The Speak Easy Podcast

Navigating the complexities of caregiving for aging parents is an endeavor fraught with uncertainty and emotion. It's a journey that often catches us off guard, forcing us to confront the profound responsibility of guiding our parents through end-of-life care. In this episode, we delve into our personal experiences with aging parents, reflecting on the hurdles faced and lessons learned. From grappling with difficult medical decisions to finding the right support systems, we discuss the steps we wish we’d taken to prepare and share the candid realities of being members of the sandwich generation.

For better or worse, sometimes we are our job, or our brand, or our leadership role…you get the picture. When you’re in a situation where your job isn’t something you put down at the end of the day and walk away from, what does that mean in terms of work-life balance? If you’re in a position where your job follows you into the other aspects of your life, it could be helpful to view your job not as your life, but rather as your lifestyle. In this episode, we talk about when wearing many hats at once means a traditional approach to work-life balance doesn’t make sense, and the benefits that come from viewing your work as a lifestyle, rather than just a job.

Founded by David Such and Larry Bass in 2008, ScrapFest is a Lansing art festival that brings together artists from around the country to compete in a scrap metal sculpture competition. Earlier this year, Karen’s media production company, Render Studios, premiered their debut ScrapFest documentary. The film highlights various artists and their sculptures from the previous year's festival, offering viewers an immersive exploration into the creative journey of participating artists. For our second entry into our new case study series, we offer a deep dive into the documentary and its filmmaking process. This week, Karen shares what the creative process looks like for such an endeavor, why ScrapFest has a special place in Render’s heart, and the rich narrative potential inherent in documenting the stories of artists.

Whether intentional or not, sometimes a client is disingenuous about the end goals of a project. For whatever reason, they are not upfront with their initial objective, and massage the creative process through nitpicking and endless revisions to achieve an end product that is decidedly different from what was agreed upon. In situations like these, it’s the job of the creative to advocate for their team, and explain to the client why nitpicking creative or playing it safe doesn’t serve their audience, and doesn’t serve their message. This is a tricky situation to be in, and it takes experience to successfully explain to a stubborn client why being upfront allows you to build them the product they need. This week, we share our own experiences with the dreaded client “bait and switch”, and break down how we work towards a successful end goal when confronted with these situations.

Youth might be a limited period in life, but youthfulness is a mindset that transcends age. When it comes to opportunities for career growth or probleming-solving, qualities like open-mindedness and curiosity are critical for success. But what are those qualities if not the characteristics of a youthful mindset? Maintaining a youthful mindset doesn’t mean rejecting maturity or experience. Instead, it’s all about balancing the wisdom gained through experiences with the enthusiasm and curiosity that’s encouraged in youth. In this episode, we discuss how adopting a youthful mindset in our careers allows us to approach our work with knowledge, experience, and perpetual curiosity.

Last month, the Detroit Free Press’s editorial page editor ran a piece about moving the state capital to Detroit, deeming Lansing a “sad little town.” It caused quite the stir, to say the least. Lansing residents and Detroiters alike sounded off on social media, the comments sections grew tense, and water cooler conversation was fueled for days. As buzz around the article grew, people in the Lansing community latched onto the phrase “sad little town” with a sense of tongue-in-cheek pride. Thus, an anonymous “Sad Little Town” account on Twitter/X popped up overnight, accompanied by a website with t-shirts and hats proudly displaying the phrase. Almost overnight, “sad little town” evolved from a phrase unfairly maligning Lansing to a rallying cry for unity. (Because who doesn’t love a good t-shirt?) At this point, it’s no secret that Jen harnessed the team at Redhead to put together the materials and skills for this on-the-fly opportunity. But what can this endeavor teach us about making the most of a moment to help bring a community together? This week, Karen talks to Jen about the project, why they chose to remain anonymous at the start, and how an unkind jab was reclaimed as an inside joke, all for the benefit of our beloved city.

For many entrepreneurs, the end of the year is a time for holiday get-togethers, meeting deadlines, and – the big one – goal setting. We take time to visualize where we see our organization in the coming year, in five years, or even a decade down the line. We carefully map out our business's progress and trajectory. But are we focusing on what’s most important? While it's pretty clear how to identify these quantitative metrics (like finances or organizational growth), it’s less clear whether our goals are aligned with the top priorities in our lives. Don't be fooled: Goal setting is not a one-size-fits-all situation. At work and at home, the factors your competitors, neighbors and friends are focusing on this year shouldn't necessarily be your priorities. You’ve got to write your own path. This episode, we discuss how we can complete a soul-searching audit to identify goals that are personally meaningful throughout the new year.

‘Tis the season for gratitude, but, in fact, it’s healthier to practice grateful thinking all year long. When we think about what’s missing, rather than what’s present, we invite anxiety, frustration, and bundles of other negative emotions to flood our minds. If you think about it, brains are like kindergarten classes: without some discipline, chaos will ensue and somebody is gonna end up in tears. A daily gratitude practice, however simple, can significantly improve your outlook. Everyone’s practice looks different, whether it’s journaling or letter-writing or making mental notes on a morning walk. Join us as we share what we’re thankful for, our own gratitude practices, and all the benefits that come from some good ol' fashioned grateful thinking.

We frequently talk about balance on the podcast and the truth is that something has to give when life becomes hectic. But don’t worry, we’ll return to the regularly scheduled programming in January. For now, we’re rebroadcasting some episodes that are hitting especially close to home right now. Enjoy Another Round – Ep. 164: Burnout and Overwhelm! Burnout often comes in waves — so to prepare, we need to have tools ready to counteract the feelings of stress and anxiety when they hit. Being overwhelmed and experiencing burnout is a toxic duo that weighs down all professionals from time to time. To cope, we often go on autopilot hoping we’ll overcome these stressors over a few weeks or months; but this isn’t an adequate long-term solution. These feelings surpass the general sense of busyness, and have the potential to spread into all areas of our lives. So, what can we do about it? Does anyone really know how to get out of a burnout cycle? Is there a solution in sight? We may not have a singular, magical answer, but we have some strategies for addressing general feelings of overwhelm. Join us as we discuss our own experiences with combating burnout.

If you’ve got anxiety about reaching “midlife” or stumbling into the dreaded “midlife crisis,” just know that it’s not an inevitability. “Midlife” is a construct. By taking a proactive approach to life, you can avoid general monotony and the tired cliche of a “midlife rut.” By embracing change and staying curious about new possibilities, you can avoid succumbing to that sense of stagnation many of us fear as we age. The experience and wisdom we’ve gained by reaching midlife means that, when confronting new challenges or considering reinvention, we have hard-won resources to pull from. In this episode, we talk about why we hate the phrase “midlife”, and the ways we try to pursue growth in the name of evolution and reinvention instead.

