation. They came from clarity and intention.Jennifer gets honest about the pivots that aren't really pivots at all, the ones driven by avoidance, boredom, or impatien
Episode 71: How Small Businesses Can Use Press Releases to Build Trust, Visibility, and Sales
In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, to unpack the real value of press releases and why public relations should not be reserved for big brands with huge budgets.Mickie has spent more than 25 years helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups get visibility through strategic press releases that lead to media cover
Episode 70: $60K in Debt: When the “Proven Strategy” Fails (And What Actually Works Instead)
What happens when you follow the “proven strategy”… and it completely fails?In this episode Jennifer sits down with Sarah Hubbard, founder of The Intentional Network for a powerful conversation about networking, resilience, and building a business rooted in real relationships.Sarah shares the moment she found herself $60,000 in debt after following her company’s one and only growth strategy, direc
Episode 69: Avoiding Decisions Is a Decision - How to Make Smarter Business Moves
In this episode, Jennifer Kok, a business advisor and business coach for women entrepreneurs, is joined by Carrie Holland, MD, owner of FitLife, and Brooke Koeninger of Scale with Clarity for an honest conversation about the decisions that shape entrepreneurship.Jennifer shares one of the hardest moments from her 20+ years in business, when employee paychecks bounced despite strong sales, and how
Episode 68: Stop Outsourcing Your Authority: Marketing, Mindset & Getting Found
What if the secret to marketing success isn't a better strategy, it's finally trusting yourself? In this episode, I sit down with Iris Goldfeder, founder of Gas Stove Creative, to talk about building a business on your own terms, showing up authentically, and getting found by the right clients. Whether you're struggling with visibility, confused by the ever-changing digital marketin
Episode 67: Exit-Ready: How to Build a Business Someone Actually Wants to Buy
Selling a business isn’t something you figure out at the finish line, it’s something you build toward from day one. In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Cameron Bishop of Raincatcher to talk about what it really means to be “exit ready.” Cameron shares what he’s learned from 50+ acquisitions and decades of buying and selling companies, including why nearly 80% of businesses that try to sell ne
Episode 66: Lucky Girls Don’t Quit: Designing a Life You Actually Enjoy
How do you build a big, meaningful business in a town of 500 people and still design a life you actually enjoy living? In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Kalin Sheick, founder of Sweetwater Floral and creator of the “Lucky Girls Don’t Quit” movement. Kalin shares how slow, intentional growth helped her build a thriving seasonal business in Northern Michigan, why letting go of control became
Episode 65: The Truth About Branding Small Business Owners Need to Hear
If you think branding is just a logo, a color palette, or a website, this episode will completely shift how you see your business.In this conversation, Jennifer sits down with brand strategist Shayne Mackey to unpack what a brand really is, why most small business owners skip the most important foundational work, and how poor positioning—not marketing—is often the reason growth stalls.You’ll learn
Episode 64: The 3 Hidden Reasons You are Struggling to Sell
Sales is one of the most uncomfortable topics for many solo and service-based entrepreneurs and it’s often the very thing holding their business back.In this solo episode, Jennifer Kok dives into Pillar #6: Sales, and unpacks the three biggest reasons business owners struggle to sell: negative perceptions shaped by past experiences, fear of bothering people through follow-up, and fear of rejection
Episode 63: Community Over Competition: How Ashley Alderson Built The Boutique Hub
If you’ve ever felt like you’re “supposed” to have a perfect business plan before you start… Ashley Alderson is here to tell you the truth: most success stories start with a pivot.In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Ashley Alderson, Founder & CEO of The Boutique Hub, to unpack what it really takes to build a community-led business that scales. Ashley sha
Episode 62: Every Idea Is Worthy of Investment: Building Courage, Community, and Longevity in Leadership
In this episode, Jennifer Kok sits down with Grand Rapids icon, author, and “hope dealer” Shannon Cohen for a conversation that feels like both a leadership masterclass and a deep exhale. Shannon shares the threads that shaped her, from being the kid who noticed the “visibly invisible,” to watching her grandparents use business as a catalyst for social good, to an unexpected career pivot after 9/1
Episode 61: Simple Systems Every Small Business Owner Needs to Reduce Stress
