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What if the best way to build authority online is to stop trying so hard to look like an authority? In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, I’m talking with Natasha Walstra, founder of NearPoint Strategies, about how entrepreneurs can use LinkedIn to build real relationships, establish trust, and ultimately grow their businesses. Natasha shared one of my favorite insights from our conversation: too many entrepreneurs are trying to “perform their way to authority.” Instead, she believes you should go out, do the work, become the expert in real life—and then share what you’re learning and doing online. We also talk about why Natasha’s philosophy is to “get on LinkedIn to get off LinkedIn.” The goal isn’t to spend hours creating content or chasing impressions. It’s to start conversations that turn into genuine relationships and business opportunities. In this episode, we talk about: Why trying to look like a thought leader can actually hurt trustHow to turn what you are already doing in your business into meaningful social contentNatasha’s simple Know, Trust, Like approach to LinkedIn contentWhy your personality may be one of your biggest differentiators onlineHow to delegate social media without completely removing yourself from the relationship-buildingWhy commenting and engaging can be more valuable than chasing huge numbers of impressionsThe simple LinkedIn opportunity most of us miss: people viewing our profileHow Natasha built her business rapidly while also navigating pregnancy, a difficult birth, postpartum depression, and the realities of entrepreneurshipWhy relationships—not cold outreach—have become the foundation of her businessNatasha also shares an important reminder for anyone building a personal brand: your LinkedIn profile should actually sound and feel like you. Your goal isn’t to create a polished corporate version of yourself. It’s to help the right people recognize, “This person gets me.” Try this today: Go look at your own LinkedIn profile and ask: How likely would I be to refer myself based only on what I see here? Does your profile clearly communicate what you do, who you help, and—just as importantly—who you are? Connect with Natasha NearPoint Strategies: www.nearpointstrategies.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ndwalstra/ Instagram: @nearpoint.strategies Free Resource Check out Natasha’s Profile Glow Up tool to help you take a fresh look at your LinkedIn profile: https://profile-glowup.replit.app/ And remember: you don’t need to become a full-time content creator to make LinkedIn work for your business. Do great work. Build real expertise. Share it. Start conversations. Build relationships. Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

How do you find more clients in this noisy marketplace?  In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Melanie Benson, an Authority Amplifier, host of the Amplifier Success Podcast, founder of the Rising Tide Collective, and creator of the Growth Fuel publication on Substack. Melanie helps thought leaders, service experts, coaches, consultants, and service professionals become more visible, recognizable, and chosen by the people who need their work most. Her mission is to help business owners integrate their inner authority so the outside world can recognize their expertise. Jennifer and Melanie talk about what it really takes to stand out in a noisy marketplace. It is no longer enough to post on social media, join a few podcasts, or hope people find you. Today’s service-based entrepreneurs need clear messaging, strong positioning, intentional visibility, and the confidence to own their thought leadership. Melanie shares her journey from corporate leadership and special projects into coaching, personal development, and authority-building work. She explains why so many talented experts remain invisible, even when they are excellent at what they do, and how unconscious beliefs, money stories, and fear of visibility can hold entrepreneurs back from the next level of growth. One of the most powerful takeaways from this conversation is Melanie’s belief that business owners should diagnose before they pivot. If something is not gaining traction, the answer is not always to throw it away and start over. Sometimes the audience, message, delivery, or visibility strategy simply needs refinement. Jennifer and Melanie also explore the shift from the information age to what Melanie calls a deeper need for connection. In a world filled with content, AI, social media noise, and constant consumption, entrepreneurs are craving trusted relationships, authentic conversations, and communities where real collaboration can happen. They dive into the power of collaboration over competition, why proximity to the right people can change your business, and how aligned partnerships can become true “growth fuel.” Melanie shares how collaboration is not just about transactions, affiliate links, or one-time referrals. Done well, collaboration creates a win-win-win: value for the audience, opportunity for the host, and visibility for the expert. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why so many talented business owners become the best-kept secretHow to become more visible without losing your authenticityWhy clear messaging leads to confidence and stronger conversionsThe difference between pivoting too soon and diagnosing what is not workingHow money stories, mindset, and unconscious beliefs affect visibilityWhy service-based entrepreneurs need more connection, not more informationHow collaboration can help you reach new audiencesWhy competitors can become powerful partnersHow to build a collaboration ecosystem that supports long-term growthThis episode is a powerful reminder that your expertise matters, but people cannot hire you if they cannot find you, understand you, or feel connected to your message. Meet our Guest: Melanie Benson is the go-to Authority Amplifier for expert-preneurs who are ready to monetize their visibility and claim their industry leadership. With over two decades of experience helping experts and industry leaders break out of “best-kept secret” mode, Melanie specializes in turning overlooked brilliance into profitable growth channels. FREE Resource from Melanie:  The 7 Step Framework to Shift out of Best-Kept Secret and Be Un-Ignorable at  Website: Substack: Growth Fuel Podcast: Amplifier Success LinkedIn: Social: @CoachMelanieBenson Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