Hiring people who have skills that differ from your own adds additional challenges to the recruitment process. When a potential new hire’s skill set is outside of your wheelhouse, it’s essential to remember why you are hiring, and that diversifying the skills of your team is necessary for growth. It expands what you can offer your clients, and brings different thought processes to the table, strengthening your team’s ability to problem solve. As for determining the quality of a potential new hire’s skillset, it comes down to establishing a hiring process that confirms the legitimacy of their skills and establishes their dependability as a team member. In this episode, we talk about the processes we’ve developed for hiring employees with skill sets different from our own, and why we’re not afraid to hire people who might just be smarter than us.

When it comes to supporting clients whose mission, if accomplished, would make the world a better place, strategy has shifted over the years. The divisive nature of politics today requires much stricter demands for how we can effectively create tools for clients who do advocacy work. Now more than ever, the tools you create must lay the groundwork for your audience to understand an issue before you start advocating for change. This work demands more transparency and nuance than ever, but that’s not a bad thing. The struggle lies in the strategy needed to help clients walk the tightrope between advocacy and lobbying, and crafting messages that remain true to the client’s mission and spirit without opening them up to a maelstrom of vitriol. In this episode, we talk about the ways the culture surrounding advocacy work has changed over the years, and the ways we've adjusted our work to meet these demands.

When talking about quality and standards in the creative industry, it can be easy to miss the fact that producing work that’s “good enough” is often the result of a capacity issue. When firms have a limited budget or staff for a project, not every product can be made with expert care, so they have to settle for a deliverable that’s “good enough.” This can be a tricky cycle to get out of, as it affects every part of a business, from internal processes to the outward perception of the organization. This is where creative tools like Canva or AI-generated work come in. These tools are intentionally intuitive so beginners can start building the muscles needed for high quality work, but when used as shortcuts to achieve “good enough” work, they stunt creative growth and quality. This week, we discuss breaking the “good enough” cycle, how to wield beginner-friendly tools effectively, and consider how much value is placed on quality in the creative industry.

When thinking about habits that are time wasters, it’s easy to name things like scrolling TikTok or doing superficial “reorganizing” because those feel like conscious time wasters. It’s the unconscious time wasters that are much more insidious and hard to kick. Things like indecision, lack of planning, or even overplanning result in time wasted, whether we mean to or not. Recognizing these things as time wasters allows us to start figuring out how to create new processes that better serve our productivity. By working to create new processes, we also give ourselves the chance to change the way we look at things previously labeled as time wasters that are actually worth our time, like a solid nap or connecting with others. This week, we consider what counts as a time waster, and what it looks like to stop defaulting to unhelpful habits and processes.

Life can feel like a mess even on good days. The personal responsibilities of life that bring us joy often start to feel overwhelming when the demands for our time and energy surpass what is possible for us to give. For many people, this is where shame and self-judgment kick in, because dealing with every layer of life all at once shouldn’t be that hard, right? Oh, if only it were that simple. Despite our best efforts, sometimes life is a shitshow, but the mess is easier to wade through when you accept it for what it is. This week, we talk about giving ourselves more grace when it comes to our expectations for the balancing of life’s layers.

RFPs, or Requests for Proposals, are a common way of soliciting work in the creative industry — and they can be an equally challenging (and often painful) process for everyone involved. In a written description alone, it can be difficult for a buyer to clearly articulate what service or product they’re looking for in an RFP. This can leave folks in the creative industry pouring hours into a proposal that isn’t actually what the client needs, which is a lose-lose situation for everyone. Personally, we think RFPs work best when treated like a job interview. Injecting a human-centric, communicative approach to the RFP process helps buyers find vendors who will be a good fit for their organization, and takes the hoop-jumping guesswork out of the process for the creatives in the vendor position. This week, we share strategies for making RFPs effective for both clients and vendors, what we think makes certain RFPs “junk,” and our best and worst experiences with responding to RFPs.

Leadership can be as overwhelming as it is rewarding. To view leadership as a ladder to climb ignores the aspects of the job that are far from a reward. Whether it’s a plumbing issue at the office, concerns about this quarter’s budget, or a conflict between staff, when you’re in a leadership position, the tough decisions are yours to make. In our case, we chucked out the idea of leadership being glamorous a long time ago. This podcast is affectionately described as “real talk about leadership and sanity in the creative industry,” so it seemed long overdue to have another episode on the topic of leadership. This week, we talk about how we keep going when wading through the challenges of leading.

Talking about creativity and the creative process can be necessarily abstract, but it doesn't have to be. There is value to looking at creativity as an investment. Creativity takes a willingness to challenge yourself to break down what already exists and start from scratch. This process requires a lot of trust in yourself or your team, and that can feel uncomfortable at first. While creativity can feel like a gamble you don’t have time for, the pursuit of creativity can help you avoid falling into the trap of limiting yourself to the first answer you encounter when trying to problem-solve. As you become more comfortable navigating the creative process, it becomes easier to differentiate where you should be creative and where you should rely on a formula or a pre-existing procedure to help you reach your intended outcome. You won’t always have the capacity to explore beyond the first answer you receive when problem-solving, but you’ll have gained an understanding of what creativity and the creative process needs to look like in order for you and your team to be successful. This week, we talk about creativity and the processes we’ve found success in.

The question of when to hire and when not to isn’t about neglecting your team’s capacity needs. Rather, it’s about taking a more meditative approach to the hiring process. Beyond determining if your business has the budget to hire and what the capacity needs of your team are, it’s important to consider if your organization needs to change and how it needs to change with the addition of a new hire. Instead of immediately focusing on filling a role, waiting to hire allows you to let go of the expectations you had for the previous team member and their process and make space for the development of new relationships and ways of working. It also allows your team to stretch their skills (within reason) and gives them the chance to grow before you determine what skill sets your business is missing. This week, we talk about our thought process behind hiring and how we’ve navigated recent questions of expanding our own teams.

As leaders, we can’t (and shouldn’t) do it all. Bringing your team into the decision-making process is important to the health and wellness of your organization. No part of the organization benefits from being overprotective of decision-making, and being excluded from this process limits a team's growth potential. All that said, putting this delegation into practice can feel overwhelming. Preparing yourself and your team for a shift in the decision-making requires transparency and, overall, trust in your team. Trusting your team can cut down on decision fatigue and burnout, and results in better decision-making throughout the organization. This week, we talk about the strategies we’ve used to find the why and how of handing over decision-making tasks to our own teams.

Long description: How often does it actually serve us to have our expectations set in stone? Even when the circumstances of a project change, the work still needs to be done. This is where “going with the flow” comes in. Instead of becoming mentally invested in things happening a certain way, it takes a lot less energy to focus on the things that can be controlled. Even when a process is rigid, adaptability still plays a major role in the end result. Sure, this mindset takes bravery and a dash of risk-tolerance, but you might find there’s an opportunity for more creativity when going with the flow. This week, we talk about letting go of strict expectations and seizing the unexpected opportunities that come our way.

