Creating Visibility & Awareness for Your Next Offer Hey there, listener!  You’re going to want a pencil and paper for this one. I’m answering one of my most frequently asked questions. How do I get MORE People to see my content? People to hear my message? Sales? Clients? Leads on clients? I’ll take this episode to share five ways to create visibility and awareness around your next offer. It’s not just tips and tricks this time! Short term wins are great, but long-term awareness around your business and brand is our focus today. Key Takeaways If you’re on the go and can’t take notes, grab my free printable checklist here https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62fd7479a72e507348a31c3b Define First, define this thing you need more exposure around. WHAT is it? WHY is it worth featuring? HOW will followers reach your product or service? Do a big brain dump of everything you can think of related to these questions. Get clear about the problem you want to solve and the people you want to serve. Format Consider all of the potential formats OTHER than social media to get the word out. What about podcasting- either on your own or as a guest? Speaking of being a guest, is there someone you could pair with to do an Instagram stories takeover?  Create in-person brand awareness. I have my business logo on my vehicle, for example. I gifted my clients an MKM tumbler for their birthday. It helps to keep you on their mind! Long form first Yes. I, social media strategist, am telling you that long form is the place to start. Create an evergreen piece of content like a blog post or email newsletter to anchor your outside social media. It’s okay to only update once a month, but have something there. It’s your place to connect on an emotional level. Where can you share? Ask yourself who you could tag to increase visibility. Maybe it is an organization that benefits from your product Just be a person, honestly. Interact genuinely with others on your feeds and channels. Hacks! Okay, so I squeezed some quick tips in. I know my listeners love those! Share to your personal social media. I don’t do this often, so when I do, it’s a big deal! Jump on a trend if it fits your product or service. I loved the recent “Little Miss” memes. If that’s to cutesy for your brand, leave it. Carry a business card. Reach out and ask for a collaboration. Shoot your shot! (Omigoodness guys, I did this recently and have SUCH a great podcast guest coming up!) How can I help? Sign up for Social by MKM! You can participate one month at a time or join for the rest of the year for a great rate. This September we’re focusing on getting your business ready for the holidays. Sign up for Social at mollyknuthmedia.com/shop   Reach out with an Instagram DM! Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly on Instagram

Welcome back to the podcast!    You know I’m a bit woo. Give me all the angel numbers, the astrological signs! I want to know everything about who I am and how I can show up as my best self!   Earlier this year I learned about human design and I learned So. Much. about myself, why I do what I do, and why things happened how they did.    Cue our guest, Kristin Kilburg! She was a guest presenter in our June business school and I just had to go back for a personal reading. What a gift! This is so meaningful and I think you will agree! Key Takeaways Kristin is from Cascade and now lives in LaMotte. She is also a yoga instructor! Kristin discovered and fell in love with Human Design from a Facebook group conversation and has taken further training to learn everything she can. Human design describes how our energy works. For Kristin it described how she always felt but struggled to explain. Human design helps you understand how you can help the world with your own unique gifts. Kristin recommends using the site Jovian Archive to get your basic reading. Your human design chart will have a lot of numbers, symbols, and colors that take a lot to understand! In this episode we focused on three main items: Type, strategy, and authority. Type is how your energy presents you to others. Strategy is your path of least resistance in the world. Authority is your decision making process. I am a manifester which makes so much sense! I love to help people, explain, teach, and bring people together. Kristin is a reflector which is super rare! Human design is important for business owners to understand how to spend their energy and what to outsource or hire out. As a parent, the best thing you can do is to understand yourself before getting a read on your kids. Kids usually know best because they haven’t been conditioned by the world yet! Kristin offers one-on-one readings for adults and would like to help children and small businesses too. Kristin suggests the podcasts Day Luna and The Psychic Scoop for more information. Connect with Kristin Kristin is working on a website and scheduling platform! For now, reach out on Instagram. Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook      

Hey there, listener!   Just a heads up before we start today. We have some exciting changes coming! We’re going through a divergence of businesses (Yes, that’s with an S!). The Small Minded Podcast might have a change in name or maybe a new social handle. We’re still sorting out the details. But just so you know, the content you expect is going to continue! We’re down 100 episodes and we’re not going anywhere!   Today we’re talking tactical business strategies. Something even more foundational that what you would think of as the basics: Getting an EIN, registering an LCC, or setting up your first bank account.    My business boot campers know this one because it’s in my first week of training. We’re talking ENERGETICS!   Key Takeaways Small business dreams are made of the hallmarks of vision, energy, and hard work. This can feel “woo woo” but you’ve experienced it: Love and joy at a wedding reception or someone who did a terrible job reading their audience. We can’t always raise our energy to bright and rosy colored, but we must at least seek neutrality. I made a business offer earlier this year that was personally a stretch. I was being my own negative voice! I said things like, “If that doesn’t work it’s totally ok” or I directed contacts to a less expensive service. I totally self-sabotaged by putting out bad vibes. I do much better when I’m having a shit ton of fun like with reels or music videos. We all have cycles of energy and that’s ok! You don’t have to be bright and rosy all of the time, but be aware of how your energy is affecting others. Do your best to come up to contentment. My go-to strategies are listening to great music, walking in nature, or getting a hard ass workout in! Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Hey there, listener. I’m trying something new this episode and sharing a previously recorded live presentation I gave earlier this year.   It’s just me and my big paper! I’m sharing the process I use to plan and implement change in a way that feels RIGHT. It can be hard to trust yourself! I hope this episode and the strategies I share empower you to make business decisions that feel right. Key Takeaways It is hard to know what shift to make whether slight or major! It’s easy to feel all by yourself! My method is to write it out with my Big Paper Moment. When my brain is buzzing with ideas I crank the music, clean my house, and fill out big poster-sized post it notes with random ideas. It’s important not to filter yourself! Don’t let your subconscious get in the way! People who have been to business school call this a SWOT analysis: Get honest with your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. But… don’t focus too much on your competition! The SHIFT model came out of my coaching with Allie Reeves: Select, Heighten, Identify, Follow Through (do the damn thing!) and Test. Podcast Episodes Mentioned International Small Towns with Magdalena Schurmann Small Business Finances with Janey Stahl MKM Business School School is in session, my friend! MKM business school is for the female small town business owner in years 2-7 of her business. She’s established and needs guidance to grow! When should you add to your team? How are you setting boundaries?  Find a circle that can elevate you to create something that lasts. Business school includes Monthly guest professor visit on a focus topic Two monthly office hours with a service provider Monthly hotseat for members to come together and build relationships Access to the ENTIRE MKM video training library Access to our business service provider directory DM me on Instagram or sign up with an email to [email protected] with the subject line “MKM Business School.” Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Here we are, friends! We’ve reached the 100th episode! Like… HOW??! I wanted a special way to celebrate this milestone and polled the team. So for today’s podcast, I have a mix of… How I got started and what I learned Top performers and hidden gems Future plans! Thank you, thank you, thank you, listeners. Not just for listening, but for your feedback, emails, and messages of support. I love getting messages about episodes that hit you in the feels! It keeps me going and I couldn’t have reached this episode without your encouragement and support! Key Takeaways I was a fresh little green business owner in 2017: Never took a business class, and CERTAINLY didn’t have a degree! I binged the Momentum podcast and loved the 10 minute action packed episodes. The algorithm pegged me and kept suggesting more and more valuable content. Seriously, so much of my business knowledge is from the School of Apple Podcasts! I ordered my podcast microphone a full year before my first episode! Most podcasts last only nine episodes! I went into this knowing the value of momentum and consistency. The name, the niche, the launch… That’s just the foothills! I took Jenna Kutcher’s podcast course and applied everything I learned to get started! I knew consistency would be important so I scheduled 2-3 months in advance to minimize summer recording. Summer is nuts around here! Find support! Honestly a podcast is a lot of work and I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it all on my own! Consider hiring out for editing or marketing if it will keep you behind the microphone. Podcasting does NOT have a quick turnaround. Three months in, I had about 300 downloads a month. Six months in, I questioned whether I could keep going. My accountant gave good guidance. Maybe I couldn’t trace my success exactly to my podcast, but it was a valuable investment in the know, like, trust strategy. It’s an important lead generator and it’s important to me to be of service to others. The last six months have had half of my lifetime downloads! It took 30 episodes to figure out my equipment and find my voice. Four of the top five episodes were from March 2022! Where are they now?  Callie Fitzgerald was riding the high of her first three months in business and is now offering amazing summer programming at Centrally Rooted in Dubuque, Iowa. She’s added art, painting, and brought in teachers from all over the country. Her flagship curriculum, Mindful Musicians, will be offered in two area schools this fall! Lauren Welter’s episode about mental health in small towns brought the most messages EVER. Many people praising the normalization of mental health and folks asking for Lauren’s contact information. Other popular episodes included Let’s Get Woo Woo, Melissa Nelson, and Do I Need a Business Coach? You guys. My worst podcasts were definitely my “Teen Years.” It was past the bubble of my friends listening to be nice but I hadn’t quite caught on to a wider audience yet. Go back and give them a listen! I don’t think I’ve “made it” to be at episode 100! I’m hanging on to be the cream that rises to the top. See you at 300! Molly Knuth Media and the Small Minded Podcast are going through exciting changes! We’re morphing into a small business hub of resources and support! We might rebrand in the future, but we’ll be here offering high value content week after week. Just in case she edits it out, a HUGE thank you to my podcast editing superwoman Miranda Ostwinkle. I seriously couldn’t have done this without her! Follow for more Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Hey listener!   Today’s podcast guest and I go back a few years. We only met once in person, but wow, is she ever an amazing person. I’m so glad to know her, even if it is mostly virtual!   Linley Cavin is the owner and artist behind Storied Folk and Company, an apparel, drinkware and modern paper goods company. She has moved back to her hometown and runs her company from her home.   You might know her from Matted Ink, her first business, but she rebranded to envision a brand that gave back.   Wow, guys. She has quite the inspiring story to help you understand the people she wants to help. Sure, we talk a bit of shop but a lot of our conversation today revolves around Linley’s incredible journey to parenthood. Grab the tissues, it’s the first episode that made me ugly cry! Key takeaways Linley Cavin grew up in Protivin, Iowa, where her family has a hog and row crop farm. She vowed to get away and she did… for awhile. She studied at Iowa State University and lived in Des Moines for a while.  Linley worked at an advertising agency startup and loved it as a first job. When she and her husband moved to Williamsburg, Iowa, her new job didn’t use the graphic design she loved. She started her business, Matted Ink, and launched on Etsy. As her business and desire to start a family grew, she took the leap to full time with her business. With her husband working long hours as an agronomy salesman, it was important to them to have a parent with more flexible hours. They also made the move back to Northeast Iowa. Linley has moved away from Etsy and built her own website to promote her own brand. (I’m so guilty of saying “I got this on Etsy! instead of identifying the maker!) In addition to her own website she sells wholesale to more than 175 (!) retail locations around the country! All of this was going on as Linley and her husband worked to start a family which was such an amazing journey.  After trying for a year, the Cavins sought medical intervention at the University of Iowa. When moving back to Northeast Iowa, she transferred care to Minneapolis where she had two failed rounds of IVF. She transferred care to Chicago and suffered another failed round. She stepped back and looked at other options from adoption, to choosing not to have children. It took a huge toll on her mental health. In December of 2019, she sought egg donation. Linley describes grieving for her genetics and coming to terms with how, although she would carry her baby to term, they would not share her genetics. This process works! Linley is a mom to a son after her July of 2020 egg transfer was successful. Linley has rebranded to Storied Folk & Company: Inspirational Goods Made With Purpose. She donates 3% of sales to support infertility support and resources and has a donation button on her website. All of this to say, Trust the Journey. It inspired a new just-launched t-shirt design that you just have to see. Connect with Linley Shop her website or follow her on Instagram. Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook    