What if the way you're wired is actually the key to unlocking your financial confidence? In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Abby Lininger of Drake Financial Group to talk money mindset, personality-based financial planning, and why building wealth doesn't have to be complicated, iit just has to be consistent. In This Episode You'll Discover: Why good financial advice isn't reserved for the already wealthyWhat the Money-Agram is and how your personality type shapes your money habitsThe difference between the obsessor, the avoider, and the helper — and how each shows up in your business financesWhy simplicity and consistency always win when building wealthHow to use goals to make the "boring" financial habits actually feel excitingWhat "work optional" means and why it might be a better goal than retirementHow Abby helped build the life that allowed her husband to finally chase his own dreamsConnect with Abby Lininger: Instagram & Facebook: @LifeandMoneywithAbbyLinkedIn: Abby Lininger🎁 Free Consultation + Money-Agram Handbook. Abby Lininger represents her family's company Drake Financial Group, a modern advisor who proves that financial confidence isn’t reserved for Wall Street. it’s built on Main Street, one family at a time. Named one of Grand Rapids’ top financial advisors by West Michigan Women and a five‑time GR Kids Grandtastic Award winner, she blends heart, strategy, and straight talk to help everyday people rewrite their money story. Known as “not your mama’s financial advisor,” Abby’s mission is simple: empower communities to build wealth with clarity, courage, and a plan that actually works. Meet Your Host Women Entrepreneurs hire Jennifer as their business consultant to scale their profits. I help service-based business owners increase their net income by up to $4000 more every month without hustle and burnout and following my 3-step framework. Join Jennifer for her free live masterclass, The Profit Leak, and identify the hidden habits and patterns that may be costing your business money — plus the first thing to change. Register here: https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/masterclass Scale Your Business:  Focused Growth Collective: Connect with Jen: Website Instagram: @nextwavewithjen Book: Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting, Start Profiting, and Build a Business That Lasts FREE BONUS GUIDE:Five Questions Every Woman Entrepreneur Should Ask Before She Says Yes Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a fellow woman entrepreneur and please leave a 5 star review. Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

Your biggest profit leak may not be payroll, marketing, or even pricing. It may be the way you’re operating your business every single day. In this episode, Jennifer breaks down the four stages of business ownership — the Octopus, Elephant, Lion, and Eagle — and shows how the habits that helped you build your business can eventually become the same habits limiting your profit, time, and freedom. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why doing everything yourself creates a ceiling on profitHow becoming the “bottleneck” can quietly cost you salesWhy hiring a team doesn’t automatically create freedomThe difference between managing a business and truly owning oneHow perfectionism, control, and fear of letting go affect profitabilityWhy owner dependency can make a business harder to grow — and eventually harder to sellThe one question that can help identify your current stage of ownership Which stage are you in? The Octopus: You’re doing everything yourself. The Elephant: You have a team, but every decision still comes back to you. The Lion: Your team can operate, but the business still performs best when you’re present. The Eagle: Your systems and leaders keep the business moving while you focus on strategy, opportunity, and the future. Ask yourself: If you stepped away from your business for a week, two weeks, or even a month, what would happen? Your answer may reveal one of the biggest profit leaks in your business. Ready to find your profit leak? Join Jennifer for her free live masterclass, The Profit Leak, and identify the hidden habits and patterns that may be costing your business money — plus the first thing to change. Register here: https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/masterclass Learn More Focused Growth Collective:https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/focused-growth-collective Next Wave Business Coaching: nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Instagram: @nextwavewithjen Book: Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting, Start Profiting, and Build a Business That Lasts If this episode helped you recognize where you are in your business journey, leave a five-star review and share the biggest takeaway you’re putting into action. Women Entrepreneurs hire me as their business coach to scale their profits. I help service-based business owners increase their net income by up to $4000 more every month without hustle and burnout and following my 3-step formula. Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