What difference would it make in your work if you celebrated the success of others? Being happy for someone who has something you want takes practice. It also takes patience with yourself. When we shift away from envying our competition, we abandon a scarcity mindset that brings pressure and negativity into our work and prohibits our own growth. At first, it feels easier to critique somebody else’s win, but it ultimately takes less energy to acknowledge their achievement. By abandoning an “us versus them” mentality, you might find yourself in a healthier headspace. In this episode, we talk about how practicing this mindset makes it much more fun to watch someone thrive than it is to watch them fail.

Cheers to our 150th episode! What better way to celebrate than with a topic we both have challenges with? Bandwidth. There are only so many tasks you can work on at any given time, even for us multitaskers. And when overwhelmed, it takes an emotional toll on how we organize cognitively. In our experience, it’s essential to acknowledge your bandwidth and stick to it. There’s no denying that the to-do lists can often feel never-ending. But we can’t let our stressors affect our quality of work. It takes boundaries to ensure that there is just enough on your plates, both in our personal and work lives. How can we identify our maximum bandwidth, and set boundaries? Join us as we discuss our strategies and goals for keeping it all balanced.

How are we already nearing the back half of the year? This is the time of year when we look back on our goals and resolutions. Achieving your goals can be unpredictable, due to any number of distracting outside factors. However, the key is remembering that you can only change what is in your circle of control. Falling off the goal track is inevitable, but reminding yourself why you set them in the first place can bring you back on track. Similar to adjusting your business and services over time, it will always be necessary to adjust your goals based on your variable needs. Our secret for overcoming roadblocks? Implementing a method to track your progress, and working backward to find a new path. This episode, we revisit our own goals for 2023 and lay plans for carrying them out through the rest of the year. How do we stay on track and manage our aspirations? How do we separate our business goals from personal goals? Join us as we discuss.

Compensation is so much more than pay – it demonstrates that you value your employees as human beings, and acknowledges their lives outside of the workplace. At the bare minimum, of course, we’re required to follow the law; but we’re proud to say that our businesses offer benefits beyond what’s expected. A small business’s benefits will certainly look different compared to what the big guys can offer, but it’s still possible to offer compensation beyond the bare minimum. Benefits such as salary, PTO, and health insurance can differ drastically depending on many factors. How do you know what compensation packages will be the best fit for your organization, considering your market, location, and needs? One secret to solving the compensation puzzle? Ask your workforce what benefits they’re looking for. Join us as we discuss all things compensation: finding counsel experts, remaining flexible, and trusting your decisions when choosing business benefit packages.

A balanced life involves joy: that feeling of shared positivity, satisfaction from a job well done, or just plain giddiness. But how do we lead with it? As we transition into new seasons with our teams, this is a question we’ve been asking ourselves a lot. Joy doesn’t just arrive at your doorstep; the balanced, authentic skill of joy takes practice and requires you to slow down, pause, and reflect. Joy requires living in the moment. And in leadership role, it’s important to remember that your joy (or lack thereof) sets the tone for the workplace. Joy comes in many shapes and sizes, but learning to harness it in a position of leadership can help create a balanced and fulfilled workplace. Join us as we discuss our best practices for how to identify, harness, and lead with joy.

Client feedback is a permanent aspect of the creative industry, due to the endless opinions associated with creative products. For us, client feedback is a daily occurance. It is how we move forward, finish products, and maintain relationships. Although client feedback may not always be positive, we see it as a mindset shift. Think of feedback as a puzzle piece: Once you find where it fits, the overall team output improves. Join us as we discuss the different types of feedback and how we implement it within our own businesses.

Risk is a roller coaster, and we all have different tolerance levels. As entrepreneurs, we believe the more risk you take on, the better the rewards. But the flip side, of course, is the heightened consequences if the risk doesn’t pay off. The roller coaster of risk has many ups and downs, but it is ultimately your decision whether or not to get on the ride. The amount of risk you can take depends on a lot of factors but, if done thoughtfully and with the right amount of due diligence, risk can be a safe and necessary investment. This episode, we discuss what things we’re willing to take risks on, and which shouldn’t involve any risk whatsoever. We talk about how we navigate risk, and share our secrets for remaining willing to take chances and try new ideas. Join us.

Artificial intelligence carries a lot of controversy within the creative industry, and it's not going away any time soon. We already use many forms of AI within our own businesses to enhance our work, but is it a tool to further improve our work or a replacement for people altogether? Our solution (for right now, at least) is that AI needs boundaries. There is a side which benefits our clients and our quality of work, but if used poorly it can become unethical or dilute the quality of our work. The human experience is unique and cannot be replicated — still, with that in mind, it’s important to embrace the benefits this new technologies can provide. Join us as we discuss the types of AI, where we think it is headed in the creative industries, and what tasks we wish AI could handle in our daily lives.

If you’ve listened to our podcast before, you know that we never miss an opportunity to discuss our values. They’re the foundation for how we function as individuals and as professionals. As business owners, our values are what creates a cohesive and sustainable space for employees and customers, but they also act as boundaries. However, it’s important to take a moment to ask yourself and your team: Are we actively practicing these values? It takes time and consistency to translate your values into action. But having declared and well-executed values allows for greater unity overall, and a stronger end-product – whatever industry you’re in. Join us as we discuss our own values, in life and in business, as well as how we can determine these with our own teams.

Rejection is inevitable. But in our experience the more you fail, the more successful you’ll be. Especially in the creative industry, rejection is everywhere. We reject clients and they reject us, but this ensures balance. It never feels good or is easy, but how do we persevere? Our secret is to turn off the feelings and turn on the logic. In this episode, we look at rejection from a positive point of view. Join us as we discuss our tools and strategies for facing “no” head-on.

It’s impossible to stay the “hot young thing” forever, but how can we reevaluate our skills and goals to better match who we are as leaders today, while keeping an agile, inventive mindset? We love seeing our staff create ideas and solve problems in ways we never expected, so we hope to fine tune their passions and act as mentors on their journey. However, what is our secret to mastering the new role we play and how does it contribute to the larger picture? The answer is a well-oiled and functioning team. That’s right, we’re just the older fun ones now. Join us as we discuss our new path in the creative industry.

We don’t like new years resolutions, but we do like setting goals. Setting goals and achieving them instantly is not realistic. It takes time and persistence to change our habits and routines. In the business world, Q1 and Q4, have expectations which come with them. How do we switch gears as business owners? Refocusing and creating short-term and long-term goals can make our objectives more attainable. Change is uncomfortable, but by sitting in the discomfort we can truly commit and create meaningful change. Join us as we discuss our business goals and tips for how to reset in 2023.