You’ve heard it a thousand times: “You need systems.” But what does that actually mean when you’re busy, stretched thin, and running on mental sticky notes? In this episode, Jennifer Kok breaks down Pillar #5 of her Nine Pillars of a Profitable Business—Systems—and shows you how to build them without overwhelm, fancy software, or 100-page manuals.You’ll learn why your brain shouldn’t be the storag
Episode 60: Stop Chasing Leads: Build a Referral-Only Business with Relationships, Not Ads
If you’ve ever felt like you can’t compete with big brands, massive ad budgets, and the constant pressure to “do more marketing,” this episode will feel like a deep exhale.Jennifer sits down with referral expert, TedX speaker, entrepreneur and author of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates, to talk about how he built multiple seven-figure businesses almost entirely on referrals.Scott breaks down his
Episode 59: How High-Achieving Women Can Grow Without Burning Out
In this deeply eye-opening and energizing conversation, Jennifer sits down with Sophia McKenzie, founder of Gearing Together, who helps high-achieving women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders rebuild confidence, set boundaries, and grow without burning out.Burnout is a buzzword these days but Sophia reframes it in a way you’ve never heard before. Instead of describing burnout as exhaustion from o
Episode 58: The Real Reason Your Marketing Isn't Working
What if the reason your business feels stalled has nothing to do with needing more marketing?Not more Reels. Not more ads. Not more content.Today, Jennifer uncovers the surprising truth about what actually grows small businesses and why fixing this one thing transforms everything.In this episode, Jennifer breaks down one of her favorite pillars inside the 9-Pillar Earn More…Stress Less™ Framework:
Episode 57: How To Organize Your Home And Business For Freedom And Focus
In this inspiring episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Lisa Woodruff, founder and CEO of Organize 365, to talk about how women entrepreneurs can create more peace, profit, and productivity starting at home.Lisa shares her journey from teacher and mom juggling multiple roles to building a multi-million-dollar organizing brand and podcast that helps women everywhere re
Episode 56: The Secret Behind Smarter Decisions and Stronger Teams
Do you ever wonder why you make the decisions you make in your business—especially when leading a team? In this episode, Jennifer sits down with wellness and leadership coach Renee Privette-Stutz to explore how understanding your natural decision-making patterns can radically improve how you lead, hire, and communicate.Renee shares how self-awareness helps business owners recognize emotional trigg
Episode 55: Standing out in a Saturated Market
What if your calling isn’t somewhere new, it’s right where you are?Today, Jennifer sits down with Shari K. Hooper, a Grand Rapids financial advisor who literally grew up in the industry alongside her trailblazing mom. Shari shares how she nearly left finance (hello, Chick-fil-A application!) before choosing to persevere—and how she now stands out in a “saturated” market by serving clients like fam
Episode 54: You Don’t Have a Marketing Problem. You Have a Follow-Up Problem
If you’ve ever walked out of a coffee chat or networking event wondering, “Was that really worth my time?” — this episode is for you.In this solo episode, Jennifer Kok, business strategist and founder of Next Wave Business Coaching, dives into Pillar #3: Your Network from her 9-Pillar Profitable Business Framework. Jennifer reveals why most entrepreneurs don’t have a marketing problem, they have a
Episode 53: How to Build Brand Trust and Uncover Your Unique Messaging
Are you struggling to clearly explain what makes your business unique?In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok talks with Beth Hess, founder of Keys to Your Brand and the voice behind Own Your Amazingness. Beth is a former journalist turned brand trust consultant who helps entrepreneurs and organizations uncover their natural strengths, communicate what makes them different, an
Episode 52: Every “Yes” Has a Price: Why Saying Yes to Everyone Is Costing You Profit
If your calendar is full but your profit is thin, this episode is for you.So many small business owners are exhausted — not because they’re doing something wrong, but because they’re saying yes to everything. Every new idea, every customer request, every opportunity that sounds like “growth.” But here’s the truth: every yes has a cost — and if you don’t count it, your profit will.In this bonus sol
Episode 51: Stop the Overwhelm: Small Business AI Made Simple
AI doesn’t have to be overwhelming — if you focus on just one thing. In this episode, we explore how small business owners can simplify their operations with AI.What we chatted about: Jeanette’s journey from math teacher to AI systems expert.How to use AI to eliminate the most irritating parts of your business.Why trust and step-by-step adoption are key to successful AI implementation.Why Listen:D
Episode 50: The Hidden Reason You’re Exhausted in Your Business
