Main Street Success Stories

Jennifer Kok
  • 5.0 (9)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Welcome to 'Main Street Success Stories', where each month, we deep dive into the journeys, the challenges, and the triumphs of real-world local entrepreneurs. Whether you're dreaming of starting your own venture or just looking for a dose of inspiration, you're in the right place. Join us as we celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, learn from each other and motivate you to keep growing your own local  business

  1. Episode 65: The Truth About Branding Small Business Owners Need to Hear

    27M AGO

    Episode 65: The Truth About Branding Small Business Owners Need to Hear

    If you think branding is just a logo, a color palette, or a website, this episode will completely shift how you see your business. In this conversation, Jennifer sits down with brand strategist Shayne Mackey to unpack what a brand really is, why most small business owners skip the most important foundational work, and how poor positioning—not marketing—is often the reason growth stalls. You’ll learn why niching down creates profitability, how to stop chasing shiny marketing tactics, and why treating your brand as a living, breathing asset can make content, messaging, and decision-making dramatically easier. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing “all the right things” but things still aren’t clicking—this episode will give you clarity, language, and a new framework to build something that lasts. Episode Outline What a Brand Really Is (and What It’s Not) Positioning, White Space & Niching Down Why the market will define your business for you if you don’t and how finding even 5% differentiation can change profitability and clarity. Personal Brand vs. Expert, Founder-Led & Enterprise Brands Guest Information Shayne Mackey is a brand strategist with more than three decades of experience building category-defining brands in healthcare, luxury, and founder-led businesses. She is the founder of Bespoke Creative and The Brand Atelier, where she helps founders move beyond logos and marketing tactics to build enduring, well-positioned brands with clarity, rigor, and intention. Links: Website: https://the-brand-atelier.com Instagram: @bespokecreativellc Meet Your Host:  Jennifer Kok, Business Strategist.  I took a leap of faith & left a cushy corporate job 25 years ago to start my brick-and-mortar bakery because I craved more freedom & flexibility than my corporate job allowed. I delivered my second daughter two days after opening my doors (not something I would recommend). The good news is that I went on to own and operate my business for 20 years, pivoted during a recession, built a national franchise, and then sold it all for a profit in the Fall of 2018. My 20 years of ownership were a season of ups and downs, a lot of hard work, many pitfalls, a lot of success, many fist pump moments, and a big, huge case of I didn’t know what I didn’t know and learned the hard way. All of that prepared me for my next journey in business consulting.  Podcast Website: https://www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/podcast ⭐ Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show and help other business owners find it. Contact the Show: Sign Up for the Newsletter: Follow Us on Social Media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nextwavewithjen Facebook: https://facebook.com/nextwavewithjen LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jennifer-kok-17441829 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nextwavewithjen8028 Join the Conversation: Share your biggest takeaway from this episode on Instagram or LinkedIn and tag @nextwavewithjen. Share This Episode: If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow business owner who’s been avoiding s You’ve Built a Business You’re Proud Of -But It’s Time for It to Work for You. You’re still wearing all the hats, working long hours, and not paying yourself what you deserve. You know there’s more possible. More profit, more clarity, and more freedom to enjoy the life you’re building.  The Earn More Stress Less 9-Pillar Blueprint helps women entrepreneurs with families create profitable businesses that finally pay them back.

