The Found Podcast with Molly Knuth

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 c

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/s

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

Hey listener! We're taking it back today to a shorter episode, which I actually had not planned but decided it would be great content after I had a listener email me a few questions. There are a whole bunch of quote on quote social media rules, but the best way to get going with social media marketing for your business is to get started. It doesn't have to be professional photos, produced videos, or the perfect caption, it just has to be you showing up. Key Takeaways There are many platforms to manage. At Molly Knuth Media we mostly manage Facebook and Instagram platforms for our clients. I choose Facebook because it's a great local marketing tool. I choose Instagram because it allows you to reach a bigger audience through the use of hashtags. I started in social media marketing by accident. As an English and Language Arts Teacher, I took to Facebook to get more books for my classroom. I then began sharing the responses from students with Facebook and I ended up with more than 500 books for my classroom. After deciding to become a stay at home mom, I helped our community work towards getting a new daycare through posting video and pictures on Facebook. We were strategic with videos to tell a story and share with the community the need and wants for the new daycare. After word of mouth on the services I was able to provide through Facebook and how it could be used for a business, the rest is history! Everyone has their own belief, likes and dislikes when it comes to what makes a good post. I operate by the "E's." I want to either educate, evoke an emotion, or e-commerce. In addition, I want each post to have an attention grabbing graphic, a caption to compliment the graphic, and a call to action. When looking at a time of the day to post, it's important to think of your audience and when they are most likely to have down time. Your caption matters! It communicates the big takeaway you want people to have. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

Welcome listeners, today is a fun one and I cannot wait for you to listen! Lindsy Trotter, owner of Chilled Freezer Meals joins Small-Minded to share her business story, strategies, and all the yumminess she has created! Owning a business wasn't something Lindsy always thought she would do, she had a safe 9-5 job as an educator but after deciding to stay at home with her kids, she started to make freezer meals to fulfill time and the rest is history! Today we go all in with Lindsy, you'll get a listen into Lindsy's driven personality and I know her story and perspective on business are going to leave you with a lot of great takeaways in life and business! Key Takeaways As an enneagram 3, Lindsy always wanted to check the next box. She got her Bachelor's Degree, Masters' Degree, and was going after the next step when she realized it was something she was doing because it was the next step not because she wanted to. "You start small and very slowly it grows." Chilled typically preps meals in 30-40 batches. It started with batches of 10 and once they got good at that it grew to 20 and once they got good at 20 it grew even more. "Turn around and look at the little steps along the way that you've accomplished, don't downplay where you're at." A lot of times we start following people on social media and we see where their business is at now. We don't see where they were at in the beginning. "Social Media is such a great place to show your customers who you are and what your mission is." Taking social media trainings is one of the first things Lindsy invested in and was essential in her growth. Lindsy reached out to her county Iowa State Extension and the Small Business Association when developing plans and layout for her kitchen. There are so many intelligent people in our area just waiting to be utilized with their services. Chilled freezer meals gives back in so many ways between donating meals to using locally sourced beef in her meals. Shop with Chilled! Want to try Chilled for yourself? Follow Chilled and shop through their website, Instagram, and Facebook! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

Investing in Your Business Straight up: I feel super uncomfortable and highly unqualified to be speaking on today's topic, but I thought "If I have questions about when and how to invest in my business, I bet my followers do too." So here we are. With all the promises of making money by taking a workshop with that business coach, or growing by adding on another team member, or simply purchasing a new piece of equipment, it can be hard to know which is right for you and how much is too much to invest. So in what is likely my most unqualified solocast thus far here on Small-Minded, here are ways I've invested in my business so far (both the good and the bad!) and what I've learned along the way. Key Takeaways Investing in your business isn't always about the up-front cost. Think about the return you will get on that investment of your resources. Ask yourself: How long will it take me to make this money back? Invest in Education: When I felt unsure, stagnant, or lost professionally in the past, I knew I worked through it best when I focused on growing my knowledge base. So that's something I've come back to time and again as I grew Molly Knuth Media: if I feel adrift or uncomfortable, that's probably a sign that I have learning to do on that topic. Ask yourself: How will I be able to make money based upon what I learn in this workshop/course/mastermind? Do I vibe with the instructor? Is this presented in a way that fits my learning style? Invest in Tools/Equipment: Sometimes upgrading the tools or equipment you work with can reduce the time and frustration you have to exert. Over the years I've brought in softwares that will help my team communicate and track projects better, updated my computer, and purchased entirely new products that I can turn around and monetize via a new offer at MKM. When deciding which tools and equipment to invest in, I ask myself the same questions: How will I pay for this? How long will it take me to get a return on my investment? Will it allow me to better serve my clients? Invest in People: To grow your business, at some point you will likely need to lean on others. Whether it's bringing in a person on your payroll as a W-2 employee or a skilled independent contractor on a project-by-project or monthly basis or bringing in a Virtual Assistant to complete specific tasks you have lots of options to invest in people. Trust your gut. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