In our guest Amber Clark’s own words, she "sort of fell into" her career as neighborhoods and economic development director for Meridian Township – but since then, it has become her dream job. As a Mid-Michigan native, Amber understands her community at its core and has a passion for creating environmental and educational change. Initiating change in a community with existing, deep roots is far from easy; but with a little collaboration and patience, Amber has turned many of her dreams and aspirations into a reality, empowering neighborhoods in the township she calls home. What is economic development? Why is it important? And what barriers will this space need to overcome in the future? We discuss it all with Amber.

Burnout often comes in waves — so to prepare, we need to have tools ready to counteract the feelings of stress and anxiety when they hit. Being overwhelmed and experiencing burnout is a toxic duo that weighs down all professionals from time to time. To cope, we often go on autopilot hoping we’ll overcome these stressors over a few weeks or months; but this isn’t an adequate long-term solution. These feelings surpass the general sense of busyness, and have the potential to spread into all areas of our lives. So, what can we do about it? Does anyone really know how to get out of a burnout cycle? Is there a solution in sight? We may not have a singular, magical answer, but we have some strategies for addressing general feelings of overwhelm. Join us as we discuss our own experiences with combatting burnout.

Every individual has their own path toward their professional career. Aspects of academics, lifestyles, and family expectations all integrate to direct a person toward a career that best suits them. In the case of entrepreneurship, people use their individual experiences to fuel their careers. Karen grew up with parents and siblings who were entrepreneurs, and she knew that was a professional choice she aimed for. Jen did not expect to become her own boss, but learned through early jobs that she was capable and had the skill set. In this episode, we discuss that there is no correct path to become an entrepreneur –– but by understanding your skills and the genre of business, you can be a successful business owner.

Entrepreneurship is the ability to find new opportunities and act on them. Although it takes risk, our guest, Country Millbrook, does not take this risk alone. Courtney has been the executive director of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra for 13 years and her team has been sharing the gift of music with the Greater Lansing community for almost 100 years. Courtney did not grow up involved in the world of music, but found her skills complemented the business side of the arts. Her talents are not to create, but rather set the stage for the artists. She is upholding a legacy which continues to impact her community. In this episode, we ask: How does Courtney meet the expectations set by her community? And how can we create purpose in an organization that has been around for generations?

Culture within a business reflects the company's values. However, with many changes occurring over the past few years, we have an opportunity to step back and reform our businesses to become the best they can be. This presents itself as pressuring our employees and clients to step out of their comfort zone, but how do you do this? We start with the hard questions. Challenge your employees and clients to think about the company's values alongside tangible goals. Does your business need a vision? How do you create a productive company culture? What does your company need to become the best it can be? We cover it all in this week’s episode.

Is there a formula to measure efficacy? Or is it wizardry? When it comes to developing creative content, we’ve developed some formulas over the years that usually create specific, intended results for video and marketing materials. But these formulas didn’t just magically appear — they come from years of trial and error, adjustment and readjustment, and strategic problem solving. Every piece of content affects its audience differently, but we always want them to make the viewer feel something. It is both art and science in the sense that you start with your end goal and work backward to achieve the best creative results. This episode, we talk about our specific philosophiesy for how to be successful and create quality content for clients, without by not sacrificing our values.

Ashlee Willis, CEO of Michigan Premiere Events, built her business from the ground up while balancing her busy family life. Along with her entrepreneurship, Ashlee is recognized as an active member in the community, serving on various boards and participating in many community organizations. Join us this week as Ashlee discusses the importance of community involvement, how her interest in the arts led to a full time business, and the fulfilling journey of entrepreneurship.

Relying on one tactic or one channel for your marketing strategy is dangerous and unreliable. Especially in the digital age, we need to be careful to ensure social media isn’t the only way we’re reaching our audiences. Everyone consumes media in different ways, so it’s important to craft a strategic plan that covers all the bases. Join us this week as we discuss what to consider when developing your marketing plan and the many ways we can make sure our messages are heard.

Creatives just want to be creative, but there’s more to the job than pure creativity. There are wraparound parts and other skills that are needed to get to the final product. Strategic thinking and project management are needed to understand the problem at hand and to get the details right. Honestly, all the non-creative parts are beneficial to us and make us more whole-rounded. Join us this week as we discuss the other 75% of the job, what it means for creatives, and why it’s so important.

When Roz Keith’s son came out as transgender in 2013, there were few resources available to help him transition socially, emotionally, psychologically and medically. In Roz’s search to find support for her own child, she realized she needed to fill the void of information for others. As a result, she founded Stand With Trans, a national resource for transgender youth and their parents. Stand With Trans has such an important mission given the difficulties trans children face in school and even at home. They help trans youth gain confidence and find hope in the future, all while celebrating their identity. Roz joins us to discuss her heartwarming story, the challenges gender diverse people face, and what we can do to protect the LGBTQ+ community. Donate to Stand With Trans to make a difference.

Play helps promote healthy brain development for children, but growing up doesn’t mean we need it any less. Doing activities for an internal reward, rather than an external one, relieves stress, fights depression, and even makes us better humans. Studies show that play makes us emotionally healthier and more empathetic. Join us this week as we discuss why you should play, how you should play, and our experiences with reconnecting with our inner child.

Ideas are pieces of ourselves and though letting go of them is difficult, it’s an important part of creativity. Sometimes the idea doesn’t meet the objectives at hand, but sometimes it just isn’t the right time. Letting go doesn’t always mean forever. We’ve come to realize that quitting an idea isn’t failure, but it takes practice. This week we discuss how to know when an idea is losing momentum, strategies for moving past ideas, and more.

Perhaps running a yoga studio amid the pandemic requires more flexibility than yoga itself. Misty Belous opened People’s Yoga just six months before COVID-19-related shutdowns took hold across the country. Through innovative thinking, she successfully pivoted her business to virtual sessions and a subscription app. Ultimately, her ingenuity allowed her to continue growing an inclusive, relaxing space for people of all skill levels to practice yoga. Join us as Misty breaks misconceptions about yoga, discusses her background in botany, and illuminates her perspective on adaptable entrepreneurship.

As employers and leaders, it’s part of our responsibilities to have difficult conversations in the workplace. When we approach these dialogues with openness, honesty, and empathy, it makes it easier for everyone to move forward. Join us this week as we discuss our experiences with hard talks and how to best reach productive resolutions.

At some point in time, everyone experiences grief. That feeling of sorrow comes in all shapes and sizes, and it extends beyond losing a loved one. We grieve hopes, dreams, relationships, and more. As something so intrinsically linked to the human experience, it inevitably finds its way into the workplace. And that’s ok. This week we discuss why we tend to avoid pain and how employers can better accommodate grieving employees.