What happens when a simple idea at the kitchen table grows into a multi-location, experience-driven brand? In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Jackie Garrett, founder of Viola Bloom, to talk about the real journey behind building a business that has evolved over 16 years. Jackie’s entrepreneurial story began as a new mom who kept forgetting wet wipes while working remotely and caring for her daughter. That everyday frustration sparked the idea for a diaper bag that dispensed wipes — a product she first sewed herself at her kitchen table. What started as a personal solution slowly grew into an award-winning product, eventually catching the attention of major retailers like Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Buy Buy Baby. But Jackie’s story is not a quick-growth highlight reel. It is a reminder that sustainable business growth takes patience, grit, timing, and the willingness to let your customers show you what they need next. Over time, Viola Bloom evolved from a diaper bag company into a premium handbag and accessories brand featuring customizable bags, charms, jewelry, monogramming, and the signature Bag Bar experience. Jackie shares how listening closely to her customers helped guide her next decisions — from adding handbags to creating an in-store experience where customers can build something personal, joyful, and completely their own. Jennifer and Jackie also talk about what it really takes to expand into multiple storefronts, including staffing, systems, community support, partnerships, and learning how to trust a team with your “baby.” Jackie shares how Viola Bloom now serves customers through retail stores, private parties, bachelorette events, corporate activations, and brand partnerships. This conversation is full of encouragement for any business owner wondering why growth is taking longer than expected. Jackie’s story proves that timing matters, customer feedback matters, and the business you start may not be the business you are meant to grow forever. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Jackie turned a simple mom-life problem into an award-winning product  Why growth often takes longer than entrepreneurs expect  How Viola Bloom landed major retailers early in the business  Why timing played such a key role in the evolution of the brand  How customer feedback led Jackie from diaper bags to handbags, charms, jewelry, and the Bag Bar  Why experience-based retail can create new revenue opportunities  What it takes to open and manage multiple storefronts  How community, family, faith, and support systems helped Jackie stay the course  Why listening to your customers may be the smartest strategy for your next decision Jackie’s story is a beautiful example of what happens when you solve a real problem, stay open to what your customers are asking for, and allow the business to grow in the direction it is meant to go. Connect with Jackie Garrett and Viola Bloom: Website: violabloom.com Instagram: @vilahbloom Locations: Walloon Village, Traverse City, and Parker’s Alley in Detroit Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

What do you do when life knocks you all the way down… and you still have no choice but to keep going? In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Natalia Zacharin, founder of Zacharin Consulting, for a powerful conversation about resilience, financial clarity, and what it really takes to build a profitable business from the ground up. Natalia shares her deeply personal journey — from being a stay-at-home mom going through a difficult divorce, to taking a retail job at age 42 for just over $7/hour, to building a multi-million dollar financial consulting firm with a team of 16. This is not a story of overnight success. It’s a story of grit, consistency, and continuing to show up when nothing seems to be working yet. Jennifer and Natalia dive into: Why your first job (or step) is often just a stepping stone — not the final destinationWhat it really looks like to build a business in the “messy middle” when results are slowHow Natalia landed her first clients through consistent LinkedIn outreach (even when it wasn’t working… yet)Why success doesn’t remove fear or pressure — it just changes the level of responsibilityThe importance of surrounding yourself with people who understand entrepreneurshipHow investing in a mastermind (even when it feels like a stretch) can accelerate growth and accountability Natalia also shares powerful insights on the financial side of business — in a way that feels practical, not overwhelming: Why not charging enough is one of the most common mistakes business owners makeThe truth about hiring: don’t hire when you’re overwhelmed — hire when you can afford itKey financial benchmarks for service-based businesses (including profit margins and payroll targets)Why your numbers are not restrictive — they are the language of your businessWhen it makes sense to consider becoming an S-CorpHow to think about owner pay, profit, and building a sustainable business One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that your numbers don’t exist to limit you — they exist to give you freedom, clarity, and better decision-making. This episode is a reminder that success is built quietly through consistency — even when it feels like nothing is happening. Meet Our Guest: Natalia Zacharin is the founder of Zacharin Consulting, a fast-growing financial consulting firm that provides bookkeeping, payroll, and CFO services to small business owners. With a background that started in sales and evolved through persistence and continuous learning, Natalia helps entrepreneurs understand their numbers, improve profitability, and make smarter financial decisions. Resources & Links: Free Resources: zacharinconsulting.com/mss 7 Ways to Find Money in Your BusinessUltimate Financial Success Checklist Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok is a Profit & Growth Advisor and founder of Next Wave. A serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience, she helps service-based women entrepreneurs increase profitability through financial clarity, strategic decision-making, and systems that support sustainable growth.   www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Focus Growth Collective If this episode made you pause and think about your own habits, share it with a friend. Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