Listeners, welcome today my friend, Janey Stahl! I'm so excited to have Janey here on the podcast to share her journey as a successful entrepreneur. As a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Janey helps businesses achieve all of their entrepreneurial goals around finances. While wearing many hats and taking a lot of big risks to make her business successful, Janey uses her strategic strength to provide a comprehensive approach to businesses. You'll get a listen into Janey's driven personality in today's episode, and I know her story and perspectives on small business finances are going to leave you with desire to organize your business decisions ! Key Takeaways Starting a business takes many risks and everyone's journey is going to look different. "You have to start somewhere." Janey shares that she was in desperation for business and tried many strategies to meet people to become clients. "You never know that person you randomly meet, how they're going to serve you later on in life." Someone might not take you up on your offer right away, but they could be a customer later on. The best investment you're going to make is within your business. Connect with Janey! Ready to connect with Janey and organize your business financial goals? Check out her website and Facebook! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

Wow, one whole year of Small Minded Podcast! 50 episodes of advice, tips, and milestones of small town business folks. With pride I put out this episode to talk about what I've learned in one year of podcasting. First and foremost if you have an idea, just start. Believe in yourself, flex that muscle of confidence, and lean into your intuition. Listen to others' strategies and find new ways of doing things. "In the past year, the thing that keeps me going is sharing stories and sharing expertise of cool people in small towns. That's what the driver is." Make it fun. It takes work. It takes time. It takes research. But if you have a purpose it will keep you motivated to keep you going. Thank you, thank you, for being here and supporting us throughout the past year! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

Today I welcome my goddaughter and MKM employee, Nora Noonan! Nora is here today to talk about her public education beginning in Bernard, Iowa. While being the only girl in her class until second grade and having two graduations by sixth grade, Nora reflects on class sizes, activities and trying new things! Nora has been able to experience many things throughout her high school years and is about to start her college academics at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Nora has taken it upon herself to go after every opportunity that has come her way, getting marketing and hands-on experience at Two Ginger's Tavern, KDST Radio Station, and MKM. While also getting a taste of the labor intensive side by working for her family's business, Noonan Fencing. Key Takeaways "Public speaking class helped me in life just knowing how to market myself." Nora talks about The college credit process at the high school was a great opportunity for high school students like Nora to get a taste of the college course load and jump starting them into what college academics would be like. "It's about the people you meet and the connections you establish." Nora reflects on all of the opportunities she has been given and not being afraid to try out different avenues. "I'm super grateful I took a chance." "Try your own thing." It's easy to be associated with what other family has done in a small town. Doing your own thing is Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

Mom of 4. Farmer. Life Coach. Podcaster. Friends, Addie Yoder comes to the podcast today with so many real tidbits on life. After being up to her elbows in farm life and babies, Addie began to lose touch of who she wanted to be. With the help of a life coach, she was able to make simple steps and move forward to live a life of freedom, purpose, and confidence. Now, certified herself through John Maxwell, Addie teaches others to do the same! While emphasizing personal growth, Addie guides her clients to find their purpose and make their dream-life a reality! Aside from life coaching, Addie loves to talk about corn and books. With a passion for corn knowledge, she shares with others facts about how rural agriculture is related to you. I'm telling you, this is a must listen! Key Takeaways "It's so important to have someone in your corner. Having someone to cheer you on, helps so much" After working with her life coach for three months, her life coach recommended she become a life coach herself. She never viewed herself in that lens, but her husband and friends did. "You have do what works for you." We have so much at our disposal with books, TED talks, podcasts, etc., but we have to do what works for ourselves. "If I don't pick up a book and learn for myself, I'm only going to get one tiny piece of the world and I'm never going to get those experiences to keep me well rounded." When Addie goes to the capital to talk agriculture she realizes the importance of connecting with people of all perspectives and realizing the big picture. Connect with Addie Yoder! Want more of Addie? Her words of wisdom and life coach tips can be found through her weekly emails, Grace & Growth Podcast, and Instagram. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