Hey friends! Thank you so much for being here for this week’s Small Minded Episode.   We’re digging in and I’m ready to deliver a little more on the business side. This episode is short and sweet but I hope you find it value-packed.    Key Takeaways Usually when someone approaches me to share they’re thinking about starting a small business, they are thinking about a logo or website. Those things are important, but it all comes down to four main things. People will pay you for what you are good at. I used to moonlight as a wedding singer but never charged much. I was good at it, it didn’t take much time. But I learned to charge for the value I offered! Think about what you have paid others to do. Someone is willing to pay you! People don’t have the skills or bandwidth to do things you perceive to be easy. It’s the little things they outsource first. Your skills and talents are unique. Not everyone knows how to do the things you find so, so simple! You don’t have to be fancy to be good. I should have charged more earlier, but I didn’t realize how unique I was. I just posted what I wanted to know and learn. Now I know it’s called content marketing. But it got great results for my clients! If you have a small, service-based business, you should promote your own business AT LEAST as much as the businesses you serve. Your mindset and energy matters. Think beyond “a little side gig” and give your business the respect it deserves! Any time I have felt a nagging that my business needed to change, the thing to change was me. I recently had to flip the script to think of myself as the leader of a team instead of someone on the team doing the work.  Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook MKM Business School School is in session, my friend! MKM business school is for the female small town business owner in years 2-7 of her business. She’s established and needs guidance to grow! When should you add to your team? How are you setting boundaries?  Find a circle that can elevate you to create something that lasts. Business school includes Monthly guest professor visit on a focus topic Two monthly office hours with a service provider Monthly hotseat for members to come together and build relationships Access to the ENTIRE MKM video training library Access to our business service provider directory DM me on Instagram or sign up with an email to [email protected] with the subject line “MKM Business School.”

You guys. My cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling so much with this week’s guest, Jenny Roth of Jenny Roth Copywriting. She is such a super mom, wife, and PERSON.   Today, though, our talk centers on her small business as a copywriter. She has great experience to share as a small business owner as well as copywriting tips FOR small business owners.   We’ve been “DM friends” for awhile but this is our first time chatting in person! I loved our chat and I know you will too.  Key takeaways Jenny lives in a rural South Dakota town with only 300 people. (Rural like 45 minutes from a Walmart rural!) Her husband farms grain and cattle and they have three girls, born within four years! Jenny was a stay at home mom and even homeschooled until a few years ago. She started to wonder how she could contribute to her family’s income in the little pockets of time she found. She started by writing one article each month for a magazine and later moved up to editor. People started approaching her for writing help and her business was born. Jenny’s focus has always been her family although she feels a little guilty for admitting it. Her first goal was to make just $200 per month to put her girls in dance lessons. Jenny struggles with indecisiveness but realized “You can do things scared.”  Her biggest business challenges are taking on too much and keeping everything balanced. Jenny realized that hiring copywriters to work under her made her an editor, which she doesn’t enjoy, so she switched to hiring copy editors instead. In the future Jenny would like to help others get started in copywriting. Some copywriting tips from Jenny Copywriting is to connect customers with businesses who solve problems. Copywriting is anything you write that connects to your customers. Copywriting should have your voice. Write it for you first, then edit it for your reader. Read it back out loud to see if it sounds like you! Avoid “word salad” copy. Be very specific! What a copywriter can do for you Learn your “voice” to create copy that sounds like you would speak Do a target audience deep dive with market research Give your words a fresh set of eyes Connect with Jenny Find Jenny on Instagram @jennyrothcopywriting or on her website. Join her email list for a free 15 minute master class to create your email welcome sequence. Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Hey there, listener!   This episode comes to you from my NEW BUILDING on my birthday! In a previous episode I shared the BIG NEWS that MKM has purchased a brick and mortar location in downtown Cascade. We took possession on June 1 and I’m hanging out here every chance I get!   This will eventually include an ACTUAL podcast studio but for today I’m improvising.   We’re throwing it back to a tried and true mailbag episode! Thanks for sending your questions to me on social media! I got a little enthusiastic about only a few questions, so this might have to need a part 2!    Let’s dig in. What are you doing with the building? I know, right? Especially when all the rage is to get out of the office and have freedom! It’s important for me to put my money where my mouth, and I want to be part of the revitalization of downtown. The new MKM space will facilitate a flexible work schedule. I’m not requiring anyone to come in, but I want the option if they want the option! This HUGE building came up and I’m looking forward to a personal office, flex spaces for my team, and a large conference area. I’d love to host our workshops and programming in person! Not an office-office, definitely more of a hybrid situation. TikToks and Reels? I so empathize with you here! TikTok and Instagram are not friends and don’t play nicely together. Short format video is big right now and each platform has something to offer. Some pointers: Even though you can, I don’t recommend downloading a video from one platform and posting it on the other. The video quality is poor and the platforms suppress video made in the other. I get around this by editing video in In Shot and uploading it separately to each platform How do I increase engagement this summer? It’s such a weird time in the algorithms right now! With 1500 followers I could expect 200-500 reach on Instagram posts and 400-500 posts on Facebook. This year at this time I’m lucky to get 100! I’m figuring out Facebook and but my Instagram is still weird Instagram is going through some stuff right now. I’m calling it their teenage years. Instagram has rolled out some changes that people aren’t liking. I think if we stick with it they will roll those back in a few months. Post where your heart is and your people are! Find new ways to measure success like DMs.  Success is in engagement, not exposure Show yourself raw and candid. Focus on the people you’re helping. Keep Facebook posts simple and start conversations. With all the ways I could be growing, how do I manage my time? Let go of timeframes and established dates: We can rewrite the rules! Priorities shift based on the season How do I avoid shiny object syndrome? Focus your vision and ultimate desire for your business. When opportunities come your way you will be able to identify them as valuable When to pivot without leaving people behind? Take it slowly and surely Reflect on if it’s just burnout or if it’s a building feeling that you are not where you want to be Remember it’s okay to change your mind! Give yourself the gift of time You honor you. It’s your business. July Social School MKM is breaking down ads on Meta so they don’t have to be so darn tricky anymore! Sign up for 7 days of bitesize trainings and tutorials. This is for the small town business owner who is empowered, excited, and READY to understand paid advertising. You’ll be setting up and running your own ads and you’ll understand what the heck those stats mean. July’s membership is focusing on ads only, but we’d love you to take advantage of the annual membership discount! DM me on Instagram with questions or visit the shop to sign up! MKM Business School School is in session, my friend! MKM business school is for the female small town business owner in years 2-7 of her business. She’s established and needs guidance to grow! When should you add to your team? How are you setting boundaries?  Find a circle that can elevate you to create something that lasts. Business school includes Monthly guest professor visit on a focus topic Two monthly office hours with a service provider Monthly hotseat for members to come together and build relationships Access to the ENTIRE MKM video training library Access to our business service provider directory DM me on Instagram or sign up with an email to [email protected] with the subject line “MKM Business School.” Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Hey there listener! I’m so excited to introduce someone I love and admire. Sheila Hansen is on the podcast! We’re chatting money mindset. Ooo. Did you cringe? Did your gut drop a little? Why IS it that money can make us feel so weird? That’s why Sheila’s work is such a gift. She focuses on mindset around money instead of just dollars and cents. Sheila has her own business, Sheila Hansen LLC, that helps small businesses, especially service-based businesses, make sense of their money. Key Takeaways Sheila and her husband, Bo, live on five acres near Omaha, Nebraska with their three kiddos. Sheila loves country living but still being close enough to a city to enjoy all it has to offer. She originally thought she’d be a teacher, but loved her high school accounting classes. She enjoys her position now and personally teaching people about their finances. Sheila studied accounting at UN Lincoln and climbed the public accounting ladder. Starting a family changed her career outlook! A miscarriage shifted her focus and gave her the courage to start her own business. I mention a previous podcast guest: Robin Boudreau of No Foot Too Small and Honoring Angels Every business has a different start! Sheila worked as an assistant with her husband while she built her business. Money mindset is so important to Sheila! She challenges us to think about money messages we observed growing up and how they affect us today.  Sheila says to turn into your body’s intuition and to question that “icky” feeling you get when you think about money. “Money comes money goes but it will always flow!” There are a couple of steps to get started before reaching out to a professional like Sheila. You need basic data so someone can help! Get a business bank account Get some way to track data (A spreadsheet at the very least but she recommends Quickbooks) When should you hire a professional for money matters? Reflect on the value of your time. Just because you can do something yourself doesn’t mean you should! Sheila says that anyone with needs beyond basic W-2 tax preparation should hire a professional for their taxes. When should you hire an employee? This depends on your model. Consider the potential of growth by bringing someone on. You don’t have to go all in! You can start with a contractor, or hire someone who wants flexible hours. Price on your value, not your hours. Know your ideal audience. Sheila recommends the Biz Chicks Podcast and was a guest on the coaching episode. She said the book The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks helped her mindset. Connect with Sheila Contact Sheila through her website or Instagram. Follow for more Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Welcome back to the Small Minded Podcast, listener!   I’m excited to welcome my friend Melissa King of Dupaco Credit Union. It won’t take long into the episode for you to see how we always have fun together! We giggle as much as we talk shop, but we DO talk shop. Melissa is here to talk about her career in financial services. She emphasizes the importance of forming a partnership with your financial partner and makes finances make sense. Key Takeaways Melissa King lives with her family on an acreage near Bernard, and Cascade, Iowa. She was raised on a beef farm just a few miles away where her parents live now.  Melissa says she is the “Queen of Pivoting” along with many entrepreneurs! Yes! Volunteering and hard work was important to Melissa growing up. She continues to stay involved in the community. She found her position at Dupaco as a temporary employee at age 18 and has been with them since. She originally didn’t think she would do college but now holds an MBA! Community is important to Melissa and one of the best takeaways from business school was the connections and friendships she made. Melissa loves meeting with small business owners in every stage of the game and following their progress. Your relationship with your financials is an important one! Check in at least as often as you connect with your accountant or attorney. Melissa says your financial should get to know you and discuss custom solutions. Look to America’s Small Business Development Centers for professional business advice by state. Melissa has become a small business owner herself! She and her family raise miniature golden doodles. Connect with Melissa You can reach Melissa by phone at five-six-three-581-9081 or email at [email protected] Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Hey there, listener. Welcome to this BIG episode of SMALL Minded!   I think this will be the first in a long series of big news and updates. It’s so exciting because my dreams are happening in real time!   This episode is a little shorter than usual, but it is so big it needed a space all its own.   Listen to the episode and DON’T skip ahead on the notes!   Key Takeaways Before I share our BIG NEWS let’s take a journey back in time to my beginnings as a business owner! I loved my job as a middle school English Language Arts in 2013 but when I found out I was pregnant with our third baby I really wondered if I could balance my job with teaching. I finished out the school year and had our baby in August 2014.  2014 was a blur! In addition to adding Baby #3 we built a house! My littles kept me plenty busy! In 2016 I had our fourth baby and started to wonder if there was an identity for me beyond “Mom.” I wanted to make some money for our family so I took on some subbing jobs and helped with administrative help in my dad and cousin’s business. Part of my administrative tasks was marketing. I didn’t really know what I was doing but made a Facebook business page. I just shared what I wanted to know about businesses: What projects were they working on, stories and faces behind the business, etc.  Whatever I did must have worked! They got great results! By late 2016 a third person contacted me and I made the leap to becoming a “real” business. March 2017 was my official launch. I continued to grow and in November wrote a 5- and 10-year plan. It seemed SO far off at the time, but for my five years I dreamt of: A historic brick-and-mortar location in my hometown Employing moms in a flexible setting Childcare Boutique coffee A one-stop shop for small business startups with service provider recommendations, digital marketing services, and a startup sector You guys. I can’t believe how much of this is coming true! MKM has added podcasting, graphic design, copywriting, web design, and as of June 1, 2022: A BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATION!! Seriously. In early 2022 I noticed the beautiful old bank next to my coworking space up for sale on a Tuesday and we had an offer in by Saturday morning! Last week it officially became ours! Follow on the socials for lots of updates on the renovation process! I’m so excited to bring you along. Mailbag episode scheduled for later this month! Submit your questions! (Business) School is Session! MKM Business School Mastermind is for women in years two through seven of their business who are ready to scale from startup to sustainable. Connect with a circle ready to elevate you to create something that lasts. What you get: Guest “professor” with a focus topic each month Two guest experts (“adjunct professors”) throughout the month with a special focus. Hear from HR professionals to start hiring, attorneys to answer legal questions, and more Monthly Hot Seat Session Bonus 1-on-1 coaching with Molly Access to MKM video training library DM me on Instagram or shoot me an email at [email protected] with subject MKM Business School. Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