Food security and access is the very basis for strong, thriving communities — something Dru Montri understands intimately. Dru is a passionate food access expert and works as the Vice President of Agri Food Engagement for Feeding America. She also owns a family farm where they grow a variety of vegetables on three acres. Join us as we discuss Dru’s interesting career path, farm-to-table systems, and how to increase food security in Michigan.

We both are in long marriages and career placements — two things that require nurturing and growth to succeed. Last week we discussed work boundaries, but home boundaries are just as important. This week we discuss what keeps us committed to our respective long-term businesses and what it takes to keep our work and home lives healthy.

As it turns out, Zoom calls might be the window to the soul. When we hop on a virtual meeting, we see kids waddling through the background and what books are on people’s shelves. It’s humanizing and makes us more compassionate, but not all broken boundaries are as charming. Many people report working more hours with fewer breaks when working from home, and it can even be hard to get out of your house. It’s time to reevaluate our personal boundaries. This week, we discuss why communication, saying no, and taking time off is important to maintain boundaries in a virtual workforce.

Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP), is committed to social justice, advancing equity in Michigan, and promoting the well-being of our communities. She has dedicated much of her career to public advocacy and improving the lives and circumstances of those facing tremendous barriers. With inequities increasing due to COVID-19, Monique’s work is more important than ever.

When you get to a certain point in your career, as a business owner, you should start thinking about a succession plan. Even if you feel like you’re nowhere near your entrepreneurial sunset, planning for what’s next provides a little peace of mind. The way we see it, there are three paths to consider when planning for retirement. You can shut it down and cash in your chips, work until you drop, or devise a plan for someone else to take over the reins. Join us this week as we discuss our own business’ futures and the best way to transition into the next chapter of your life.

Assembling the right team takes a lot of thought. Not only is skill important, but the way a person interacts with others needs to be considered. This week we talk about how to know you have the right people on your team and the qualities that make a work environment successful.

We’re well-acquainted with running businesses, but our guest this week shares with us her unique perspective as a second-generation entrepreneur. Lily Werbin is the president, co-owner, and heir apparent of Elderly Instruments — a nationally recognized hub of music based in Old Town, Lansing. She talks through the distinct experience of managing staff who knew her since she was in diapers, as well as the great honor of succeeding her father. Tune in this week for an insightful, candid conversation with the wonderful Lily Werbin.

We both have over 20 years of experience in leading businesses, and we’ve come to learn that entrepreneurship is just in our blood. We love the decision making, excitement, and growth that comes with running a small business, and we wouldn’t trade it for the world. That doesn’t mean it’s all roses, though. This week we talk about all things small business: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

This week’s a bit of a treat, folks. Jen interviews Karen about Buyer’s Remorse, an award-winning short film developed by Karen and her team at Render Studios. Buyer’s Remorse explores the notion of whether or not money buys happiness and the culture of consumerism. This film was a passion project for Render — no client meant they were able to create in a sandbox. Karen discusses the excitement of creating fiction, her process behind inventing characters, and the team that brought Buyer’s Remorse to life. Watch Buyer’s Remorse here: https://renderstudios.com/portfolio/buyersremorse.

Michelle Reynaert, Vice President of the Sparrow Foundation, started her career in marketing, but soon realized she needed a deeper personal connection to her work. As it turns out, philanthropy was more her speed. In her current role at Sparrow, she oversees the vital philanthropic operations that keep the non-profit health system healthy. Join us as Michelle discusses Sparrow’s upcoming fundraising campaign and her work which supports patients, caregivers, and staff.

Our actions have unseen consequences. Sure, we can witness our effect on the people in our own bubble, but our actions reach those we do not see and have not met. The way we interact with our coworkers can impact the way they interact with their friends and families. There’s a bigger picture to this, too. The ripple effect guides culture, community, and future generations; like it or not, our actions endure. Simply recognizing that you matter and being cognizant of how you move through the world can make all the difference, big or small. Join us as we talk all about it.

It’s true, we had imposter syndrome early in our careers. At the time it felt like we needed to guard our lack of knowledge and self-doubting thoughts, but in truth everyone feels that way, especially when starting a new job. But, it gets better. One day, we realized that imposter feeling went away. Though there are days when up feels like down, it’s become easier to accept what we don’t know. Join us as we discuss how to weather imposter syndrome and emerge on the other side with confidence.

School districts aren’t always the easiest things to manage, pandemics aside, but when you need to keep kids safe while ensuring their education the job gets even trickier. Fortunately for Waverly Community Schools, their superintendent is a seasoned educator and administrator. This week we sat down with Superintendent Kelly Blake who’s in her 34th year of educating. (33 of those years being spent in Waverly.) She talks about making game time decisions, getting students at-home internet access, and the impact COVID-19 has had on education at large.

Tis the season for gratitude, but, in fact, it’s healthier to practice grateful thinking all year long. When we think about what’s missing, rather than what’s present, we invite anxiety, frustration, and bundles of other negative emotions to flood our minds. Brains are like kindergarten classes: without some discipline, chaos will ensue and somebody is gonna end up in tears. A daily gratitude practice, however simple, can significantly improve your outlook. Everyone’s practice looks different, whether it’s journaling or letter-writing or making mental notes on a morning walk. Join us as we share what we’re thankful for, our own gratitude practices, and all the benefits that come from some good ol fashioned grateful thinking.

If you read it on the internet it must be true, right? Um, no — we all know that's not the case by now. There is so much misinformation on the internet, it's gotten to the point that users must be savvy consumers of information. And as content creators and marketers, we have a responsibility to tell the truth in the creative we develop. Often, it can be so easy to nip and tuck the truth: taking words out of context, omitting facts to hide the full story, or generally bending the truth in your or your client's favor. But not only are these practices unethical, but they can lead to a number of consequences across industries. This episode, we dive into all angles of telling the truth through out work. Join us as we discuss the role values and ethics play when it comes to socially responsible marketing and transparent videography. Because, at the end of the day, we need to use our powers for good.

Yeesh. 2021 is coming to a close. Another year down, but 2022 is gonna be a great one. How do we know this? Because we’re going to be prepared. Planning is the key to success, and it starts with articulating what is important to you — laying out your goals and setting markers for success. This goes for both business and personal growth. Join us this week as we discuss the key elements of planning, from risk-taking to spreadsheet-making to plain out failing. It’s all part of the process, folks.

One of the principal tasks of starting a business is buying and developing a commercial space. Recently, Jen bought a new building for her marketing shop, Redhead, and an exciting new endeavor — Nelson Gallery. Redhead took the upstairs and Nelson lives below. Starting a new commercial project is never a cake walk, but when you factor in a global pandemic, well, it gets a tad more challenging. This episode we talk through the challenges faced and lessons learned from inventing, branding, and launching a successful new retail venture in downtown Lansing.