You didn’t start your business to be this exhausted. ou started it for freedom, flexibility, and a paycheck you could count on or maybe a dream to add more to your family finances.So why does it feel like you’re working harder than ever and still not seeing the results you want?In this episode, Jennifer Kok shares the story of how her dream bakery launched just two days after delivering her secon
Episode 49: From Side Hustle to Full Time: Heather Mahoneys Leap into Business and Rising Together
What happens when life pushes you to finally go all in on your dream? In this inspiring conversation, Jennifer Kok sits down with branding and headshot photographer Heather Mahoney to talk about her journey from nurse to full-time entrepreneur, how fear almost held her back, and the incredible women’s project she created that’s lighting up the local community.Facing Fear and Going All InThe Rising
Episode 48: Selling with Heart, Charging Your Worth, and Choosing You
What if choosing yourself was the most powerful business strategy you could implement? In this inspiring and candid conversation, Jennifer Kok sits down with abundance expert Sarah Walton to talk about women, money, mindset, and the truth about charging what you’re worth.What we chatted about: Selling with Heart Isn’t “Icky” Sarah reframes sales as something women already do naturally, whether it’
Episode 47: From Debt to Margin: The Real Profit Strategy for Inventory-Based Businesses
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by inventory, buried in business debt, or unsure how to actually pay yourself—this is the episode you didn’t know you needed. Jennifer sits down with returning guest Ciara Stockeland, founder of Inventory Genius, for a real talk on what’s crushing profitability for product-based businesses—and how to fix it.From understanding your balance sheet to why your pricing s
Episode 46: Stop Waiting, Start Doing: Carla Flanders on Pivoting, Producing, and Publishing
From pivoting during a career crossroads to creating something meaningful and profitable, Carla shares what it really takes to take action—even when the future feels uncertain.Today’s guest is someone who wears a lot of hats — and wears them all with purpose. Carla Flanders is the founder of CMF Marketing & Events, a West Michigan-based business that blends traditional marketing with large-sc
Episode 45: The Power of Clarity: How Jackie Benjamin Built a Referral-Worthy Social Media Agency
In this episode Jennifer Kok sits down with Jackie Benjamin, the founder of We Assist Marketing, to talk about how she built a thriving social media agency by choosing a lane, staying consistent, and leading with heart. Jackie opens up about the unexpected moment that inspired her to start a business, how she shifted from “doing everything for everyone” to becoming an industry expert in outbound s
Episode 44: The #1 Habit Creative Entrepreneurs Need
In this refreshingly honest and relatable episode, Jennifer Kok sits down with Courtney Boudet, a seasoned bookkeeper and founder of E Number Cruncher, to talk about what really keeps small business owners from staying on top of their books. From bank balance accounting to the embarrassment of being behind, Courtney shares mindset shifts and practical tools for creating better financial habits tha
Episode 43: You Don’t Need to Scale Like Everyone Else - A CFO’s Take on Aligned Growth
Jennifer Kok sits down with Brooke Koeninger, founder of Scale with Clarity, to talk about leaving corporate during the Great Resignation, rewriting her identity as a working mom turned entrepreneur, and what it really means to build a business that works for you. They get real about burnout, measuring fulfillment (not just profit), and how small tweaks in your numbers can have a major impact.This
Episode 42: From Self-Doubt to Self-Trust: How Embodied Leadership Changes Everything
What if the key to being a more impactful leader wasn’t about learning how to do more, but about learning how to be more present?In this powerful episode, Jennifer Kok sits down with Kristy Mandour, founder of So To Speak, to unpack how high-achieving leaders can stop defaulting to pressure and perfection and start leading with grounded presence, emotional intelligence, and true self-trust. From e
Episode 41: Selling Your Small Business: Real Talk on Buyers, Profit, and Letting Go
What if the business you’ve poured your heart into can’t be sold when you’re ready to move on?In this eye-opening episode, Jennifer Kok sits down with Jessica Starks, business broker and Exit Factor expert, to break down everything entrepreneurs need to know about building a business with resale in mind — even if selling feels miles away. With 80% of businesses never selling, this is a must-listen
Episode 40: Stop Guessing: How to Truly Understand Your Customers
In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Curt and Rob, co-founders of HUMN Marketing Agency, to unpack the power of customer-centered storytelling and human-first marketing strategy. With complementary backgrounds in design, nonprofit leadership, and brand messaging. The conversation dives into the importance of understanding your customers on a deeper level—and how most business owners are market
Episode 39: Are you Ignoring the Most Powerful Free Tool for Local Visibility?