  Hey friends!  This podcast tackles a common topic… What the HECK is working right now on Social in spring of 2022! You probably noticed major shifts on Instagram and Facebook earlier this year. With access to client accounts I could extract common themes across the board. I reached out to my network, ran some experiments, and I feel like we have it down. For now.  I shared what I learned in a Facebook Live training and have that recording for you today. I’m a total talker and explainer, but I think I have it down to 45 minutes! Key Takeaways This session focused on six main topics. Strategy Back when I started in 2017, social media was as simple as posting a video! But as more and more people shared content, the algorithm started to pick and choose what to promote. Now it’s important to strategize so more people see your posts. It’s not as simple as just showing up. Watch your stats to figure out what your followers like and interact with. Map out what you will post each day to make customers know, like, and trust you Make a quarterly and monthly map Photos I love brand photos and recommend having at least one head shot and maybe a few more. But don’t feel like you always have to be beautiful and branded! Balance perfection with reality. Multi-image posts are getting great engagement. Not collages, but photos for people to swipe through. This increases your engagement. Show yourself! Viewers interact more with people than products. Video Video is so hot right now!  You don’t have to record a video. Consider just adding a video instead of static background to the content you already have. Storytelling Storytelling always works! Book recommendation: Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller Even if someone doesn’t need your product or service in the moment, stories make you memorable. Bring viewers into your life and through your day. Think about parts of your day that can inform and guide. Platforms Don’t try to be everywhere at once! You will burn out and it’s just too much work! Consider owning a space away from the platforms with a blog, website, or email list. “Keep your platforms simple but drive them to the big goals for your business” Relatability “If you wait until you are ready you will always be waiting” The perfect polished post is not really what’s working right now Dive into what you are doing today and document it! Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Hey, listeners!   In this episode I’m sharing high school stories, especially from my senior year. It was just graduation weekend here in Cascade and there is excitement in the air! I hope the kiddos (young adults?) who graduated appreciate what a special time this is! There is a reason we call those years the best of our lives (which I don’t full-on agree with… more on that later)!   This was super fun. I had a great time making the episode, and I think it will be super relatable for elder millennials! Remember burning CDs? Or the first iPod and how dumb everyone thought they were… until they didn’t?    I don’t think 17-year-old me could have imagined using a digital camera ON MY PHONE to take pictures of these old pictures to share on a BLOG for my PODCAST!    I would love to hear more about your small-town high school days! I’ll link up the socials below! Key takeaways Senior year is so special in pop culture and it was for me too! My high school had 7-12 in the same building and I remember thinking the seniors were just so cool! I share some of my favorite outfits. Remember how everything in 2005 was 70s inspired? I’m cool with bell bottoms coming back around but low rise jeans need to STAY AWAY! My school had a tradition of a senior skip day and senior prank but my class was a buncha’ rule followers! I spent so much time grounded my senior year, which was no fun, but then I somehow didn’t get voted most likely to get grounded? I was so upset about that! I share some of markers of the time… My Dodge Intrepid, hanging leis from the rearview, burning CDs, and the first time I saw an iPod! I don’t think high school makes the best years of your life, but they are certainly the beginning! There is just something magical about being old enough to really get out there and have real fun but not the responsibilities yet!  June Social School  It’s June and school is JUST getting started! Social School is now enrolling for June! This month we’re focusing on captions that convert. What is working for captions right now? How the heck should you format them?   This month’s Social School includes:  Bite-sized video trainings Access to supplemental materials A Q & A with me Sign up at my website here. You can sign up for June or jump in for the whole year! An annual membership gets you two free months! Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Hey, Listener.   It literally took me 11 tries to get an intro recorded and it still isn’t great! I am just so humbled by today’s guest and honored to have her on the podcast!   Robin Boudreau and her husband Ryan started No Foot Too Small to draw attention to pregnancy and infant loss.   We’re proud to have her here in Iowa but their mission has expanded across the country! Her mission is just so necessary and needed. I just cannot put into words the importance of today’s conversation.   But I will try. Key takeaways: Robin and Ryan are from small-town Wisconsin. They went to college at the University of Minnesota and moved to Iowa City for Ryan’s Post Doc program.  I love how Robin asks, “How am I going to build MY small town in THIS community.” How cool to make the most of where life takes you? And build community everywhere? Robin had her first daughter, Bella, in 2011 and got pregnant shortly after with her son Beau. At her 20-week ultrasound, immediately after finding out he was a boy she learned he had many life-threatening abnormalities. Beau was born that January and went immediately to heaven. Robin and Ryan knew they always wanted to honor Beau but weren’t sure how. They had a birthday party for him but invited the whole community. They honored 12 angels that day and over 100 guests! After their amazing event, people asked them to continue hosting, so they did! After three years the Boudreaus and their contributors donated $100,000 to March of Dimes. Robin loves March of Dimes but recognized the difference and importance of her mission too. They started No Foot Too Small to specifically recognize pregnancy and infant loss. By 2019 the organization was so busy that Robin left her career to grow NFTS full-time. The mission of No Foot Too Small is to celebrate, unite, and build. They celebrate angels, unite families, and build bereavement birthing suites. Robin wants her support groups to feel like a circle of girlfriends! Their organization hosts meetups in fun and welcoming spaces. Learn more about their Mom’s Groups and Men’s Social Clubs on their website. The pandemic caused their group to “pivot” and host online meetups. Her stories are heartbreaking but she loved to meet people across the country. When Robin first lost Beau, all she wanted was to cuddle up with a cozy blanket! She searched far and wide for the perfect item to wear to honor Beau. That inspired their line of angel-inspired gifts, Love Beau. 11% of profits go back to No Foot Too Small. Connect with Robin Email Robin directly at [email protected] or message their Facebook page to seek support. Learn more about No Foot Too Small and their events on their website. Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Welcome friends!   Before I launch into my LOVE for teachers, I need to get a little sassy about how it is NOT FAIR that so many helpers have to share an appreciation week!   To teachers, firefighters, emergency responders, childcare providers, small business leaders, nurses: THANK YOU for all you do for all of us, especially in small towns. Of course you deserve year ‘round appreciation, but the LEAST we could do is give you your own week, dangit!   Today’s episode is all about teachers! They are so revered in our small towns and make such an impact on all of our lives! I look back on teachers who made a difference for me and reflect on my time as a teacher. Key Takeaways I am a teacher by trade and a lifelong lover of reading! No surprise, my favorite teachers inspired my love of reading. My favorite part of teaching was getting students to LOVE reading. We started the term reading for just ten minutes each day. It seems my kiddos who hated reading most in the beginning would beg for more time as the term went on! The best part of being a teacher was my students! I still love running in to former students, even though now it’s at our local bar! The best but hardest part of teaching is RELATIONSHIPS! Think about how teachers inspired you to do more, try harder, and see the light inside yourself!  My teacher Mrs. McLaughlin sent a postcard to every new student from where she had traveled that summer. She gave us books when we met our reading goals and I especially loved Roald Dahl books. She really encouraged my love of reading. Dianne Knepper let us choose our own assessments as “book reports” and I still remember the Ella Enchanted board game I created. Girl scout leaders, aunts, uncles, we are all teachers. Thank you for encouraging kiddos! Please take a long hard look at how important supporting our small town teachers is! They give our children so much love and support and teach academics too. Definitely get involved in your kids’ education, but please keep supporting teachers. Education is especially tough right now with people being super critical. Please, please, show teachers your support.   Teachers, you are the best!   I’d love you hear your most beloved teacher stories! Tag me (Molly Knuth Media) or the podcast (Small Minded Podcast) on social media to share your stories. Podcast Sponsor MKM Business School is in session! This new business school mastermind is perfect for the female small town entrepreneur in years 2-7 of her business. She’s established but wants to grow! Connect with women at a similar stage and elevate your business and brand. It’s not just me! I have awesome friends who help provide: Monthly focus topics by experts in the field Office hours calls from service providers Monthly hot seat sessions to learn, grow, and build relationships in-person Access to the MKM video training library Access to the MKM business service provider directory. Shoot me a DM on Instagram an email to hello@mollyknuthmedia,com, subject line “MKM Business School” Follow for More Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook

Hey there, listener.   This week’s episode is super sweet for celebrating you mamas! Thanks so much to the listeners who contributed motherly advice!    I’m so blessed to be a mom to four little ones (or… not so little! They grow too fast!). We definitely planned to be parents, but we did NOT plan for it to look like what it does! It’s a beautiful little mess that I never could have predicted, but it is my most. favorite. role.    Key Takeaways So I’ll start it off! New mamas: Get clear with yourself. How I pictured myself momming is SO different than the homemade-snacks-and-hands-on-homework-help mom I pictured! Yup, we have screentime and processed snacks! But believe me, if you let kids be bored long enough, they will find something to entertain them for HOURS. It’s like a 30 minute bubble, but they’ll forget screentime soon enough! Ok, so I‘m going to need another bullet point. It’s okay to not read all of the books and research all of the things ahead of time! For myself, it made me more anxious and nervous. Reach out to your support system when you need help. No need worrying in advance! Definitely take time for yourself, your relationship, and your friends. I couldn’t agree with this one more! We love our Natalie. She’s a junior in college now but has been with our family forever. She’s like a big sister and sometimes a more organized mom than me! It’s so good to have time for yourself and for have more people for your kiddos to love. Get some great regular childcare in your little villiage! Give yourself grace after childbirth. Oof. I learned this one the hard way. Seriously, your body basically performed a miracle. Go easy on yourself! Rest!  Related: As you’re resting and relaxin, snuggle those babies as long as you can! They just grow too fast! It’s sneaky, but one day you’ll look and them and not remember the last time you held them in your lap. Cherish every minute you can! Be present. This is a challenge for me, but I can definitely see the value in really being in the moment with your family. It’s hard as business owner with a home office, but I’m really working on it! Get a circle of support you can ask questions to. Being “small minded” I’m definitely going to pump local groups, but online is good too! Think globally! Just remember you’re not alone. It’s okay to not be okay. Allow others to pour into you. Get the help you need. Care for your mental health.   I’m going to need a whole ‘nother episode to rant on how it’s SO UNFAIR that Mother’s Day, Teacher’s Appreciation, Childcare Provide Appreciation, Firefighter appreciation all are on the same week. You all deserve your own week!    I’ve got to take a minute to acknowledge that this week isn’t always special and sweet for everyone. Everybody’s story is different but they are all beautiful. Whether you are struggling with a parent relationship, choosing not to be a parent, or if your childfree life is not by choice, I see you. You are close to my heart this week.   So much love this week, everyone! I hope you have a beautiful Mother’s Day!   Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

After we stopped recording, Will McAllister (our guest on this week's podcast) and I got into additional conversation about his journey through various educational settings post-high school. So I hit "record" again because I thought his message was important about keeping an open mind as youth consider a variety of options post-high school: workforce, community college, state school, and more. Especially in our modern economy with workforce shortages in nearly every community, keeping an open mind about someone's path after graduation can open doors and provide opportunities for our youth. Let me know what you think in this first BONUS EP of the Small-Minded Podcast.

