Letter To My Younger Self: Elena
July 9, 2025
Hi there little ‘Lena, how are you holding up? I know you have a short attention span, so I’ll try to keep this short and
Hi there little ‘Lena, how are you holding up? I know you have a short attention span, so I’ll try to keep this short and
If you don’t already know, the 8THIRTYFOUR team has two former journalists. But if you asked anyone in the journalism industry, they’d say it’s two
Welcome to another edition of “What the hell is going on?” featuring Women’s Rights (yes, we capitalized it… because it’s important). As our rights continue
Another year, another National 8(a) Small Business Conference is in the books. This year’s event was packed, proving that despite policy uncertainty and increased competition,
Ah, spare time – that mythical concept we’ve heard so much about! When we’re not busy living our best-overwhelmed lives, we love nothing more than
Oh, hello. Thought you wouldn’t hear from me again, did ya? I’m here to share some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout my professional
As marketers or business owners, a lot of work goes into making our businesses successful – from gaining new customers to keeping current ones happy.
Spooky season is just around the corner, which means our sweet tooth is already on high alert. After all, who can resist the allure of
Dear Future Self, This is an odd letter to write, because what could I possibly say to you that you don’t already know? And do
Oh fall, how we love thee. Every August we look forward to that amazing day when the scent of PSL fills the air. That first
Hey there Ashley Pink Princess. Woah! Haven’t heard this nickname in while. I have grown up quite a bit since we last chatted. Have you
It’s 2023. Dear people who make resolutions: We know you are busy flooding local gyms, the produce section in the grocery store and are also
We love our dogs, you know that and we love design– you also know that. We couldn’t resist matching up the #dogsof834 with graphic design
It’s Santa! I know him! We full on embody the spirit of Buddy the Elf during the holidays and that shit can be EXHAUSTING. Which
Let’s make this interactive for our adoring fans. We give a description of each team member and our readers (you), drop a comment with your
You know us—we like to throw a couple back. This conversation spurred from a team outing (happy hour) and we thought we’d share the results.
Last week LinkedIn alerted us to the fact we are 16 years old. You’d think we would keep track of such a momentous occasion…we didn’t.
Summers are made for happy hours on the patio with a cool drink in your hand. We’re kind of experts on drinking, so here are
A big part of culture is being in tune with your team’s mental health. Especially now during a time when our entire world has lost
EOS®, how we love thee. We love it so much, we’re writing about it for the zillionth time. We even chatted with superstar EOS® implementer,
Hey there young Derk, Deek, Sterkenberger, Dstek…or whatever other nicknames you had back then. You’re an inquisitive little one and that’s okay! You’re asking the
Spring has arrived in Michigan to a flurry of snow, rain and sleet. Spring is drunk, but we’re excited anyways. In true 8THIRTYFOUR fashion, we’re
Culture is a team sport. Companies can define what they want their culture to be, set up systems to make it so but if you
We all have that one book. The book that made us fall in love with reading or look at the world a little differently. Maybe
It’s National Wine Day and hell, we deserve to celebrate. We’re taking a hard right turn from our normal PR and digital expertise (don’t worry,
Note from Kim: I usually go into the blogs we collaborate on and do some editing and make it one voice, but this topic is
We’ve done a lot of reflecting in the past month. From Top 5 PR Wins to our Top 5 Opinions, needless to say 2021 was
Tomorrow is Christmas, we figured we’d start this blog out by stating the obvious. Now that we have that out of the way, we wanted
2022 is like tomorrow, and we’re not going to discuss it. Hell, we’re not even acknowledging it. Nope, just a regular day, nothing to see
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! When we’re not singing, we’ll be watching Die Hard (best Christmas
There are WAY too many great businesses in our community to narrow it down to one measly blog. It definitely called for a part deux.
We’d like to encourage you to shop small this year and support the local businesses making our communities great. We compiled our recs and added
Last week we held our “Won’t you be our neighbor?” party with the major themes being gratitude, empathy and celebration. It was amazing to come
Hey Jules, it’s “older Jules” checkin’ in! How’s it going? I am picturing you as an 11-year-old navigating your way through West Middle School for
Stewardship is the act of taking responsibility for the well-being of the environment and doing something to restore or protect that well-being. Now, we know
Hey younger me, how’s it going? Knowing us, you’re probably stressing right now about where you’re headed or if your next leap is going to
When did we start using the phrase Sunday Scaries? What it is referring to is the anxiety many of us have about the week ahead.
WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR FALL!!! Every fall, we share our favorite activities, this isn’t a blog you ever ask for, but we simply do
Every single one of us is working more independently than ever before. We can thank the pandemic for that, which also means we have to
Hey there, little me. You’ve never really been one to ask for advice, just the one to give it, whether people ask for it or
Welcome to 2021. More than likely, the majority of your workforce is virtual or a hybrid of in-person and work from home. If you’ve taken
As an incoming intern and soon-to-be college senior, I figured I had a pretty solid understanding of what would be expected of me regarding public
Let’s talk money; it’s basically everyone’s favorite subject. Personally or professionally, you always need to know how much you will spend on an item or
Apparently, we’re a little obsessed with TikTok lately…Kim blames this on her brother sending her videos no less than 3 times a day and the
Dear younger self, You’re interested in some advice from me? That’s weird. It’s not like you’re going to listen to me anyway, because you’re stubborn
We’re pulled in a gazillion different directions every day, with information bombarding us via social media, texts, ads, Google search, news…you name it. Not to
Ever wonder what the hell “cap” means or why people keep throwing around canceled like it’s an adjective? Us too. Which is why we figured,
It’s officially summer, and that means porch sitting, beach lounging and ice-cold beverages. We wouldn’t be your favorite agency if we didn’t provide you with
As we all come out of hibernation a few pounds heavier and with questionable social skills, it seems like a great time to outline a
Life is kicking up several paces again, which means our stress is also increasing. We are big on mental health at 8THIRTYFOUR, and that means
Your employees are burned out. They are tired, distracted, short-tempered and just over it. First, the pandemic, then work-from-home and now they are expected to
Since ya’ll were digging the shows we’re obsessed with, we figured it only made sense to share our favorite podcasts. No surprise here, there are
If you come at us with pink power tools or some antiquated housewife advertising, you are practically guaranteeing we won’t buy your product. Assuming women
In case you needed a few shows to add to your queue, we present you with these very diverse, quirky, and downright weird shows we
Sometimes we feel like a broken record, but this point deserves to be made again and again and again. We set out to be a
We like to eat, and we like to couple everything we inhale with a refreshing beverage of the alcohol variety. Since most of us are
Karen[ CARE-un ] noun Often defined by their signature asymmetrical, blonde “May I speak to the manager?” bob, tendency to make entitled requests the world
As communicators, we read A LOT. Like a lot, a lot. It’s what keeps us sharp and up-to-date on trends in our industry. We read
In this week’s Week in Media blog, we tackle the royals, burgers and crayons. It’s about to get interesting. Women Belong in the Kitchen That
We received an overwhelming response to our first blog on Worst Female Fictional Characters Everyone Loved, so after much adieu, we are writing Part Deux
It’s time to say goodbye to the terms, ‘girl boss,’ ‘mompreneur,’ ‘She-EO’ and all the offshoots of these. They aren’t cutesy, they aren’t empowering and
This blog comes directly from Kim! In the past few months, I have been solicited multiple times through LinkedIn, email or phone. These individuals always
We know V-day happened this past Sunday, but we do what we want. In honor of this Valentine’s Day, we are writing love notes to
A staggering 61% of Americans experience loneliness. In the COVID-19 era, just 37% of full-time workers exhibit high levels of resilience—or the ability to recover
How the hell do you stay motivated, productive and mentally healthy in 2021? Notice we didn’t say physically healthy. We’re still eating leftover pies, so
Nothing says holidays like a raging hangover. Since 2020 has been…a year, we wanted to help you along in your journey to a horrible next
Our favorite time of the year (ok, Kim’s favorite) is Christmas. If this was any other year than 2020, you’d be able to stop by
Listen, you don’t need another blog on why you need or should shop local. What you do need is a list of the cool shit
Anyone out there a morning person? Do you wake up to birds chirping and Happy by Pharrell playing in your head? If so, WTF is
We pride ourselves on being different. We’re a little weird and a lot sarcastic. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, because where’s the fun in
Quarantine has been a rollercoaster for our team. From therapy to new career ambitions to animal bonding, we’ve really grown. Since we know everyone is
As a company that has always been able to work remotely, we usually celebrate the opportunity to get out of the office and really crush
This blog is a two-parter, the first was published in December….then COVID happened and we pivoted, which is exactly what your marketing and communications should
We’re done with the first week of May, which means you’ve now been working from home for, like, two whole months or a year…yeah, it’s
Are you stressed? With all the talk about coronavirus, the craziness of balancing schedules, and more, you’re probably about to lose your mind, aren’t you?