    37 min

  2. FEB 16

    Episode 64: The 3 Hidden Reasons You are Struggling to Sell

    Sales is one of the most uncomfortable topics for many solo and service-based entrepreneurs and it’s often the very thing holding their business back. In this solo episode, Jennifer Kok dives into Pillar #6: Sales, and unpacks the three biggest reasons business owners struggle to sell: negative perceptions shaped by past experiences, fear of bothering people through follow-up, and fear of rejection when it comes time to ask for the sale. Through relatable stories, real client examples, and practical reframes, Jennifer shows how sales doesn’t have to feel pushy or manipulative. Instead, it can become a clear, confident, and values-driven conversation that helps the right people say yes. If you’ve ever felt awkward following up, hesitant to ask for the sale, or discouraged by hearing “no,” this episode will help you rethink sales—and approach it with clarity and confidence. Episode Outline Topic 1: How Your Perception of Sales Is Holding You Back Jennifer explores how past sales experiences—like pushy door-to-door sales or manipulative presentations—shape our beliefs about selling today. She reframes sales as service and challenges listeners to reflect on how their mindset may be quietly sabotaging growth. Topic 2: “I Don’t Want to Bother People” and the Power of Follow-Up Jennifer shares a powerful story about a client who watched her for nine months before reaching out and how a lack of follow-up cost valuable time and momentum. She explains why follow-up isn’t bothering people, why it often takes nine touchpoints, and why she calls this the fortune in the follow-up. Resource:  Link to Focus on the Follow up guide Topic 3: Asking for the Sale and Reframing Rejection The final piece of the sales puzzle: asking clearly for the sale. Jennifer talks about why so many entrepreneurs avoid this step, how fear of rejection shows up, and why most “no’s” have nothing to do with you.  Resource: Go for No! Yes Is the Destination, No Is How You Get There by Richard Fenton  About the Host: Jennifer Kok is a business coach, strategist, and founder of Next Wave Business Coaching. With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, she helps solo and service-based business owners gain clarity, make confident decisions, and grow profitable, sustainable businesses without stress or burnout. Podcast Website: https://www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/podcast ⭐ Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show and help other business owners find it. Contact the Show: https://www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/contact Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/newsletter Follow Us on Social Media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nextwavewithjen Facebook: https://facebook.com/nextwavewithjen LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jennifer-kok-17441829 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nextwavewithjen8028 Join the Conversation: Share your biggest takeaway from this episode on Instagram or LinkedIn and tag @nextwavewithjen. Share This Episode: If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow business owner who’s been avoiding sales and let them know they’re not alone.

    17 min
  3. Episode 63: Community Over Competition: How Ashley Alderson Built The Boutique Hub

    FEB 9

    Episode 63: Community Over Competition: How Ashley Alderson Built The Boutique Hub

    If you’ve ever felt like you’re “supposed” to have a perfect business plan before you start… Ashley Alderson is here to tell you the truth: most success stories start with a pivot. In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, Jennifer Kok sits down with Ashley Alderson, Founder & CEO of The Boutique Hub, to unpack what it really takes to build a community-led business that scales. Ashley shares how The Boutique Hub began as a consumer idea from rural North Dakota and evolved into a global community for boutique owners rooted in Community over Competition.  Topic 1: The origin story and the pivot that built The Boutique Hub Topic 2: Community over Competition and why collaboration creates demand Topic 3: The hard season—imposter syndrome, betrayal, and rebuilding through service Ashley opens up about a painful early experience that tested her confidence and forced a major reset plus the mindset shift that helped her rebuild: one step, one day, one act of service at a time. Topic 4: Pink Friday—how “Shop Small First” became a movement Topic 5: The 6 essential pieces of content for product-based businesses. Ashley gives a practical framework boutique owners can implement immediately. Topic 6: Platforms, growth, and what boutique owners should focus on now Ashley shares where boutique owners are seeing the most conversion today Additional Resources Mentioned: Pink Friday – Shop Small First movement: pinkfridayweekend.comHeart on Main Street https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/Meet our Guest:  Ashley Alderson is the Founder and CEO of The Boutique Hub, connecting boutique owners worldwide with strategy, community, tools, data, events, and wholesale resources. Since 2013, The Boutique Hub has been rooted in Community over Competition, helping independent retailers grow through shared learning and action.  Links: Website: www.theboutiquehub.comInstagram (The Boutique Hub): @theboutiquehubInstagram (Ashley): @ajalderson Host and Show Info:  About the Host: Jennifer Kok is an entrepreneur, business coach, and founder of Next Wave Business Coaching. Through her Earn More…Stress Less™ framework, she helps women entrepreneurs build profitable, sustainable businesses with smarter strategy, stronger systems, and more freedom. Learn More: https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Business Accelerator Group FREE Training: 3 Keys to Building a Profitable Business: 90 Day Profitable Client Blueprint Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextwavewithjen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextwavewithjen/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferowenskok YouTube: http://bit.ly/2M9uX6S You’ve Built a Business You’re Proud Of -But It’s Time for It to Work for You. You’re still wearing all the hats, working long hours, and not paying yourself what you deserve. You know there’s more possible. More profit, more clarity, and more freedom to enjoy the life you’re building.  The Earn More Stress Less 9-Pillar Blueprint helps women entrepreneurs with families create profitable businesses that finally pay them back.

