Business Machine

Today on Business Machine is Rob McCartey, managing partner of the Image Shoppe. 

Mission

Located in Grand Rapids, the Image Shoppe helps businesses clearly understand what a brand is, then take advantage of their own in new ways. In ten years, Rob imagines the Image Shoppe will maintain its intimate size as a team, as well as helping others decide what kind of professional they want to be. 

Past Notable Mistakes

Rob notes that  a business should not only stick to the services they excel but understand that it’s OK to refer clients to other relationships. He considers himself a workaholic by trade, but has realized the importance of effective communication and spending time outside of work. Rob also talks about the importance of employee happiness and people being a good fit in company culture.

Recommended

Eating: The Green Well Gastro Pub in Grand Rapids

Quote: “People make your life.” from Derek Coppess, founder of 616 Development.

Eat with: Warren Buffett 

Contact

Email [email protected]!

Today on Business Machine is Justin Grinnell, owner and CEO of State Of Fitness training facility. Justin has been a trainer since he was 20 years old and decided to apply his expertise to small business with the help of his newly wed wife, six other trainers and a large room. He has now reached a place where he can work on his business instead of within his business, operating to support his team’s dreams and the unique network of leaders in his industry. He also talks about the origin and importance of his internship program, from working the front desk to training to empower others.

State Of Fitness focuses on top-notch customer service to help people reach their health goals. In 10 years, he would like to open more fitness facilities in the corporate world, as well as expand their internship program into a larger mentoring school.

Learning From Our Mistakes

Justin describes his beginnings as learning the hard way. He’s encountered challenges like how to manage employees,  optimism in business, and the fact that you can’t please everybody. Despite these challenges, he always remembers the words of one of his mentors, “If it doesn’t scare you, you probably shouldn’t do it.”

Today on Business Machine is Todd Uterstaedt, former army officer turned corporate VP turned entrepreneur of From Founder To CEO based in Cincinnati.

Mission

From Founder To CEO helps young creators enhance their capacity as business owners to create sustainability. In 10 years, Todd sees his initiative as a larger platform for communities to access resources in a timely and easily processed fashion.

Founder vs. CEO 

A founder does a lot for themselves to lead a team where a CEO leads an organization and holds people accountable through other people.  

Learning From Our Mistakes

Todd encourages listeners to strategically think of returns on investments. Marketing is not sales. He also discovered networking has a strategic component involving making impressions, not just trading business cards. As a leader, he also has learned to trust others to micromanage.

Todd relies on behavioral based interviewing including an investigation into behavior at other work areas. A new employee is also not committed to for the first couple months to discover how he or she fits into the work culture.

Recommendations

Quote: "The Best potential of me is we." from Coach Dale Brown.

Reading: Business As a Calling by Michael Novak.

Eating: Wild Flower Cafe in Cincinnati. 

App: Wunderlist

Contact

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @FromFounder2CEO

Today on the Business Machine is Kate Snyder, principal strategist and owner of Piper & Gold Public Relations, a Lansing firm dedicated to helping governmental agencies and nonprofits. Kate began her journey by acting as a business consultant within her network after searching for a senior position that matched her experience.

Mission

Help small businesses tell their stories in a way that effects change and builds relationships within their communities.

Learning From Our Mistakes

Kate explains the importance of transparency of operations, as well as trust in employees to grow self-sufficiency. She also speaks to some of the mistakes she has made in this pursuit, such as the sacrifice of physical health. She encourages recreation to keep the body as focused as the mind. She also encourages understanding both the strengths and challenges of your personality to better realize your capacity as a leader.

Favorite quote: "You have the same number of hours in a day as Beyonce"

Eating: Likes to taste different foods.

Read: "10% Happier" by Dan Harris.

Eat with: Barbara from Shark Tank.

Contact 

Webpage: www.piperandgold.com 

Email: [email protected]

Twitter @PiperGoldKate!

Today on Business Machine is Mike Maddox, president and CEO of ASK, a Lansing-based Information Technology company. He made the jump to small business from his career in sales where the further he moved up in his corporate work, the more internal and impersonal his work became.

Mission

Take the hassle out of technology so that you can focus on your business.

Learning From Our Mistakes

When he took over as president, he sat everyone in a room and they decided on a tagline. He notes this is very important when communicating with colleagues and strangers. This ties into another challenge he’s encountered, which is focusing on what the company does best, not what it can make time for. As a leader, he also believes in keeping a personal connection with employees, which can be difficult when work needs to be done but it is something he treasures.

Recommendations

Favorite quote: "Never confuse activity with achievement" from a board hanging in his office.

Eating: Big dip ice cream scoops from Quality Dairy, preferably in the summer.

Eat with: Steve Jobs to learn how he managed the growth of Apple, not just the creation.

App: Microsoft One Note

Contact

Phone: 877-ASK-4-ASK

Webpage: www.justask.net

Podcast: Bottom Line IT every Tuesday at noon on the Michigan Business Network.

Today on Business Machine is Amanda Washburn, owner of Rough Draft Solutions, which specializes in creating and articulating content for businesses to bring customer relations to the next level. This includes blogs, proposals and grant writing and website content. 

Mission

To help businesses realize the investment of marketing to create meaningful communication with their audience.

Learning From Our Mistakes

Rough Draft started in March of 2014, so one mistake Amanda notes as a young owner was a lack of an actual plan. This was important to realize because she also had no prior business network to pool from and get the word out about her goals. She posits that if she had made a strategic plan first instead of realizing its importance after nine months, she may have reached the success she enjoys now more quickly. She also speaks on how her family balances work with outdoor activities and turning off technology.

Recommendations

Favorite quote: "It’s a terrible thing I think, in life, to wait until you’re ready.... generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.” from Hugh Laurie.

Reading: Epic Content Marketing by Joe Pulizzi.

Eating: Soup Spoon Cafe in Lansing, MI.

App: Google docs.

Contact

Email: amanda@roughdraftsolutions

Webpage: www.roughdraftsolutions.com

Today on Business Machine is Amanda Stitt, CEO of Change Media Group (CMG), started by her husband who saw a market full of saturated services. Amanda always admired small business owners in her own family while never seeing herself as an entrepreneur. Now, she excels in the business of helping people connect. She envisions the company as space for young talent to enjoy their work.

Mission

a full-service creative agency providing targeted media services including direct mail, print, and digital advertising to a broad range of clients. 

Learning From Our Mistakes

Amanda’s number one advice is exercising the ability to say no. She urges others not to stray from specific services just to please clients. Use time wisely and meaningfully, and refer clients to other trustworthy colleagues. This is especially paramount  for businesses who provide services to other businesses.

Recommendations

Favorite Quote: “If I asked people what they wanted, they would’ve asked for faster horses.” from Henry Ford.

Eating: Beer Grotto

App: Asana for project management.

Podcasts: Fresh Air, Death Sex & Money, and Here's The Thing.

Contact

Email: [email protected]

webpage: changemediagroup.com

Today on Business Machine is Tom Stewart, who first had thoughts of entrepreneurship with a group of high school friends. Over the last decade, he has provided consultation to 44 organizations in a wide range of industries – the majority of which were new or small companies. Tom has also worked on transition teams for larger organizations, including the State of Michigan, and his efforts have resulted in nearly $7M in new client revenues and 60 new jobs in the Capitol Region.

Mission

Helping people start businesses. In 10 years, Tom would like to accomplish a private multi-million dollar fund for greater opportunities, as well as an actual office and team. He also talks about automation and getting small businesses able to function with one process and expand their opportunities from there. 

Learning From Our Mistakes

He advises inspiring entrepreneurs to not tackle their dreams alone because you have to know your limits. Tom learned that balance is important to assure your personal life is taken care of too. He regrets that, at the time, he did not pay attention to his relationships outside of his work, which risked his stability outside of work.

Recommendations

Favorite Quote: "To whom much is given, much is expected." from Luke 12:48 of the Bible.

Eating: Cosmos Pizza Restaurant and Zoobies Old Town Tavern in Lansing. 

App: Pocket Informant

Contact

Webpage: neocenter.org

Visit the NEO Center at 934 Clark St., Lansing, MI!

Today on Business Machine is Chad Jordan, owner of Craving's Gourmet Popcorn in Old Town Lansing and Okemos, who started with nothing but debt and a willingness to learn from others.

Mission

Craving’s Gourmet provides world-class popcorn to making people happy. In 10 years, Chad imagines a more robust brand that acts as a staple of Michigan and reaches more urban areas.

Learning From Our Mistakes

Chad believes that his biggest mistake was not strategically thinking about worst-case scenarios, substituting confidence with money. He also strives to improve his time management skills at all times. While business is business, it is also about building relationships to build confidence in those business dealings. His employees rely on him and he does his best to do right by them every day.

Recommendations

Eating: Any good BBQ

Apps: Google Drive and other apps

Contact

Facebook: Chad Jordan or business page.

Twitter: @CravingsPopcorn