Hey, listeners!    I have a super special guest this week in our series on The Learning Center in Charles City, Iowa!   Today I share my interview with Will McAllister of Woodruff Construction. At just 23 years old, he is the construction manager of the TLC project! I just love this kid and the love he has for literally building BIG things in small towns.  Key takeaways  Will started studying engineering but didn’t love it and transferred to Kirkwood to study construction management. He later transferred to UNI to complete his bachelor’s degree. Along the way he worked part time with Woodruff and has been with them full time since graduation. Will loves that he gets to combine an office job with the in-person visits to job sites.  As a construction manager he works with the building superintendent, crew leaders, and more. He’s managing a LOT! Will says it’s about building a great team, working together, and staying organzied. Will discusses some challenges of the construction industry lately. Access to supplies has inflated budgets and pushed back deadlines which can be very frustrating. Okay, so he’s my brother. See why I get to call him a kid? But seriously, can you even believe how poised and professional he is? So proud. Will has enjoyed learning new things with the TLC build like how to have restrooms in the childcare rooms or how each room has its own HVAC system. He loves to remodel old buildings and is excited for the TLC project. Will credits his success to his family (aww!) and their high standard of work ethic. He also says it is hard to get in trouble in a small town because you never know who will see you doing something stupid! Mom and I had some fun thinking of his bonus round questions, including our dad’s favorite one-liner. Will’s advice for young folks is to give community college some thought! He’s grateful for what he learned, but says he felt “too proud” to go straight for community college. He knows he had to try engineering first in order to know it wasn’t what he wanted, but that in hindsight, community college so just so great for him.   Thanks so much, Will, for introducing me to the key players of the TLC project! (Pam Ost, Dan Levi) Connect with Will  Will works for Woodruff Construction. You can contact him personally on LinkedIn or Instagram… Whether with construction questions or to sell him a jet ski! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

You guys. I thought I’d have Dan Levi on the podcast to talk all things TLC. Our conversation turned out to be so much more than I could have imagined! What an amazing advocate for the smallest people in our small towns!   Dan Levi is an architect of Dan Levi Architecture and his firm worked with last week’s guest, Pam Ost, to build The Learning Center in Charles City, Iowa. We’re in a series on the center and how big things happen in small towns. But omigoodness we ended up just talking about the importance of childcare and I am SO here for it.   Key takeaways “A rising tide lifts all ships!” Dan is an Iowa State grad (and fan- yuck! Ha!) and architect in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. He loves to bring childcare centers to small towns. Next to skilled nursing, childcare centers have the most building regulations! He is SUCH an amazing advocate for CHILDCARE! (He is sure to NOT say babysitting!) Dan points out that young families will not stay in or move to small towns if there is not high quality childcare Iowa, and much of the midwest, is suffering a labor shortage. Childcare isn’t just for the little ones, it’s to keep parents comfortable too!  Dan says old buildings, especially old schools, are a blight on a small town. It’s so sad to see them fall into disrepair! It’s so important to keep Iowa towns thriving and quality childcare is key for that! Dan discusses how the childcare industry is “upside down.” Lead teaching positions can pay less than starting wage at a convenience store and offer no benefits. He’s so understanding of making sure projects fit the individual goals of each community and fit the BUDGET!  Dan mentions another inspirational project, Little Knights Learning Center, in Dysart, Iowa. He also recommends the resource Child Care Resource and Referral for families looking for high-quality childcare in Northeast Iowa. Connect with Dan Levi Dan’s contact information can be found on his company website, Levi Architecture. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

Hey, listeners. Today on the podcast I have Pam Ost of The Learning Center in Charles City, Iowa.    She is an absolute treat of a guest. She has a kindness in her voice that makes me wish I could be a kid in her care! Luckily she works well with big kids too and is getting stuff done. It’s easy to see why the whole community believes in her ideas. She could be the spokesperson for the whole darn city!   I promise I didn’t set her up for this, but her story fits PERFECTLY into my steps of getting big things done in small towns. I just love her story (their story!) of how Charles City came together to see a need and find a solution. And I just. Freakin. Love. A good persevere-through-hard-times story.   Key takeways Pam Ost is the director of The Learning Center, a childcare center in Charles City, Iowa. They are renovating an old middle school to expand their center to address the growing need for high quality childcare. Pam emphasizes the importance of supporting children from birth through graduation. She works with the public school to support child development throughout life. Charles City, Iowa is, by Iowa standards, a big town with 8,000 people and home to some major industries. Great childcare is SO IMPORTANT to support the economy! Covid showed the world how quickly things fall apart without childcare. Pam is a major employer herself with 30+ employees. She is proud to say her center never closed and never laid off workers through the whole pandemic, even when enrollment went from 88 children to 35. Covid also threw some wrenches in their project! They are suffering supply chain issues just like everyone but hope to be in their new location this fall. There are so many exciting things about this project. The students are most looking forward to a gym! The new location will also have a commercial kitchen to make it a true community building. Connect with Pam The Learning Center has an active and adorable Facebook page to check out. More information can be found on their website. TLC is a non-profit and can receive donations through PayPal. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about Social or Business School visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

My friends, it’s just me today in this week’s episode, talking all about YOU. YOU can do big things in a small town.   I’m so excited for the upcoming series we’re sharing in April. The round about way I found this story is typical of how things get done in small towns! So, my brother Will is a construction manager in Waterloo, Iowa, and connected me with TLC (aka The Learning Center) an AMAZING childcare center in Charles City, Iowa.    Pam Ost (who you’ll meet in future episodes) saw a need in her community, had a vision for how to complete, found her people who could help, and connected her goals to the entire community.   No, I didn’t set her up for this, but she happened to follow my blueprint for getting things DONE in a small town. Now Charles City has an amazing childcare center in the works in a renovated historic building.   Maybe you’ve been there. You’ve seen the cool old building in your downtown and thought “someone should really do something about that.”   YOU are that SOMEONE!   I’ll share key takeaways from the episode below, but if you want to narrow it to one thing… “If we want really cool things in our small towns we have to be willing to do them.” - Melissa Nelson, Hungry Canyon Key Takeaways I share my blueprint for getting something to the finish line: Cast your vision, find your people, and connect our community. First, cast your vision! Thing globally and don’t limit yourself! I mention an earlier episode with Callie Fitzgerald (one of our most downloaded to date!) where she was feeling conflicted imagining what is now Centrally Rooted. She sat down with a journal to sort out her thoughts and LITERALLY the NEXT DAY found the perfect building. DON’T limit yourself here! You can sort out budget and all that later. Dream BIG! THEN it’s time to get serious. Seek out those people who can bring this vision to life. Me, I’m a good beginner. I’m not a details person. I’ll make all the videos, do all the marketing, but cold calls for fundraising? No. Thank. You. Luckily there are folks who love behind the scenes work!  Every project needs leaders, doers, finish liners, and key partners. It’s those finish liners who keep dreamers like me on track! Put a PLAN together and market, market, MARKET! Obviously marketing is my jam, but it is seriously so important in small towns. That old building is someone’s precious memory! You need a community to support your big idea! Get them on board.   This episode is pretty short and sweet but it’s leading up to a great series. Come on back next week!   There’s not a guest this week but I mention Pam Ost and The Learning Center in Charles City, Iowa and the parallels to our childcare center here in Cascade, Aquin Little Angels. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about Social or Business School visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

This March at Small-Minded has been all about badass women, and I couldn’t let the month pass without inviting my friend and sister-in-law, Amanda Schlemme, to the the podcast.   We’re both “old” now as we joke throughout the podcast, but back in the late 00s as I was in college and first dating my now-husband, his sister Amanda was living a fabulous big-city life in the Twin Cities (Minnesota). She did the whole high-heels-every-day, great Banana Republic outfits, CPA thing, and loved it. And I loved when we could get up there and visit! Amanda has always been such a role model to me, but as we’ve grown older and wiser, I admire her more and more every passing day.   Our family has been through some STUFF to say the least, and as a result by the early 2010s Amanda, her husband Travis, and their family moved back to Cascade, our hometown. We are SO grateful to have her here, for a wealth of reasons:   First off, she’s my accountant- and she is brilliant. She keeps me on top of my Quickbooks (thank God), organizes SO MANY freakin’ forms for me, and fields all of my “what does this mean?” questions about numbers and government agencies.    Okay, so having a CPA for a close friend is AWESOME, but that is just a small part of this amazing woman.    Amanda is a Swiss army knife, listeners. She’s a key part of the family farm, she and her husband own and operate the local tavern and eatery, she chairs the board of the one of the coolest camps ever, and her efforts over the years have contributed to the community in such a big way.   We could have talked about a million things in this episode, but oops! We ended up spending almost the whole episode on just one particular part of her life, which happens to be my personal favorite thing about Amanda - how dedicated she is as a mom. She has two incredible sons earthside, one of whom has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). At just 14 months old back in 2009, Amanda’s son Colin was diagnosed with SMA type 2. This diagnosis not only dramatically altered the trajectory of Amanda’s life, but it allowed her to take on big things that have a lasting ripple effect for hundreds of families of SMA.    I will definitely need Amanda back for a Part 2 because I just know you will LOVE this episode, my friends. Key Takeaways After college at University of Northern Iowa Amanda worked as a CPA in the Twin Cities. It was a bit of a culture shock but they carved out a little space in the city and made friends that became family. Amanda loved learning about how different companies worked. Amanda is the mom to two boys: Eli and Colin. Colin had an appointment with a neurologist when he missed some milestones by 15 months old. He was diagnosed with SMA, which at that time, had no cure or treatment. She was told he would never walk, and to not look at the Internet for additional information. She made it two days before she deep-dived online, learning everything she possibly could. She has been such an amazing advocate for Colin, and SMA, ever since. The family made the move back to Cascade where Amanda works with the family farm and businesses including Bale Barn and Two Gingers Tavern and Eatery.  Amanda chairs the board at Camp Courageous in Monticello, Iowa. They offer year-round camps and respite care for people with disabilities. Colin looks forward to MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) Camp every year and has been going since he was six. He gets to zip line, hike, swim, ride the train, and more, with the assistance of Camp and his amazing counselors.  Amanda has brought our community together to raise tens of thousands of dollars for Cure SMA through Small Heroes, Mighty Cause. Since Colin’s diagnosis, there are now three options for SMA treatment. Colin is an amazing old soul who loves coffee, gambling, and ESPN. He loves all sports, especially baseball, is very observant, and a great listener. He had a major spinal surgery last year but has recovered well and is in good health today. We’re so grateful to have Amanda and family back in Cascade! We definitely need her back on the podcast for a Part 2! Connect with Amanda Amanda has so much going on! She is the board chair at Camp Courageous, organizes Small Heroes, Mighty Cause, and is involved in the family businesses Two Gingers Tavern and Eatery and Bale Barn.  Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about Social or Business School visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop. Podcast Sponsor: School is in session! Be the first to know about our spring program offers by signing up at https://bit.ly/mkmspring    Depending on where you are in your small business journey, we have options to meet you where you are and help you grow your woman-owned business this spring.   Social School April’s focus is on story telling on Facebook and Instagram! What you get: Marketing assistance and education Short daily, easily digestable trainings  100 story starters to plug and play Canva template packs to customize for our business Monthly Q&A with me (Molly!) Accountability! Three social school “students” with win cash prizes of $222 for sticking with it!   Business School is for women in years two through seven of their business and are ready to scale from startup to sustainable. What you get: Guest “professor” with a focus topic each month Two guest experts (“adjunct professors”) throughout the month with a special focus. Hear from HR professionals to start hiring, attorneys to answer legal questions, and more Bonus 1-on-1 coaching with Molly