You guys. Today's episode is a good one. Marissa Hoffmann co-owner and co-founder of The Midwest Girl joins me today to share the story of the family brand her sister and her started six years ago. The passion in Marissa's voice is enough to know she loves what she does and it's something magical. It hasn't always been easy and the vulnerability Marissa shares throughout today's episode is so honest and authentic. The Midwest Girl has so much to offer and I love that she is here today to share her story! Key Takeaways "You might look back at what you did starting out and cringe a little bit, but it was a start and it's brought us our success today." "Good things don't happen overnight." It took about four years for Midwest Girl to really take off and Marissa shares the struggles and determination it took to keep going. "It's not about reinventing the wheel every time." You listen to your customers and look at your numbers. A lot of times simple is what people want. A lot of times business growth starts with an idea that might not come from your own head. Marissa shares how wholesale merchandise has been a great additional income stream for their business. "You just start and figure it out." Coming from a town of 1200 people and continuing to remember her roots, Marissa shares how the brand is built on community and being proud of where she comes from. Check Out The Midwest Girl! Want to shop The Midwest Girl or follow their story? Check them out here: Shop Website, Facebook and Instagram! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

There are so many reasons to love rural agriculture, and my husband, Ryan Knuth, is one of those reasons…well for me at least! With three decades of farming as a 34 year old, Ryan shares his memories of growing up on their family farm, how their business has evolved, and his love for small-town life. Even with change, Knuth Farms LLC continues to practice diversified agriculture with being involved in the production of swine, cattle, and row crops. They are a three-generation farm with now having Ryan, his brother Eric, and sister Amanda involved in the day-to-day of the operation. A few of my takeaways, as I continue to learn about agriculture and modern technology: There are many seasons to farming, in late July, Knuth's will do their second cutting of hay and maintenance on the combine, trucks, and chopper to make sure all their equipment is ready for fall. After harvest, they will haul manure, clean/fix equipment, and begin getting ready for the next year. "Fall is one of my favorite seasons because I like to see how the decisions were made and how they all came together." Ryan remarks on how it's exciting to measure and see the progress of the corn from year to year and field to field. When one initially thinks of the benefits of farming you think food. This is an important aspect, but Ryan also acknowledges how in rural areas, businesses survive off each other. When they need a project done or the gas tank filled, they support local. "Anything we send to the food line is antibiotic free at that time." This is one of the biggest misunderstandings when it comes to food labeling and those shopping at the grocery store. "It's a good way to grow up, you learn work ethic, the responsibility to keep things alive. It's just a good way to grow up." Ryan appreciates the way he has grown up and it is part of the reason we have chosen to raise our kids the same way. "People in small-towns help each other out. They don't even bat an eye; they just show up." Ryan recognizes the local businesses and people who continue to always be there for eachother. Connect with Ryan on TikTok and Instagram @easterniowafarmer 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 episode is full of super awesome advice for Instagram and best practices with the new updates made in 2021. Instagram is full of trendy features to market your business, but with so many options between IGTV, reels, stories, hashtags and photos, it can be hard to know what's best for your audience. I'm here to share with you practical and SIMPLE social media marketing advice you can apply to your business Instagram today! Instagram Advice: Hashtags. The goal of hashtags is for people to find what you have to offer and for you to find and interact with other people in your industry and get ideas. In addition, they can give you extra reach and coverage. 5 minutes liking and interacting intentionally with other accounts. 5 minutes looking up your location and seeing if there are any new businesses in the area you can associate and/or work with. 5 minutes to engage bomb another account. Spend 15 minutes a few times a week engaging with other accounts. When you're going to post, share something that is valuable. Second, think of what way you're going to deliver this content. If you have limited time, I would recommend a story. If you're going to make a post, put time into your caption. If you're wanting more reach, I would recommend a video as Instagram is now favoring and rewarding videos by giving you more reach. Keep it simple. Think of what you needed when you started out your business, create value for that person. 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, I'm SO honored to welcome my mentor and role model (even if she doesn't know that yet), Ms. Kelly Jo Simon. Kelly is the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (or the CIA) for Western Dubuque County Community School District in Iowa. Being the Director of the CIA is no small task. For one, the size of the WDCCSD makes it the largest in the state of Iowa in terms of square miles (555 sq mi). They serve students and families from five counties for a total of over 3000 students. In addition to the logistical challenges that poses for Kelly and her colleagues, her role has her also requires her to lead educators and administrators in each of the district's eight schools in addition to the students in her charge. It is truly a feat. During her time in her role, Kelly has gone from trying to organize schools and curriculum to creating a culture of happiness, success, and opportunity. During her tenure, WDCCSD has become a sought-after district for young families, but also for people looking for a job in education. I am honored and excited to share this interview with my friend Kelly with all of you here at Small-Minded today. Key Takeaways The hardest question she's ever been asked is "what is your role?" "What are you willing to struggle for?" She believes that this is the question we should be asking young people when helping them plan for themselves and their futures. She was told in high school that she wasn't college material. She said she owned responsibility for the choices she had made to get to that conversation with her guidance counselor, but that helped her forge forward to go to college. "Be careful labelling potential in their high school years." A student/child cannot have their potential defined in their formative years. "One of the best and most humbling parts of small town living is owning up to your past mistakes…Embrace it, move forward, you don't run." Just because it was your story then, doesn't mean it is your story forever. The faster you own up to it, the faster you can move on. "Our product is people." In order to provide the best education for all students, Kelly and the district's admin team have created a culture around The Happiness Advantage. This approach helps teachers and staff find what makes them happy and choose happy, so they can take that into their classrooms and share the same concept with their students. And a TON more. Make sure to listen in to the full episode for all the gold that Kelly shares about her philosophy on education and what WDCCSD is doing right to care for all the kids in their district. Connect with Kelly! Follow all that Kelly, her colleagues, and her students are doing at www.wdbqschools.org or follow Kelly at @kellyjosimon on Twitter. 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.

