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The conversation starts with a candid pivot: we turned the mic on our own shop to explain why we stepped back from day-to-day marketing, spent two years pressure-testing AI, and then chose to expand with a human-first, full-service model. Not to wage war on technology, but to fix the widening gap between fast output and real strategy. As leaders embraced DIY tools and automation, sameness crept in — copy with the same cadence, visuals with the same gloss, funnels without context. We name the problem, map how it happened, and lay out a better way forward.

You’ll hear a quick tour through AI’s long arc — from Turing to transformers — and why mainstream access didn’t suddenly grant machines judgment. We share what our clients actually struggled with during the noisy years: operations, cash flow, hiring, and decision fatigue. That’s the hinge most growth turns on. When the inside is messy, no channel can save it. When the core is clear, every campaign gets lighter and more effective. That’s why we fuse consulting with creative: brand identity with depth, search visibility that compounds, and advertising built from positioning rather than templates.

We get specific about how we use AI — and how we don’t. Tools help us research faster, think wider, and evaluate options. Humans do the architecture. Strategy, creative direction, message/market fit, and judgment stays in human hands. The result is marketing that carries identity, operations that can deliver the promise, and campaigns that convert because they’re rooted in reality, not generic patterns. If you’re experimenting with AI, keep going, but ask the hard question: is it building strategy or just producing output?

If you’re ready for signal over noise and a partner who rolls up sleeves, explores your constraints, and ships work with a point of view, we’d love to connect. Subscribe for more candid conversations, share this with a fellow owner who’s feeling the AI fatigue, and leave a review to tell us what part hit home.

Be sure to follow or subscribe! And, if you're a local business owner who'd like to be featured - or know someone whose story should be told - get in touch at Ken@StrategicHorizonsConsulting.com

This show is brought to you by Strategic Horizons Consulting (a division of Ken Collins Marketing).

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Beauty doesn’t happen by accident; it’s stitched from patience, problem solving, and a little glitter that somehow gets everywhere. We sit with Jamie Goodwin, the heart behind JG Cross Creations, to trace how a single wooden cross turned into a steady stream of custom wreaths, bows, gift baskets, wedding florals, and decor that people can’t stop talking about. Jamie’s story starts at home—learning from her mom, juggling kids’ schedules, then rediscovering craft when the house got quiet—and unfolds into a practice built on reliability, fair pricing, and the pure joy of handing over something that makes a face light up.

Pull back the curtain on what handmade really costs. Jamie breaks down the hours inside a mesh wreath, the mountain of “small” supplies that make or break a design, and the reality of price hikes that forced her to rethink sourcing without cutting corners. She shares the systems that now guide her pricing and protect quality, the improvisation skills that turned tablecloths and extension cords into elegant wedding decor, and the discipline of meeting deadlines even when life gets complicated. Along the way, she reveals how each project became a quiet vote of confidence, transforming early doubts into a grounded belief in her craft.

We also explore the power of community: makers who refer work to each other, customers who return with fresh ideas, and the unexpected tenderness of creating a funeral keepsake that comforts a family. From Highland cow wreaths that flew off the table to the signature bows that give her pieces away at a glance, Jamie’s work is equal parts artistry and heart. If you care about small business, creativity under pressure, and the kind of local craftsmanship that makes a home feel like yours, this conversation will stick with you long after the glitter settles.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow and subscribe, share this episode with a friend who loves handmade goods, and leave a review to help more people find stories like Jamie’s.

Be sure to follow or subscribe! And, if you're a local business owner who'd like to be featured - or know someone whose story should be told - get in touch at Ken@StrategicHorizonsConsulting.com

This show is brought to you by Strategic Horizons Consulting (a division of Ken Collins Marketing).

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A quiet studio, a steady hand, and a young owner who chose peace over perfection—this is the story of Blooming Ember Massage through the eyes of its founder, Callie Frost. She walked away from nursing, learned the craft of touch, and turned a backyard “shed” into a three-room sanctuary that clients now seek out for its calm. What began as a leap of faith became a blueprint for sustainable small business: start, listen, refine, and let word of mouth do the heavy lifting.

We get into the decisions that mattered: saying yes before everything was polished, then taming the chaos with better bookkeeping and licensing. Callie shares how authenticity outperformed social media, why she treats feedback as a gift, and how she balances modalities—deep tissue, cupping, and lymphatic drainage—to protect her body while improving outcomes. The conversation opens up around boundaries and energy too. From weekend work to daily routines, she now measures success by consistency, low stress, and a client experience that ends in relief and that floaty “massage drunk” glow.

Community plays a starring role. An expo booth with her massage school sparked dozens of loyal clients, and regular trades with seasoned therapists became the best continuing education. We also explore the heart inside the brand: Blooming Ember nods to Callie’s resilience as a burn survivor and her belief that healing can grow from hard heat. If you’re curious about building a service business that lasts—one rooted in presence, clear communication, and smart systems—you’ll find practical takeaways and inspiration in equal measure.

Want more stories like this? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others discover the pod.

Be sure to follow or subscribe! And, if you're a local business owner who'd like to be featured - or know someone whose story should be told - get in touch at Ken@StrategicHorizonsConsulting.com

This show is brought to you by Strategic Horizons Consulting (a division of Ken Collins Marketing).

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