In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Geoff Schalow to demystify the Google Business Profile (GBP) and reveal how local business owners—whether brick-and-mortar or home-based—can optimize their presence on Google Maps and search results to attract more clients and outrank big-box competitors.From avoiding profile ownership mistakes to simple habits that boost visibility, this is your go-to epis
Episode 38: Small Steps, Strong Roots: The Long Game of Entrepreneurship
In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Jennifer Kok sits down with Rebecca, the founder of a successful web design studio in West Michigan. From building websites for her dad’s agricultural business to launching her own creative agency, Rebecca shares her 20+ year entrepreneurial journey rooted in curiosity, faith, family, and community. Listeners will hear how she grew her business intentionall
The Earn More, Stress Less Growth System Explained
I often get asked "How do you work with Small Business Owners". In this episode, Jennifer Kok, small business strategist and founder of the Earn More, Stress Less Growth System, shares the real reason why so many entrepreneurs burn out — and how you can avoid it and how she helps. Jennifer walks listeners through her proven 3-step framework that has helped countless service-based busin
Episode 37: Love, Business and Boundaries: Navigating Entrepreneurship as a Couple
In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Jennifer Kok sits down with relationship coach Kathy Rushing, founder of Lodestar Relationship Coaching, to explore the unique dynamics of marriage, business partnerships, and entrepreneurship. With over 40 years of marriage and decades of entrepreneurial experience, Kathy brings an insightful perspective to the conversation—especially for couples navigatin
Episode 36: Turning Clicks into Clients: Pinterest Strategy Secrets with Jen Dys
In this episode, Jennifer Kok chats with Jen Dys, Pinterest Marketing & Content Strategist and founder of Level Up Business Creative. Jen shares her journey from being a physical therapist to launching a successful Pinterest strategy business during the pandemic. Together, they unpack why Pinterest is one of the most overlooked but powerful marketing tools for both B2B and B2C businesses.You’l
Episode 35: From Forgettable to Unstoppable: Nail Your Elevator Pitch with Leslie Fiorenzo
Ever fumbled through an introduction at a networking event? Struggled to make people really understand what you do? In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, I’m joined by business communication and speaking expert, Leslie Fiorenzo, who shares a simple yet powerful formula to craft an elevator pitch that sparks interest and generates referrals.Leslie breaks down the key components of a great
Episode 34: Ditch the Pitch: The Networking Strategy That Actually Works
In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, host Jennifer Kok sits down with Sara Barco, business and networking consultant and founder of 52 Connections. Sara is passionate about helping business owners strengthen customer retention and build authentic connections. She shares her unique approach to networking, why traditional hard leads groups don’t work for everyone, and how entrepreneurs ca
Episode 33: From Bottleneck to Boss: How to Lead Without Losing Control
“If you can develop leaders within your business, you free yourself to actually grow it.” ~Jennifer KokIn this episode, Jennifer Kok interviews leadership development coach Shaina Lane, who specializes in helping corporate professionals and small business owners transition into effective leadership roles. They discuss the challenges business owners face when hiring and managing people, the importa
Episode 32: How One Entrepreneur Turned Challenges Into Sweet Success
In this inspiring episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Scott Vogel, owner of Nothing Bundt Cakes in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Scott shares his remarkable journey of transitioning from corporate America to entrepreneurship and the challenges, failures, and victories along the way. From depleting savings to building a thriving, community-focused business, Scott's st
Episode 31: The Shocking Truth About Small Business Failure (And How to Avoid It)
Did you know that only 50% of small businesses make it to year five? That statistic fires me up! In this solo episode, I’m diving into the real reason so many entrepreneurs struggle—ignoring their numbers. I’ll take you behind the scenes of my own business journey, including a humbling moment when my payroll checks bounced (yes, it happened!). But more importantly, I’ll show you why understanding