    41 min
  4. Episode 62: Every Idea Is Worthy of Investment: Building Courage, Community, and Longevity in Leadership

    JAN 26

    Episode 62: Every Idea Is Worthy of Investment: Building Courage, Community, and Longevity in Leadership

    In this episode, Jennifer Kok sits down with Grand Rapids icon, author, and “hope dealer” Shannon Cohen for a conversation that feels like both a leadership masterclass and a deep exhale. Shannon shares the threads that shaped her, from being the kid who noticed the “visibly invisible,” to watching her grandparents use business as a catalyst for social good, to an unexpected career pivot after 9/11 that ultimately led her into entrepreneurship. Together, they discuss leading in the “brave middle,” why every idea is worthy and how to recognize when you’re in a season of inflection, where change isn’t just happening, it’s transforming you.  Topic 1: Shannon shares the early “threads” that have always been part of who she is: encouragement, noticing who’s left out, and a deep desire to help people thrive. She also reflects on her grandparents,business owners and “gap fillers”, and how watching them use entrepreneurship for social good planted seeds she didn’t recognize until later. Topic 2: The leap into entrepreneurship and the moment 9/11 changed everything. Shannon shares the unexpected pivot that happened when a job offer was rescinded right after 9/11, how volunteering led to meaningful work, and how grad school sparked her vision for consulting.  Topic 3: The “brave middle,” seasons of inflection, and the power of necessary endings This is the heart of the episode: why leaders can be “winning at work and losing in their soul,” what an inflection season really means (possibility + promise + pain), and how to recognize when it’s time to prune, release, or shift systems. Shannon also shares how she protects her energy using family as a litmus test and her vision for 2026. Meet Our Guest: Shannon Cohen is the founder and CEO of Shannon Cohen, Inc., where she develops emotional intelligence, equity, and wellness experiences for organizations and leaders. Shannon speaks “into” the lives of leaders, helping high performers sustain impact without losing themselves in the process. She is the creator of the Rockstar Woman movement and an inspirational product brand, and she is the author of It’s Normal to Shake as You Soar and Tough Skin, Soft Heart. Website: shannoncohen.com Rockstar Woman: rockstar-woman.com Necessary Endings, by Dr. Henry Cloud  https://amzn.to/4qwG8o3 Tough Skin, Soft Heart by Shannon Cohen https://amzn.to/48MicW8 About the Host: Jennifer Kok is an entrepreneur, business coach, and founder of Next Wave Business Coaching. Through her Earn More…Stress Less™ framework, she helps women entrepreneurs build profitable, sustainable businesses with smarter strategy, stronger systems, and more freedom. https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Business Accelerator Group 90 Day Profitable Client Blueprint Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube:  You’ve Built a Business You’re Proud Of -But It’s Time for It to Work for You. You’re still wearing all the hats, working long hours, and not paying yourself what you deserve. You know there’s more possible. More profit, more clarity, and more freedom to enjoy the life you’re building.  The Earn More Stress Less 9-Pillar Blueprint helps women entrepreneurs with families create profitable businesses that finally pay them back.