Hi, friends! Welcome back to the Small-Minded Podcast! Today I'm excited to bring to you episode 3 of my first jobs series. A few weeks ago I shared with you all of the details from one of my first job experiences at the local manufacturing plant. While working at the local manufacturing plant taught me many skills and helped with my high school spending, my university years were upon me and I needed to decide what I'd like to do with the rest of my life. Having no clue what I really wanted to do, I went to the University of Northern Iowa with an open-mind and after a year of completing my general education credits and still having no clue, I took a personality assessment. My personality assessment told me I'd align well with being a teacher, so low and behold I decided to become a middle school and high school language arts teacher! What I learned in my Teaching Career: I began my teaching career filling long-term substitute positions and then accepted a job at our local private school teaching reading, math, social studies, and religion. After a position opened up at our public school, I was hired and I taught reading/language arts for two years before I became pregnant with our third child in four years and decided to become a stay at home mom. A few things I learned and loved about teaching: I lived for the lightbulb moment. I loved making the content relatable and modern for the students. I wanted the kids to understand learning doesn't just happen in a classroom, we are at our best when we are lifelong learners. When you show up to the job, you might not have all the answers. The energy and confidence I brought into the room set the tone for the kids. The importance of organization and scheduling. Listen to the podcast to see how I've adjusted my strategy and became better at pivoting quickly. Most importantly, it's okay to step away from things you love. Truly, each part of work history comes together to shape who we are as a person, employee, or boss. It is up to us as small business owners to remember those early jobs we held and the people who showed us how to be a leader, both good and bad, as we build missions and teams of our own. 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.

What's your favorite coffee? If you answered anything other than a Bob & Lou's salted caramel cold foam cold brew then you're wrong and we can't be friends. Just kidding! But seriously, today's guest doesn't just make my favorite cup of coffee, but she has an inspiring story about starting her dream business in a vintage coffee camper. So many times along her journey it seemed like she was faced with a roadblock, like when she was denied a loan from the first bank she approached or when COVID-19 hit and the world shut down. But just as it seemed her luck would run out, the starts aligned and something big would happen for Sarah. I love that she is only 25 years old and celebrating her first anniversary in business, but that she carries herself and her brand with a maturity that is wise beyond her years. From her advice about researching your product to serving your ideal market, today's interview with Sarah Knabel of Bob & Lou's coffee is one you will NOT want to miss! Key Takeaways Learning about yourself, your strengths, your setbacks, and what suits and excites YOU is key in finding your business niche. Sometimes serendipity happens. The stars align and luck is on your side as you're getting the pieces of your business together. Run with it when opportunities present themselves! "Don't take 'no' as an answer." Silver linings: COVID-19 presented a lot of hardships and struggles in Eastern Iowa, but for Sarah it gave her the gift of time. She was able to step away from her bartending job, get clear on her vision, research and write a business plan, and get her coffee camper started. Family is a cornerstone of her brand and business. Being excited to come to work and sharing that excitement with customers is a tenant of the Bob & Lou's business. "There are so many amazing women entrepreneurs out there." Sarah recommends networking to help you grow your brand awareness because these women are willing to share and help you out as you get your start. And tons more stories and insights. Listen to the full episode for all that Sarah has to share! Brew up some love for Bob & Lou's! Want more of Sarah and my favorite coffee place in the world? You can find her @bobandlous on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.bobandlous.com to browse the menu, check the camper calendar, or order some of her adorable merch! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

In different seasons of life, summer has meant many things, but it always brings me back to simplicity, enjoying the outdoors, and long sunny days. In this holiday season of 2021, I'm taking it back and sharing all of the small-town traditions from my childhood. Canoe trips, old navy flip flops, and babysitting jobs. Summer brings back so many memories and now as an adult, it's amazing to see some of those same memories hold true with my kids. Many of these traditions happen because of the way our small town continues to come together to celebrate. Because of small business support, we're able to celebrate Independence Day with inflatables, sugary lemonade, fireworks, games, and more! I hope you take time this summer and holiday season to enjoy the moments and memories to appreciate the smaller things. 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, I introduce to you the newest member of the MKM team, Megan Knapp. Megan grew up in the city, moved to a small town, and now serves small town businesses as a virtual assistant! Covid-19 hit, schools shut down, and Megan began questioning whether teaching was the right career for her as she balanced being a mother and wife. After reaching out to Molly and seeing if there were any work from home opportunities, Megan jumped on as a virtual assistant for the MKM Team. In today's episode you'll get to listen to Megan's virtual assistant roles and how her services can better help your business! Key Takeaways What is it a virtual assistant does? A virtual assistant can be many things, but the biggest thing is they are remote and can help with a variety of tasks from e-mail marketing, organization needs, social media and more. There are a variety of packages Megan offers. If you only need help with e-mail marketing she can help with that on an hourly basis, or if you need help with a lot of aspects of your business she can create a custom package fit to you. A discovery call is one way Megan connects with businesses to get to know their needs and how she can support them. Megan takes a lot of pride in the small town community and atmosphere. The support, connections, and trust is something she forever wants to be part of. A few important skills Megan has transferred from teaching to her virtual assistant position are: organization, time management, online work, and interpersonal relationships. "Anything you find yourself doing for your business that doesn't light you up, a VA can definitely come in and support." Connect with Megan! Want Megan part of your business? E-mail [email protected] to connect and see where she can help your business expand! 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.

Hey business owner! Do you use Facebook for your business? Have you seen the big changes made in 2021 for your business page? Today, at Small-Minded, I'm walking you through the changes, struggles, and positives of the new Facebook layout for your small-town business! Facebook Changes and Features: New layout. You now have to transition from your personal account to your business page. This is a major advantage because you no longer have the confusion of which account is being used for likes, comments, etc. Also, it will only show information from brands and businesses you want to connect with on behalf of your business. Glitches. I'm an avid user of Creator Studio for planning out posts. However, I have been running into some problems when posting. Keep in mind anytime there is a new rollout there are going to be things that don't work, often times I wait a day and the problem is fixed. You can always submit a claim to Facebook for constructive points. Lower reach. I'm not sure if it's algorithm, content, or the season but what I'm doing is taking new risks. Now is a time to stretch and try new things. Facebook groups. I have joined groups that are specific to my client's industry. These groups allow you to ask questions, gives you a little extra attention, and drives extra traffic to the Facebook page. Ads. I have set-up ad campaigns to help increase engagement. Take pictures of your town and share them out. Share stories. Talk about who you help. Show up and share your face! If you want to to return to your roots and grow organic traffic: Step by Step Video from Molly! New Facebook Page Layout Walkthrough - Watch Video 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.

Hi friends, I believe so much of who we are as adults is molded by our experiences in our youth, particularly today's topic of first jobs. I'm excited to bring to you episode 2 of my first jobs series. A couple of months ago I shared with you all the details from my very first job experience, waitressing. While waitressing taught me many applicable skills needed for the industry like customer service, punctuality, and time management, I was needing a little extra spending cash now that I had a car and I was hanging out with my friends more. I took a second job at one of our manufacturing facilities doing office work. I took away so much from working at this facility like being relatable, keeping my workspace clean, and all the soft skills. Job at the Local Manufacturing Facility Working for the local manufacturing plant brought many new realizations. I could set my own hours and I was now making minimum wage! What I thought was only going to be a job for the school year, turned into summers, holidays, and different positions around the business. A few things I learned from working for the manufacturing company: People make the place that you work. If you have people who care about the people they work alongside it makes a huge difference. Own your mistakes. Take initiative and be creative and innovative no matter what industry you're in. Take the job and do your best. HOW DO I USE THESE SKILLS TODAY While I couldn't know at the time how these jobs as a youth would manifest in an entrepreneurial endeavor, so much of what I do today was learned by doing a job I didn't love but was vital to get to where I wanted to go. Truly, each part of work history comes together to shape who we are as a teammate, employee, or boss today. And it is up to us as small business owners to remember those early jobs we held and the people who showed us how to be a leader, both good and bad, as we build missions and teams of our own. 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.