Bouncing her employees' paychecks on a Friday afternoon in July was one of the lowest moments of Jennifer Kok's 20+ years in business and one of the best things that ever happened to her. In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, host Jennifer Kok shares the raw, real story behind the "hustle harder" moment that almost broke her and the mindset shift that actually saved her business. Jennifer opens up about walking away from a corporate career, buying into a cookie-gifting franchise, and quietly believing that asking for help meant she wasn't cut out to be an entrepreneur. Then came the phone call in the minivan on the way to a family weekend away: payroll had bounced. What followed wasn't a hustle-harder fix it was a wake-up call that led Jennifer to rebuild her business around cash flow clarity, boundaries, and one game-changing idea: you don't build something that lasts by going it alone. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "hustle harder" often isn't the real problem, and what isHow to shift from reactive decision-making to proactive strategyJennifer's "Fab Five" framework for building your own personal board of directorsWhy asking for help is a sign of strength, not weaknessHow to stop avoiding your numbers and start understanding themAbout Your Host Jennifer Kok is a business owner, author, and entrepreneur coach with 20+ years of experience building and scaling a business from the ground up. After leaving a corporate career and relocating her family three times in six years, Jennifer bought into a franchise business and learned, the hard way, how to turn reactive chaos into sustainable, profitable growth. She's the author of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting, Start Profiting, and Build a Business to Last, and the founder of Focus Growth Collective, a membership community and mastermind for women entrepreneurs who are ready to stop going it alone and start building with the support of the right people around them. Get the Book  Ready to find your own "Fab Five" and build a business that lasts? Jennifer's book, Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting, Start Profiting, and Build a Business to Last, dives deeper into the framework from this episode. Join Focus Growth Collective You don't have to build alone. Focus Growth Collective is Jennifer's membership community and mastermind for women entrepreneurs who want real strategy, real support, and a real community of people who get it. Learn more Enjoyed This Episode? If this story resonated with you, share it with one of your "who's"  the person who needs to hear that asking for help isn't weakness, it's strategy. And don't forget to subscribe to Main Street Success Stories so you never miss an episode. Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

What if the habit you rely on to “take the edge off” is actually the thing keeping you stuck? In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Cari Walters, a sober curious life coach, to explore the powerful connection between habits, emotions, and the way we cope as busy entrepreneurs. Cari shares her personal journey from years of habitual drinking — not out of addiction, but out of routine — to becoming alcohol-free through a process of curiosity, awareness, and intentional change. If you’ve ever reached for a glass of wine after a long day, scrolled your phone to unwind, or found yourself stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, this conversation will open your eyes in a powerful way. Jennifer and Cari dive into: The difference between alcohol dependence and being “sober curiousHow everyday habits form through the cue → action → reward loopWhy high-achieving entrepreneurs often avoid their emotions — and what it costs themA simple but powerful tool called The Pause to interrupt unhealthy patternsCari’s “3 F’s” framework: How do I feel? How does this feed it? Can I find another way?Why breaking habits isn’t all-or-nothing — and how to embrace the “gray”How long it actually takes to build new habits (and why it’s longer than 21 days) This episode is a powerful reminder that the habits you build are either working for you… or against you. Meet Our Guest: Cari Walters is a sober curious life coach who helps individuals move from autopilot habits to intentional living. With a background in education and years of experience working with people through behavior patterns, Cari guides clients to understand their emotions, interrupt habit loops, and build healthier ways to cope, unwind, and thrive. Connect with Cari: Website: sobercuriouslifecoaching.com Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn: Cari Walters – Sober Curious Life Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok is a Profit & Growth Advisor and founder of Next Wave. A serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience, she helps service-based women entrepreneurs increase profitability through financial clarity, strategic decision-making, and systems that support sustainable growth.   www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Focus Growth Collective Author of Make Waves If this episode made you pause and think about your own habits, share it with a friend who might need this conversation too. And remember — awareness is the first step to real change. Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