    33 min

  5. JAN 19

    Episode 61: Simple Systems Every Small Business Owner Needs to Reduce Stress

    You’ve heard it a thousand times: “You need systems.” But what does that actually mean when you’re busy, stretched thin, and running on mental sticky notes? In this episode, Jennifer Kok breaks down Pillar #5 of her Nine Pillars of a Profitable Business—Systems—and shows you how to build them without overwhelm, fancy software, or 100-page manuals. You’ll learn why your brain shouldn’t be the storage unit for your business, how simple tools like checklists and routines can reduce stress, and how systems protect your energy, your profits, and your growth. Through real stories from a chaotic bakery counter to a costly delivery mistake. Jennifer shows how systems create freedom, consistency, and confidence for you and your team. If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed, forgetting things, and being the bottleneck in your business, this episode will help you start building systems that actually work. Episode Outline You Already Have Systems (You Just Might Not Like Them) Your systems already dictate how your day starts, how decisions are made, and how clients are handled—whether you built them intentionally or by default. The real question: are they helping you grow or quietly draining your energy and profits? The Mental Load of No Systems When everything lives in your head, your brain becomes the storage unit for emails, follow-ups, decisions, and loose ends. That creates stress, decision fatigue, and eventually burnout. Systems move that weight off your mind and onto something you can trust. What Systems Really Are (and Aren’t) Systems are not always expensive software or massive SOPs. They can be: ChecklistsRoutinesDecision filtersExpectations They exist so your brain doesn’t have to fill the gaps.Systems for You as the Owner Your habits are systems too. Jennifer talks about: Blocking time for strategy, not just tasksChoosing 3 weekly priorities (not endless to-do lists)Using a “Best Yes” filter for decisionsCreating a simple financial rhythm so you’re not avoiding the numbersSigns You Need Better Systems You’re busy but don’t know what you accomplishedYou replay decisions in your headYou answer the same questions repeatedlyYou feel more chaos than peaceSystems Create Calm, Focus, and Profit From using a CRM to organizing contacts and follow-ups, Jennifer explains how having everything in one place removes mental clutter and opens space for growth. Related Episodes & Additional Resources The Nine Pillars of a Profitable Business – Overview of the framework that includes Systems as Pillar #5  Tools Mentioned: CRM systems like FG Funnels: Host Name: Jennifer Kok About the Host: Jennifer Kok is a business consultant and former 20-year bakery owner who helps service-based small business owners earn more and stress less. Through her Nine Pillars framework, she teaches simple, sustainable ways to grow profitably without burnout. Website: https://www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Contact the show: https://www.nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/contact Follow Jennifer: Instagram: You’ve Built a Business You’re Proud Of -But It’s Time for It to Work for You. You’re still wearing all the hats, working long hours, and not paying yourself what you deserve. You know there’s more possible. More profit, more clarity, and more freedom to enjoy the life you’re building.  The Earn More Stress Less 9-Pillar Blueprint helps women entrepreneurs with families create profitable businesses that finally pay them back.

    16 min
  6. Episode 60: Stop Chasing Leads: Build a Referral-Only Business with Relationships, Not Ads

    JAN 12

    Episode 60: Stop Chasing Leads: Build a Referral-Only Business with Relationships, Not Ads