Listeners, I ALMOST called this a vulnerable episode. I’m talking mental health with Dr. Lauren Welter. But, as we say SO much in this episode, and I truly believe, mental health help is totally normal.    So, scratch that! We’re not going to feel vulnerable talking mental wellness. We’re going to feel empowered, and super lucky to have Lauren here in rural Iowa giving great support.   Even if life is going well, it’s so great to have professionals like Lauren in our corner. Then when life gets rough… as we know it does… we already know where to turn to get back on track. So many great takeaways from this conversation. Key takeaways: Dr. Lauren Welter started in finance and lived in New York, working on Wall Street, before her “quarter life crisis” brought her back to Iowa City, Iowa, to study psychology. She met her husband, a sixth generation farmer, at the Great Jones County Fair in Monticello, Iowa. She opened her practice, Prairie Home Wellness, there in 2018.  Lauren wondered if there was a need for a mental wellness practice in such a rural area but quickly learned: YES! She talks about the stigma mental health gets and barriers that rural folks face to finding healthcare. We chat about how rural women carry A LOT, but have been especially burdened these last couple of years. I share my own experience with therapy and the value I’ve found. How do you know when it’s time to seek professional help? Get help ASAP from 911, our Iowa Crisis Hotline, or the National Suicide Hotline if you have thoughts of harming yourself. Often though the signs are more subtle. Depression doesn’t mean you’re totally sad all of the time, but it can mean you just kind of feel… nothing. Not really sad, but also not really happy. Losing interest in things you used to like. Feeling like life is just too much and you can’t keep up. Feeling like you’re treading water, or even worse, going under. Please, please, reach out.  Connect with Dr. Lauren Welter  Follow Prairie Home Wellness on Facebook or visit their website. Podcast Sponsor: School is in session! Be the first to know about our spring program offers by signing up at https://bit.ly/mkmspring    Depending on where you are in your small business journey, we have options to meet you where you are and help you grow your woman-owned business this spring.   Social School April’s focus is on story telling on Facebook and Instagram! What you get: Marketing assistance and education Short daily, easily digestable trainings  100 story starters to plug and play Canva template packs to customize for our business Monthly Q&A with me (Molly!) Accountability! Three social school “students” with win cash prizes of $222 for sticking with it!   Business School is for women in years two through seven of their business and are ready to scale from startup to sustainable. What you get: Guest “professor” with a focus topic each month Two guest experts (“adjunct professors”) throughout the month with a special focus. Hear from HR professionals to start hiring, attorneys to answer legal questions, and more Bonus 1-on-1 coaching with Molly Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about Social or Business School visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Today’s episode has someone pretty personal on the podcast- I’m joined this week by my spirited, brave, and courageous daughter, Charlotte.  We’re four years out from the August our world turned upside down when an overreaction from a cold virus caused Charlotte’s immune system to attack her spinal cord. As she should have been starting kindergarten and being a flower girl in her aunt’s wedding, Charlotte spent two months at the Stead Family Children’s hospital in Iowa City and then in rehab for paralysis she suffered from Acute Flaccid Myelitis.   This was the early years of MKM when all of my effort and energy was going into growing a business. Seriously- I brought a tote of client work with to the hospital before we realized how fast Charlotte’s condition was deteriorating. The lesson to slow down and prioritize family slammed into me, but it grounded me in a way I’m grateful for now. I appreciated my small town more then ever as they rallied around Charlotte and our family. I became more devoted than ever to small town small businesses.   Listeners, this one is a roller coaster. At the time I couldn’t believe I stopped to take pictures and journal, but I am so grateful now because without them this time in our lives wouldn’t even seem real. Charlotte’s journey is filled with blessings and magic that I still struggle to comprehend and explain.    Listen along and you’ll see why people telling Charlotte she is just like her mama is the best. compliment. ever.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PIBDXrgFlQ& https://youtu.be/-PIBDXrgFlQ Key takeaways On August 11, 2018, we took Charlotte to our regional hospital for her to be rushed to the Stead Family Children’s Hospital.  We didn’t know what was wrong! Charlotte’s journey was filled with strange and magic coincidences and one was someone back home catching a Good Morning America segment that mentioned Acute Flaccid Myelitis. Yes, “The Wave” at the University of Iowa Hawkeye Football games is exactly as amazing as it looks. Our family experienced it three times in our stay. Charlotte was sedated for 17 days and stayed in acute inpatient rehab for three weeks. Our family wasn’t under the same roof for two months! Charlotte continues to attend therapies and is still making improvements. She is such a trooper and we are so proud of her courage and strength! Charlotte shares her memories of her experience, her favorite people, and the therapies she loves. Charlotte is so proud of the painting she helped “Mr. Gary” make and that raised $10,000 at a gala to improve the therapy center Charlotte attends.  ( Much more than the $50 Charlotte estimated paintings to be worth!) The couple who purchased the painting generously gave it to our family and it is such a treasure.  Charlotte is sometimes sad that she can’t hold planks or do mountain climbers like the other kids, but says that most kids don’t notice “righty” and her struggles. She loves art and has taught herself to work with her left hand. Seriously. What a great kid. We would never wish this journey on another family but are so grateful for the love and strength it has brought our family. Podcast Sponsor: MKM Spring Programs Be the first to know about our spring program offers by signing up at https://bit.ly/mkmspring    Depending on where you are in your small business journey, we have options to meet you where you are and help you grow your woman-owned business this spring.   Option 1: Social School *For the business owner who is just starting out, looking for marketing accountability, or to uplevel their marketing skills. What you get: Tips and tricks for using social media to advertise your small business Monthly topic of focus Workbooks Content Calendars Q&A Sessions Templates and more   Option 2: Business School *For the business owner in years 2-7, looking for community and support as they grow from start-up business to stabilizing and scaling. What you get: For the 2-7 year business owner looking for that “something” Bring in monthly experts in various areas like “working in your purpose,” “productivity tools,” “organizing your business,” “hiring,” and more A place for you to find inspiration, answers, and community as you grow your small-town small business Follow for More (Obviously no social media handles for today’s guest!) Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

You will be SO inspired by today’s guest my friends.   Today I sit down with my friend, Callie Mescher FitzGerald, a licensed music therapist and founder of Centrally Rooted in Dubuque, Iowa.   A native of Cascade, Iowa, Callie holds degrees in Music Education, Vocal Performance, and is certified as a Neurologic Music Therapist. She has been passionate about the development of children her entire life and is eager to share her knowledge and joy of music with children and families. Her approach is informed, but informal, and she enjoys wearing her 'therapist hat' to see the developmental milestones expand in little ones.    In the midst of personal transformation after losing her partner to mental illness, Callie decided to bring her music back to her hometown to lead children in vocal and instrumental lessons beginning in 2018. In a mere two years, Callie went from a handful of students to now a full roster with a waiting list. And in 2021, Callie and her new husband purchased a building in a historically underserved neighborhood in Dubuque, Iowa, to create Centrally Rooted. Centrally Rooted provides a safe space for creative and self-expression for kids and families of all ages, abilities, and income levels.   You will LOVE this episode. Tune in for a few key takeaways, and then go give Callie and Centrally Rooted a follow!   Key Takeaways Callie’s vision is to create a center for developing and supporting positive mental health via self-expression. Right now, the offerings include a lot of music, but Callie’s goal is to bring in yoga, play therapists, art therapists, and more to help people focus on their overall well-being in a variety of creative ways. As a girl, Callie did NOT love music. She says her parents forced her to begrudingly attend weekly music lessons, but it wasn’t until joining the theater club and performing on stage in high school that she considered music as a career. In her undergrad, Callie studied musical performance and music education. But she also found that she loved the study of psychology and understanding how the human brain worked. She then decided to pursue a music therapy degree after finding the neurologic, research-based effects of music on the brain. “Music has a way of sneaking into each different area of the brain, and so there’s really no limit for what can be reached. New pathways can be merged in the brain via music-making.” “It’s amazing what music can do in the brain.” Callie has worked with stroke victims, autistic children, spinal cord damage, and has helped them recover in fun, effective ways. “The work is hidden; it just looks like play.” Callie “hides” the therapy into fun and play to intrinsically motivate her patients and get them to push past some of their perceived limitations. Mindful Musicians is the combination of Callie’s personal mission, professional training, and societal need to have constructive conversations about mental health. Presented through music and play to children and their caregivers, Mindful Musicians teaches kids positive self-talk, accepting others, confidence-building, coping skills, emotional expression, and more. With music competence in children’s formative years comes verbal development, coordination, and Callie says, “It’s about setting them up for the most success they can have.” Callie’s big goal is to turn Mindful Musicians into a curriculum and make it available to families, schools, and organizations, to positively impact kids in their care. “I was letting the constraints of the world we live in limit my dreaming capability.” “All we can choose is how we react to it,” Callie shares that pain and suffering is inevitable in life, but through reflection and growth beautiful things can become of it. And so, so much more in today’s episode!    Follow Callie and Centrally Rooted Keep up on all the happenings at Centrally Rooted on Facebook @centrallyrooted or head to www.centrallyrooted.com to sign up for their programs or contribute to the scholarship fund.   MKM Spring Programming Growing your business is hard...trust me, I know. But you don’t have to go it alone.   So this spring, I'm offering two group programs to support you as you run your small-town small business:   1. MKM Social School: Our 12 week education program to help you learn the platforms, systems, and structures to market your business online 2. MKM Business School: A mastermind for business owners looking for growth beyond social media. A place where we will bring in niched-down experts in areas like messaging, business finance, productivity, etc. and where we can ask other questions as we grow through the "teen years" of our businesses.   More info will be released in the weeks to come, but you can hop on the email waitlist now so you're the first to get details: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ab3a1e0eda1a0d870aba5

I am so excited to start not only the first day of a new month with you, but to kick of Women’s History Month!   If you’ve been here for any length of time, you know that I love to celebrate kickass women, and this month at Small-Minded and Molly Knuth Media, we are sharing some women who are doing great things in 2022. This is the first in a series of episodes and blog entries sharing the stories of women I know who are growing businesses, volunteering in their communities, raising families, maintaining households, and generally just keeping the world turning through the work they do and the love that they share.   I’ve always loved commemorating this month in particular to look back at all the progress we’ve made, celebrate our accomplishments, and plan for the work yet to do. And today we kick it off with a look at the current state of women in business, in the workplace, in the home, and how we can best support their efforts.

Hey listeners, today is February 22, 2022. If you followed me for any length of time, you know that I’m a tad bit superstitious and repeating numbers are often referred to as angel numbers! So what better time than Tuesday, 2-22-22, to get a little woo-woo here at Small Minded!

Welcome, welcome, welcome, Alix Ambriz to the podcast! Alix and I got to know each other in 2021 when she enrolled in the first iteration of MKM Social School, and over the past few months I’ve gotten to know her and her business a little better. She joined us in December as part of a panel interview here on Small-Minded, but today I’m so excited to have her with us for a full episode in today’s podcast!   Alix and her husband live in McCook, Nebraska, where together they raise two boys. In addition, Alix has a 9-5 job where she works as the development team lead for a learning design company and most recently, their family purchased Sehnert’s Bakery & Bieroc Cafe, a 500-year-old business, in McCook.    Take a listen as Alix shares her story and what she and her husband have learned in taking over this historic brand and their new endeavor as business owners!      