We have five core values we talk about pretty extensively, you can read about them here, here, here, here and here. We wanted to share
Check your calendars. It’s late February, we’re stuck between winter and spring and we’re cranky. Nothing happens in February. This whole month is just filled
In case you didn’t notice, we love a good party. In fact, we love parties so much we’re writing a Valentine’s Day blog specifically about
You know the title of this blog? That’s what we keep hearing. Well, we’re here to tell you winter does not suck. We live in
Here at the 8THIRTYFOUR office, it can get kind of loud. After all, with dogs running around the office, meetings, dogs barking, phones ringing, chatter,
When we’re asked what sets us apart as an integrated agency, we quickly point out we are smart and charming. Then we share our 3
A few weeks ago, we posted a blog about the evil necessity of deadlines. We’re not sure which people hate more: process or deadlines. We
We like to reminisce at the end of the year. As a team, we reflect on our wins, losses and everything in between. We wake
Fa la la! Let’s eat, drink and get merry. The holidays are all about weight gain and over-indulging, so we figured why fight it? If
This blog started out being about our core value, “We are not assholes,” but we’re gonna pivot and discuss strategy. We don’t like to give
What would Christmas be without 8THIRTYFOUR’s holiday gift ideas? We happen to think our gift-giving is pretty damn awesome. Our Secret Snowflake is the stuff
We get pretty hyped up about Small Business Saturday, probably because we are a small business and damn proud of it. According to the U.S.
So, most people will tell you that they love building relationships with their clients, but we actually do. We have the best clients and honestly,
If you’ve been keeping up with our blog, you’re probably aware that we operate based on our brand’s core values. These five little phrases encompass
It is officially spooky season. Break out your Halloween costumes and let’s get tricky. If you haven’t noticed, the members of our team are
Our people are by far our most valued asset. We have the best team! Culture, after all, is our favorite and most overused buzz word,
It’s the season of PSL. We’ll spell that out for Kim – Pumpkin Spice Latte. We probably should have held our Basic Party in fall
You’re overwhelmed, tired, cranky, want to be left alone and you just don’t care. Sound familiar? Those shitty feelings are attributed to burnout, and it
At 8THIRTYFOUR, we want anyone that walks through our doors to succeed long term, while doing it with a healthy dose of sarcasm. We love
Be honest. How many of you were waiting for this one? When we posted the fiction books we can’t do without, we knew that a
Have you heard of marketing automation? Surely you have you heard of HubSpot? Salesforce? Both are examples of marketing automation, expensive options, but options nonetheless.
The day-to-day life at 8THIRTYFOUR is filled with fun, productivity, and absolutely owning our brand. That’s because everyone on our staff follows a series of
We’re not like every other agency. Our team is special, because we love to rock what we’re doing every day, and we have a hell
Our team of writers also loves reading, which really shouldn’t surprise you at all. That’s why we’ve decided to put together a list of our
Be honest. How excited were you when you saw this blog? Super excited? We know. And you should be! The last time we wrote about
Yeah, we know. It’s one hell of a blog title. But that’s fine, because we’re one hell of an agency. If you aren’t familiar with
Would you really be making the most of your holiday if you didn’t throw a kickass party, full of boozie treats and fire hazards? Before
You probably know by now that 8THIRTYFOUR isn’t your typical agency. No, we have a million crazy dogs, we like to jam out to some
Grab your sunglasses, slop on some sunscreen, and blend yourself a piña colada or a margarita or iced red wine…just get a drink, will ya?
“We fix it.” Of all of our core values, that’s the one that comes to Jen’s mind when she’s crushing it for our clients. As
We know it’s cliché to say, “culture is key,” but it is. For most of us, unity and inclusion are important in our daily lives.
This past week, we gathered with our PR and communications friends at Clearwater Place for one of our favorite annual events: The PRoof Awards. If
Maybe it’s snow on the horizon, road construction, a Facebook data breach, or the story of an abandoned dog, but when you hear bad news
Icebreakers are pretty much our favorite thing ever; we consider them a rite of passage for new staff members. With culture being the most overused
If you only know one thing about us, it’s probably that we love dogs. Currently, we have eight office dogs that we share our workspace
Hey! This post is a little old. Check out the newest version here! The Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®) dramatically changed 8THIRTYFOUR as a business, culture
“We work harder than the rest.” “We put you first.” These are just a few of 8THIRTYFOUR’s core values that Kayden embodies. Our clients love
When winter hits Michigan, it hits hard. The last few weeks have seen some of the crazy winter weather that our Mitten State is known
Our team at 8THIRTYFOUR likes to occasionally hop on our high horses to tell people how to live their lives, and in our latest installment
As you may know, we love to celebrate national “holidays,” even the most absurd ones. January 4th is National Trivia Day, which is a holiday
‘Tis the season for some of 8THIRTYFOUR’s favorite things. Whether it be food, drinks or activities, we’ve rounded out our top five trending topics
Support your community this Saturday, November 24th, by shopping small for Small Business Saturday. The team at 8THIRTYFOUR has taken all the work out of
As far as unofficial holidays go, we can’t think of a better excuse for celebrations than National Happy Hour Day on November 12. Because we
Now that is some funny sh*t. In an effort to brighten and lighten your newsfeed, we are sharing memes, funny articles and weirdness on this
Hayrides, campfires, football, apple picking, donuts, pumpkin carving – these are a few of our fall favorite things. Fall is what we call the cozy
October 10this World Mental Health Day, and one of the biggest triggers for poor mental health is the workplace. At 8THIRTYFOUR, we believe that you
One of 8THIRTYFOUR’s core values is “we work harder than the rest.” While we may be a bit bias, we’re almost certain that it is
So you’ve landed your dream internship, now what? Now is the time to crush it! It can feel intimidating to walk in on your first
Today, we are talking about your damn language. Swearing at work is a hot topic: research shows that people who swear are happier and smarter,
August 5th is National Friendship Day, and while that means you should probably meet up with friends for Sunday brunch and drinks, don’t forget about
One of our Core Values is “We Work Harder than the Rest.” We don’t miss deadlines. We leverage every opportunity. We crush it. The world
Hold onto your pocket protectors and fanny packs, because today is “Embrace Your Geekness Day” and our team is all about it. We know it
As an integrated communications agency, we put a ton of value on visual communication: this especially comes to life in our office. When we designed
A positive mindset is a powerful mindset, especially in the workplace. It is also quite contagious. That’s why at 8THIRTYFOUR we actively cultivate a welcoming,
Beginning your first internship can be intimidating, but it’s crucial for your professional growth. Internships can offer an opportunity for learning and growth outside of
Patio Season is Here! With Michigan summers being so fleeting, our team spends as much time outdoors as possible as soon as the snow melts.
My name is Alex, and I’m the Digital Associate here at 8THIRTYFOUR. I have two passions in life: coffee and digital marketing. These two passions
We never miss the chance to celebrate women at 8THIRTYFOUR, which may have to do with the fact we are 80% women or that women,
Creativity is a hallmark of our culture at 8THIRTYFOUR – we love creating fresh ideas with our clients to take advantage of an opportunity or
We know, mornings are hard. The alarm goes off, you hit snooze a few times, you chug coffee until you feel like a normal person…it’s
We originally posted this blog on February 21, 2018. Things have changed since then (shocker), so we updated it on August 26, 2025. Everyone
*This article was originally published in West Michigan Woman Magazine* If there are two things that people should know about Michigan State Spartans, it is
Have you ever swooned over a beautifully designed logo? Have you ever seen that same logo immediately ruined by the use of Papyrus, or a
It was about a year and a half ago when I was still living in Chicago that my mom sent me a quick email saying,
One of the top questions we are asked (right after, “Where’s Jimmy?”) is, “What exactly is integrated communications?” Which is fine because we LOVE talking
It’s no secret that we love data. If you don’t look at the analytics surrounding the content you produce, how do you know what’s working
It’s a New Year, but that doesn’t mean that the issues of last year just go away. Policy changes of the last year will continue
We love a lot of things at 8THIRTYFOUR, but if we were pushed to give a Top 5 List, it would probably look like: Dogs
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, according to most. The holidays offer up a special time for many to celebrate and experience meaningful
Dear Santa, I’ve been very good this year. For Christmas, I’d like a pony, a Teddy Ruxpin and Legos. —- Ok, so your Christmas list
Here at 8THIRTYFOUR, we are thankful for a lot! Wine, dogs, happy hour, coffee, food…just to name a few. And, of course, we are also
There’s more to Thanksgiving than going overboard on stuffing, being asked awkward questions around the dinner table, and consuming too much wine. (Hey, it happens.)
Calling all badass college students, we want you! Yes, you. 8THIRTYFOUR is hiring not one, but two interns for the Winter 2018 semester! Our
You know the adage “cobbler’s children never have shoes”? It’s a phrase that resonates around here. We LOVE our clients, and we LOVE what our
We told you we had more surprises up our sleeve… Less than a week after hiring a Managing Director, we’ve also added a Content Associate to our wolfpack
It’s official! Our wolf pack has expanded! We’re excited to officially announce the hiring of Sarah Abel as Managing Director As managing director, Sarah will serve as
This spring our Digital Associate Mari Behovitz competed in the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) alongside her fellow Laker classmates. Take a look at her experience…
This blog was supposed to be about our Boss Lady’s celebratory day of birth (April 27, to be exact), but because she hates recognition, we
Kayden Grinwis is the newest member of #Team834, and he will be leading our web division. His background covers all things digital – PPC advertising, SEO, website
You can easily have a love-hate relationship with event planning. Immense time, effort and headaches goes into planning an event that spans only a mere
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! #Team834 may not be completely Irish, but we have had an enormous amount of luck over the past year. We lucked out with the
At 834 Design & Marketing we pride ourselves on being a team of fierce, empowering women. We stand up for what we believe in, and
As a new project manager at 834 Design, it’s been a wild ride learning the ins and outs of agency life with this stone-cold group
Personal brand and relationship building have been hot topics around the 834 office recently. A core part of personal branding is relationships, connections and being
Recently, our Boss Lady had a family emergency. That same week two other employees had similar situations. For a smaller agency, having three employees away from
“At first, we were a ten-women wolf pack. But when we met Mari and Megan, we knew they were one of our own. And then,
We are big believers in the ‘never stop learning’ philosophy. If you shut your mind off to new ideas, concepts and refuse to push the
Resolutions are so, so dumb. Did you know that only eight percent of people achieve their resolutions? The whole concept just sets everyone up for
Well, Michigan. It’s been a great 32 years, but it’s time to say goodbye. I’ve found someone else and am leaving you. In case you
Every day at 834 is different because our social media clients are so diverse. Some accounts need extra attention one day, while others are cruising
There are many reasons why giving rocks. People give because they care, because it makes them feel better and like they’re making a difference in
We have a lot to be thankful for, so we’re just going to get right to it. Kim Bode, owner Narrowing down what I am
It’s been a week since America elected Donald Trump as its next president, and what a week it’s been. Part of the country is celebrating,
Yeah, we know. It’s only Nov. 8, but we’re already getting into the holiday spirit. Any day now, Team 834 will walk into an office
We are excited to announce 834’s newest employee, Leigh Rapaport! Leigh is stepping in as project manager and will be working with a number of
As a creative director for a small, but thriving, integrated communications agency, my days are, by definition, anything but typical. Generally I’m pretty all over
We are excited to introduce 834’s newest employee, Jessica Krysinska! Jessica is stepping in as the digital media lead at 834, and will be in
Saying goodbye has never been easy for me. As an emotional woman, tears fall, sappy words are exchanged and hugs are uncomfortably long. At the
We are excited to introduce 834’s newest employee, Grace Johnson-Connor! Grace is stepping in as a project manager at 834, and will be working with
Wow. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love and support we felt firsthand at our 834 Summer S’moirée. You
In true 834 fashion, we like to take a different approach to ringing in the New Year. We know you’ve spent the holiday season eating
Hello all! My name is Stephanie Dallman and I am the newest addition to 834 Design & Marketing. I recently graduated from Ferris State University
I have to take a moment to shamelessly plug the 834 team. We have had a VERY busy couple of weeks and though it is
By: Renay Shoenmaker Well it seems to be that time of year again. Summer rays have begun fading away; while Fall’s crisp winded days are
The American Marketing Association West Michigan Chapter has announced its president and newest board members for the 2009-2010 year. Source: Grand Rapids Business Journal, October
Nicole Huston featured in Rapid Growth Media as newest addition to 834 team. Huston joins the team as marketing associate and will focus on new
Monday, February Barcheski founded Axios in 1988 with the idea to provide executive outsourcing services to West Michigan companies, but the concept was a hard
After six years of working as the West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative marketing director, Kim Bode, a high-energy 29-year-old, decided it was time to
As she looks out the window from her office in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, Kim Bode can see the explosion of healthcare-related construction