What if the goal isn’t a perfectly balanced day at all? In this episode,  Jennifer Kok sits down with Suzy Hillegas of Suzy Connect for a thoughtful conversation about moving from hustle to harmony in your time, work, and life. If you’re a busy woman entrepreneur juggling business, family, responsibilities, and the constant pressure to keep everything moving, this episode will feel like a deep breath. Suzy shares why a perfectly balanced day doesn’t really exist and how one simple question — What matters most today? — can help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually deserves your energy. Together, Jennifer and Suzy talk about: Why so many women entrepreneurs feel stretched thin and mentally overloadedHow to identify the “layers” of your life using Suzy’s simple person, place, or thing frameworkWhy high achievers often overlook small wins and miss meaningful moments of momentumHow to quiet the inner critic and stop treating every unfinished task like failureWhat your relationship with time may be costing youWhy deep work and fewer interruptions can create more momentum than constant reactivityWhy support, perspective, and not building alone matter so much One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is Suzy’s reminder that meaningful progress often looks smaller and quieter than we expect. Instead of waiting for the huge win, she encourages us to notice what is already going right — the small moments, the steady steps, and the evidence that we are moving forward even when life feels full. Jennifer also shares why she created the Focused Growth Collective, a space where women entrepreneurs can come together for trusted support, honest feedback, and smarter decision-making without judgment. This episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t have to feel frantic, and success doesn’t have to come at the cost of your peace. Meet Our Guest: Suzy Hillegas is a mentor, writer, travel advisor, and founder of Suzy Connect. Through her mentoring and her Substack, Meaningful Moments, she helps people move from hustle to harmony by naming what matters in their time, work, and life. Connect with Suzy:  Website: suzyconnector.com Substack: Meaningful Moments Resources Mentioned: Deep Work by Cal NewportDesign Your Day Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok is a Profit & Growth Advisor and founder of Next Wave. A serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience, she helps service-based women entrepreneurs increase profitability through financial clarity, strategic decision-making, and systems that support sustainable growth.   www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Focus Growth Collective If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with another entrepreneur who needs this reminder: You are not meant to build alone. Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

Are you pivoting toward something or away from something?  In this episode, Jennifer Kok breaks down what she calls "the art of pivoting" and why the best pivots she's made and witnessed didn't come from desperation. They came from clarity and intention. Jennifer gets honest about the pivots that aren't really pivots at all, the ones driven by avoidance, boredom, or impatience.She shares her own story of owning a cookie business for 20 years, including how the 2008 recession forced a strategic shift into gourmet cupcakes that ultimately led to a franchise, and how knowing when to eventually walk away was its own kind of pivot. What You'll Learn: • The difference between a strategic pivot and a reactive one (and how to tell which one you're making) • Why pivoting too soon is just as costly as waiting too long • 4 legitimate signs it's time to pivot your business • How to audit before you act and what data to pull • Why you should test a pivot before going all in • How Jennifer's latest pivot led to the creation of the Focus Growth Collective Key Takeaway: Pivoting toward something is leadership. Pivoting away from something is avoidance. Both can look the same from the outside, but only you know what's really driving the decision. Resources + Next Steps: Focus Growth Collective, Jennifer's strategic advisory group and monthly mastermind for service-based women entrepreneurs. If you're in decision fatigue, analysis paralysis, or just tired of making big calls alone, this is built for you.  Order Jennifer's New Book:  Make Waves, How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting. and Build a Business that Lasts. http://makewavesjenkok.com Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur Stop Reacting. Start Profiting. Go Make Waves.  Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, to unpack the real value of press releases and why public relations should not be reserved for big brands with huge budgets. Mickie has spent more than 25 years helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups get visibility through strategic press releases that lead to media coverage, credibility, and business growth. And in this conversation, he shares exactly how it works behind the scenes. If you’ve ever assumed press releases were outdated, too expensive, or only useful for major company announcements, this episode will completely shift your perspective. Why being a small business is not a disadvantage in the media How earned media builds trust and boosts credibility in a way ads cannot Real examples of small businesses seeing massive ROI from a single release How to think strategically about what makes your business newsworthy One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that PR is not just a brand-building activity. When done strategically, it can create visibility, improve conversions, build trust with leads, and even open doors to major contracts and media opportunities. Mickie also explains why small business owners should think in terms of a press release campaign, not just one isolated announcement. He recommends brainstorming six to eight releases over time and testing different types of stories to see what resonates. Meet Our Guest: Mickie Kennedy is the founder of eReleases, a press release distribution service that has helped small businesses get their stories in front of journalists for more than 25 years. With a background in creative writing and a passion for helping entrepreneurs succeed, Mickie teaches business owners how to create newsworthy stories that lead to real earned media coverage. Connect with Mickie: Website Free Masterclass:  Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