Hey listeners, in honor of the Valentine’s Day holiday, I asked on Instagram for your submissions of small town love stories.    Now, I know what you’re thinking…stories of making out under the high school football field bleachers, or prom king and queen, etc. etc.   Nope! Not today!   For these small town love stories, I just asked to hear what YOU loved about YOUR TOWN. It could be the flower planters that line main street in the summer. Or maybe the way your community rallies when others need help to host fundraisers and meal trains. Or maybe it’s the just those wistful, Americana summer memories of riding your bike to the library.    Those are the stories we’re here for today.   I’m going to do my best to share all of your responses because you SHOWED UP with your submissions, listeners! Get ready to smile and get the warm fuzzies because these small town love stories are special.  

Is all growth in business good? Is increased revenue, sales, and client roster, all it’s cracked up to be? Today we’re talking how periods of major growth brings really great things, but they also bring up questions and challenges that will test you as the CEO.   Listeners, I’m laying it all out in this week’s episode.   As Molly Knuth Media transitions to the “teenage years” and we test limits and forge our own path, I want to talk about the harder side of growing a business - staying true to your goals amidst opportunity and growth.

Welcome listeners to a special episode today with guest, Arica Ohloff. Arica is a strengths coach who hones in on what makes people special and brings out others’ greatness. When it comes down to value, Arica truly believes every single person has potential.   Get out your notebooks, pen, and get ready because this is a good one friends!   Key Takeaways:   Instead of making someone more well-rounded, Arica focuses on making people more star shaped. “We are raised in society to focus on what we don’t do well. Let’s start putting people in roles where they are dominate.” “As parents when we can see what sets our kids apart from their classmates, tell them. What do your kids learn really rapidly? What do they have a natural earning towards?” Arica shares her thoughts on looking within and “being individually sharp.” Leaning into a team approach versus a “I can do everything” approach allows you and your business to go further than imagined and grow exponentially. Check out “The E Myth” book, a free trial of the book is available on Blinkist. E Myth covers the three components of entrepreneurship: Technician Manager Visionary Arica’s favorite quote to remind others of how we’re wired so differently comes from Joseph Campbell, “Kindness is loaning someone else your strengths without reminding them of their weakness.” Arica helps guide people to figure out more about themselves through a developmental tool called, Gallup’s CliftonStrengths Assessment. “We are never done growing.” We all have to do the hard work of understanding ourselves and those around us. “We’re never going to eliminate all working frustrations.” Arica talks about understanding that there is no one that thinks or behaves like you do, get rid of the “gavels” we all have different things we can bring. “When we show up authentically, we earn trust.” What’s your secret sauce or superpower?   Get more from Arica Arica offers complimentary calls to discover if she is the right fit for you and your business. Give her a follow over on Instagram and Facebook and head to her website to get in contact!  

Hey friends, I’m happy to be sitting here with you again today. Just last week you got to hear from Jade Boyd and next week I have another exciting guest interview with strength coach, Arica Ohloff.    I thought this was a great time to bring up the topic of needing a coach. As a small business owner there are lot a different ways we can spend our money. Today, I want to talk about the different options available to you as a small business owner when it comes to business coaching.    Key Takeaways:  Check out “Episode 55: Investing in Your Business” if you’re looking for an episode where I break down a little further the variety of areas you can invest in your business.  Similar to a sports coach, a business coach is someone who is a leader that offers stability and helps you find direction and orient to the place you want to go.  I have found that a business coach helps me get where I wants to go in my business faster, more efficiently, and in the end, help save time and money.  How do you know which kind of coach to pursue? I’ve worked with different coaches over the years for different reasons. Try to get a birds eye view of your business. Learn where feel uncomfortable or think about something you’re looking to accomplish. There are few formats when it comes to coaching, in order from the lowest to highest investment these would be a digital product, then a workshop, group coaching program, a Mastermind, an Intensive, and lastly one-on-one ongoing coaching.  How do you know someone is a good coach for you? Really trust your gut, get referrals, and ask yourself, is it someone you aspire to be?    Janey Stahl Commercial    If you're a business owner, then right now you’re probably reviewing 2021’s performance as you prep and plan for 2022, am I right?    For me at MKM, that looks like updating pricing, updating contracts, prepping for taxes, assessing profit/loss, etc. as I make a game plan for structure and services in 2022.   But I didn’t start out in my first year (or the first 4!) knowing how to do this. Do you?   Do you know which areas of your business you need to focus on building next year? Do you know which steps to take to make those improvements?    As you know, revenue does NOT equal profit or take home pay in your business. So how do we grow more than just the gross revenue and actually make some money in 2022?   Thankfully, my friend Janey Stahl is a fractional CFO and she is an expert in just this type of thing.   She helps business owners see that sustainable profitability requires high performance in all areas of their business. And with her expertise, she guides them through the process of analyzing profit, offers, services, products, and time spend so that business owners can work smarter in the exact areas that will keep their business working profitably for years to come.   Right now, Janey is offering a free assessment to help you determine which area of your business could be improved in ’22 and it’s FREE! In this guide she walks through creating your unique business plan for next year and identify specific steps you should take to strengthen your business’ foundation!    Go to janeystahl.com/smallminded to download the free assessment today!   That’s janeystahl.com/smallminded for more clarity, less confusion, and confidence knowing you are doing the right things to grow your business in the year ahead.   Psst: If you’d like to hear more from Janey, head to episode 54 of the Small-Minded Podcast for her inspiring story of entrepreneurship and financial tips for business owners of any size.    MKM Content Calendar Commercial    Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Listeners help me welcome Jade Boyd to the Small-Minded podcast!    Jade is a brand photographer and business coach located in Iowa City, Iowa. Jade loves filling her time running her business and doing home renovation projects with her husband….ok, “love” might be a stretch on the home reno, but I know I love following along!   I can attest Jade is a great brand photographer as I’ve been lucky enough to have her do my brand photos this past year. Jade is so talented with her photography, she can help tell a story through a photo, but she also takes it to the next leveto help her clients create content with their images and connect with their ideal customers.    In 2022, Jade’s business is making a small pivot as she helps clients streamline and organize their business operations to get more efficient and save time and money. Through 1:1 services, a template for her favorite organizing software, and a brand-new PODCAST launching at the end of the month, Jade Boyd Co is doing big things for business owners in the new year, and I’m so excited to dive into Jade’s story and her plans with you today!   Get more from Jade Boyd Co Follow along with Jade for her upcoming brand photography session offers, her new services and podcast drop, and of course, for home reno projects! Give her a follow over on Instagram and head to her website to grab her FREE How to Batch Plan a Productive Work Week Guide or The Organize your Business Template.   Chilled Freezer Meals    Guys…we need to talk about something personal…your dinner.   My friend Lindsy at Chilled Freezer meals helps make dinner simple and convenient while using whole ingredients that you can feel good about putting on the table.    Visit chilledfreezermeals.com/pages/smallminded to see what Lindsy and her team have in store for you. AND to sweeten the deal, first time customers can get 10% off their order by using promo code SMALLMINDED.   Again that’s chilledfreezermeals.com/pages/smallminded AND first time customers can get 10% off their order by using promo code SMALLMINDED.   Psst: if you’d like to hear a little more about Lindsy’s story and how she’s grown her Chilled business, head to Episode 56 of the podcast!   Janey Stahl Coaching  If you're a business owner, then right now you’re probably reviewing 2021’s performance as you prep and plan for 2022, am I right?    For me at MKM, that looks like updating pricing, updating contracts, prepping for taxes, assessing profit/loss, etc. as I make a game plan for structure and services in 2022.   But I didn’t start out in my first year (or the first 4!) knowing how to do this. Do you?   Do you know which areas of your business you need to focus on building next year? Do you know which steps to take to make those improvements?    As you know, revenue does NOT equal profit or take home pay in your business. So how do we grow more than just the gross revenue and actually make some money in 2022?   Thankfully, my friend Janey Stahl is a fractional CFO and she is an expert in just this type of thing.   She helps business owners see that sustainable profitability requires high performance in all areas of their business. And with her expertise, she guides them through the process of analyzing profit, offers, services, products, and time spend so that business owners can work smarter in the exact areas that will keep their business working profitably for years to come.   Right now, Janey is offering a free assessment to help you determine which area of your business could be improved in ’22 and it’s FREE! In this guide she walks through creating your unique business plan for next year and identify specific steps you should take to strengthen your business’ foundation!    Go to janeystahl.com/smallminded to download the free assessment today!   Psst: If you’d like to hear more from Janey, head to episode 54 of the Small-Minded Podcast for her inspiring story of entrepreneurship and financial tips for business owners of any size. 

Can you believe it? We are in our very first episode of the New Year! How did we go through 50 episodes in the last year and how are we already in 2022?    As we begin this new year, I know there are a lot of you who have set resolutions. At the beginning of every year, I set goals and this year I want to touch on things we maybe don’t have goals set for. I’m talking social media and digital usage.    Social media is an extension of what we do and not everything with social media is BAD. Think about it…at our finger tips we have ways to research, connect with people halfway around the world, and during a pandemic we are able to continue distance learning and growing our businesses.    What I purpose we do with our time on the podcast today is not dwell on the negative of social media, instead focus on seven steps to make social media better.    Some of these are just reflections and some require you to take small actions, but they are all small ways to remind ourselves social media comes back to the people it connects us to.    Vision: how do you feel about social right now? Body? Mind? Why do you feel that way? Negative feelings Positive feelings - how have you made positive connections? Intentional Interactions What’s a gratitude? What energy do you bring to your social spaces? Lurker? Encourager? Prayer? What are you going to do?   Chilled Commercial    Guys…we need to talk about something personal…your dinner.   My friend Lindsy at Chilled Freezer meals helps make dinner simple and convenient while using whole ingredients that you can feel good about putting on the table.    Visit chilledfreezermeals.com/pages/smallminded to see what Lindsy and her team have in store for you. AND to sweeten the deal, first time customers can get 10% off their order by using promo code SMALLMINDED.   Again that’s chilledfreezermeals.com/pages/smallminded AND first time customers can get 10% off their order by using promo code SMALLMINDED.   Psst: if you’d like to hear a little more about Lindsy’s story and how she’s grown her Chilled business, head to Episode 56 of the podcast!   SIS Commercial    To learn more about the sisterhood and to try it absolutely free for 7 days, head to sweatinspiresisterhood.com/smallminded.   That’s sweatinspiresisterhood.com/smallminded for 7 days of workouts, healthy recipes, encouragement, motivation, friendship, and fitness, at absolutely no cost to you.   Sweatinspiresisterhood.com/smallminded   Psst: if you’d like to hear a little more about Coach Erika’s story and how she’s grown the Sisterhood, head to Episode 27 of the podcast! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

“I know, let’s do a 2022 planning and projecting episode, that would be unique and fun” said every business podcast host ever!   Ha!   Today I don’t want to do what every other host is doing: sharing success, giving tips, vibing you up. I’m going to share where I sucked throughout ’21.   Yep, the bad, the bruised, the ugly, and the things I’m ashamed to admit.   For an enneagram 3 like me, this is a bit of a struggle, but I’m going to lean in to the discomfort to show you that no Instagrammable business is perfect. Every business owner is working through some things behind the scenes. And today I’m sharing all the ways I messed up in 2021 and how I’m course-correcting for 2022.   Business as a whole Head down action - not as much learning this year Communications with my team - Asana, quarterly meetings, weekly emails - 2022 incorporate trainings for specific MKM methods Waiting too long to bring on a dedicated MKM employee - know the difference between IC and W2 and you’ll know when that shift needs to happen - already full again ha! Overcommitting - I still do this - changing habits Too often I said “I’m just not good with money” - avoid it - worked with Bo & Sheila Hansen - working through the discomfort of being someone who regularly checks financials Made it hard and stressful - trying a money mindset shift, following more investing/finance on IG, working with professionals, building habits Finances Not enough friend time Friendships I worked too much - let my schedule take over. I love work, so I find myself wanting to do that because it lights me up and I’m good at it Get stressed a lot at home - my attitude dictates my kids’ attitude Family therapy Talking about my feelings instead of avoiding them Learning more Accountability buddies Physical fitness Personal Development

