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Welcome to 'Main Street Success Stories', where each month, we deep dive into the journeys, the challenges, and the triumphs of real-world local entrepreneurs. Whether you're dreaming of starting your own venture or just looking for a dose of inspiration, you're in the right place. Join us as we celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, learn from each other and motivate you to keep growing your own local business
61 Episodes
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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 overwork, she defines it as a misalignment between your energy and your values. And once you hear...
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: Marketing, but not the kind you think. Most small business owners default to “more marketing,...
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 regain control of their homes and schedules. Together, Jennifer and Lisa unpack why true organizat...
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 triggers, navigate stress, and build stronger, more cohesive teams. You’ll learn how to identify blin...
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 family, creating community, and teaching women to confidently take a seat at the financial table. W...
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, and create messaging that builds lasting trust. Beth shares how most business owners are too close...
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 solo episode, Jennifer Kok dives into Pillar #2: Customers from her 9 Pillars to a Profitable Busi...
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: Discover the #1 mindset shift to stop AI overwhelm.Hear how Jeanette saves clients hours w...
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 second daughter. It looked successful on the outside, but behind the scenes, it was chaos...
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 Together ProjectThe Power of Supportive Communities Why Listen? Because this isn’t just a sto...
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’s convincing toddlers to eat peas or sharing a favorite book with a friend and shows how t...
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 strategy might be broken, Ciara shares the hard truths (and hopeful fixes) that can help you recl...
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-scale event production. You’re going to love this conversation about what it means to pivot, ...
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 social media for home service business. If you've ever struggled to niche down or questioned wheth...
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 is a must-listen if you’re a small business owner who: Feels stuck in the cycle of chas...
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 embodied self-awareness to understanding your internal "Personification Posse," this conversation...
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 for anyone building a business they hope to exit someday. Key Discussions: Why 80% of bus...
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 marketing based on assumptions, not insights. You’ll learn how to use frameworks like StoryBrand, plus ...
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 episode if you’ve been guilty of the “set it and forget it” strategy. Geoff breaks down GBP best pra...
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 intentionally—without rushing—and how she balanced motherhood with meaningful work. Rebecca’s story is a powe...
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