Episode 30: Instagram Strategy Simplified: Growth, Nuture and Sell with Ease
Welcome to Main Street Success Stories, where we inspire and equip creative entrepreneurs to stress less and earn more. In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Jenna Harding, a former actor-turned-social media expert who’s now empowering entrepreneurs to attract paying new clients on Instagram without spending endless hours glued to their phones.Jenna shares her journey from the stage to run
Episode 29: Mastering Money: Profit Strategies for Small Business Owners
In this episode, Jennifer Kok sits down with Jamie Trull, a financial literacy educator and former Fortune 500 finance executive turned entrepreneur, to tackle one of the most challenging aspects of business ownership—managing money. Jamie shares her journey from corporate finance at Coca-Cola to launching her own business, fueled by her desire for flexibility and independence.Key takeaways includ
Episode 28: Maximize Local Business Reach with Social Media
In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok chats with Brooke Norlin, a seasoned Virtual Assistant (VA) with a knack for helping business owners streamline their operations and amplify their online presence. They dive into Brooke’s journey from early days in social media to her current role as a VA. The conversation focuses on actionable strategies for locally-owned businesses to
Episode 27: Adapt & Survive: What's Coming Next For Your Business
In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, host Jennifer Kok dives into her personal entrepreneurial journey, sharing how she overcame challenges during the 2008 recession by pivoting her business model. Jennifer provides insight into resilience, adaptability, and innovation, essential traits for small business success. If you’re a small business owner, Jennifer’s story will inspire you to al
Episode 26: Overcoming Fear and Growing Your Business Step-by-Step
In this episode, Jennifer Kok interviews Stacy Sloan, founder of 3 Little Birds Granola, who shares her inspiring entrepreneurial journey. Stacy reflects on her path from culinary school to creating a clean-label, allergen-free granola that has expanded into K-12 food service markets across multiple states. She candidly discusses the challenges of starting as a hobbyist, the fear she faced when tr
Episode 25: Marketing Makeover: Embracing Modern Strategies for Local Success
Molly Bossardt with Bread to Butter Digitial Marketing, started her business in 2020 with a focus on helping small-town businesses—particularly wineries—modernize their marketing strategies. She emphasizes the importance of niching, which allows her to cater to wineries’ unique challenges, such as family ownership structures and the need to engage a younger audience. Molly advocates for a 360-degr
Episode 24: Customer Collaboration: The Secret Ingredient to Rapid Growth
In today’s episode, we sit down with Tanya Thompson, founder of The Aroma Labs, as she opens up about how a journey through grief inspired her to start a business that now spans multiple locations. Tanya’s story is both touching and empowering, offering insights into how she skillfully turned a personal loss into a thriving business with a unique approach to customer involvement.Episode Highlights
Episode 23: Fashion, Philanthropy, and Profit: How to Run a Mission-Driven Business
In a conversation between business coach Jennifer Kok and entrepreneur Brittani Clancey, we learn about Brittani's business, Fashion Pact, a unique thrift store in Anchorage, Alaska. Her business donates 30% of every sale to local charities, with customers choosing the recipient charities at both the donation and purchase stages.Brittani’s business journey began after 10 years as a stay-at-ho
Episode 22: Mastering the Art of Customer Experience
In this episode of "Main Street Success Stories," Jennifer Kok sits down with Samantha Irwin, founder of Kaizen Consulting and Hospitality Bootcamp, to explore the critical role of customer experience in driving business growth. Samantha shares her journey from middle school teacher to boutique hotel owner and how these experiences shaped her approach to customer service and business con
Episode 21: Surviving and Thriving: Growing a Boutique in Uncertain Times with Lori Sanborn
In this episode, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Lori Sanborn, the owner of Urban Threadz Boutique, as she shares her experience transitioning from a salon owner to running a successful online boutique. Lori opens up about her challenges and triumphs, offering valuable insights for locally owned businesses.Key Topics Covered:Starting from Scratch: Lori shares how she began Urban Thread