    If you’ve ever felt like you can’t compete with big brands, massive ad budgets, and the constant pressure to “do more marketing,” this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Jennifer sits down with referral expert, TedX speaker, entrepreneur and author of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates, to talk about how he built multiple seven-figure businesses almost entirely on referrals. Scott breaks down his 5 S’s referral framework, why schools are his “secret sauce,” and how ANY small business owner (even social introverts who hate networking events) can build a long-game referral engine in just five minutes a day. Whether you’re a Main Street business, a local service provider, or just tired of feeling behind on marketing trends, this conversation will help you humanize your marketing and make relationships your strongest growth strategy. In This Episode, We Cover: Scott’s  beginning.  How losing his job in the 2008 financial crisis, two babies in diapers, and “rice and beans” pushed him to find a smarter way to grow. Why traditional marketing was failing him. The moment he went all-in on referrals.  Looking at his numbers, seeing referrals as the clear outlier in ROI and quality, and having the courage to cut other marketing… even when revenue dipped short-term. The 5 S’s: Scott’s Core Referral Groups Small Businesses – Going after the “geese,” not just the golden eggs: building relationships with businesses already serving your ideal customers. Schools – His secret sauce: being present for juniors and seniors as future customers, employees, and referral partners. Service Groups – Chambers, nonprofits, civic and service organizations full of super-connectors. Star Customers – Turning your happiest customers into your volunteer sales team by delivering “wow” experiences. Social Media – Using social to spotlight others and show up as a real human in your community, not a faceless brand. Key Takeaways for Local Service Providers Referrals Done Right = Relationships Done Right Start small or you’ll quit. Your best customers are your best sales team Long-game strategies can actually accelerate your growth Meet our Guest: Scott Grates is a multi-business owner, TedX speaker, insurance agency founder, entrepreneur and referral expert, and author of Referrals Done Right. Starting his first business after losing his corporate job in the 2008 financial crisis, Scott built his agencies and a seven-figure coaching practice almost entirely through referrals and relationships. Book: Referrals Done Right by Scott Grates Connect with Scott: https://www.scottgrates.com/ Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok has been a business owner for over 25 years and is now a Small Business Consultant. She turned her first business into a franchise and successfully sold it 20 years later.  She was passionate about building a business and a family at the same time. The Earn More Stress Less 9-Pillar System helps women entrepreneurs with families create profitable, sustainable businesses that finally pay them back — in money, time, and peace of mind.  https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com You’ve Built a Business You’re Proud Of -But It’s Time for It to Work for You. You’re still wearing all the hats, working long hours, and not paying yourself what you deserve. You know there’s more possible. More profit, more clarity, and more freedom to enjoy the life you’re building.  The Earn More Stress Less 9-Pillar Blueprint helps women entrepreneurs with families create profitable businesses that finally pay them back.

    34 min
  7. Episode 59: How High-Achieving Women Can Grow Without Burning Out

    12/29/2025

    Episode 59: How High-Achieving Women Can Grow Without Burning Out

    In this deeply eye-opening and energizing conversation, Jennifer sits down with Sophia McKenzie, founder of Gearing Together, who helps high-achieving women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders rebuild confidence, set boundaries, and grow without burning out. Burnout is a buzzword these days but Sophia reframes it in a way you’ve never heard before. Instead of describing burnout as exhaustion from overwork, she defines it as a misalignment between your energy and your values. And once you hear her explanation, it will change the way you see your work, your stress, and your habits forever. Sophia shares her own story of what she calls “extra-crispy burnout” the moment she realized her roles as a mom, employee, and daughter were stretching her to the point of breaking. From hives to hair-doing guilt to misaligned corporate culture, her story is both relatable and powerful. Together, Jennifer and Sophia unpack: The emotional vs. physical roots of burnoutHow to recognize early symptoms (that most ignore)Why women entrepreneurs often overwork themselves straight into overwhelmHow to break the overwork habit using small, intentional micro-habitsWhy outsourcing at home is also a CEO-level strategyWhat it really looks like to lead yourself differentlySophia’s tools, stories, and gentle-but-direct style will leave you feeling seen, supported, and inspired to show up in your business in a healthier and more aligned way. Meet Our Guest:  Sophia Mikelionis is a leadership coach and former finance executive who helps high-achieving women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders rebuild confidence, set boundaries, and grow without burning out. Connect with Sophia:  www.gearingtogether.com https://www.youtube.com/@GearingTogether Instagram: @gearingtogether  FREE Resource:  PowerBack Worksheet — a free tool that helps women pinpoint where they’re losing energy and how to take it back. This is the link-->subscribepage.io/Zg3UZQ Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok has been a business owner for over 25 years and is now a Small Business Growth Advisor. She turned her first business into a franchise and successfully sold it 20 years later.  She was passionate about building a business and a family at the same time. I support service-based women entrepreneurs to double their profits without doubling their hours.  The Earn More Stress Less 9-Pillar Blueprint helps women entrepreneurs with families create profitable, sustainable businesses that finally pay them back — in money, time, and peace of mind. Join me for a Free Online Workshop: 3 Steps to Boost Profitability: Strategic Shifts to Help Small Business Owners Make More Money.  https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/webinar https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextwavewithjen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextwavewithjen/ You’ve Built a Business You’re Proud Of -But It’s Time for It to Work for You. You’re still wearing all the hats, working long hours, and not paying yourself what you deserve. You know there’s more possible. More profit, more clarity, and more freedom to enjoy the life you’re building.  The Earn More Stress Less 9-Pillar Blueprint helps women entrepreneurs with families create profitable businesses that finally pay them back.