Our guest this week couldn’t be more relevant. As COVID-19 cases continue to fill hospital beds around the country, Linda Vail, director of the Ingham County Health Department, joins us to discuss leading through the COVID-19 pandemic. As Ingham county residents, we’re quite thankful to have someone like Linda leading the fight against COVID-19 in our community. She’s been a public health officer for 15 years, worked in public health for four more, and previously worked as a biomedical researcher. In fact, she has a background in bioterrorism preparedness. So it’s no surprise to anyone that she saw this thing coming back in January 2020 before it hit the United States. Tune in as Linda shares expert insights, reveals the makings of a health crisis, and discusses the current state of the pandemic.

We know so many inspiring women leaders, and we can see the very qualities that make them effective. High emotional intelligence. Humility. Self-control. Vision. Though men and women alike can be great leaders with these qualities, women are more likely to exhibit them. That’s right. Join us as we discuss why this is, why women tend to start their own businesses, and what women leadership looks like in effect.

Some days — no matter how much coffee you consume — it’s a struggle to keep your eyes open. But that same night, you crash hard just to find yourself wide awake at 3 am. Instead of spending emotional energy being frustrated, try to get something done. Catch up on a book, some work, the news, or the ever-fleeting task of cleaning your baseboards.

Crying is important. As babies, we’re not yet equipped with useful tools such as words, so crying is how we communicate our needs. And boy does it do the trick. Even as tweens, teens, and adults, crying remains a vital form of communication. Sad cries, ugly cries, tears of frustration, and tears of joy — they're all part of what makes us beautifully human. Crying even provides physical and emotional relief by releasing a nifty little endorphin called oxytocin. The more you know! Tune in as we discuss societal expectations around crying, our favorite places to cry, and who we feel most comfortable crying around.

We’re happy to be joined by Chief Strategy Officer Amanda Blondeau from Northern Initiatives — a nonprofit, Community Development Financial Institution. They work with businesses that can’t get access to traditional financing and provide them with coaching and support that small businesses don’t get from typical lenders. According to the Small Business Administration, 49% of people in Michigan work for a small business. Of course, the past 18 months have placed a great strain on businesses across all sectors. Amanda shares her insight and experience as we discuss the importance of small business, Northern Initiatives’ new online learning portal for small businesses, and advice for entrepreneurs looking to start their own venture. Learn more about Northern Initiatives and their online portal for small businesses.

“Your ego is showing” is a phrase uttered when someone is getting a little too full of themselves. Or in other words, a little too egotistical. Ego, on the other hand, is simply your sense of self. Everyone has one and as long as we’re cognizant of it, we can use it to be inspirational leaders, collaborative team members, and overall good humans. The pretty side of ego is often overlooked, so join us as we go beyond the ills of swollen egos and how we can harness our own ego to capture big ideas and uplift those around us.

As parents, the last thing we want to do is raise entitled people. The kind of people who never clean up after themselves and expect the red carpet to unfold everywhere they go. As employers, the last thing we want to do is work with entitled people. The kind of employees and clients that have a “me, me, me!” mindset. Most commonly, these types of people are the products of helicopter parents. Or lawnmower parents — a new term that Karen shares with us. Join us as we discuss how to deal with entitled folks in business and how to avoid creating them in the first place.

100 rapid fire questions for our 100th episode. We’re talking everything from mom jeans to aliens to weird food combinations. (Jen’s is really weird.) (Honestly, Karen’s is too.) To be fair, we do dabble in some industry-related questions and heavier topics, but mostly we learned a lot of new interesting things about each other — and ourselves. Thank you for listening to 100 episodes of our musings and making Speak Easy possible. Now make yourself a La Pina, enjoy our antics, and we’ll see you next time for 101.

We all have one. That potential hire with a stunning resume and agreeable ethos. The one that you just need in your organization. Sometimes, it’s a client — a project or bid that your organization didn’t get. For whatever reason, it just doesn’t work out. Such is business. Whether they’re a potential hire or client, the one that got away can be more than just a faded photograph on your dresser. If you treat these situations right, they can provide valuable opportunities to introspect your organization, build strong business relationships, and, perhaps, establish a successful partnership the next time around. Pour a drink as we reminisce about the ones that got away from us and reflect on what we learned from each of these experiences.

Our first jobs humble us. They teach us humility and hard work and help us decide where we want to end up down the line. The lessons we learn from our first jobs are skills we still use to this day. So, what were our first jobs? This episode, we're delving into the past and chat about the first jobs we ever worked. From cashiers to camp counselors, we've done a lot of odd jobs between the two of us — and the lessons we've learned from them have taken us far. Take a moment to reflect on your past jobs with us this week. What were your first jobs? What were the most valuable lessons you learned that you still carry with you? All that and more in this week's episode.

This week we're welcoming a friend, advocate, and fierce feminist to our show: Barb Byrum, Ingham County Clerk. Barb has worked as state representative for the 67th District and is now serving as the Ingham County Clerk. Barb is also a champion for advocacy, and officiated the first same-sex marriage in the state of Michigan While we’ve known Barb for years through our children all attending the same school, she's never ceased to amaze us with her hard work and dedication to social change, all while maintaining her family and relationships. That’s why Barb was the perfect guest to chat relationships on the podcast. Both in business and in our personal lives, relationships aren't always easy to maintain — especially when you have different world views, goals, or ideas. Barb breaks down the nitty gritty of starting new relationships and maintaining old ones amidst a never-ending workload and advocacy. This episode, hard truths are good truths. Mentioned in this episode: Barb Byrum Ingham County Clerk’s Office

Creating a brand and launching a brand are exciting and important moments for your business. They present opportunities to elevate your work, change direction if necessary, and take new steps forward. But these monumental and transitional tasks require a strategic approach. What's the difference between new brand creation and the actual brand launch? How can we think outside the box when it comes to releasing our new brand to the public? Jen breaks down the difference between creating your brand vs. launching your brand from a strategic perspective. We also talk about different types of rebrands, and the top factors to keep in mind during a brand rollout. Whether or not a rebrand is in your future, this is the episode for you.

Freelancers have become increasingly popular in the creative industry. Not only are clients relying on them more, but agencies also outsource to freelancers in order to offer additional services to contracted clients. Freelancers often offer a niche skill set for work that is completed on a limited timeline, while agencies have the capacity to take on larger scale projects and offer a broader range of services. But, when surveying which would be best for the task at hand, getting to know an agency and getting to know a freelancer are two different beasts. Making the decision on whether to use a freelancer, an outside agency, or your internal team for a new project can be a challenge. From a creative's standpoint, how can we identify when we should take on the project ourselves, and when we should look for additional support? This episode, we break down the pros and cons of freelancers and agencies and outline a few tips we've learned when it comes to hiring freelance help.