Episode 20: From Financial Stress to Financial Freedom with Ciara Stockeland
Meet Ciara Stockeland, a seasoned entrepreneur and profit strategist, to discuss her journey from a third-generation entrepreneur to a successful business consultant. Ciara shares her highs and lows, from building a seven-figure business to losing everything and rebuilding with a new focus on financial health and strategic growth. Listen in to learn how to manage inventory, understand your financi
Episode 19: From Passion to Published: Writing and Marketing Your Book
Jennifer DiVita, an influencer in positive aging and the author of "Not Your Shoe Size," joins us to discuss her journey, her passion for aging positively, and her experience writing a novel. This episode dives into the following five key topics:Positive Aging and Influence:Jennifer shares her background in journalism and her unexpected career shift into gerontology and positive aging. S
Episode 18: Creating Advocates with Heidi Low
Our guest today, Heidi Low, embarked on a profound personal journey. She made the courageous decision to leave her corporate job and establish a retreat for bereaved parents, a cause close to her heart after the loss of her terminally ill daughter, Alison. This led to the creation of her non-profit, Ohana Oasis, through which she has been a source of healing for many. Today, Heidi's focus is
Episode 17: Finding your Niche with Kate Greunke
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kate Greuneke, founder of The Socialite Agency. Discover how Kate built a successful virtual marketing agency specializing in the home industry, working with interior designers, home stagers, and more. Learn about her journey from early struggles to breaking six figures by finding her niche. Kate shares invaluable insights on relationship-based marketing,
EP 16: How to avoid business burnout
Owning a business can feel lonely; sometimes, you feel like a hamster on the wheel. I am so excited to share with you today a real case study of transforming a struggling business, a burnout business owner, into a profitable business, and an owner who has found joy in her business again. Today’s guest I am honored to say is one of my clients, Christina Ellis, Sip Organic Juice Bar, a busy wife, an
EP 15: Turn your life experiences into a profitable business
Today’s episode will excite you about your future and the next steps you envision for you personally and your business. Dawn Pick Benson is a transformational travel coach who helps women undergoing major life changes rediscover themselves, regain their power, and have a blast through travel. Dawn leads a program called Brave Journey, a 5 step process to help women at any age, in any phase of life
Ep 14: How this teenager became a business owner
13 year old Aleksander has taken his passion for dogs and launched a business with his Mom. This episode will make you smile and fuel your passion and desire to succeed as an entrepreneur. In this episode with Amy and Aleksander, a mother and son partnership, started Wagging Riders, a dog bus business that picks up your dogs from your home and takes them to the dog park for daily exercise. The t
Episode 13: How to connect with your audience for more sales
What is the best way to personally connect with your ideal audience? In this episode I interview Kristi McDonald, a national bridal show planner for IDo Bridal Expo. Kristi shares with us tips on how to organize an amazing event but also how to utilize events and trade shows to grow your business. If you are a service based or local brick and mortar business this episode is for you.Kristi shares
Episode 12: Breaking Barriers led to 6x Revenue Increase
"Spend less time with people who make doing business hard. "Wise words to live by when you are trying to grow your business. My guest today, Carrie Wilson is the CEO of a women-owned, family owned Commercial Construction Business, an industry where only 9% of the workforce is female. In this episode she shares how she had to overcome the barriers of being the minority in the room, what
Episode 11: The Secret to Landing Big Business Clients with Cynthia Kay
This strategy can take your business to the next level.My guest today, Cynthia Kay, has been an entrepreneur her whole life. She started by working in her family business, worked for 13 years in the broadcasting business and has owned and operated a media company for 36 years. In addition, she has written three books and her newest book releases today: Small Business, Big Success: Proven Strategi
EP 10: How to Gain Referrals & Retain Customers with Monica Shea