What happens when you follow the “proven strategy”… and it completely fails? In this episode Jennifer sits down with Sarah Hubbard, founder of The Intentional Network for a powerful conversation about networking, resilience, and building a business rooted in real relationships. Sarah shares the moment she found herself $60,000 in debt after following her company’s one and only growth strategy, direct mail, only to realize it wasn’t working. That experience became a turning point, leading her to rethink everything about how business is built. This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs who are tired of transactional marketing and ready to grow through meaningful connection. Why “proven strategies” don’t always work — and how failure can lead to better alignmentWhy trust is eroding online and why connection matters more than ever (especially in the AI era)How introverts can actually become some of the most effective networkersThe difference between busy networking and intentional networkingSarah’s mission is simple: help entrepreneurs stop feeling like “just another salesperson” and start building relationships that actually lead to revenue, referrals, and long-term growth. Meet Our Guest: Sarah Hubbard is the founder of The Intentional Network and author of The Intentional Networker. She created the MAPP Framework to help business owners network with clarity, confidence, and purpose — without being pushy or salesy. LinkedIn Facebook: Resources Mentioned: The Intentional Networker — Sarah Hubbard AI Networking Prompts: https://sarahhubbard.myflodesk.com/aipromptsitn Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok is a Profit & Growth Advisor and founder of Next Wave. Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

In this episode, Jennifer Kok, a business advisor and business coach for women entrepreneurs, is joined by Carrie Holland, MD, owner of FitLife, and Brooke Koeninger of Scale with Clarity for an honest conversation about the decisions that shape entrepreneurship. Jennifer shares one of the hardest moments from her 20+ years in business, when employee paychecks bounced despite strong sales, and how that experience changed the way she thinks about leadership, money, and decision-making. Brooke explains how women entrepreneurs often outgrow the early stage of doing everything themselves and need stronger financial clarity around cash flow, profit, and paying themselves consistently. Carrie brings the mindset perspective, sharing how fear of failure, perfectionism, and self-doubt can keep women stuck longer than necessary. Together, they explore why strong businesses are not built through perfect decisions, but through thoughtful ones rooted in data, habits, support, and self-awareness. This episode is for women business owners who want to make smarter decisions, build sustainable growth, and grow without burning out. In this episode: Why avoiding a decision is still a decisionCash flow, profit, and financial clarityThe emotional weight of entrepreneurshipPerfectionism, procrastination, and self-doubtHabit goals vs. result goalsRisk, intuition, and learning to trust yourselfWhy community matters when building a businessMeet our Guests: Carrie Holland MD - FitLIfe - A board-certified family physician with additional certifications in personal training, health coaching, and life coaching. Carrie specializes in helping smart women build strong habits around Eating, Moving, and Thinking. Connect with Carrie: https://carriehollandmd.com/ Brooke Koeninger - Scale with Clarity - Helping consultants, coaches and creative service businesses gain clarity around their numbers, develop a strategy aligned with their goals, and fuel sustainable, lasting growth. I’m here to help you step back, understand the full financial picture, and build a strategy that turns uncertainty into grounded, confident decisions. Connect with Brooke: https://scalewithclarity.com/ Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok is a Profit & Growth Advisor and founder of Next Wave. A serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience, she helps service-based women entrepreneurs increase profitability through financial clarity, strategic decision-making, and systems that support sustainable growth.   www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Focus Growth Collective If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with another entrepreneur who needs this reminder: Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