Listeners, I’m so excited to have you here. It’s the week of Christmas and I know you are probably running around but I’m grateful you’re listening and being a part of Small-Minded this week.    Today’s episode is action oriented as I give specific and clear instructions on how to boost your engagement with minimal effort and minimal time.    So how do you do this? First, I would open a Google Doc, Dropbox Paper, or a notebook to jot these down as you go. Facebook Platform: Facebook creator studio or business suite Posts & Stories tab Scroll through and find your top 1-5 posts with the highest reach Option 2 for Facebook Platform:  Insights tab - content Change date range to “this year” Click “ads and posts” - uncheck ads Select Facebook or Instagram Click on reach, likes & reactions, comments, shares, saves to see which posts rise to the top Instagram from your phone:  Go to your account Hit the hamburger menu Select insights from the pop up menu Click “content you shared” Be sure that date range is set to “last year” Adjust for the metric you wish to measure   On December 26, create and schedule a post that says how much you love to reflect at this time of year and look back on what resonated most with your followers in the past 12 months, like a VH1 annual countdown - I lived for those.   From 12/27-12/31 copy and paste and schedule your most reached post.  Copy and paste and schedule your most commented Most shared Most viewed Most clicked   Best part: it’s done AND it’s already proven to be highly engaging content   MKM SOCIAL SCHOOL IS OPEN COMMERCIAL   Feeling happy, free, confused, and lonely all at the same time? Sometimes business ownership can be miserable and magical, yeah?  Especially at this time of year!  But don't worry business owner, everything will be all right if you keep me next to you! I'm Molly, and I've helped small-town small businesses strategically market their businesses on social media for over 5 years. We approach marketing in the small town way: so that it's more authentic, less sales-y, and more effective. And next year from January-March, I'm sharing my best marketing strategies with YOU! I don't know about you, but I'm feeling '22! Starting in January, we are going to dive into your 2022 business goals and outline your marketing strategy in your social media, website, and email marketing so you don't have any more blank spaces in your marketing calendar and you can grow the business of your wildest dreams.  You know all too well what it feels like to try to market your products and services on the fly. With this 12-week program, you'll know when and how to talk about your 2022 offers and feel confident that your marketing efforts are working for you. ...are you ready for it?   Training Topics January: Social Marketing 101 (overview of socials - pick your poison) February: Website Best Practices March: Email Marketing Best Practices Who is this for? Small town small business owners Business owners who want to know not only what to say but how to say it Business owners who want to bring all their marketing channels together so they work together to tell your story and authentically connect with your audience & community Want to network with other small business owners Work well in an online format   Get all the details on signing up at mollyknuthmedia.com/shop!   Janey Stahl Coaching   Its year end and you're probably reviewing 2021s performance as you  prep and plan for next year, right?    For me at MKM, that looks like updating pricing, updating contracts, prepping for taxes, assessing profit/loss, etc. as I make a game plan for structure and services in 2022.   But I didn’t start out in the first year (or the first 4!) knowing how to do this. Do you?   Do you know which areas of your business you need to focus on building next year? Do you know which steps to take to make those improvements?    As you know, revenue does NOT equal profit or take home pay in your business. So how do we grow more than just the gross revenue and actually make some money in 2022?   Thankfully, my friend Janey Stahl is a fractional CFO and she is an expert in just this type of thing.   She helps business owners see that sustainable profitability requires high performance in all areas of their business. And with her expertise, she guides them through the process of analyzing profit, offers, services, products, and time spend so that business owners can work smarter in the exact areas that will keep their business working profitably for years to come.   Right now, Janey is offering a free assessment to help you determine which area of your business could be improved in ’22 and it’s FREE! In this guide she walks through creating your unique business plan for next year and identify specific steps you should take to strengthen your business’ foundation!    Go to janeystahl.com/smallminded to download the free assessment today! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

Hey listener! Thanks for tuning in. Today we’re digging into Molly Knuth Media Social School. In the last year, we’ve added this twelve week program to help small business owners stay accountable and assist with their marketing goals.   Today, students from our social school are sharing their highlights. I’m certain you’ll be inspired and be able to connect as they share their experience of being a small town business owner. Take a listen as they share triumphs and downfalls of social media marketing.    MKM SOCIAL SCHOOL WAITLIST COMMERCIAL   What are your goals for 2022 in your business? Do they include increasing sales? Improving customer service? Starting an email list? Launching that new idea? FINALLY understanding social media algorithms???   My friends, you are NOT alone!   MKM’s signature marketing education program for small town small businesses is relaunching in January 2022 to help you reach your goals next year.   We’ll work together for 12 weeks to better understand marketing for your business, HOW to market your services and products across a variety of digital platforms, and give you the tools and resources to help make this process more efficient.   If you’d like to be the first to know our Winter MKM Social School details, be sure to get on the waitlist at tinyurl.com/mkmsocialschool   SIS COMMERCIAL   If you want to experience the Sweat Inspire Sisterhood community this season, head to sweatinspiresisterhood.com/smallminded to get started with her 7-day free trial and get an all-access pass to her sisterhood membership for FREE!   You’ll also get added to her email list with exclusive freebies each week AND information about her upcoming Drop 10 program that helps you lose 10 pounds or 10 inches in just 12 weeks…trust me, it works and the next round starts January 3.   That’s sweatinspiresisterhood.com/smallminded for 7 days of workouts, healthy recipes, encouragement, motivation, friendship, and fitness, at absolutely no cost to you.   Sweatinspiresisterhood.com/smallminded

IT’S MAILBAG TIME! Fresh this week is an episode answering all of your questions!   On Instagram, followers submitted the musings on their hearts and minds, and we dive into each with short segments in Episode 66 of Small-Minded.   If you’d like Molly to answer one of your burning questions about small towns or small business, send us a message on one of the social platforms linked below! We may just use it in a future mailbag episode! Hot mentions in the episode: How to grow a local following on Instagram? 1. Include your location tag in stories and include your store front address in your bio. 2. Use hashtags that involve your location. 3. Plan out stories where you can include other locations and businesses that people will recognize.  Is there a way to avoid fake accounts being created on Instagram? There is no way to prevent this, but you can educate your followers on what is happening. As you educate your audience, word will spread and these hacker accounts will dwindle.  What do you notice about reach and engagement dropping? Ever since the Facebook outage in October, the recording of the metrics on both Facebook and Instagram have been glitchy. There are a lot of inconsistancies, just be a critical thinker. If you’re noticing dwindling in accounts, think to yourself, would you “like or share” this post if you were scrolling? Do you need a fresh perspective? Also, think if ads could benefit what you’re trying to accomplish.  What are your best morning and evening routines? I used to have a very strict routine, but in this season, I’m approaching things with more flexibility.  Ways to get people in small towns excited for change and growth? If you want change to happen you need to get buy-in from community members.  If you apply for a grant, can you keep applying? When you’re looking to apply for grants I would recommend going to your city administrator and also work with organizations in the community next to you.  How do I hire a VA? If you’re ready to outsource a variety of tasks, it might be time to get a VA. There are VAs that specialize in different things. Bringing in a virtual assistant can help you get more done in less hours and also get a fresh perspective.  MKM actually has VA offerings, reach out for more information!   CHILLED COMMERCIAL   Visit chilledfreezermeals.com/pages/smallminded to see what Lindsy and her team have in store for you. AND to sweeten the deal, first time customers can get 10% off their order by using promo code SMALLMINDED.   Again that’s chilledfreezermeals.com/pages/smallminded AND first time customers can get 10% off their order by using promo code SMALLMINDED.   Psst: if you’d like to hear a little more about Lindsy’s story and how she’s grown her Chilled business, head to Episode 56 of the podcast!   MKM SOCIAL SCHOOL WAITLIST COMMERCIAL   What are your goals for 2022 in your business? Do they include increasing sales? Improving customer service? Starting an email list? Launching that new idea? FINALLY understanding social media algorithms???   My friends, you are NOT alone!   MKM’s signature marketing education program for small town small businesses is relaunching in January 2022 to help you reach your goals next year.   We’ll work together for 12 weeks to better understand marketing for your business, HOW to market your services and products across a variety of digital platforms, and give you the tools and resources to help make this process more efficient.   If you’d like to be the first to know our Winter MKM Social School details, be sure to get on the waitlist at tinyurl.com/mkmsocialschool Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Today’s guests are super exciting, my friends. You read that right, not just one but TWO guests are joing us on the podcast this week! You will hear and feel the energy they bring throughout this episode.   This week we welcome Lindsay Leahy and Brooke Fitzgerald, two of the powerhouses behind The Restoration Project in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At The Restoration Project, their team works with small business owners and corporate entities to help bring meaning back to the work they do.    Lindsay, Brooke, and their team, help build dreams and energy, create calm or structure, and help businesses dig deep into what they really stand for beyond just the tasks they complete in the day-to-day. Through their coaching and leadership services, The Restoration Project’s clients can get clear on their vision for the future and take specific, targeted, conscious actions to get their teams to the big goal.   Trust me, you won’t want to sleep on this episode. I couldn’t even note all the insightful quotes they dropped, and I know you’ll be lit up and inspired after hearing their perspectives on work and life.    Enjoy this chat with my friends Lindsay and Brooke of The Restoration Project!   Follow The Restoration Project and Their Team Learn more about the members of The Restoration Project team and their upcoming leadership and personal development opportunities get on their email list at the-restorationproject.com. Or follow them on Facebook and Instagram for all their amazing, uplifting content and meaningful lessons.   Visit Our Sponsors Sweat Inspire Sisterhood As a business owner and mom, I’ve learned that I need time for myself each day that is set aside for me to just focus and be. No client requests or emails, no “mooooooommmm I need haaaallllpppp”s, and nothing to respond to in-the-moment.   For some me time might look like a bubble bath or reading a book or chilling with your favorite series on Netflix, but for me and about 600 other women, it looks like Sweat Inspire Sisterhood, an online fitness membership and community of women that allows me to get stronger and healthier from the comfort of my own home.   Every day you’ll find me in my basement either before the kids wake up or after they’re in bed, so I can have 30-40 minutes of dedicated time to work on myself. Sometimes that looks like strength training with my dumbbells, other times it looks like a 40-minute HIIT workout where I burn 400+ calories, or even yoga or Zumba.    In addition to the daily live workouts and library of prerecorded options, Coach Erika at SIS also puts together weekly meal plans, grocery lists, and recipes, to help me keep my nutrition in line with my goals.   To learn more about the sisterhood and to try it absolutely free for 7 days, head to sweatinspiresisterhood.com/smallminded.   Chilled Freezer Meals My friend Lindsy at Chilled Freezer meals helps make dinner simple and convenient while using whole ingredients that you can feel good about putting on the table.    Chilled offers fully frozen meals for local pick up and home delivery to communities throughout Eastern Iowa, AND she also ships meal bundles nationwide. They have convenient options for conventional meals including quick prep ideas for the crockpot or Instant Pot, as well as choices for those following a gluten friendly or keto lifestyle.    With budget friendly options in sizes from single serve to portions for large families, they’ve got something to fit your budget and needs…even for those picky palattes like you find at my house :) We love the breakfast burritos - make mornings a dream - and her single-serve meal bundles that are perfectly portioned for those work from home lunches or days when the kids are off school.   Visit chilledfreezermeals.com/pages/smallminded to see what Lindsy and her team have in store for you. AND to sweeten the deal, first time customers can get 10% off their order by using promo code SMALLMINDED.

How do you know it’s time to start something new in your business? Or…how do you know when to start?    Typically, for me it’s when I get this feeling of discomfort. I get so uncomfortable, I can’t stay in the same place.    Pause and reflect. Where are you feeling discomfort right now? What are some skills unique to you that can help you address this problem and how can you take that to others to help them address this problem in their lives as well? This might me in your personal life, business, or community. Think about how you can make this better with action steps.   The process of getting into the nitty gritty can take a long time, or it can be rushed through. When you are smaller and newer you can be nimble, the bigger you get the more time you need to allow to follow the steps.    I would encourage you to make sure your idea is not just a good idea to yourself, a good resource for this is the book “Building a Story Brand” by Donald Miller. Reach out to others in your potential market. Don’t get too caught up in the details. I prefer to launch at 70 percent. Lastly, make sure you have a distinct time period where you are talking everyday about your particular product.    Sweat Inspire Sisterhood Commercial Sugar cookies, adult beverages, and potatoes…oh my!   In my 20s I thought the time between Thanksgiving and New Year were for two things: indulging on the weekends and then limiting caloric intake throughout the week. Then when I flipped into the New Year, I’d plan to lose all the weight I had gained and really get my life on track.   Not surprisingly…that didn’t work.   It was only when I learned about proper nutrition approach from my fitness coach Erika Hermsen that I was finally able to work WITH my body during the holiday season (and shocker: it doesn’t involve indulging OR restriction, just balance!) Her weekly grocery lists, meal plans, and delicious healthy recipes help me balance my macros (aka: carbs, proteins, and fats) so that I can stay on track with my goals while eating foods that don’t make me feel like I’m on a diet.   What I love about Erika’s programs is that the nutrition education and recipes also come with daily live workouts and access to her app with 1000+ prerecorded workouts. So whether you like lifting weights or running on the treadmill, 7-minute booty burners or 50-minute sweat sessions, you can find something you are interested in that fits YOUR schedule. AND you are surrounded in support by Erika, her team of coaches, and 600+ other women who are working alongside you and cheering you on to your goals.   If you want to experience the Sweat Inspire Sisterhood community this season, head to sweatinspiresisterhood.com/smallminded to get started with her 7-day free trial and get an all-access pass to her sisterhood membership for FREE!   You’ll also get added to her email list with exclusive freebies each week AND information about her upcoming Drop 10 program that helps you lose 10 pounds or 10 inches in just 12 weeks…trust me, it works and the next round starts January 3.   That’s sweatinspiresisterhood.com/smallminded for 7 days of workouts, healthy recipes, encouragement, motivation, friendship, and fitness, at absolutely no cost to you.   Sweatinspiresisterhood.com/smallminded   Psst: if you’d like to hear a little more about Coach Erika’s story and how she’s grown the Sisterhood, head to Episode 27 of the podcast! Chilled Commerical I don’t want a lot for Christmas…but if I could get a little help around the house or with holiday prep, that would be great!   Thankfully, my friend Lindsy at Chilled Freezer Meals has my back.   Not only does she make meal and snack time more convenient with her fully frozen meals for local pick up and home delivery to communities throughout Eastern Iowa. BUT she also ships meal bundles nationwide, and this holiday season she also offers gifting options for those on your holiday shopping list!   Check out the new Chilled Favorites Bundle packed with five of Chilled’s best-selling meals. The Favorites Bunlde includes her bbq cheddar meatloaves, mini lasagnas, breakfast burritos, tuscan chicken pasta, and parmesan meatball bake. Perfect for those who want to give the gift of time and ease this holiday season. Plus, you’ll be supporting the local, small businesses and farmers that Chilled sources from in their recipes.   Got a new mama on your list? Shop Chilled’s New Mama Meal Bundle with single-serve meals and soups, protein cubes, lactation granola, and new mom affirmation cards to make the transition into motherhood a little easier.   And for those hard-to-shop-for-folks on your list, Chilled also offers digital gift cards so they can choose their own meal delivery at a later date.   Listeners of the Small-Minded Podcast can visit chilledfreezermeals.com/pages/smallminded to shop these options and more during the holiday season. AND to sweeten the deal, first time customers can get 10% off their order by using promo code SMALLMINDED.   Again that’s chilledfreezermeals.com/pages/smallminded AND first time customers can get 10% off their order by using promo code SMALLMINDED.   Psst: if you’d like to hear a little more about Lindsy’s story and how she’s grown her Chilled business, head to Episode 56 of the podcast! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Welcome Kari Jo Kelso of Rosebud’s Tees to the podcast! Kari accidentally started her business six years ago after she graduated veterinary school. She was looking for a side hustle to help fund her air travel back home to visit family and while as she always loved drawing, she simply googled one day how to get one of her sketches on a t-shirt.    After taking baby steps for the past five years, 2021 was the year Kari Jo was able to officially go part-time and now use both her creative outlet with her t-shirts as well as her degree in veterinarian medicine.    Kari Jo is such an inspiration and I know you’re going to love the wisdom she drops during this episode!   Shop Rosebud’s Tees Show your small-town, rural love with apparel and products from Rosebuds Tees!  Follow Kari Jo on Instagram, Facebook, and visit her store Online! 

I cannot believe we are weeks away from the holiday happenings! I’m pretty excited to chat with you today to help you plan and prep your social for those dates like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.    If you’re not a business that plans to partake in these specific shopping days, no worries you can use these strategies throughout the year as well!   Key Takeaways Small-town businesses can still participate in these big holiday sales offers even if you’re a service based business. Think how you can offer something digitally or a bogo gift card! If you’re a product based business, the sky is the limit! Bogos, gift cards, discount codes, free merchandise and so much more! Think through all of the steps to make sure your team knows how to handle the holiday offer. With it only being a few weeks away, make sure you give yourself a realistic goal. When I have an idea and begin to put some of the pieces together, I begin advertising when I’m about 70% of the way there.  Start talking about it and rolling it out on social media to make people aware to follow your page for the details.  Post once if not twice on the day the sale is actually happening. This gives you maximum opportunity for sales.  Document your process so you can look back and see what did and do not work.  Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

Today, I’m SO honored to welcome Lillie Beringer to the podcast. Lillie is a third generation FarmHer from just outside of Cascade, Iowa. Being one of twenty-six grandchildren, Lillie is the only one who has taken over the family farm. At the age of twenty-five, Lillie purchased the family farm. She is primarily a beef farmer with row crops to feed her livestock. But, not only is Lillie a FarmHer, she is also a feed sales rep for her day job.    I am so excited to introduce Lillie to you all and have her share her passion for agriculture and business! Key Takeaways Under a tight timeline, Lillie was told she only had sixty days to buy the family farm. After being rejected three times, Lillie was not giving up until her loan was approved. Working with cow-calf owners in her day job, Lillie had great resources to figure out her budget and make a cow-calf operation work in order to make payments on the land.  The gap from farmers to consumers is growing further a part everyday, in response to this, Lillie began a social media page to share what she was doing from day to day.  After taking a course and finding a locker, Lillie was able to launch her beef business selling retail cuts to the public. She offers farm pick-up and ships to all fifty states.  “Small Businesses all around want to see you succeed and they want to help out,” Lillie remarks on the friendship, opportunities, and connections from surrounding small businesses.  “I have so much good that has come from my Facebook and Instagram.” One thing has led to another through social media and given Lillie collaborations and inspiration.  Connect with Lillie! Follow all that Lillie does in a day and check out her beef business by checking out Beringer Family Farms on Facebook, Instagram, and her website!   Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Welcome to this Halloween Week episode of the Small-Minded Podcast!    This week we’re going to chat about spooky social media blunders you may have encountered or could encounter in the future while marketing your small business online.    Take a listen to my spooky social stories with tips to combat the situation if it happens to you!   Spooky Social Story #1 - I know it has become more commonplace that when individuals are hired, social media is brought up. I think it’s valid to have a conversation with your new hires on your social media policies and what you prefer your employees do.  Spooky Social Story #2 - Negative reviews hurt, but if we have a space on social at least we can see those negative things and address the situation.  Spooky Social Story #3 - There are three steps I recommend to prevent your account from getting hacked.   Make sure your account is connected to an email address you use regularly.  Change your password quarterly.  Set-up two factor authentication.  Spooky Social Story #4 - Live videos can be hard. My rule of thumb is sleep on it and if you’re still uncomfortable with it the next morning, take it down. Typos and dead links happen, just go in and edit! Spooky Social Story #5 - We can’t control what people say but what you can control is your reaction to it and your own response. “If you wouldn’t say it face to face don’t say it on social media.”  Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

Today I’m sitting down with my friend, Melissa Nelson, creator of Hungry Canyon. Melissa manages it ALL and she does it ALL well. She manages being a mom, teacher, farm wife, business owner and so much more!   Melissa grew up in a Nebraska, yes she’s a Cornhusker, but don’t hold that against her! Melissa wears many hats as you’ll hear in today’s episode, but her entrepreneurial outlet, Hungry Canyon is something you have to check out! Hungry Canyon makes agriculturally accurate greeting cards and gifts.    Melissa is full of inspiration, Hungry Canyon cards are hilarious, and if you have any connection at all to agriculture, you have have to listen to this week’s episode!   Key Takeaways “When you grow up in ag, it’s just in your blood and becomes your lifestyle.” Melissa loved growing up on her family farm alongside her two sisters. It has instilled in her a work ethic passion for agriculture.   Agriculture in the Classroom is a national program and looks different all across the United States. The semester before graduating college, Melissa knew she wanted to work in agriculture. After sending an email of interest, Melissa was given the position and since it has become her legacy project.  “Sometimes your dream job can change.” While Melissa helps her students plan their seven month externship before graduation she constantly reminds them that thoughts and feelings about your dream job can change.  Hungry Canyon is the bright spot in many people’s week when they receive one of Melissa’s greeting cards.  “My business is so niched down, but I found those people and I’ve been able to grow.” Only 2% of the US is involved in agriculture but Melissa has found the people that connect with this and her creative outlet.  Shop Hungry Canyon Follow Hungry Canyon on Instagram and Facebook.  Shop on the Website.  Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Welcome friends to another episode of Small-Minded!   It’s no secret, I love small towns, small businesses, and small-town people. I’m excited to be here for another week to discuss TWO things, Facebook and small-town homecoming traditions.   Last Monday was a busy day and in the middle of a mastermind having wonderful conversation, some ladies started to notice Facebook was down. After going to downdector.com I quickly realized there was a massive global Facebook outage.    As a business owner, remember social media is just a part of your marketing. There are going to be days with glitches. We can not make physical or technical changes to the software, we are using what others have built for free. Remember, we cannot control that, we are borrowing the space.   I challenge you to think bigger. Where else can you market your business other than Facebook that also involves a physical component?    Now lets talk fun stuff, like small-town homecoming.    The painted windows, Friday pep rally, band blaring music, and parades, still give me chills about small-town homecoming celebrations.    Take a listen to Episode 59 of the Small-Minded Podcast for all my reminiscing of what makes small towns SO special. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

This is one of those episodes, friends.   An episode where not only do you want to listen once for understanding, but one that you might want to take a re-listen to and have a pen and paper handy for notes.   This week we’re digging into branding for your business.    I know, I know.   There are a million other experts who can speak to this topic in more informed ways than I can, but I think it’s important to know that even if you operate a small business in a small town, you have a brand. And your brand isn’t just encapsulated in a .jpg file that is your logo.   A brand is what you stand for.   A brand is the code of morals and ethics that you believe in through your products, purchases, decisions, and donations.   A brand is all the colors you use and how they make your followers feel.   A brand is a personality that potential customers and clients pick up on through your social media posts, print marketing, the way you write, and the photos you take.   It tells them who YOU are, and who they can BECOME if they work with you.   So how do you go from branding with a simple logo to having a whole brand strategy?   Take a listen to Episode 58 of the Small-Minded Podcast for all my best tips that you can implement today! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook