REGISTER NOW: Uncomfortable Conversations: The Skills Crisis

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Fixing the Gap Between the Degree and the Job

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Kim Bode holds up her feature in Focus Magazine. She's superimposed over the first Uncomfortable Conversations event.

Join the 8THIRTYFOUR Skills Survival Cohort | September 2026 | 90 Day Program

Every single thing an employee does or does not do has a direct impact on your company’s growth; when they cannot communicate, solve problems independently, or navigate basic workplace dynamics, it costs you a whole bunch of money.

This isn’t about degrees or technical certifications; it’s about people who cannot communicate, solve problems independently, or navigate basic workplace dynamics, and it is costing us a lot of money. In a small business environment, every single thing an employee does or does not do has a direct impact on operations, and when these skills are missing, we become the default solution for everything. Instead of focusing on growth, strategy, and actually running the company, we end up mired in details and problems employees should be able to work through on their own.

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Introducing our second speaker for Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause, happening this Thursday.

Meet Cheryl Bergman, Executive Director of the @miwomenscomm.

Cheryl is a statewide policy leader driving economic opportunity and better health outcomes for women across Michigan. Appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2019, she brings together employers, healthcare experts, advocates, and policymakers to tackle the issues that actually move the needle - economic security, affordable childcare, and midlife women`s health.

Before this role, Cheryl helped elect Michigan`s first woman U.S. Senator and first woman Governor, and served as Senior Advisor on Governor Whitmer`s 2018 campaign.

She`s exactly the voice this conversation needs.

Join Cheryl and our powerhouse lineup of industry experts at The Pause on September 24th.

Link in bio to register - spaces are going fast.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17876488173630026
Introducing our second speaker for Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause, happening this Thursday. Meet Cheryl Bergman, Executive Director of the @miwomenscomm. Cheryl is a statewide policy leader driving economic opportunity and better health outcomes for women across Michigan. Appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2019, she brings together employers, healthcare experts, advocates, and policymakers to tackle the issues that actually move the needle - economic security, affordable childcare, and midlife women's health. Before this role, Cheryl helped elect Michigan's first woman U.S. Senator and first woman Governor, and served as Senior Advisor on Governor Whitmer's 2018 campaign. She's exactly the voice this conversation needs. Join Cheryl and our powerhouse lineup of industry experts at The Pause on September 24th. Link in bio to register - spaces are going fast.

We love this trend, so we thought we’d jump on it and ask the team some “hard-hitting questions” to end the week.

We’re a team made up of Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Find out who knows the most about the classics. Any guesses?

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17917175178450239
We love this trend, so we thought we’d jump on it and ask the team some “hard-hitting questions” to end the week. We’re a team made up of Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Find out who knows the most about the classics. Any guesses?

We`ve received so many questions from new grads about breaking into a competitive market as a young professional. It starts with one thing according to @bodespeaks: being the salesperson of YOU. Emulate the leaders in your industry and show up where they show up.

It`s not who you know, it`s who knows you
Use the playbook of people you admire
Show up consistently and be seen
A handwritten note beats 100 LinkedIn messages, always.

See more Bode wisdom at her YouTube channel linked in our bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18092872106558307
We've received so many questions from new grads about breaking into a competitive market as a young professional. It starts with one thing according to @bodespeaks: being the salesperson of YOU. Emulate the leaders in your industry and show up where they show up. It's not who you know, it's who knows you Use the playbook of people you admire Show up consistently and be seen A handwritten note beats 100 LinkedIn messages, always. See more Bode wisdom at her YouTube channel linked in our bio.

Meet our first speaker spotlight: Dr. Karen May, DC, CCSP, CCIP.

Dr. May owns and operates @mhneuropathycenter, and she`s joining us for Uncomfortable Community Conversations: The Pause on September 24th to talk about something we don`t talk about enough.

Her career has spanned from elite sports medicine, including a stint as team physician for USA Bobsled and Skeleton as well as caring for pregnant moms and newborns and helping women navigate life’s transitions, always grounded in a belief in food as medicine and the body’s own capacity to heal. In 2017, that expertise was tested when a rare surgical complication left her fighting nerve damage in her own body.

Drawing on decades of clinical practice and training, she rebuilt her health from the ground up — and has since helped thousands of people do the same. With over 20 years in holistic health care, she speaks today as both physician and peer.

Join us for The Pause on September 24th. Link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17891917860673621
Meet our first speaker spotlight: Dr. Karen May, DC, CCSP, CCIP. Dr. May owns and operates @mhneuropathycenter, and she's joining us for Uncomfortable Community Conversations: The Pause on September 24th to talk about something we don't talk about enough. Her career has spanned from elite sports medicine, including a stint as team physician for USA Bobsled and Skeleton as well as caring for pregnant moms and newborns and helping women navigate life’s transitions, always grounded in a belief in food as medicine and the body’s own capacity to heal. In 2017, that expertise was tested when a rare surgical complication left her fighting nerve damage in her own body. Drawing on decades of clinical practice and training, she rebuilt her health from the ground up — and has since helped thousands of people do the same. With over 20 years in holistic health care, she speaks today as both physician and peer. Join us for The Pause on September 24th. Link in bio.

“It has been an incredible experience - getting to connect with women business owners from all across Michigan, learn from experts on planning for growth, and learn to lead to the best of my abilities for myself and my team.”

- @rcdutcher, CEO of @red66.marketing

We’re looking for business owners who thrive in collaborative environments and can fully commit to the program—attending all in-person sessions, participating in one-on-one coaching, and engaging in every aspect of the nine-month fellowship. Participants who gain the most come ready to contribute, learn, and problem-solve alongside other committed business leaders.

Applications close on September 15.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17899228887595814
“It has been an incredible experience - getting to connect with women business owners from all across Michigan, learn from experts on planning for growth, and learn to lead to the best of my abilities for myself and my team.” - @rcdutcher, CEO of @red66.marketing We’re looking for business owners who thrive in collaborative environments and can fully commit to the program—attending all in-person sessions, participating in one-on-one coaching, and engaging in every aspect of the nine-month fellowship. Participants who gain the most come ready to contribute, learn, and problem-solve alongside other committed business leaders. Applications close on September 15.
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