Total Michigan

Frankenmuth is undoubtedly one of the top tourist destinations in Michigan. Who is it that keeps the city infrastructure humming along? Meet the leader of a great team of people who do just that. Bridget Smith.

After taking a financial impact, Jodie and her family decided to take their bee-keeping hobby and turn it into a business. She talks about how she used Etsy and Influencer marketing to help build Bee Lovely Botanicals into a thriving business.

Key Points:

[6:02] How to Order Bees

[12:16] Why Etsy to Sell Products?

[15:43] How to Maintain a High Level of Customer Service

[19:48] Working with an Influencer

[24:07] Why Amazon may not be a Good Fit

Kristi Turner has built a successful online make-up business. Using Facebook Live in creative ways, she has built relationships with women across the country. Here is her story and advice on getting started.

Main Points:

[06:42] Using Facebook Live to Sell Makeup

[07:28] Getting Started with Facebook Live

[08:54] What Types of Content for Facebook Live

[13:43] How to Get Content Ideas From Your Audience

[15:02] First Time Advice to Get Started on Facebook Live

[21:20] Using Private Facebook Lives to Reach Customers

When the stay-at-home order was initiated, all schools shut down. Rather than waiting weeks to start online school, Principal Levi Bringold did it right after the order started. The students didn’t miss a beat and learning continued.

In this interview, what lead Levi to take action so quickly? What were the challenges he had to overcome?

Key Points

[8:56] What Lead Levi to Implement Online Learning So Fast?

[10:26] What was the response from the staff about online learning?

Veronica has multiple degrees, multiple certificates, has served in multiple campaigns with differing congressmen as well as being a great wife and mother to her family. How does she balance family with public service? What is the chamber doing to support small businesses in Saginaw County?

Three Key Takeaways

• A good support system is required to get ahead.
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• Family is everything.
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• Don't be afraid to let your passion burn bright.

In this episode, I share some user reviews; lessons I've learned from other leaders; and leading in uncertain times.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Leadership Lessons from the TV Show Lost
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• What a Student with Dyslexia Taught Me About Leadership
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• My Mission and Commitment To You

Craig Goslin, President and Managing Partner of the Saginaw Spirit Hockey Club, talks with us about creating a winning team, culture and ego, and what it was like to shut down an entire league due to Covid-19.

Three Key Take-Aways:

• Everyone is important; everyone is critical to success.  Everyone.
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• Culture is cultivated.  What you cultivate, grows.
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• Mentors are important not only for professional development but personal as well.

Key Topics

[2:23] Key Advice from Mentors

[6:12] Celebrating Everyone's Successes

[7:50] Ego is a Key Detriment to Success

[11:49] How to Diffuse the Ego Problem

[18:45] What Off-Season Activities Do You Do

[21:25] Shutting Down an Entire League for the Season

Adam Barden, owner of the True Value stores in Frankenmuth and Vassar, shares with us how he made an abrupt career change to go into the family business. We talk about “Doing the Right Thing”, not only in your job but also in your business. Also managing a small business through the stay-at-home order.

Key Points:

[4:26] Getting back in the hardware business

[7:40] Defining The Entrepreneurial Spirit

[12:27] Competing against Bigger Stores

[17:06] Managing in the Coronavirus Recession

Sean O'Keefe talks to us about what goes into a great bottle of wine. We also discuss some of the history of Michigan Wine and the impact "The Curse of Oak Island" has had on their vineyard.

Three Key Takeaways

Key Points of the Interview

[5:23] What Grapes Grow in Michigan

[24:08] Making Wine in Traverse City

[25:50] Why Food and Wine Go Well Together

[30:23] Why Mari Vineyards Focuses on Italian Grapes

[32:59] How to Get Into Wine (And Be Brave!)

Today’s theme I explore with Jeff Drozdowski is leadership through service.  Jeff’s mission is to help people thrive in adversity and no better topic than the Covid-19 and Post Covid-19 World.  What would be the ideal “New Normal” that we would like to see?  A great episode that you won’t want to miss!   Three Biggest Takeaways:

• The best leadership is leadership by example.
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• Set everyone up for success
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• Remember that family is important, in good and bad times.

  [13:34] Lesson Learned from Failure   [22:45] Lessons Learned from Covid-19