What if the secret to marketing success isn't a better strategy, it's finally trusting yourself? In this episode, I sit down with Iris Goldfeder, founder of Gas Stove Creative, to talk about building a business on your own terms, showing up authentically, and getting found by the right clients. Whether you're struggling with visibility, confused by the ever-changing digital marketing landscape, or just tired of throwing spaghetti at the wall this one's for you. Episode Outline Stop Outsourcing Your AuthorityIris shares the mindset shift that changed everything learning to trust herself instead of leaning on partners for validation.The Power of VideoWhy unpolished, authentic video builds more trust than a perfectly scripted production — and how to just start.SEO, AEO, GEO & AIO — What You Actually Need to KnowA plain-English breakdown of the four optimization strategies and what small business owners should focus on right now.Websites That ConvertYou have three seconds. Iris explains what your homepage must communicate immediately and how to make your site work for you.Related Episodes & Additional Resources Episode 40:  Stop Marketing on Assumptions, Start Connecting with What Your Customers Actually WantEpisode 58: The Real Reason your Marketing isn’t working Guest Information Iris Goldfeder, Gas Stove Creative, Iris is the founder of GasStoveCreative, an all-in-one marketing solutions agency built for service-based businesses ready to scale with clarity and confidence. With over two decades of experience across branding, digital strategy, and business storytelling, she has a knack for helping businesses cut through the noise, clarify their message, and turn their marketing efforts into real, measurable results. gasstovecreative.com | LinkedIn: linked.com/in/igoldfederIs your website converting traffic to leads free audit: Mention Main Street Success Stories podcast for a free strategy call with Iris. Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok is a Profit & Growth Advisor and founder of Next Wave. A serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience, she helps service-based women entrepreneurs increase profitability through financial clarity, strategic decision-making, and systems that support sustainable growth.   www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Focus Growth Collective Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show and help other business owners find it. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/newsletter Follow Us on Social Media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nextwavewithjen Facebook: https://facebook.com/nextwavewithjen LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jennifer-kok-17441829 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nextwavewithjen802 Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:

Selling a business isn’t something you figure out at the finish line, it’s something you build toward from day one. In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Cameron Bishop of Raincatcher to talk about what it really means to be “exit ready.” Cameron shares what he’s learned from 50+ acquisitions and decades of buying and selling companies, including why nearly 80% of businesses that try to sell never do.  Episode Outline What It Means to Be Exit ReadyWhy 80% of Businesses Never Sell - Cameron shares data showing that most businesses that try to sell never do, and walks through the biggest reasons why.Financials That Buyers Trust - Why “checkbook accounting” kills deals and what buyers actually want to seeOwner Dependency and Burnout -If you can’t take a real vacation, your business may not be sellable. Cameron explains why buyers avoid businesses that rely too heavily on the owner.The Emotional Side of Selling - Selling a business is not just financial, it’s deeply emotional. Cameron explains why owners struggle with identity, purpose, and letting go, and how that can sabotage deals.Start Planning Before It’s Too Late - Cameron shares heartbreaking stories of owners who waited too long—and why exit planning protects not just you, but your family and future legacy. Related Episodes & Additional Resources Episode 41: Selling Your Small Business: Real Talk, on Buyers, Profit and Letting Go with Jessica Starks.  Guest Information Cameron Bishop is a Managing Director and Partner at Raincatcher, a lower middle market investment bank that helps business owners sell and transition their companies. Over his career, Cameron has led or advised on more than 50 acquisitions, helped grow companies to hundreds of millions in revenue, and worked with owners on exit and succession planning. His passion is helping business owners avoid costly mistakes and maximize the value of what they’ve spent their lives building. Links: Website: raincatcher.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-bishop-19b6804/ Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok is a Profit & Growth Advisor and founder of Next Wave. A serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience, she helps service-based women entrepreneurs increase profitability through financial clarity, strategic decision-making, and systems that support sustainable growth.   www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Focus Growth Collective - is a 1:1 strategic advisory and mastermind designed for female business founders leading established service-based businesses so growth becomes deliberate, profitable and sustainable. Follow Jennifer: Instagram: @nextwavewithjen Facebook: facebook.com/nextwavewithjen LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jennifer-kok-17441829 YouTube: @nextwavewithjen8028 Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process.  My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout. Learn More about my Programs. Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts.  Find My Profit Leak FREE Masterclass: Your business can be making money… and still be leaking profit. I’ll help you uncover the daily habits and patterns quietly draining your profit and identify what to change first. Save My Free Seat Connect with me: Website: Facebook: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube: