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Core Value #2: We Know Our Shit

Share the goods.

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 how we do things around here, you might not know that we religiously follow our five core values. We broke down our first value for you, and we’re excited to loop you in on the rest.
Our core values are these little things we keep tucked in the back of our minds that tell us how to do, well, everything. Think of them as the defining statements that make us who we are. (Shockingly, we haven’t included a statement about dogs, but we’re getting there. Probably.)
We embody our core values so no matter who you’re talking to at 8THIRTYFOUR, you know our brand. So, in keeping with that idea, we’re going to walk you through our second core value: “We Know Our Shit.”

We Know Our Shit

When it comes to our industry, we’re convinced that everyone on our team should be experts. It only makes sense, doesn’t it? Why would you hire an agency that didn’t know what they were talking about?
We do a lot of internal work to make sure that we keep up with all things digital, advertising, public relations, social media, marketing, communications, etc., etc…et freaking cetera. When you think about it, there’s a lot that’s constantly changing, so it takes essentially constant effort to make sure we’re on top of our shit.
Did you know that we score ourselves each week on how many new things we’ve learned? We also host weekly meetings where everyone has to come with at least one article (some of us overachieve and bring 2 to 3 articles – kiss asses) to share with the team. If that wasn’t enough, we also keep track of how many events we’ve gone to each week, including workshops, seminars, and networking events. The best way to stay informed, after all, is by getting out there and learning. And we love learning.

We Know Your Shit

So, on top of learning everything we can about our ever-changing industries, we make sure to know everything we can about our clients. After all, if we don’t know who we’re helping and what we’re helping them with…then we can’t call ourselves experts.
We keep in contact with our clients so we can know everything that’s going on with them, including new hires, events, and when their strategic marketing goals change. Our client kickoff meetings are where we learn who our clients are, from brand identity to marketing goals to what their favorite drink is. These meetings have been known to push to almost two hours. There’s just so much for us to learn!
But knowing your shit also means that we’re tracking things our clients might not even have an eye on. Our digital team, for example, kicks ass recording, tracking, and analyzing data and trends about how users interact with the client’s brand. It’s that sort of specialized knowledge that we use to come up with new suggestions for our clients’ goals. Basically, it’s our job to know everything our client knows, and then some.

But Why “We Know Our Shit?”

This value might seem obvious, but when you dissect it, there’s a lot of layers to it. It’s not just that we know our shit. It’s that if, for some reason, we don’t know the answer to a client’s question…well, we go out and learn it!
We like to brag around here from time to time, but we aren’t about to pretend like we know everything. Like we said, we’re in industries that change constantly, and when new technology hits the world, it’s possible for it to get missed.
What do have, is some serious hustle. If something new is happening in our industry or our client’s industry, we go back to the office, and we start learning. We are always crushing it, it’s just who we are.
Do you need a team who knows their shit? Connect with us today. We’d love to learn about you and your business.

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Recent Musings

Something on Your Mind?

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

Meet @bitnermd, co-founder of @true.womenshealth, a concierge practice in West Michigan, focused on helping women thrive through midlife while reducing chronic conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression, and diabetes. 

Dr. Bitner is a board-certified OB/GYN specializing in midlife, menopause, and sexual health. She’s the author of I Want to Age Like That! and has published peer-reviewed research on menopause care. She was named Menopause Practitioner of the Year by The Menopause Society in 2015. Dr. Bitner is committed to translating evidence into practical, scalable solutions that improve women’s health, confidence, and participation at work and in life. We’re beyond excited to have her join our panel discussion this Thursday. 

Register now to hear from Dr. Bitner and the rest of our industry experts at The Pause on September 24th. 

Secure your spot at the link in bio.
Every WOSB deserves support, access, guidance, and a network, because when they have it, they’re unstoppable.

Just because you be small, does not mean you are not mighty. The Women’s Owners Network will accept its first cohort this November. Applications are due October 1.

Thank you to @lakemichigan_cu for partnering with us to provide this program. Their support means we can offer this at a significantly lower cost to business owners.

Go apply at the link in bio.
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?
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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