From Sesame Street, to cooking videos on YouTube, or even the information you get from TikTok, educational entertainment is all around us. It's become a staple for educating people young and old, and is also a great way for organizations to get their own messages across. So, how can your brand or company's edutainment stand out in a sea of content? This Strategy Series, Karen discusses the ins and outs of edutainment. Using her own first-hand experience and videography knowledge, she breaks down the best ways to create content that not only educates your audience but also connects with them.

The last year has been a case study in how fatigue and boredom have a ripple effect across every area of our lives: at work, at home, and with our families. Most of us have battled with both of these feelings, whether we were aware of it or not. The pandemic and work from home life brought with it a new kind of monotony, and after a year of being confined to a very limited number of safe activities, we are beginning to feel the effects of this past year more than ever. But where is the line between everyday boredom and full-out fatigue? And, among our teams, how can we keep up morale? In this episode, we discuss the differences between the two and how we can address the challenges that come along with these complex emotions. How do we swim upstream when we're feeling tired and worn out? How can we stimulate ourselves and create variety before we get bored? We're sharing how we got out of our own slumps and what we learned along the way.

rning and perfecting our work-life balance every day, while trying to push ourselves and our careers to continue to grow. Alignment isn't something in our lives that happens overnight. It can take decades of hard work and learning to achieve. Luckily, for the first time in a long time, Karen has found that balance for herself and her business. While this past year presented countless challenges, Karen did her best to turn each into an opportunity for herself and for her business. Dive into this week's episode where we learn from Karen's triumphs and challenges over the past year that got her to where she is today.

Brand awareness goes beyond big-name products and companies — it reaches to the neighborhoods we live in and the streets we walk. When you can find a way to harness strategic branding to your advantage, you're able to sell anything. And a strong city brand makes for an even stronger city. Beyond consistency and cohesiveness, building a strong brand for a city helps build awareness. It helps establish a community-minded, proud atmosphere, and provides visual identifiers for both lifelong residents and weekend visitors. A city's brand can even identify itself in our senses when walking or driving around, through sound, smell, and taste that are linked to memory. If we have a positive experience linked with these senses in a certain location, we'll be more likely to return for a second visit. This Strategy Series, we chat about how marketing, strategy, and branding can build up cities to make them stronger and more memorable.

Habits are psychological patterns that we form over time through repetition in our daily lives. Whether we notice it or not, the work we do each day contributes to our good and not-so-good habits. Our habits could be as simple as taking a daily vitamin, or more complex like procrastinating on a deadline. Addressing all of our habits gives us more awareness and insight as we move forward. It's important to acknowledge the good habits so we can keep up with these behaviors, and equally important to change the bad (which we all know isn't easy). Both at work and at home, how can we form habits that will work in our favor? At the same time, how can we break habits that get in the way of our success? We're talking about all of our habits: the good, the bad, and the weird. If you've ever wondered what good, offbeat, or downright questionable habits get us through the day are, this is the episode for you. Mentioned in this episode: Sparrow Health System

We've all heard the age old adage, "Curiosity killed the cat." Still, as entrepreneurs, we're familiar with the addition to the phrase: "But satisfaction brought it back." Sure, there are risks that come along with being inquisitive. But there is true satisfaction (and, ultimately, success) in asking the hard questions and keeping our curiosity alive. In this Strategy Series, Karen explores the power of asking "What if—?" She discusses how breaking down barriers of possibility helped guide her professional life, and how curiosity holds power both in our businesses and in our personal lives. How can we remember to ask ourselves this simple question to better reach out potential?

We hear a lot about the "creative industry" — but what makes a certain business, team, or idea "creative"? Creativity is as subjective as we make it, and it manifests itself in many forms. For one, creativity is how we foster innovative work environments amongst our staff. We want to grow our team's creativity, while ensuring that they know the end goal and boundaries of the client. But this can be tricky; when should we let ourselves run, and when should we come back to reality? Externally, another angle of creativity is problem solving for our clients. Entrepreneurs (and any keen businesspeople, really) are constantly searching for ways to deliver clients more than they ask for. We want to give them what they want, while also showing them what else we could do that might benefit their end goals. This is the "Yes, and" of creativity: taking the initial idea one step further with a creative twist. With our internal teams, how can we promote creativity without falling victim to ineffective creativity? And externally, where can we find inventive solutions for our clients to better reach their goals? We're talking creativity in all of its forms in this week's episode. Mentioned in this episode: Smickle The Christmas Pickle by Render Studios

When creating a new brand identity, it's important to keep your end goal top-of-mind. From brainstorming a brand name to designing a logo and tying it all together on a shiny new website, a new brand is a multi-faceted process — and all the while, it is imperative not to get swept up in the process and lose sight of the client's broader goal. At the end of the day, a brand is more than clarifying and enhancing an image. It's about amplifying the client's message and, as a result, inciting positive change. In this Strategy Series minisode, Jen references an example from her own work to discuss the balance between branding and the client's broader, community-driven vision. How can we let our own passions for advocacy and change shine through and inform the brands we create? Jen and Karen chat all that and more. Mentioned in this episode: BOLD Lansing

What makes you happy? Is it finishing a project you've been working hard on? Giving a gift to a loved one? Reading a good book on a rainy day? Or, is it even more subtle than that? To us, happiness is something we can practice in our day-to-day lives. Joy can often feel elusive; unfortunately, we aren't always conscious of the moments that make us feel happy when we're in them. With that in mind, how can we become more intentional about our happiness? Of course, happiness is no easy feat. It is often entirely circumstantial and dependent on the cards you've been dealt. Regardless, there are a few methods we can use to be more intentional and present when it comes to the factors within our control. Whether it is simply waking up in the morning and setting your intention for happiness for the day like Jen, or finding your happiness and inspiration in the smaller things throughout the day like Karen, there are small ways we can become more mindful of our emotions. We break down down the importance of practicing happiness both inside and outside our work lives, and how we can strive to change our mindset when necessary. Mentioned in this episode: TED Talk by Dewitt Jones - Celebrate What's Right In The World

Working in a client-based industry means that, first and foremost, we are problem solvers. Our clients come to us with specific goals, visions, or a problems to be solved, and it is our job to deliver a successful end product that does just that. Our ability to create the best product possible means working in the most efficient and effective manner we can, while also staying realistic about client expectations and what we can provide. Karen uses a recent example from her own work to discuss her approach to project management. From efficacy to efficiency, we chat about strategies for approaching projects with equal parts realism and optimism.