    31 min

  8. 12/22/2025

    Episode 58: The Real Reason Your Marketing Isn't Working

    What if the reason your business feels stalled has nothing to do with needing more marketing? Not more Reels. Not more ads. Not more content. Today, Jennifer uncovers the surprising truth about what actually grows small businesses and why fixing this one thing transforms everything. In this episode, Jennifer breaks down one of her favorite pillars inside the 9-Pillar Earn More…Stress Less™ Framework: Marketing, but not the kind you think. Most small business owners default to “more marketing, more posting, more hustle,” believing they simply need to do more to get clients. But Jennifer reveals why this approach leads to burnout, wasted money, and stalled growth. Instead, she explains a powerful approach she teaches inside every 90-day plan she builds with clients: Priming Your Audience the three-part foundation that makes every marketing action more effective. You’ll learn: ✨ 1. Why more marketing does NOT always equal more clients. ✨ 2. The three-step Priming Your Audience framework ✨ 3. The two buckets of marketing: Passive vs. Active ✨ 4. Why ads don't fix unclear messages ✨ 5. The truth behind “You’re everywhere!” If you’re tired of building your business alone… If you want clarity, focus, momentum, and accountability… If you want support from women who get it — women who become collaborators, partners, and friends… 👉 Enrollment is officially open for the Earn More, Stress Less Business Accelerator Group. Inside, Jennifer will help you clarify your marketing messaging, build 90-day plans, strengthen all 9 pillars of a profitable business, and finally take the guesswork out of growth. ✨ Learn more and see if it’s the right fit →https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/emsl-business-accelerator ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? Share it with a fellow small business owner who needs clarity on marketing  not more content on their to-do list. About the Host:  Jennifer Kok has been a business owner for over 25 years and is now a Small Business Growth Advisor. She turned her first business into a franchise and successfully sold it 20 years later.  She was passionate about building a business and a family at the same time. I support women entrepreneurs in their second year and beyond as they build businesses and families, helping them achieve Clarity, Confidence, and Consistent Profits.  The reality is, you’ve built a Business You’re Proud Of— but it’s time for it to work for you. You’re still wearing all the hats, working long hours, and not paying yourself what you deserve. You know there’s more possible—more profit, more clarity, and more freedom to enjoy the life you’re building. The Earn More Stress Less 9-Pillar Blueprint helps women entrepreneurs with families create profitable, sustainable businesses that finally pay them back — in money, time, and peace of mind. Join me for a Free Online Workshop: 3 Steps to Boost Profitability: Strategic Shifts to Help Small Business Owners Make More Money.  https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/webinar https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextwavewithjen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextwavewithjen/

    12 min
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About

Welcome to 'Main Street Success Stories', where each month, we deep dive into the journeys, the challenges, and the triumphs of real-world local entrepreneurs. Whether you're dreaming of starting your own venture or just looking for a dose of inspiration, you're in the right place. Join us as we celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, learn from each other and motivate you to keep growing your own local  business

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer Kok
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Main Street Success Stories
  • Show Website
    Main Street Success Stories