Growing a business takes extreme attention to detail as well as excellent customer service. In this episode my guest, Monica Shea, founder of a training program, Agent of Excellence shares how she saw a gap in the training provided for Real Estate Agents and turned her passion for Disney and Real Estate into a business. She shares that to grow a business, get referrals, and retain customers it ta
EP 09: The Importance of Being Bold with Elisa Rodriquez
In today’s episode, I interviewed Elisa Rodriquez with M & I Interiors. Elise shares how to succeed as a woman, a minority-owned business in a male-dominated industry the challenges she has faced, and what has led to her success. We discuss her journey of leaving her 20+ year corporate career to go all in her business. Some of the highlights are:Knowing the pathway to funding and what she
EP 08: Running a Family Business with Gina Jacquart Thorsen
Gina Jacquart Thorsen is the 3rd Generation CEO and co-owner of Jacquart Fabric Products home of the Stormy Kromer brand. In this episode we deep dive into her experiences and life lessons she learned growing up as an entrepreneur’s kid, the decision to choose to work in the family business, and how you navigate the CEO role after her father retired. We share:- The rich history of growing a small
EP 07: What To Know Before You Purchase A Business with XD Power Fitness
Join me as I interview Steve and Bernadette Powers, owners of XD Power Fitness. They purchased an existing business during the pandemic and share the good, bad, and ugly of acquiring an existing business in this episode. Since taking over this business three years ago, they have doubled their membership, positioned themselves as a community resource, and learned much about entrepreneurship. They
EP 06: When To Hire Employees In Your Small Business with Jessica Crosby
One decision most entrepreneurs wrestle with is when to hire employees to help you grow your business. This can be challenging both emotionally and financially. In this episode today with Jessica Crosby, Delight in Designs Interiors, she shares:How she took her passion and created a business. How she had been dreaming of starting a business for years and what gave her the courage to jump in. How
EP 05: How To Turn a Side Hustle Into a Full-Time Career with Cory Maguire
How to turn a side hustle into a full-time career? In today’s episode, I interviewed Cory Maguire, Green Crown Real Estate who shares how he went from part-time realtor to full-time all while supporting a family of 6 and then during the pandemic decided to create his own brokerage. Today he shares the importance of:Mindset and habitsThe energy and faith to tell yourself “You Just Gotta Do It”Surr
EP 04: Attract & Retain Customers with Lynn Ross
In this episode, we sit down with Lynn Ross, the visionary owner of Toy and Baby Boutique Mother and Earth. Join us as Lynn shares her inspiring journey of building and evolving her business, highlighting the importance of fun in every aspect of her entrepreneurial venture.Lynn delves into key business strategies, exploring the wisdom behind following trends and the impact it has on the bottom lin
EP 03: Create a National Franchise with Shannon Wilburn
Today’s guest, Shannon Wilburn, started her business from her living room and went on to build a national franchise reaching $47M per year. Grab your pen and paper, her journey is beyond amazing and this episode is packed with practical business tips. If you are interested in learning what it takes to grow your locally-owned business to a national franchise I invite you to tune in. In this episo
EP 02: How To Launch A Product Based Business With Kevin Shark
Join us for another episode where we talk with Kevin Shark, Founder of the Great Lakes Shark Sock Company. We discuss what it takes to launch a product-based business, the challenges he overcame, and how one man can make a difference in their community. Interested in learning how you too can fast track your growth in your locally owned business, reach out to Jennifer here at: https://nextwavebus
TRAILER: Welcome To Main Street Success Stories
Meet Your Host:Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process. Because the truth is, business owners make decisions all day long, but the ones that really matter are often the hardest ones.
Ep 01: 4x Your Small Business Revenue with Jen Smits
In this week's episode, we are talking about some of the simple yet crucial steps, Jen Smits (Fresh Start Studios) took to skyrocket her revenue. Be sure to check out all that she offers in both the Grand Rapids and Metro Detroit areas on her website and Instagram below. Website: https://www.freshstartstudios.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/fresh.start.studiosJennifer Kok, founder of Ne
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