We know credibility as the foundation of trust. In all areas of life, it is so important to be known for delivering on our promises: your staff needs to believe in you, your clients need to trust you, your friends and family need to depend on you. And while all of that is important and at the face of being credible, credibility runs much deeper than that. Credibility is established over time, and people often underestimate the hard work, consistency, and time it takes to build a credible reputation. It's incredibly fragile, requires regular upkeep, and can be lost over time if not maintained. So, as entrepreneurs, how does personal and professional credible affect our business? How do we build credibility and establish trust? And how can we rebuild this reputation if we've lost credibility? We cover it all.

n her nomination acceptance speech, Vice President Kamala Harris shared some moving words that stuck with us: "While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities." We thought Inauguration Day would be a fitting time to break into this beast of a topic, the glass ceiling, and all of the nuances that come along with it. Women in the workforce are all too familiar with the barriers that the metaphorical glass ceiling presents. While women have outnumbered men on college campuses since the mid-1980s, women have not moved up to positions of prominence and power in America at a rate that is reflective of this. Today, there is a substantial gap between a small number of prominent women at the very top of their fields and the vast majority of women nationwide. While many might feel that the glass ceiling has been shattered and our work is done, this is far from the truth. While we're seeing more women than ever step into positions of leadership, the glass ceiling is still looming over our heads. This episode, we're tackling this topic from a variety of perspectives: everything from the large-scale economic impact of the glass ceiling, to the inspiring women who have helped crack the ceiling, to the work that's still to be done. Mentioned in this episode: The Women’s Leadership Gap (Center for American Progress)

Our senses are directly linked to memory. That's why some of the most iconic brands in the world are attached to sounds (PlayStation's startup sound), taste (Olive Garden's mints), and scent (Delta Airlines). Our senses help us remember hyper-specific factors of a situation, thus cementing a brand in one's long-term memory. As marketers and business owners, it only makes sense that we would want to use this to our advantage. Still, while sensory branding is an extremely effective marketing tool, it is often overlooked. How can your brand appeal to your audience's senses to make your product more memorable or build connection? All this and more in this week's Strategy Series episode.

Working your way up from an entry-level job all the way to CEO sounds like a dream come true — but professional success doesn't happen overnight. We're thrilled to kick off the new year with an episode featuring our special guest April Clobes, president and CEO of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU). April is proof that success comes from inner strength, community-mindedness, and a whole lot of sleeve rolling. In addition to her work at MSUFCU, April sits on an astounding number of boards that constantly keep her on her toes. How can we balance and blend the work within our organizations with the work within our communities? How can we stay grounded while embracing new opportunities? This week, April sits down to share how hard work, curiosity, and saying yes molded her career into what it is today. Tune in for an inspirational leap into 2021. Mentioned in this episode: Michigan State University Federal Credit Union MSUFCU's Desk Drawer Fund WKAR: MSUFCU continues to grow and “build dreams together” during the pandemic

The holidays might look different this year, but that doesn't mean you can't still celebrate. This week, we wanted to wish all of our listeners a happy holiday season and give you all the tools you need to make a special holiday cocktail in this festive minisode. We've almost made it to the end of 2020 and that feels celebratory in its own right. This year has been nonstop start to finish, and even the holidays are looking different for us. Everyone could use a drink after this year, so we're gifting you the recipe for our special Cranberry Mimosa. As Speak Easy gets ready to take a short break for the remainder of the year, we wanted to give you one last festive cocktail recipe before the new year. And don't worry – we'll be back January 6th with a very special guest episode. Until then, happy holidays and happy new year!

Last episode, Karen dove into how and why she decided to move buildings even after all the unexpected changes 2020 brought – and this week, it's Jen's turn. To some, a monumental business move might not seem like the most logical thing to do this year; but why wouldn't you take an opportunity when one presents itself? Jen lets us in on the details of her big office move at Redhead Design Studio and why she decided to go for it. We break down the logical, quantitative reasons that lead to making big workplace decisions, but also the highly illogical and emotional reasoning behind these choices. How do we know when it's time to make a big change for our businesses? What are the challenges and benefits that come along with these transitions? All that and more in this week's episode. Mentioned in this episode: George Nelson Building in Downtown Lansing

Animation is a powerful video tool that is often overlooked. Animation can be used to demonstrate science at the cellular level, show an entire kitchen simultaneously in chaos, explain abstract concepts, or even make your software come to life. In short, animation can get the job done. Animation and motion graphics are phenomenal video marketing solutions that give us other options for video when in-person filming isn't available to us. However, if you've never used animation in your business projects before, you understand that it can seem a little daunting. When it comes to launching an animation project, where do you start? This week, Karen breaks down the details of how we can use animation, a generally underutilized tool, to meet our business goals. Mentioned in this episode: - “What We Cover” animated video - Software explainer animated video

When we're surrounded by monumental changes in the world, our natural reaction is to stop, slow down, and stay put. We definitely understand the draw to seek what's comfortable and safe. (After all, we could all use some stability these days.) Yet, as business owners, we need to move forward with changes that will ultimately best serve our teams and clients. Regardless of the circumstances, why wouldn't we chase after opportunities when they present themselves? This week's episode is the first of two parts, so you know it's a big deal. Jen and Karen both have some exciting news to share about some big changes in their offices. In Part One, Karen kicks things off by discussing her news and the changes that surround it. How can we overcome our aversion to change and seize new opportunities as they arise? Grab your cocktail, join the discussion, and stay tuned for our next episode, when Jen will share her own news in Part Two.

Businesses across industries have faced countless challenges this year – and in the face of those challenges comes the pressure to perform, no matter the circumstances. We're talking about performing under pressure, regardless of whether or not we have the answers. How can we keep up with our own standards, and how can we get through this all the "right" way? (If there even is a "right" way?) In this episode, we share our own experiences of performing despite not having all of the answers. We unpack how to identify what we know, and we admit what we don't know and where we have room for growth. What pressures drive entrepreneurs and small business owners to make difficult decisions, especially during difficult times? How do we follow our gut instinct when external factors might be giving us conflicting signals? All that and more in our episode on performing when the pressure's on.

There's no doubt that the results of the presidential election will have a direct impact on our work and the businesses we work with. There's also no doubt that this has been an utterly exhausting, overwhelming, frustrating, confusing, and scary week. This minisode, we switch things up a bit by taking a moment to check in with one another and share our feelings, post-election. What led us here as a country, and what do we think could happen next? As parents, what are we doing to communicate this situation to our children? What do we do now? We get it all out there in the open. (Note: This minisode was recorded on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2020 – after the election, but before final results were determined.)

As social media has grown, so has the presence and success of video. When it comes to changing the behaviors of users, video has shown remarkable success on social media and beyond. But what's actually going on in the audience's brains that makes video so successful? How can we harness the ROI of video for our own brands, across formats? Turns out, there's a science to creating and using video to your business's advantage – and after working in video production for more than 40 years, Karen knows a thing or two about it. In this week's Strategy Series, Karen gets technical and breaks down the audience appeal of video, as well as the videography details that can elevate a brand's message.